GERMAN POSTAL HISTORY

This page was last updated
03-Mar-2025 07:09

REICHS ARBEITS DIENST
REICH LABOUR SERVICE

HANS RETZLAFF SERIES 1

Introduction: Hans Hermann Theodor Retzlaff, was a German photographer and documentary filmmaker (4th Oct 1902 - 1st Dec 1965). His passion was photographing the various German folk costumes, but was also well-known for his portraits and landscapes. He produced several films about the people and culture in various German regions such as Lusatia, Transylvania and the Schwalm.

Hans Retzlaff became known through photographs in newspapers, magazines, local history books and popular books. From 1934 onwards he published his own photo books. In the following years he worked with the National Socialist propaganda apparatus and was involved, among other things, in the photo book Der Untermensch (The Subhuman) from 1942. From 1943 onwards he was involved in assessing bomb damage in Berlin. [1]

This first series of HANS RETZLAFF postcards has the title "Reichsarbeitsdienst für die weibliche Jugend" - 'Reich Labor Service for Female Youth".



There are two variations of these cards. The first variant has the title text "HANS RETZLAFF" in upper case letters, and text "Aus dem Buch: Hans Retzlaff, "Arbeitsmaiden am Werk", Verlag E. A. Seeman, Leipzig, 1940.", on the reverse side bottom left-hand edge. The second type has the title text in lower case letters and no text on the reverse bottom left-hand edge.

No. 1

No. 2
DIE ARBEITSMAID ALS TREUE HELFERIN DER BÄUERIN
THE WORKING MAID AS A FAITHFUL HELPER OF THE FARMER'S WIFE

The postally used Type 1 example below was cancelled on 22nd Feb 1940 in KARNTEN. The card below right is a Type 2 example also postally used, this time in FELDKIRCH on 23rd Sep 1940.





ABOVE LEFT: Type 1
ABOVE RIGHT: Type 2

No. 3

No. 4
STADT UND LAND HABEN FREUNDSCHAFT GESCHLOSSEN
THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY HAVE FORMED A FRIENDSHIP

The card below is a postally unused Type 2 card.

No. 5

No. 6
DIE ARBEITSMAID ALS "TANTE" IM KINDERGARTEN
THE WORKING MAID AS "AUNT" IN KINDERGARTEN

The following example is a postally unused Type 1 card.

No. 7

No. 8

No. 9

No. 10
DIE ARBEITSMAID ALS HELFERIN BEIM FISCHER
THE WORKING MAID AS A HELPER TO THE FISHERMAN

The following example is a postally unused Type 1 card.

No. 11
DIE ARBEITSMAID MIT IHREN KLEINSTEN SCHUTZLINGEN AUF DEM HOF
THE WORK MAID WITH HER SMALLEST CHARGES IN THE FARM

No. 12
SONNTAGSFAHRT DURCH DIE SCHÖNE HEIMAT
SUNDAY TRIP THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL HOMELAND

The example below was postally used on 3rd Feb 1942.

REFERENCES

[1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Retzlaff