OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1943)

This page was last updated
12-Oct-2022 08:42

OFFICIAL P312

BACKGROUND: This series of nine postcards was released to encourage the population to save vital resources needed for the war effort. The first two cards feature a character called 'Kohlenklau' or the 'Coal Thief', similar to the Squander Bug used by the Allies for the same purpose. Kohlenklau appears on P311, P312/01 and P312/02. The remaining seven cards all have variations on a message asking prople not to use the telephone after air raids as telephone services were vital to the emergency services.

SPECIAL CANCEL: NONE

OFFICIAL P312/02

Type 2 text reads "Faβt Kohlenklau! Er klaut das Gas und stiehlt das Licht, raubt Strom und Kohle. Duldet's nicht!" which translates as 'Stop the coal thief! He steals the gas and steals the light, steals electricity and coal. Do not tolerate it!'.

MORE P312/02 POSTCARDS

UNUSED CARDS

DOMESTIC USAGE

1. This first domestically used P312/02 postcard was sent from RAVENSBURG to TÜBINGEN on 6th Jan 1945.




2. The next example of a domestically used card was sent from BREMERVÖRDE to HANNOVER on 25th Aug 1943.




3. The domestically used card below was sent from ASCHERSLABEN to ALDENBURG on 24th Jan 1944.




4. The next card was sent on 3rd May 1943 from PFORZHEIM to MANNHEIM.




5. The next card was sent on 2nd Nov 1943 from STEINAU (ODER) to NÜRNBERG.




6. This example was posted in WESSOBRUNN on 30th Mar 1943 and is addressed to the Hümmel family in MUNICH. It is most likely that this card was sent from a child staying in one of the K.L.V Lager's, to his family who were still living in MUNICH and in danger of Allied bombing.

FOREIGN USAGE

MAIN REFERENCE SOURCES

1. MICHEL GANZSACHEN DEUTSCHLAND 2018. ISBN: 978-3-95402-225-0
2. BOREK GANZSACHEN-SPEZIAL-KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND ab 1933. ISBN: 3-87091-060-7
3. MICHEL BILDPOSTKARTEN- UND MOTIVGANSACHEN KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND 1997. ISBN: 3-87858-631-0
4. GANZSACHEN-HANDBUCH DES "DITTEN REICHES" 1933-1945 by FRECH. ISBN: UNKNOWN