POSTAGE STAMPS
(1944)

This page was last updated
10-May-2023 07:32

MICHEL 864
100th ANNIVERSARY of BIRTH OF PROF. Dr. ROBERT KOCH

Issued on 25th Jan 1944, this stamp features a portrait of Dr. Robert Koch and was designed by E.R Vogenauer. Recess printed at the Vienna State Printing Works the stamp was unwatermarked, perf K14 and was lightly gummed with yellowish vertical ribs. The stamp was produced on sheets of 50 (10x5) and was valid for use until the end of the war.



Mi 864: 12+38Pf - black brown - More Details

MICHEL 865
11th ANNIVERSARY of the ASSUMPTION of POWER

A single stamp was issued on 29th Jan 1944 to commemorate the assumption to power of the Nazi party in 1933. It was designed by Gottfried Klein from a photograph by Hitler's personal photographer Heinrich Hoffmann. Printed photogravure on sheets of 50 (5x10) coated paper by the Vienna State Printing Works the stamp was perforated K14 with yellowish gum and had no watermark. The stamp was valid for use until the end of the war in 1945.



Mi 865: 54+96Rpf - dark orange brown - More Details

MICHEL 866 to 868
25th ANNIVERSARY of GERMAN AIRMAIL SERVICE

This impressive set of 3 stamps was issued on 11th Feb 1944 and was printed photogravure on coated paper at the State Printing Works in Vienna. These stamps were unwatermarked and appeared on sheets of 50 perf K14. The 6 + 4Pf stamp (Mi 866) was designed by Erich Meerwald and the remaining two stamps (Mi 867 and Mi 868) were designed by E.R. Vogenaur, hence the lack of continuity between the designs. The stamps were valid for use until May 1945.



Mi 866: 6+4Rpf - black opal green - More Details
Mi 867: 12+8Rpf - dark lilac red - More Details
Mi 868: 42+108Rpf - blackish blue - More Details

MICHEL 869 to 872
10th ANNIVERSARY of the WINTERHILFSWERK

This set of 4 stamps was issued on 2nd Mar 1944 to commemorate the work of the Winterhilfswerk. The von Axster-Heüdtlass designs were printed photogravure on coated paper by the Vienna State Printing Works. There is no watermark, the gum used was vertically ribbed, yellow to dark yellow and the perforations are K14. The stamps were valid for use until the end of the war.



Mi 869: 3+2Rpf - blackish reddish brown - More Details
Mi 870: 6+4Rpf - black bluish green - More Details
Mi 871: 12+8Rpf - carmine - More Details
Mi 872: 15+10Rpf - dark brown carmine - More Details

MICHEL 873 to 885
TAG DER WEHRMACHT & HELDENGEDENKTAG II
ARMED FORCES' and HERO'S DAY

Issued on 11th Mar 1944 this set of 13 stamps was released to commemorate both the Day of the Armed Forces and Hero's Day. The complete set was designed by Prof. O. Anton and printed photogravure on coated paper by the Berlin State Printing Works. The stamps are unwatermarked, perforated K14 and had yellow ribbed gum.



Mi 873: 3+2Rpf - blackish yellow brown - More Details
Mi 874: 4+3Rpf - blackish grey ultramarine - More Details
Mi 875: 5+3Rpf - blackish olive green - More Details
Mi 876: 6+4Rpf - blackish bluish violet - More Details



Mi 877: 8+4Rpf - red - More Details
Mi 878: 10+5Rpf - blackish reddish brown - More Details
Mi 879: 12+6Rpf - magenta - More Details
Mi 880: 15+10Rpf - blackish rose carmine - More Details



Mi 881: 16+10Rpf - blackish blue green - More Details
Mi 882: 20+10Rpf - blackish ultramarine - More Details
Mi 883: 24+10Rpf - blackish brown orange - More Details
Mi 884: 25+15Rpf - black violet blue - More Details



Mi 885: 30+20Rpf - black green olive - More Details

MICHEL 886
1,200th ANNIV of the CITY of FULDA

This P. Wolff designed stamp was issued on 11th Mar 1944 and depicts flowers from the castle gardens in the foreground and in the background, from left to right, the Cathedral, Michaels Church and the Orangery. Printed photogravure by the Vienna State Printing Works this stamp did not have a watermark and was issued on sheets of 50 (10x5) with vertical ribbed or smooth yellow to dark yellow gum and was perf K14. The stamp was valid for use until May 1945.



Mi 886: 12+38Rpf - sienna dark yellow brown - More Details

MICHEL 887
55th BIRTHDAY of ADOLF HITLER

To commemorate Hitler's 55th birthday this stamp was issued on 14th Apr 1944. Designed by G. Klein this stamp was issued a week before Hitler's birthday which was on the 20th of Apr. These stamps did not have a watermark and were issued by the State Printing Works in Berlin on sheets of 50 (10x5), perf K14, with vertical ribbed yellow to dark yellow gum. The stamp was valid for use until May 1945.



