PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1940)

This page was last updated
19-Aug-2023 11:24

IRON CROSS
(12th Jul 1940)

BACKGROUND: There were several versions of this postcard issued in 1940. The first was the official postcard P290 issued on 12th Jul with a pre-printed 6+19Rpf stamp featuring Adolf Hitler at the podium. The second card has exactly the same design, only it does not have a pre-printed stamp. The third version was issued in Dec 1940 to commemorate the Day of Greater German Stamp Traders.

The postcard itself was designed by Gottfried Klein and features an Iron Cross Medal suspended on a ribbon with an oak leaf cluster. The inscription reads "ES KANN NUR EINER SIEGEN UND DAS SIND WIR" - 'Only one can win and that is us' from a speach given by Adolf Hitler on 8th Nov 1939.

SPECIAL CANCEL:

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OFFICIAL POSTCARD P290
(12th Jul 1940)

P290 is the official version of this postcard and it features a 1939 issue, Mitchel 694 stamp, that was issued to commemorate National Labour Day on 28th Apr 1939. The stamp design was taken from a Heinrich Hoffmann photograph and it depicts Hitler at the podium giving his 'German Day' speech on 30th Jan 1939. The stamp has a value of 6Rpf + 19Rpf. 6Rpf was for the postage fee and 19Rpf was a donation to charity.

The front of the card has three lines of sender's text and five lines of destination text (the fourth line being thicker than the others and with a rope design). The card was published by Verlag Hoffmann but this is not shown on this version of the card.

ABOVE: OFFICIAL P290 POSTCARD

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WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP
(12th Jul 1940)

The second version of this card has exactly the same image of an Iron Cross Medal, the differences can be seen on the other side. There are no longer any lines in the sender's section instead they have been replaced by the inscription "Entwurf Gottfried Klein, München" - 'Design by Gottfried Klein, Munich'. The destination section has also changed and now consists of five solid horizontal lines. Along the vertical dividing line the publisher, Verlag Hoffmann of Munich is now printed.

ABOVE: WITHOUR PRE-PRINTED STAMP

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TAG DER GROβ DEUTSCHEN BRIEFMARKENHANDELS
DAY OF THE GREATER GERMAN STAMP TRADING
(1st/3rd Dec 1940)

This version of the card is the same as the Official postcard P290 above, only now it has been re-issued to commemorate the Day of Greater German Stamp Trading. This card has an additional inscription "Tag des Groß Deutschen | Briefmarkenhandels | Wien 1. bis 3. Dezember 1940" - 'Day of the Great German | Postage stamp trade | Vienna December 1st to 3rd, 1940'. The example below features the special cancel used in Vienna during the exhibition.

SPECIAL CANCEL: "WIEN 1 | Tag des Groβ deutschen | Briefmarkenhandels 1.-3.12.40"