PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1938)

This page was last updated
12-Oct-2022 08:49

BRIEFMARKEN WERBESCHAU - SEESTADT ROSTOCK
PP122-C-73
(9th Jan 1938)

BACKGROUND: Rostock is situated in Northern Germany in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, on the Bay of Mecklenburg, on the Baltic Sea. During the 1930's the city was the location for both Arado and Heinkel factories, used to manufacture aircraft for the Luftwaffe. These sites were the target of multiple RAF bombing raids in an effort to cripple aircraft production. The Russians overtook the city on 2nd May 1945 and the city remained within East Germany until reunification.

POSTCARDS: The two postcards below depict St. Mary's Church and were published by the Rostock Stamp Collectors Group to celebrate 'The Day of the Stamp'. There were two postcards issued, both with pre-printed 3Rpf Hindenburg Medallion stamps:

PP122-C-73/01: Brown
PP122-C-73/02: Green.

The first example below has the special cancel used to commemorate the event.

SONDERSTEMPEL: There was a special cancellation used at the show inscribed "Seestadt Rostock | Briefmarken-Werbe-Schau "Grief"". The word "Grief" or Griffin, relates to the Coat of Arms of the city. The Heinkel He 177 Grief, the name of a long range heavy bomber flown by the Luftwaffe during World War II, was also tested at the Rostock test field, known as Rostock-Marienehe and was later produced at the Rostock-Nord plant, and this may be the reason why the bomber was so named.

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