German Democratic Republic (DDR)
(East Germany)
Stamps of 1954
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische, DDR), was a country that existed from October 1949 until 1990, when the eastern portion of Germany was part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. It described itself as a socialist "workers' and peasants' state" and the territory was administered and occupied by Soviet forces at the end of World War II — the Soviet Occupation Zone of the Potsdam Agreement, bounded on the east by the Oder–Neisse line. The Soviet zone surrounded West Berlin but did not include it; as a result, West Berlin remained outside the jurisdiction of the DDR.
Michel 423
"225th anniversary of the birth of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing"
Issued: 20th Jan 1954, Perf: 13½x13, Watermark: 2. Designed by Eigler to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the birth of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (22nd Jan 1729 to 15th Feb 1781) was a German writer, philosopher, dramatist, publicist and art critic, and an outstanding representative of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the development of German literature.
Michel 424
"Four Power conference, Berlin"
Issued: 25th Jan 1954. Perf: 12½x13. Designed by Gruner and issued to commemorate the Four Power Conference in Berlin.
The Berlin Conference was a meeting of the "Big Four" foreign ministers of the United States (John Foster Dulles), Britain (Anthony Eden), France (Georges Bidault), and the Soviet Union (Vyacheslav Molotov), from January 25th to February 18th 1954. The meeting failed in its prime goal, that of reaching an agreement on issues of European security and the international status of Germany and Austria, then under four-power occupation following World War II.
Michel 425
"1st Anniversary of the death of Joseph Stalin"
Issued: 1st Mar 1954. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the death of Joseph Stalin.
Michel 426 and 427
"International Cycling event - Warsaw - Berlin - Prague"
Issued: 30th Apr 1954. Perf: 13x12½. Designed by Petersen and issued to commemorate the International Cycling event - Warsaw - Berlin - Prague.
Michel 428 and 429
"Meeting of German Youth"
Issued: 3rd Jun 1954. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Bade (Michel 428) and Eigler (Michel 429) and issued to celebrate the German Youth Meeting in Berlin.
Michel 430
"80th Anniversary of the death of Fritz Reuter"
Issued: 12th Jul 1954. Perf: 13½x13. Designer by Eiger and issued to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the death of Fritz Reuter.
Michel 431
"Help for the high water damage"
Issued: 16th Aug 1954. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eiger and issued to raise funds for damage caused by flooding.
Michel 432
"10th anniversary of death of Ernst Thälmann"
Issued: 18th Aug 1954. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Death of Ernst Thälmann.
Michel 433 and 434
"Leipzig Autumn Fair"
Issued: 4th Sep 1954. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Gruner and issued to commemorate the Leipzig Autumn Fair.
Michel 435 to 442
"Five Year Plan (III) New and Reprinted"
Issued: 1st Oct 1954 until 1957. Reprinted and new Five Year Plan stamps. Different markings compared to issue II. Image created using lines.
Michel 443 and 444
"5th Anniversary of the German Democratic Republic"
Issued: 6th Oct 1954. Perf: 13x12½. Designed by Gruner and issued to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the German Democratic Republic.
Michel 445
"Stamp Day"
Issued: 23rd Oct 1954. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eigler and issued to celebrate Stamp Day.
Michel Block 10
"Stamp Day - Minisheet"
Issued: 10th Dec 1954. Perf: Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate Stamp Day.
