OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1938)

This page was last updated
07-Apr-2024 11:51

MICHEL P275
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
SUDETENLAND VOTE

VALIDITY: 2nd Dec 1938 to 31st Dec 1939, however examples are known with usage from 21st Nov 1938.

BACKGROUND: Issued on the occasion of the vote in the Sudetenland. The pre-printed stamp features an Eagle on top of a rock in front of the swastika. Along the bottom edge of the stamp is the inscription '4.Dezember 1938' in white text, the day of the vote.

On the reverse side of the card is a montage consisting of a map of the Sudeten German region as well as an image of Hitler and Konrad Henlein. The text below the image reads "WIR DANKEN UNSERM FÜHRER" - 'WE THANK THE LEADER". This postcard was re-issued in 1939 as Michel P279 which can be identified by the obliteration of the '4. Dezember 1938' text on the bottom edge of the pre-pronted stamp as well as some additional text below the word 'Postkarte'.

SPECIAL CANCEL: There were two special cancels related to this postcard: The first is a handstamp that includes the text "Wahl- und Bekenntnistag" - 'Election and confession day' used only in AUSSIG, KARLSBAD, REICHENBERG and TROPPAU. The second is a machin stamp with the inscription "Am 4. Dezember Dein "Ja" Dem Führer" - 'On December 4th, your “yes” to the leader'. This machine stamp was used in AUSSIG, EGER, FRANZENBAD, KARLSBAD, MARIENBAD and REICHENBERG.

As well as the official card there were several official cards with additional private printing, see below.

OFFICIAL P275
OTHER VERSIONS

1. BEFREIUNGSKARTE

The same as Michel P275 only now without the pre-printed stamp. In addition this version has a shield logo and the word 'Befreiungskarte' in the top left-hand corner. This version of the card was published by Heinrich Hoffman.

The four stamps are all from the 1934 airmail issue Michel 529 to 539 and the special cancels all relate to the flight of the Graf Zeppelin Airship, from FRANKFURT (MAIN) to the newly occupied SUDETENLAND (sep 1938).

The red circular stamp was first used on Zeppelin L.Z.130's maiden flight, a propaganda flight to the annexed Sudetenland on 2nd December 1938. This red cachet was applied to all mail carried on L.Z.130 on that day. This card is dated a day earlier, on the 1st Dec.

2. SUDETENGAU!

1: With text on the lower reverse left-hand side "Sudetengau! | Dem führer unser freudiges "Ja" !"

MAIN REFERENCE SOURCES

1. MICHEL GANZSACHEN DEUTSCHLAND 2018. ISBN: 978-3-95402-225-0
2. BOREK GANZSACHEN-SPEZIAL-KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND ab 1933. ISBN: 3-87091-060-7
3. MICHEL BILDPOSTKARTEN- UND MOTIVGANSACHEN KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND 1997. ISBN: 3-87858-631-0
4. GANZSACHEN-HANDBUCH DES "DITTEN REICHES" 1933-1945 by FRECH. ISBN: UNKNOWN