GERMAN POSTAL HISTORY

This page was last updated
10-Dec-2023 02:59

VEREIN FÜR DAS DEUTSCHTUM IM AUSLAND
ASSOCIATION FOR GERMANNESS ABROAD
THE VDA

Most, but not all of these cards were issued in sets of 6 postcards, in a commemorative envelope and all without any pre-printed postal charge. The first few sets of undated cards, unlike the 1940, 1941 and 1942 cards are not in the least bit propagandist, depicting regional costumes and artistic scenes without the usual Nazi paraphernalia that can be found on many cards from the period after 1933. They do however take on a more militaristic theme as new sets are published. Because of this it is not unusual to find examples of the earlier cards that were postally used after the war had ended, and well into the 1960's.

line

P1.R1
DEUTSCHES REICH: VOLKSTRACHTEN
GERMAN EMPIRE: TRADITIONAL COSTUMES

This first set of 6 postcards is titled "Deutsches Reich: Volkstrachten" - "Germany: Traditional Costumes". The title "Deutsches Reich" places the publishing date somewhere between 1933 and 1945. These cards were produced from paintings by Richard Nitsch (27th Jun 1866 to 1945).

No. 1: SCHWABIA: Description: Schwabian peasant wearing a hat and leaning on a cane, smiling at the artist. Signed: No.
No. 2: HAMBURG
No. 3: THÜRINGIA: Description: Peasant from the town of Ifta smoking pipe. Signed: Top left.

No. 4: THÜRINGIA: Description: Peasant woman from Thüringia peeling a bowl of apples. Signed: Top left
No. 5:
No. 6: BÜCKEBURG: Description: Peasant woman in Sunday costume, sitting with a basket of potatoes. Signed: Top right.

line

P1.R2
TRADITIONAL COSTUMES

This set of 6 postcards is titled "Deutsches Reich: Volkstrachten" - "Germany: Traditional Costumes". The title "Deutsches Reich" places the publishing date somewhere between 1933 and 1945. These cards were produced from paintings by Richard Nitsch (27th Jun 1866 to 1945).

No. 1: MÖNCHGUTERIN
No. 2: BÜRGERFRAU aus MITTELFRANKEN: Burger woman from Middle Franconia in traditional costume. Signed: Top right
No. 3:

No. 4: SILESIAN: Description: A market woman holds on her lap a wicker basket filled with radishes, cauliflower, kohlrabi and carrots. Medium: oil/wood. Signed: top right. Title: on reverse.
No. 5: BANYERISCHER BAUER
No. 6: MÄDCHEN aus LINDHORST

line

P1.R3
TRADITIONAL COSTUMES

No. 1: POMMERISCHE BAUERIN: Description: Pommeranian Farmer's wife drinking tea. Signed: Top left.
No. 2: FRAU aus SCHLITZ
No. 3: BAYERISCHER BAUER (TÖLZ): Description: Bavarian farmer in traditional costume with beer stein. Signed: Top right.

No. 4: MÄRKISCHE BÄUERIN: Description: Markisch farmer's wife from Frankfurt (Oder) repairing clothes. Signed: Top left
No. 5: SCHWARZWALDERIN aus GUTACH
No. 6: ALTE SCHWÄBIN: Description: Old Swabian lady reading a book (The Bible?). Signed: Top right

No. 7: German farmers from the Zipfer Netherlands in festival costume
No. 8:
No. 9:

line

P1.R4
TRADITIONAL COSTUMES

No. 1: FREISIN (FREISING?)
No. 2: EGERLÄNDERIN
No. 3: SCHLESIERIN

No. 4: SUDTIROLER aus dem SARNTAL
No. 5: TIROLERIN aus dem ÖKTAL: Description: Tyrolian peasant from Öktal looks quizically at the artist. Signed: Top left
No. 6: WACHAUER DIRNDL (NIEDERDONAU)

line

P1.R5
UNSERE U-BOOT-WAFFE
OUR SUBMARINES

This series of six cards was produced from a series of paintings by German artist Wolfgang Willrich (31st Mar 1897 to 18th Oct 1948).

