PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1938)
This page was last updated
23-Feb-2025 04:47
"DER BEFREIER DEUTSCHLANDS"
(30th Jan 1938)
BACKGROUND: There were several series of postcards titled "DER BEFREIER DEUTSCHLANDS" - 'THE LIBERATOR OF GERMANY' and they were published from 1938 onwards.
The first series was issued to commemorate the 5th year in power of the Nazi Party and consists of five different cards with a date of "30. Januar 1933" below the "DER BEFREIER DEUTSCHLANDS" title.
The second series was issued on 1st Oct 1938 to commemorate the annexation of the Sudetenland. The re-issued cards have an additional "Oesterreich: 10. April 1938 Sudetenland: 1. Oktober 1938" inscription in red along the bottom edge of the card.
A third series was also available without any date on the cards that was produced by H.O. HOYER of OBERSTDORF. I don't know if all five cards were printed with this inscription but there was at least one which did so.
SONDERSTEMPEL:
FIRST SERIES
J1 - HITLER IN ARMCHAIR
The first card has an image of Adolf Hitler wearing a civilain jacket, his body facing to the right (as we look) but his eyes looking directly at the camera. He has a rather stern look on his face.
Initially this was a series of 4 postcards published by Photo-Hoffmann and numbered J1 to J4 but later an unnumbered card from Verlag Franz Hanfstaengle was added, possibly to match the number of cards with the number of years in power.
J2
Hitler is now seen wearing military uniform. The top half of his body is visible and he is facing to the right as we look. He is smiling and his left hand is holding his belt buckle.
J3
The third card is a stern looking portrait of Hitler facing slightly to our right and he is wearing civilian clothes.
J4
The fourth card has Hitler dressed in military uniform standing in his Mercedes looking sternly to our left into the crowd (not visible).
No. 5 - UNNUMBERED CARD
The fifth card is slightly different in that it does not portray Hitler alone. Here he is seen addressing an early meeting of the Nazi Party in what is likely a beer hall in Munich. The image is from a painting by H. Hoyer titled "In the beginning was the word".
ABOVE: ADDITIONAL UNNUMBERED CARD
SECOND SERIES
COMMEMORATING ANNEXATION OF AUSTRIA & THE SUDETENLAND
(1st Oct 1938)
BACKGROUND: This series was re-issued on 1st Oct 1938 to commemorate the annexation of the Sudetenland. The re-issued cards have an additional "Oesterreich: 10. April 1938 Sudetenland: 1. Oktober 1938" inscription in red along the bottom edge of the card.
SPECIAL CANCEL:
J1 - HITLER IN ARMCHAIR
The first card has an image of Adolf Hitler wearing a civilain jacket, his body facing to the right (as we look) but his eyes looking directly at the camera. He has a rather stern look on his face.
J2
Hitler is now seen wearing military uniform. The top half of his body is visible and he is facing to the right as we look. He is smiling and his left hand is holding his belt buckle.
J3
The third card is a stern looking portrait of Hitler facing slightly to our right and he is wearing civilian clothes.
J4
The fourth card has Hitler dressed in military uniform standing in his Mercedes looking sternly to our left into the crowd (not visible).
No. 5 - UNNUMBERED CARD
The fifth card is slightly different in that it does not portray Hitler alone. Here he is seen addressing an early meeting of the Nazi Party in what is likely a beer hall in Munich. The image is from a painting by H. Hoyer titled "In the beginning was the word".
ABOVE: ADDITIONAL UNNUMBERED CARD
THIRD SERIES
H.O. HOYER - OBERTSDORF
(date unknown)
BACKGROUND: A third series was published without any date information but with a "H.O. HOYER - OBERTSDORF" inscription. Further research is required to determine if all 5 cards were available with this text.
No.5 UNNUMBERED CARD
This card has an additional inscription which reads "Dieses Bild isr farbig und einfarbig als Kunstblatt in verschiedenen Foraten erschienen" - 'This image was published in color and monochrome as an art sheet in various formats.
ABOVE: ADDITIONAL UNNUMBERED CARD
