PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1934)

This page was last updated
03-Nov-2024 01:23

WER BRAUCHT SICHERHEIT IM OSTEN / WESTEN?
WHO NEEDS SECURITY IN THE EAST / WEST?
(1934)

BACKGROUND: According to Roger Bender [1] The following postcards (unknown number) appear to have been issued in 1934. It is possible that they were issued to justify the build-up of the German Wehrmacht, which was limited to 100,000 men, no tanks and no air force by the Treaty of Versailles. The earliest example I have seen was cancelled on 8th Nov 1934.

The cards have the titles:
1. "Wer braucht Sicherheit im Osten?" - 'Who needs security in the East?'
2. "Wer braucht Sicherheit im Westen?" - 'Who needs security in the West?'
3. "Wer braucht Sicherheit im SüdOsten?" - 'Who needs security in the South East?'
4. "Wer braucht Sicherheit durch Landesbefestigung?" - 'Who needs security through land fortifications?
5. Is there a fifth card inscribed "Wer braucht Sicherheit im Nord? " - 'Who needs security in the North?'.

Examples of the first three cards (and possibly a fourth) can be found printed by two publishers: Verlag Deutscher Lichtbilddienst G.m.b.H., Berlin W35 and Albert Nauch & Co. Berlin W8.

There is another version of these cards, probably published in 1939 which has seven lines of texts on the reverse side on the upper left-hand corner. The actual release date of these card requires confirmation but was likely issued in 1939 to justify the German invasion of Poland and subsequent attacks on the Low Countries and France.



ABOVE LEFT: 1934: Without seven additional lines of text
ABOVE RIGHT: 1939: With seven additional lines of text

FIRST CARD
WER BRAUCHT SICHERHEIT IM OSTEN?

This first card was published by Verlag Deutscher Lichtbilddienst G.m.b.H., Berlin W35. The sub-title reads "Die kräftverteilung an der deutsche-Polnischen Grenze nach dem friedenstand" - 'The Distribution of Forces on the German-Polish border After the State of Peace'

SECOND CARD
WER BRAUCHT SICHERHEIT IM WESTEN?

The second card was published by both Albert Nauch & Co. Berlin W8 and by Verlag Deutscher Lichtbilddienst G.m.b.H of BERLIN W35. The sub-title reads "Die kräftverteilung an der deutsche Westgrenze nach dem friedensstand" - 'The distribution of forces on the German western border after the state of peace'.

THIRD CARD
WER BRAUCHT SICHERHEIT IM SÜDOSTEN?

This third postcard is titled "Wer braucht Sicherheit im Südosten?" - 'Who needs security in the southeast?'.

FOURTH CARD
WER BRAUCHT SICHERHEIT DURCH LANDESBEFESTIGUNG?
WHO NEEDS SECURITY THROUGH LAND FORTIFICATIONS

This card shows the locations of 'enemy' fortifications such as the Maginot Line along the Franco-German border.

POSSIBLE FIFTH CARD
WER BRAUCHT SICHERHEIT IM NORD?
WHO NEEDS SECURITY IN THE NORTH

It is unlikely that there was a card titled "Wer Braucht Sicherheit im Nord" since there was no threat from Denmark, Norway or Sweden.

REFERENCES:

1. POSTCARDS of HITLER's GERMANY Volume 2 page 338 by Roger James Bender. ISBN: 0-912138-61-0