PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1938)

This page was last updated
26-May-2024 05:36

ANNEXATION OF AUSTRIA
(8th Apr 1938)

BACKGROUND: There were a large number of private and other postcards issued prior to and after the Austrian vote (plebiscite) on whether or not Austria should become part of a Greater Germany on 10th Apr 1938. The postcards can be divided into three sections:

1. those issued before the vote,
2. those issued on the day of the vote,
3. and those issued after the vote.

SONDERSTEMPEL: There were a number of special cancellations related to the unification.

BEFORE THE VOTE

OFFICIAL POSTCARD P268

The Official postcard that was published on 8th Apr 1938 to commemorate the vote can be seen below. The image is one of Adolf Hitler's portrait positioned on the German-Austrian border showing the two countires in the same colour, indicating they are united as one. The ever present Nazi eagle with wreath and swastika in it's talons stands above the united countries.

The popular Nazi slogan "EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER" is seen together with the date '13. MÄRZ 1938'. This date is significant in that it was scheduled to be the original date for the vote. However, the German Army marched in to Austria several days before in a show of strength, to ensure that the vote went their way, and part of that effort was to bring the voting day forward to the 10th.

VERLAG PHOTO HOFFMANN

One of the most noticeable postcards to commemorate the vote was this one by Verlg Hoffmann of Munich. The image is a portrait of Adolf Hilter mounted on a coin, much like the coins of the old Roman Empire depicted their emperors.

The message running around the edge of the coin is a well used Nazi phrase "EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER" - 'ONE PEOPLE, ONE EMPIRE, ONE LEADER'. the text below the coin reads 'Volk Steht zu volk.| Wir Alle geh gehören dem Führer.| Dein Dank, Dein Ja.| am 10.April.' translated as 'The People stand together. We all belong to the Führer. Your thanks, Your yes. on the 10th of April.'

The example from my collection below has a self-adhesive 6Rpf Special issue Austrian vote stamp, and has been cancelled with a LINZ (Austria) CDS on the day of the vote, and one of the special slogan cancels associated with the vote inscribed "Am 10 April dem Führer Dein Ja".

VERLAG JOSEF OSTERMANER - VIENNA

This striking postcard features Adolf Hitler in front of a map of what was to become Greater Germany, after a successful union of Austria and Germany. Below the image is the familiar "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer" slogan, and the date of the vote, 10th Apr 1938.

LARGE WREATH WITH SWASTIKA

This postcard was issued on 8th Apr 1938 and features a large wreath with various coats-of-arms and a large swastika in the centre. Below the image is the date of the vote "10. April 1938".

SMALL WREATH WITH SWASTIKA

This postcard was a variation on the card above only now the image of the wreath and swastika is much smaller and positioned on the front of the card as opposed to taking up the entire reverse side as is the case with the card above. This example from my collection has both a German and an Austrian stamp applied although it was never postally used.

THE DAY OF THE VOTE

The following group of cards were all available on the day of the vote, 10th Apr 1938.

COMMEMORATING THE VOTE - BRESLAU

This postcard was issued in BRESLAU to commemorate the plebiscite and exists with either a 3 Rpf Hindenburg Medallion pre-printed stamp, a 6 RPf Hitler pre-printed stamp, or without a pre-printed stamp. There was a special cancel used in BRESLAU and inscribed "BRESLAU | Rathaus | Ein Volk - Ein Reich - Ein Führer | 10.4.1938" shown on the first example below. The second example from my collection does not have that special cancel.

EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER #1

These two postcards feature a map of Greater Germany with the Nazi slogan 'Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer' emblazoned across the top and they both have an additional inscription below the map. The card on the left has the date of the vote "10.4.38" and the card on the right has "Nürnberg" in the same location. This card exists in a number of different formats, the others celebrating Breslau Sports Week and the annexation of the Sudetenland.

EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER #2

Another variation on the map of Greater Germany theme, this time the map is in 3D and has one Swastika symbol over Germany, and another smaller one over Austria. There is the same slogan above the map but below it now reads "Volksabstimmung 10. April 1938."

EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER #3

This postcard is yet another variation on the map of Greater Germany theme. The map is now a line drawing and there is a bust of Adolf Hilter surrounded by oak leaves on the right-hand side. Below this bust is the inscription "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer".

EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER #4

This portrait oriented postcard has the title "Volksabstimmung 10.IV.1938" followed by a large swastika symbol and then a large "Deutschland".

GROβ-DEUTSCHLAND

This postcard is another of those featuring a map of Greater Germany. The card is titled "GROβ-DEUTSCHLAND" followed by a large red map of Greater Germany with a large "Ja!" written across the map. Below the map is the inscription "10.April 1938. - Der historische Appell des Deutschen Volkse zur Gründung des Groβdeutschen Reichs durch Adolf Hitler". - 'April 10, 1938. - The historical appeal of the German people for the establishment of the Greater German Reich by Adolf Hitler'.

ANOTHER GREATER GERMANY MAP

This postcard was issued on 10th Apr 1938 and is different from the other relief map postcards in that this one has the image of Greater Germany stuck on, rather then printed on to the card. There is at least one other variation of this card with an additional 3 line inscription above the map which begins "Stahlwerk Düsseldorf"

AUSTRIAN BUILDINGS
SET OF TEN

This series of postcards consists of 10 individual scenes from places of interest across Austria and bears the inscription "Volksabstimmung | 10. April 1938". The cards do not have any pre-printed stamps and are almost always found with special cancellations inscribed "10 April 1938", the date of the vote to decide Austria's future.

The cards are not numbered, the reverse side is blank and there are no publisher's details.




ABOVE LEFT: 1. VIENNA
ABOVE RIGHT: 2. BRAUNAU AM INN




ABOVE LEFT: 3 - BURGENLAND
ABOVE RIGHT: 4 - KÄRNTEN




ABOVE LEFT: 5 - NIEDERÖSTERREICH
ABOVE RIGHT: 6 - OBERÖSTERREICH




ABOVE LEFT: 7 - SALZBURG
ABOVE RIGHT: 8 - STEIERMARK




ABOVE LEFT: 9 - VORALBERG
ABOVE RIGHT: 10 - TIROL

There was another similar design as the 10 above that featured a portrait of Hitler.

HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER

This postcard was issued on 10th Apr 1938 and shows a German and an Austrian shaking hands across the border.

EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER #5

This postcard depicts Adolf Hitler posing in military uniform flanked by two swastikas. Above his head is the inscription "Volks Abstimmung in Otsterreich. 10. April 1938". There is an identical card with a slightly different inscription that was issued to commemorate May Day in 1938.

EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER #4

This portrait postcard of Adolf Hilter is very easy to find and is most commonly found without the "Gedenke des 10. April 1938! Ein Volk - Ein Reich - Ein Fuhrer" inscription that this card has.

AFTER THE VOTE

VERLAG LEOPOLD STOCKER

On 13th Sep 1938 (5 Months after the vote) Publisher Leopold Stocker Verlag, Graz, issued a series of ten postcards commemorating a "Liberated Austria" from water-colours by Franz Köck. These cards were sold in packets of ten with a lengthy inscription.



ABOVE LEFT: No. 1
ABOVE RIGHT: No. 2



ABOVE LEFT: No. 3
ABOVE RIGHT: No. 4



ABOVE LEFT: No. 5
ABOVE RIGHT: No. 6



ABOVE LEFT: No. 7
ABOVE RIGHT: No. 8




ABOVE: No. 9




ABOVE RIGHT: No. 10

MAP OF GREATER GERMANY

Published by Dr. T.V of Lepzig this card was issued on 10th Oct 1938 and reflects the new reality of a Greater Germany.

DUPLICATE CARDS FROM MY COLLECTION

1. This postally unused card was favour cancelled in BERLIN with a special handstamp used to commemorate the Philatelists Show held in that city from 1st to 3rd Apr 1938.




2. This postally used example was sent from VIENNA to HAARLEM in HOLLAND on 9th Apr 1938. This card has a special handstmp used in Vienna to commemorate the Day of Greater Germany. In addition to the Vienna issue Anschluss stamp there are also two Austrian issue stamps for a nice mixed franking card.