PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1941)

This page was last updated
12-Oct-2022 08:40

SOVIET PARADISE EXHIBITION
VIENNA - AUSTRIA
(13th Dec 1941/ 1st Feb 1942)

BACKGROUND: The Soviet Paradise Exhibition (Das Sowjet Paradies) was a propaganda exhibition organised by the Reichspropagandaleitung (Department of Film of the NSDAP). The exhibition opened in Vienna, Austria, on 13th Dec 1941 and continued, moving from city to city, until 30th Oct 1942. The purpose of the exhibition was to justify the Nazi's extreme racist views, showing Soviet Jews living in sub-human conditions. The exhibition was accompanied by a propaganda film of the same name, which was directed by Friedrich Albat and ran for approximately 14 minutes. Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in Jun 1941 provided much of the material for the various 'exhibits'.

Four of the cities that the exhibition visited provided promotional postcards and had special postal cancellations available. The postcards were first made available in Austria (13th Dec 1941) where a Series of at least 15 postcards was published. Each of these cards has a "Q/3059" code as well as a short description of the image on the reverse.

The exhibition then moved on to Berlin (9th May to 21st Jun 1942), Hamburg (25th Jul to 30th Aug 1942) and Essen (26th Sep to 30th Oct 1942). In addition to these three sets of six cards, there was a 4th set in which the cards did not have any dates or locations of the exhibition and there is no text on the picture side of the cards.

These postcards are not serialised so they are listed here in no particular order.

For much more detailed information on the exhibiton please look here

SPECIAL CANCELS: Special cancellations were made available in four cities: Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg and Essen.



ABOVE LEFT: 1941 VIENNA CANCEL (C)
CENTRE LEFT: 1942 BERLIN CANCEL (C)
CENTRE RIGHT: 1942 HAMBURG CANCEL (C)
ABOVE RIGHT: 1942 ESSEN CANCEL (C)

1. A WORKER'S DEN

This postcard is titled "Wohnhöhle eines Arbeiters" - 'A Worker's Den'.

2. SOVIET RESTAURANT

This postcard is titled "Sowjet Restaurant" - 'Soviet Restaurant'.

3. WORKER'S HOUSE

4. HOUSE FOR FOUR PEOPLE

5. WORKER'S HOUSE

6. SOVIET MEMORIAL

7. STREET COOKING PLACE

8. STUDENT'S HOUSE IN MINSK

9. OUTDOOR COMMUNITY HEARTH

10. HOUSE IN MINSK

11. FAMILY HOUSE

12. SOVIET REGISTRY OFFICE

13. HOUSE FOR SIX PEOPLE

14. SOVIET CULTURE PARK

15. ORPHANED CHILDREN

This card differs from the others above in that it has details of the exhibition. The inscription on this card reads "AUSSTELLUNG "DAS SOWJET-PARADIES" | Wien VII., Messepalast | 13. Dezember 1941 - 1.Februar 1942".