GELEGENHEITSSTEMPEL
OPPORTUNITY STAMP - SPECIAL STAMP
(1944)

This page was last updated
30-Sep-2024 06:51

NOTE: This page contains details of special postmarks that are NOT directly related to official stamps issued in 1935. For special postmarks that are related directly to the issue of commemorative stamps look here

INTRODUCTION:
The study of the various postmarks and cancellations used in 1944 is a difficult one due to the limited information available. Fortunately, we have the BOCHMANN catalogue to assist in identifying most of them. Whilst the catalogue covers most special cancellations and is a required source for this area of study, the information provided is limited and does not put the various postmarks and cancellations into context. The Bochmann catalogue forms the basis of this page, but I have provided additional information where possible. My apologies now for any errors and the inevitable omissions.

DIENSTPOST - LAIBACH
(18th Jan 1944)

[BOCHMANN: Heft XX, Page XXX, No. X]



ABOVE LEFT: Special handstamp (P)

DIENSTPOST - ALPENVORLAND
(28th Mar 1944)

[BOCHMANN: Heft XX, Page XXX, No. X]



ABOVE LEFT: Special handstamp (P)

TREBNITZ
(14th Apr 1944)

[BOCHMANN: Heft 21, Page 730, No. 1]

Only one special handstamp was ever used in TREBNITZ and that was used in 1943, 1944 and 1945. Inscribed "TREBNITZ | Gründung Herzog Heinrich I. | Beginn der schlesischen Ostsiedlung" - 'TREBNITZ | Founding of Duke Heinrich I | Beginning of the Silesian Ostsiedlung'. Bochmann does not provide dates for which this handstamp was available.



ABOVE LEFT: Special handstamp (P)

LUXEMBURG
(5th Jun 1944)

[BOCHMANN: Heft XX, Page XXX, No. XX]



ABOVE LEFT: Special handstamp (P)

250th ANNIVERSARY of HALLE UNIVERSITY
(1st Jul 1944)

[BOCHMANN: Heft 8, Page 344, No. 27]

A single handstamp was used in HALLE from 15th Jun until 8th Jul 1944. The handstamp commemorates the 250th Anniversary of HALLE University (1694-1944) and features an image of Friedrich III of BRANDENBURG.



ABOVE LEFT: Special handstamp (P)

700 YEARS of EASTERN HISTORY
(6th Jul 1944)

[BOCHMANN: Heft 14, Page 527, No. 5]

The following special handstamp was used in MARIENBURG on 6th Jul 1944 to commemorate 700 years of Eastern history. The handstamp exists with MARIENBURG 1 and MARIENBURG 2 and was used in 1943 and 1944. Bochmann does not list the usage period. The inscription reads "MARIENBURG (WESTPR) | Burg der Deutschen Ritter | 700 Jahre Ostgeschichte" - 'MARIENBURG (WESTPR) | Castle of the Teutonic Knights | 700 years of eastern history' and depicts the head of a knight. This handstamp was the last of only 5 used in MARIENBURG.



ABOVE: "MARIENBURG 1" special handstamp (P)

KRIEGS HILFSWERK
WAR RELIEF FUND
(8th Aug 1944)

[BOCHMANN: Heft 3, Page 133, No. 391]

This special handstamp was only used at BERLIN SO 36 and only in 1944. The image is of a steel helmet and sword and the inscription reads "BERLIN SO 36 | Ihr opfer verpflichtet | Kriegs | Hilfswerk | 1944 | vor einem Schwert" - 'BERLIN SO 36, Your sacrifice obliges, relief organization, 1944, before a sword'. Again Bochmann does not provide a date range for the usage but it appears to have been used for at least a week either side of 8th Aug 1944.



ABOVE LEFT: Special handstamp for the War Relief Fund (P)

VISIT LOHR
(11th Oct 1944)

BOCHMANN: Heft: 14, Page: 504, No: 1
The following handstamp is inscribed "LOHR | Besucht Lohr, das Spessarttor"" - 'LOHR | Visit Lohr, the Spessart Gate"" and was the only special handstamp used in LOHR during the Nazi period. This particular example was cancelled on 11th Oct 1944 but was also used every year from 1942 until 1954.



ABOVE: Image kindly provided by Michael Sims

REFERENCES:
1. JULIUS BOCHMANN - KATALOG DER DEUTSCHEN GELEGENHEITSSTEMPEL