PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1938)

This page was last updated
11-Dec-2024 07:00

DIE POSTKARTE DER "WEHRMACHT"
THE POSTCARDS OF THE ARMED FORCES

Originally Published c1936. This attractive series of 10 Hans Friedmann signed Wehrmacht postcards was produced by Kunstverlag Andelfinger, Munich 15, Goetheplatz 1. The publisher's name runs vertically along the centre-line of each card. In the bottom left-hand corner the title of the series, 'Die Postkarte der Wehrmacht', the series number e.g. 'I/9' and the text 'Hergestellt mit Benehmigung des Reichs-Kriegsministeriums unter Mitwirkung des Wehrkreis-Kommandos VII' is the only text on the reverse of each card.

From the cards in my collection it seems that there were two versions of these postcards. The first version was published c1936 (the earliest cancellation I have seen is Sep 1936), and does not have an image or additional text on the top left-hand side of the reverse, whereas the other version has an image of Munich with a large swastika and Iron Cross emblem along with the follwing text "NS. - Deutscher Reichskriegerbund | "Kyffhäuser" | Landesgegiet "Süd Hochland" | Soldatentag München | 15. Mai 1938 | "der frontsoldat mit dem Edelweiβ | marschiert" - 'NS. - German Reich War Association | "Kyffhäuser" | State area "South Hochland" | Soldier's Day Munich | May 15, 1938 | "The front soldier with the edelweiss | marches'.

Postcards 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 all have the special cancel used in Munich that comemorated Soldier's Day 1938 and is inscribed "MÜNCHEN | HAUPTSTADT DER BEWEGUNG | 15 Mai 1938 | Soldatentag | München" - 'MUNICH | CAPITAL OF MOVEMENT | 15 May 1938 | Soldiers Day | Munich' and has an image of Kyffhäuser Memorial.

Postcard 5 features a different special cancel, this one also used in Munich and inscribed "MÜNCHEN | HAUPTSTADT DER BEWEGUNG | Straβensammlung der Beamtenschaft des Traditionsgaues München - Oberbayern | WHW | 1.38" - 'MUNICH | CAPITAL OF MOVEMENT | Street collection of the civil servants of the traditional district Munich - Upper Bavaria | WHW | 1.38' and depicts a clove flower.

Postcard No.10 has an additional stamp, a 1939 issue 'Rintegration of Danzig' commemorative stamp and the related special postmark inscribed "DANZIG | GRÜSST JUBLEND | SEINEN FÜHRER UND BEFREIER | ADOLF HITLER | 19. Sept. 39" - 'DANZIG | GREETINGS | HIS LEADER AND DELIVERER | ADOLF HITLER | Sept. 19, 39'.

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REVERSE of CARDS

The more common version of these cards is as described above (and shown below left), however an alternative design featuring a Soldier's Day imprint dated 15.5.1938 is also available (see below right).