GELEGENHEITSSTEMPEL
OPPORTUNITY STAMP - SPECIAL STAMP
(1944)

This page was last updated
10-May-2023 12:55

NOTE: This page contains details of special postmarks that are directly related to official stamps issued in 1944. For special postmarks that are not directly related 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.

ZUM GEBURTSTAG ROBERT KOCH
100th ANNIVERSARY of BIRTH OF PROF. Dr. ROBERT KOCH
25th Jan 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 864
RELATED POSTCARD:

The special handstamp used to commemorate the birth centenary of Robert Koch was a backdated handstamp used to favour cancel the commemorative stamp, Michel 864. The stamp was only issued on 25th Jan 1944 whereas the handstamp is dated on the actual centenary date of 11th Dec 1943.



ABOVE: Special handstamp from WOLLSTEIN (P)

10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOTHER AND CHILD ORGANISATION
2nd Mar 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 869 to 872
RELATED POSTCARD:

Used for only on day on 28th Feb 1944 this handstamp was only used in KRAKAU and compliments the four Michel 869 to 872 stamps.

1,200th ANNIVERSARY of CITY of FULDA
11th Mar 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 886
RELATED POSTCARD:

The commemorative stamp Michel 886 was issued to celebrate the 1,200th Anniversary of the City of Fulda, was accompanied by a special handstamp, used only on 11th Mar 1944 and only in FULDA.

55th BIRTHDAY of ADOLF HITLER
20th Apr 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 887
RELATED POSTCARD:

As in previous years a special handstamp was used to commemorate Hitler's birthday. The handstamp used this year is inscribed with the city name and the slogan "DEUTSCHLAND WIRD SIEGEN!" - 'GERMANY WILL BE VICTORIOUS' and features a Reich's Adler with outstretched wings clasping a swastika in its talons and surrounded by an oak leaf wreath. The cancel was available in six cities as follows: AMSTERDAM, BRANAU AM INN, BERLIN, MÜNCHEN, NÜRNBERG and WEIN

Special handstamps, postcards and stamps were issued every year in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944 to commemorate his birthday.



ABOVE LEFT: AMSTERDAM (C)
ABOVE CENTRE: BERLIN (P)
ABOVE RIGHT: BRANAU (P)



ABOVE LEFT: MÜNCHEN (P)
ABOVE CENTRE: NÜRNBERG (P)
ABOVE RIGHT: WIEN (P)

REICHS ARBEITS DIENST EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION of the R.A.D
Jun 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 894 and 895
RELATED POSTCARD:

Germany did not use a special handstamp to mark this event, but handstamps were used in PRAGUE and BOHEMIA and MORAVIA. The first, a circular stamp has the inscription "PRAG1-PRAHA | EHRET | DIE ARBEIT | REICHS | ARBEITSDIENST | KUNSTSCHAU 1944" and it has an image of a boy and a girl, the same as the stamps that were issued to commemorate the exhibition.

A roller stamp was also used which had alternating CDS cancels with rectangular blocks inserted between them. The blocks featured a boy then a girl and the inscription reads "REICHSARBEITSDIENST | KUNST | SCHAU 1944 | zu PRAG" and "EHRET | DIE ARBEIT".



ABOVE LEFT: Roller special cancel
ABOVE RIGHT: Circular Special cancel

10. DAS BRAUNE BAND VON DEUTSCHLAND
10th ANNIVERSARY of The BROWN RIBBON RACE
6th Aug 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 899
RELATED POSTCARD:

Unlike in previous years the 1944 Brown Ribbon race was only commemorated with a single plain special handstamp. There is no image, just the inscription "Das Braune Band | 10 JAHRE | MÜNCHEN-REIM | 6.8.1944". The race itself was initially postponed until 6th Aug but then eventually cancelled altogether. Stamps and handstamps had already been produced so the Reichspost went ahead, and favour cancelled examples for dealers and collectors even though there was no race to commemorate.

400. JAHRE ALBERTUS UNIVERSITÄT
400th ANNIVERSARY of ALBERT UNIVERSITY (KÖNIGSBERG)
1st Jul 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 896
RELATED POSTCARD:

Used for only one day on 7th Jul 1944 this special handstamp, along with the commemorative stamp Michel 896, celebrates the 400th Anniversary of Albert University in the City of KÖNIGSBERG.

TIROLER LANDESSCHEIβEN
7th ANNIVERSARY of INNSBRUCK SHOOTING COMPETITION
1st Jul 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 897 and 898
RELATED POSTCARD:

As well as the special handstamp shown below there was also a slogan cancel.

12th ANNIVERSARY GERMAN GOLDSMITHS'S SOCIETY
11th Sep 1944

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN:
RELATED STAMPS: Michel 902 and 903
RELATED POSTCARD: P297




REFERENCES:
1. JULIUS BOCHMANN - KATALOG DER DEUTSCHEN GELEGENHEITSSTEMPEL
2. ROBERT W. JONES - THE PHILATELY OF THE THIRD REICH GERMANY 1933-1945 - MAR PUBLISHING - 2011 - ISBN: 978-0-9765165-3-8