PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1943)
This page was last updated
04-Jan-2024 07:56
FREE EMERGENCY POST / SIGNS OF LIFE
(1943)
BACKGROUND: In order to help Germans find their loved ones after a bombing raid, the Nazi's introduced a series of free emergency post cards (commonly known as 'signs of life cards') that could be used to determine the whereabout of family or friends. There were three versions which can be determined by the code on the reverse of the card, adjacent to the vertical divider. The State Printing Works in Berlin printed cards with either a '5431 43 2D' or a '21400 43 2D' code, and the State Printing Works in Vienna printed a single card with code '4306 43'.
The cards were available free of charge from selected post offices and Nazi Party offices, for up to four days after the official Armed Forces Report was broadcast over the radio, confirming that a heavy Allied bombing raid had occurred on a particular city. The sender then had up to 10 days to send his request to the local post office.
There were three types of card in circulation that could be used for either civilian or Feldpost enquiries. These were colour coded with either green, red or violet borders.
