PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1940)

This page was last updated
20-Feb-2025 07:36

NOT WORTH A PFENNIG - JOSEPH STALIN

In the interest of propaganda, the feldpost was used to create mocking caricatures of Germany's enemies. Postcards and fieldpost folded letters were issued by private companies and sold in in the Wehrmacht canteens and in stationary stores at a price of 5 Rpf each. Initially, from 1st May 1940 only the Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain versions were available, and it wasn't until Germany invaded Russia that the Joseph Stalin mocking cards were published.

The mockery cards could only be sent postage free through the field post. Mockery cards or mockery letters with additional 6 Rpf or 12 Rpf franking from private senders were also requested, but more research is needed on these.

DESIGNER HEINZ FEHLING

This first set of postcards was published in 1940 by Ferdinand Ashelm of Berlin-Lichterfelde, from a design by Heinz Fehling and features a stamp image of either Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain or Joseph Stalin. Due to being a later print there is only one version of the Stalin postcard (Published Jul 1941). The stamp depicts Stalin chopping through the handle of a hammer with a sickle (the hammer and sickle being the symbol of the Communist Party).

Various colour differences in the paper and print, as well as different cardboard thicknesses should be ignored, since these differences are due to war-time shortages in materials (paper, card and ink).



ABOVE: (1) - JOSEPH STALIN (GERST 4503)

MATTHES POSTCARDS

In addition to the Fehling mockery cards above, there were also cards produced by Verlag Paul R. Matthes. They are very similar to the Fehling cards, however they do not appear in the "Michel Feldpost Catalogue" and more research is required in order to determine their validity.

KNOWN FORGERIES

Due to the interest these items generate among philatelists, the Heinz Fehling cards have been the subject of forgeries and unoffical reprints. The most common forgery has the word "Feldpostkarte", instead of "Feldpost".

These printings are considered forgeries but can often be found on eBay, and other such sites, being sold as the genuine atricle complete with stamps and cancellations. CAVEAT EMPTOR.

KNOWN RE-PRINTS

There was also an unofficial printing in the 1960's that has the inscription "Nachdruck. Walter Dungs" on the vertical dividing line. Chamberlain, Churchill and Stalin postcards were all re-printed. These aren't considered forgeries as they clearly have the word "NACHDRUCK" or re-print on the reverse of each card. However there are many examples in existance with fake/forged cancellations that are intended to convince buyers that these are genuine 1940 issued cards, they are NOT, they were printed in the 1960's.