No. 1: REAR ADMIRAL DONITZ: Commander of the U-boat forces
No. 2: GÜNTHER PRIEN: The text on the reverse side reads "Captain Lieutenant Günther Prien, the hero of Scapa Flow", a reference to his successful attack on 14th Oct 1939 on the British home base of Scapa Flow where his U-Boat sank the capital ship 'Royal Oak' with the loss of 833 sailors.
No. 3: LIEUTENANT SCHULTZ: One of our most successful submarine commanders

No. 4: LIEUTANANT SCHUHART: Who was the first to sink a large English battleship
No. 5: LIEUTANANT FRAUENBEIM: Successful submarine commander
No. 6: Watch officer of a U-Boat

No. 7: Chief engineer officer. Submarine
No. 8:
No. 9: U-Boat helmsman

No. 10:
No. 11:
No. 12: U-Boat Commander Schuhart

line

P1.R6
UNSERE U-BOAT WAFFE
OUR U-BOATS

This is another series of 12 postcards from paintings by Wolfgand Willrich. This set focuses on the German U-Boat heroes.

No. 1:
No. 2: A regimental commander
No. 3:

No. 4: General von Rundstedt
No. 5:
No. 6:

No. 7:
No. 8:
No. 9:

No. 10:
No. 11:
No. 12:

line

P1.R7
UNSERE LUFTWAFFE
OUR AIRFORCE

This is another series of six postcards from paintings by Wolfgand Willrich. This set focuses on the German Luftwaffe (Air Force).

No. 1:
No. 2:
No. 3:

No. 4:
No. 5:
No. 6:

line

P1.R8
NORWEGEN KÄMPFER
NORWAY FIGHTERS

This is another series of six postcards from paintings by Wolfgand Willrich. This set focuses on the troops that defeated Norway.

No. 1:
No. 2:
No. 3:

No. 4:
No. 5:
No. 6:

line

P1.R9
UNSERE PANZERWAFFE
OUR TANKS

This is another series of six postcards from paintings by Wolfgand Willrich. This set focuses on German tank crews.

No. 1:
No. 2:
No. 3:

No. 4: EIN PANZERFAHRER: Description: features a German tank driver focusing on the road ahead.
No. 5:
No. 6: EIN PANZER PIONIER: Description: A Tank Pioneer preparing to arm a stick grenade.

line

P1.R10
UNSERE LUFTLANDETRUPPEN
OUR AIRFORCE

This is another series of six postcards from paintings by Wolfgand Willrich. This set focuses on the German Luftwaffe (Air Force).

No. 1:
No. 2:
No. 3:

No. 4:
No. 5:
No. 6:

line

P1.R20
DAS GROβER REICH
THE GREATER EMPIRE

This particular set had at least 17 different designs all depicting famous buildings in Germany. The inscription reads "Das Grossere Reich" which translates as "The Greater Empire". Most of the places depicted on these postcards are located in Elsass and Lorraine, which had become part of France after the Treaty of Versailles, so maybe this was an attempt to remind Germans that these two regions were once part of Germany and that they would one day become part of a Greater Germany.

No. 1: STRASSBURG mit MÜNSTER
No. 2: SCHLETTSTADT i. Unter-Elsaβ mit St. Georgemünster und St. Fideskirche
No. 3: HOHKÖNIGSBURG

No. 4: Oberehnhelm i. Elsaβ
No. 5: Reftenholz i. Elsaβ mit Herenturm
No. 6: Weissenburg i. Elsaβ

No. 7:
No. 8: Mülhausen, Sauturm mit protestantischer Kirche
No. 9: THANN an der THUR

No. 10: SULZERNER SEE mit OBEREM
No. 11: KOLMAR
No. 12: Ranfersberg i. Ober Elsaβ

No. 13: METZ
No. 14: Metz, Das Deutsche Tor
No. 15: FINSTINGEN an der SAAR

No. 16: NIEDERSTINZEL
No. 17: DAGSBURG
No. 18:

line

P1.R30
VOM GROβEN TRECK - OTTO ENGELHARDT-KYFFHÄUSER
THE BIG TRECK

This particular set of postcards had at least 11 different designs all commemorating 'The Big Trek', a journey by German minerologist Otto Moritz (I) Ludwig von Engelhardt through the Crimea and Caucasus. Engelhardt travelled extensively through Russia documenting the gold, platinum, and diamond deposits he found along the way. He died in 1842 and this series is dedicated to his work.

No. 1: Farmer Johann Schick
No. 2: Farmer Anton Stechbauer
No. 3: Otto Engelhardt-Kuffhäuser: Bauer Demke

No. 4: Farmer Gottlieb Ludwig
No. 5: Farmer Jakob Knecht
No. 6: Farmer August Kromreich

No. 7: Farmer Martin Lowenberg
No. 8: Farmer Rdolf Eger
No. 9: Yound wife with child

No. 10: Farmer's wife Maria Merck
No. 11: German farmer's daughter from Galicia
No. 12:

line

P1 R40
DR. GABRIEL ENGLER - KÄRNTNER KÖPFE
CARINTHIAN HEADS

This particular set had at least 4 (and probably six) different designs entitled "Dr. Gabriel Engler: "Kärntner Köpfe". - 'Dr. Gabriel Engler Carinthian heads', more research is needed on this set of postcards.

