PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1940)
This page was last updated
23-Jun-2024 03:41
DEUTSCHE ROTE KREUZ
GERMAN RED CROSS
(Aug 1940)
BACKGROUND: This series of postcards was probably issued from mid-1940 onwards but that requires confirmation. There are at least ten different cards in the series but they are unnumbered. The cards were sold in envelopes from vending machines containing two cards and a strip of hindenburg medallion stamps (in booklet form).
There were at least nine different envelopes, all of which feature the red cross logo as well as anything from 2 to 11 lines of texts.
The first strip of stamps consisted of 4 stamps, from left to right a 1 Rpf, a 5 Rpf, a 3 Rpf and another 1 Rpf. Between the 5 Rpf and 3 Rpf stamps was a white panel with an inscription in black that reads "Unterstützt die NS=Volks=wohlfahrt!" - 'Support the NS People's welfare!'
The second strip of stamps consisted of 4 stamps from left to right: 5 Rpf, 1 Rpf, 1 Rpf and a 3 Rpf, again with the same panel in the centre.
SONDERSTEMPEL:
No.1
The card below bears the inscription "DRK-Schwestern in kriegstracht bereiten sich auf ihren Fronteinsatz vor" - 'German Red Cross (DRK) sisters in military costumes are preparing for their deployment at the front'
The reverse of the card has a list of stamps from two ofthe Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey), and their prices. Four of the six islands were occupied from 30th June 1940 until 9th May 1945, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. Herm and Lihou were not occupied.
No.2
The next card bears the inscription "Darreichung von Erfrischungen durch DRK-helferinnen" - 'Presentation of refreshments by DRK helpers'
This particular card has a self-adhesive 6 Rpf Hitler portrait stamp added but the card was never used.
No.3
This card features a nurse standing beside a medicine rack and bears the inscription "DRK-Schwester am Medikamentenschrank" - 'DRK nurse at the medicine cabinet'. The only used example of this card that I have seen was dated 27th May 1941.
No.4
The card below is inscribed "DRK-helfer tragen einen verwundeten Soldaten" - 'DRK helpers carry a wounded soldier'. The image shows a group of German soldiers in front of a hospital train carrying a wounded soldier.
No.5
The next card is inscribed "Behandlung eines Augenkranken durch eine DRK-Schwester." - 'Treatment of an eye patient by a DRK nurse.' The image is of a German soldier sitting down being attended to by a DRK nurse. The earliest used example of this card that I have seen was dated 29th Aug 1940.
No.6
This card is slightly different to those above in that the DRK logo has moved from the top-left to bottom-left of the card. The image depicts surgeons perforing an operation and is inscribed "DRK-Schwester hilft bei der Operation eines Verwundeten" - 'DRK nurse helps operate on a wounded man'. The only used example of this card that I have seen was dated 19th Nov 1940.
No.7
Below is another example where the DRK logo is located at the bottom-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing a patient for an X-ray. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwestern beim Röntgen" - 'DRK nurses doing x-rays'. The only used example of this card that I have seen was dated 19th Aug 1940.
No.8
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing drugs for use. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwester bei der Arbeit in der Apotheke eines kriegslazaretts" - 'DRK sister at work in the pharmacy of a war hospital'.
No.9
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing food at a soup kitchen. The inscription reads "DRK-helferin beim Einsatz zur Betreuung der Wolhyniendeutschen" - 'DRK helper on duty to look after the Volhynian Germans'.
Volhynia is a historical region in western Ukraine. The Ukrainian administrative unit Volyn Oblast includes only a part of historical Volhynia, which also included areas in Poland and Belarus.
No.10
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts two nurses preparing for duty. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwestern in kriegstracht bereiten sich auf ihren Fronteinsatz vor" - 'DRK sisters in military costumes are preparing for their deployment at the front'.