No. 1: Carinthian hunters from Hirt
No. 2: Carinthian mountain farmers from Hirt
No. 3: Dr. Gabriel Engler

No. 4: Carinthian small farmers from Kreuzberg near Klagenfurt

line

P1.R41
OSTMÄRKISCHE VOLKSTRACHTEN
EAST MARK FOLK COSTUMES

This particular set had at least 15 different designs all depicting men and women in traditional costume. The series is entitled "Ostmärkische Volkstrachten" - 'Folk Costumes of the East Mark'. The postcards were created from drawings by Austrian artist Marta Elisabet Fossel (16th May 1880 - 20th Apr 1965).

No. 1: Tirol - Zillertal
No. 2:
No. 3:

No. 4:
No. 5: East Styria
No. 6: Vorarlberg - Bregenzwald

No. 7: Niederdonau - Wachau
No. 8 : Kärnten - Gaital
No. 9: Salzburg - Binzgau

No. 10:
No. 11:
No. 12: Steiermark - Ennstal.

No. 13:
No. 14: Kärnten - Lesachtal
No. 15: Eberdonau - Kremstal

No. 16: Oberdonau - Innviertel

line

P2 R1
SIEBENBÜRGISCH SÄCHSISCHE VOLKSTRACHTEN
TRANSYLVANIAN SAXON FOLK COSTUMES

This particular set had 6 different designs entitled "Siebenbürgisch sächsische Volkstrachten" - 'Transylvanian Saxon folk costumes'. The cards are adapted from works by German photographer and documentary film maker Hans Hermann Theodor Retzlaff ( 4th Oct 1902 to 1st Dec 1965)

No. 1:
No. 2:
No. 3:

No. 4:
No. 5:
No. 6: Farmer from Klein-Scheuern

line

P3.R3
SÜDTIROLER VOLKSTRACHTEN
SOUTH TYROLEAN FOLK COSTUMES

This particular set had 6 different designs all depicting people in South Tirol regional costumes. The series is entitled "SÜDTIROLER VOLKSTRACHTEN" - 'South Tyrolean Folk Costumes'

No. 1:
No. 2:
No. 3: Sarner Hirt

No. 4: Sarnerin
No. 5: Kastelruther
No. 6: Kastelrutherin

line

P5.R2
GOTTSCHEE

More Research required on this set of postcards that depict scenes of the region of Gottschee, now in Slovenia. The postcards appear to be adapted from paintings by artist Hanna Hertell.

No. 1:
No. 2: Stadt Gottschee
No. 3:

line

P6.R1
SIEBENBÜRGISCH SÄCHSISCHE VOLKSTRACHTEN
TRANSYLVANIAN SAXON FOLK COSTUMES

Another set of 6 different designs entitled "Siebenbürgisch sächsische Volkstrachten" - 'Transylvanian Saxon folk costumes'. The cards are adapted from works by German photographer and documentary film maker Hans Hermann Theodor Retzlaff ( 4th Oct 1902 to 1st Dec 1965)

No. 1: Young farmer from Lechnitz in the Nösner gau
No. 2: Farmer from Klein-Scheuern.
No. 3: Farmer's wife from Klein-Bistritz in Nösner gau

No. 4: Farmer's wife stairs on winter church
No. 5: Bride from Stolzenburg
No. 6: Farmer and his wife from Rode

line

P6.R2
SIEBENBÜRGISCH SÄCHSISCHE VOLKSTRACHTEN
TRANSYLVANIAN SAXON FOLK COSTUMES

The third set of 6 different designs entitled "Siebenbürgisch sächsische Volkstrachten" - 'Transylvanian Saxon folk costumes'. The cards are adapted from works by German photographer and documentary film maker Hans Hermann Theodor Retzlaff ( 4th Oct 1902 to 1st Dec 1965)

No. 1:
No. 2: Bride from Urwegen in the Unterwald
No. 3: Farmer from Klein-Bistritz in Nösner gau

No. 4: Young woman from Burgenland with red hat
No. 5: Farmer's children from Urwegen in Sunday best
No. 6: Farmer and his wife from WIndau in Nösner gau

line

P6.R3
AUS EINEM SIEBENBÜRGISCH DORF
IN A TRANSYLVANIAN VILLAGE

This set of 6 postcards features different designs all depicting scenes of village life. The series is entitled "Aus einem Siebenbürgischen Dorf" - 'From a Village in Transylvania' and the cards are adapted from the work of German painter and Graphic Artist, Prof. Walter Buhe (26th May 1882 – 22nd Dec 1958).

No. 1: Peasant woman spinning yarn
No. 2: maid at the cradle
No. 3:

No. 4: Prof. W. Buhe: Bauernkinder bei den Schularbeiten
No. 5:
No. 6: Prof. W. Buhe: Bauernhäuser an der Straβe

line

P6.R4
TRANSYLVANIA

This set of 6 postcards features different buildings from around Transylvania from artwork by Romanian artist Gertrud "Trude" Schullerus (3rd May 1889 - 24th Jan 1981).

No. 1:
No. 2:
No. 3:

No. 4:
No. 5: Meschen fortified church, begun in the 15th century
No. 6: Church castle Eibersdorf, started in the 15th century

line

P7.R3
ZIPFER VOLKSTRACHTEN
ZIPFER REGIONAL COSTUMES

The fourth set of 6 different designs, this time entitled "Zipfer Volkstrachten" - 'Zipfer folk costumes', adapted from works by German photographer and documentary film maker Hans Hermann Theodor Retzlaff ( 4th Oct 1902 to 1st Dec 1965)

No. 1:
No. 2: German bride from Malthern
No. 3:

No. 4:
No. 5:
No. 6:

line

P9.R1
ELSASS-LOTHRINGISCHE VOLKSTRACHTEN
ELSASS - LORRAINE FOLK COSTUMES

This set of 6 different postcard designs all featured regional costumes from the Elsass and Lorraine regions. These cards were produced from paintings by Richard Nitsch (27th Jun 1866 to 1945).

No. 1: Alsatian from Strasbourg
No. 2: Alsatian
No. 3: Peasant from Lorraine

No. 4:
No. 5:
No. 6:

line

P10.R1
NORDMARK
THE NORTHERN MARCH

This set of six postcards depicts scenes from around the Nord mark (Northern March) in the Brandenburg Region of North Eastern Germany. The postcards were adapted from paintings by artist Hanna Hertell.

No. 1: Scheriff an der Apenrader förde
No. 2:
No. 3: Hanna Hertell: Geestlandschaft bei Westergasse

No. 4: Marschenhof
No. 5: Hanna Hertell: Rinkeniβ
No. 6: Hanna Hartell: Hadersleben

line

P13.R1
BANATER SCHWABEN
BANAT SWABIA

This set of 6 different postcard designs depicts regional costumes from the Banat, Romania Region. The area was inhabited mostly by Germans but was ceded to Romania after the First World War. The cards are adapted from works by German photographer and documentary film maker Hans Hermann Theodor Retzlaff ( 4th Oct 1902 to 1st Dec 1965)

No. 1: Young peasants from Glogon (southern Slavia) in festive costumes
No. 2: Female peasant from Mramorak (southern Slavia) in working atire
No. 3: Bride from Mramerak

No. 4:
No. 5:
No. 6: Baptism in Buttenbrunn (Romania)

line

P13.R2
BANATER SCHWABEN
BANAT SWABIA

Another set of 6 different postcard designs depicting regional costumes from the Banat, Romania Region. The area was inhabited mostly by Germans but was ceded to Romania after the First World War. The cards are adapted from works by German photographer and documentary film maker Hans Hermann Theodor Retzlaff ( 4th Oct 1902 to 1st Dec 1965)

No. 1: Peasant girls in dance costumes from Buttenbrunn, Romania
No. 2: Virgin Mary from Saderlach
No. 3: Young peasants from Buttenbrunn in festive costumes

No. 4: Peasant women from Liebling, Romania
No. 5: Farmhouse parlor in Wolfsberg in the Banat Ore Mountains
No. 6: Peasant girl in traditional dance costume from Saderlach

line

P14 (1-6)
DEUTSCHER BLUTADEL IN ALLER WELT
NOBLE GERMAN BLOOD ALL OVER THE WORLD

P14 was a series of 36 postcards (sold in sets of 6) designed by Renowned German artist Wolfgang Willrich. The series is entitled "Deutscher Blutadel in aller Welt" or 'German noble blood all over the world' (remember the VDA's goal was to promote Germany and the Germans anywhere in the world) so this title is in line with the organisation’s goals. This was the first of a number of series of postcards, later issues becoming more militaristic and featuring soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the German Wehrmacht. This series hints at Willrich's racial leanings as all the images in this set are blond, blue-eyed Aryans. Willrich did not however join the Nazi Party (Requires confirmation).