REFERENCES:
1. PRIVATPOSTKARTEN KATALOG BAND 1 by HANSPETER FRECH 2003 Edition
No.5
The next card is inscribed "Behandlung eines Augenkranken durch eine DRK-Schwester." - 'Treatment of an eye patient by a DRK nurse.' The image is of a German soldier sitting down being attended to by a DRK nurse. The earliest used example of this card that I have seen was dated 29th Aug 1940.
No.6
This card is slightly different to those above in that the DRK logo has moved from the top-left to bottom-left of the card. The image depicts surgeons perforing an operation and is inscribed "DRK-Schwester hilft bei der Operation eines Verwundeten" - 'DRK nurse helps operate on a wounded man'. The only used example of this card that I have seen was dated 19th Nov 1940.
No.7
Below is another example where the DRK logo is located at the bottom-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing a patient for an X-ray. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwestern beim Röntgen" - 'DRK nurses doing x-rays'. The only used example of this card that I have seen was dated 19th Aug 1940.
No.8
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing drugs for use. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwester bei der Arbeit in der Apotheke eines kriegslazaretts" - 'DRK sister at work in the pharmacy of a war hospital'.
No.9
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing food at a soup kitchen. The inscription reads "DRK-helferin beim Einsatz zur Betreuung der Wolhyniendeutschen" - 'DRK helper on duty to look after the Volhynian Germans'.
Volhynia is a historical region in western Ukraine. The Ukrainian administrative unit Volyn Oblast includes only a part of historical Volhynia, which also included areas in Poland and Belarus.
No.10
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts two nurses preparing for duty. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwestern in kriegstracht bereiten sich auf ihren Fronteinsatz vor" - 'DRK sisters in military costumes are preparing for their deployment at the front'.
REFERENCES:
1. PRIVATPOSTKARTEN KATALOG BAND 1 by HANSPETER FRECH 2003 Edition
No.7
Below is another example where the DRK logo is located at the bottom-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing a patient for an X-ray. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwestern beim Röntgen" - 'DRK nurses doing x-rays'. The only used example of this card that I have seen was dated 19th Aug 1940.
No.8
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing drugs for use. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwester bei der Arbeit in der Apotheke eines kriegslazaretts" - 'DRK sister at work in the pharmacy of a war hospital'.
No.9
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing food at a soup kitchen. The inscription reads "DRK-helferin beim Einsatz zur Betreuung der Wolhyniendeutschen" - 'DRK helper on duty to look after the Volhynian Germans'.
Volhynia is a historical region in western Ukraine. The Ukrainian administrative unit Volyn Oblast includes only a part of historical Volhynia, which also included areas in Poland and Belarus.
No.10
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts two nurses preparing for duty. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwestern in kriegstracht bereiten sich auf ihren Fronteinsatz vor" - 'DRK sisters in military costumes are preparing for their deployment at the front'.
REFERENCES:
1. PRIVATPOSTKARTEN KATALOG BAND 1 by HANSPETER FRECH 2003 Edition
No.9
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts nurses preparing food at a soup kitchen. The inscription reads "DRK-helferin beim Einsatz zur Betreuung der Wolhyniendeutschen" - 'DRK helper on duty to look after the Volhynian Germans'.
Volhynia is a historical region in western Ukraine. The Ukrainian administrative unit Volyn Oblast includes only a part of historical Volhynia, which also included areas in Poland and Belarus.
No.10
The DRK logo is again located at the top-left of the card. The image depicts two nurses preparing for duty. The inscription reads "DRK-Schwestern in kriegstracht bereiten sich auf ihren Fronteinsatz vor" - 'DRK sisters in military costumes are preparing for their deployment at the front'.
REFERENCES:
1. PRIVATPOSTKARTEN KATALOG BAND 1 by HANSPETER FRECH 2003 Edition
REFERENCES:1. PRIVATPOSTKARTEN KATALOG BAND 1 by HANSPETER FRECH 2003 Edition