Mi 887: 54+96Rpf - magenta - More Details

MICHEL 888 to 893
KAMERADSCHAFTSBLOCK DER DEUTSCHEN REICHSPOST III
COMRADES OF THE GERMAN REICHSPOST III

This series of six stamps was issued on 3rd May 1944. This was a re-issue of the 1941 Comrades of the German Reichs Post stamps, Mi773 through Mi778, but with different colours and values. See also the 1939 version of this stamp issue. These stamps were also designed by von Axster-Heüdtlass and were printed by the Vienna State Printing Works photogravure on coated paper. The sheets consisted of 50 (5x10) stamps, did not have a watermark and were perf K14 with horizontal ribbed yellow to dark yellow gum. Valid for use until May 1945.



Mi 888: 6+9Rpf - dark lilac ultramarine - More Details
Mi 889: 8+12Rpf - green black - More Details
Mi 890: 12+18Rpf - dark magenta - More Details



Mi 891: 16+24Rpf - black green - More Details
Mi 892: 20+30Rpf - blackish cobalt blue - More Details
Mi 893: 24+36Rpf - blackish grey violet - More Details

MICHEL 894 and 895
REICHS ARBEITS DIENST EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION of the R.A.D

There were two stamps issued in Jun 1944 to commemorate the Exhibition of the R.A.D (Reichs Arbeits Dienst) or German Labour Service. These two Ahrlo designed stamps were printed recess at the Berlin State Printing Works. They were available in sheets of 50 (10x5) on unwatermarked paper with dark yellow gum and perf K14. The stamps depict R.A.D members in their uniforms and they were valid for use until May 1945.



Mi 894: 6+4Rpf - blackish yellow emerald green - More Details
Mi 895: 12+8Rpf - blackish rose - More Details

MICHEL 896
400. JAHRE ALBERTUS UNIVERSITÄT
400th ANNIVERSARY of ALBERT UNIVERSITY
(KÖNIGSBERG)

This stamp was issued on 2nd Jul 1944. The Vienna State Printing Works produced this Prof. Marten designed stamp on unwatermarked, perf K14, vertical ribbed dark yellow gummed paper. There is an associated special postmark which was used for one day on the 7th of July. The image on the stamp features Duke Albrecht of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1490-1568), the University's founder.



Mi 896: 6+4Rpf - blackish blue green - More Details

MICHEL 897 and 898
TIROLER LANDESSCHEIβEN
7th ANNIVERSARY of INNSBRUCK SHOOTING COMPETITION

Issued on 2nd Jul 1944 and printed by the Vienna State Printing Works, these two L. Alton designed stamps were produced photogravure on sheets of 50 (10x5), perf K14, unwatermarked and vertically ribbed or smooth dark yellow gummed paper. The stamps were valid for use until May 1945.



Mi 897: 6+4Rpf - black opal green - More Details
Mi 898: 12+8Rpf - blackish brownish red - More Details

MICHEL 899
DAS BRAUNE BAND VON DEUTSCHLAND
10th ANNIVERSARY of The BROWN RIBBON RACE

Another stamp designed by Richard Klein was issued on the 23rd of Jul 1944 to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Brown Band race. Printed by the Vienna State Printing Works, the stamp was recess printed on sheets of 50 (5x10), unwatermarked, perf K14 and horizontally ribbed white to dark yellow gummed paper. At 108Rpf this stamp had by far the highest surtax of any Third Reich semi-postal stamp.



Mi 899: 42+108Rpf - blackish orange brown - More Details

MICHEL 900 and 901
The VIENNA DERBY

Issued in Aug 1944 these two identical (except for the colour) stamps were designed by H. Frank and issued on sheets of 50 (10x5). They were printed by the Vienna State Printing Works on unwatermarked, perf K14, vertically ribbed white to dark yellow gummed paper.



Mi 900: 6+4Rpf - blackish bluish green - More Details
Mi 901: 12+8Rpf - dark red carmine - More Details

MICHEL 902 and 903
GERMAN GOLDSMITHS'S SOCIETY

Issued: 11th Sep 1944. Produced Photogravure on coated paper at the State Printing Works in Vienna, these stamps were designed by E. R. Vogenaur. There was no watermark and the perf K14 stamps were vertically ribbed with dark yellow gum. The image on the stamp is the Nautilus beaker. An official postcard was also available which features the same design as the stamps. In addition, there was a special handstamp used in HANAU.



Mi 902: 6+4Rpf - black green - More Details
Mi 903: 12+88Rpf - black brownish red - More Details

MICHEL 904
TAG DER BRIEFMARKE
THE DAY of THE STAMP

Issued: 2nd Oct 1944. The fourth and last 'Day of the Stamp' was designed by Erich Meerwald and printed photogravure on coated paper by the Vienna State Printing Works. It was perf K14, unwatermarked and had horizontally ribbed dark yellow gum. Unusually for the Day of the Stamp issues, this one was made available in Oct at the end of the year, instead of the customary January release.



Mi 904: 6+24Rpf - black blue green - More Details

MICHEL 906
21st ANNIVERSARY of the BEER HALL PUTSCH

Issued: 9th Nov 1944, 21 years to the day after the failed Munich Putsch of 1923. This was the last stamp issued in 1944 and this K. Diebitsch designed stamp was printed photogravure on coated paper by the Berlin state Printing Works. It was unwatermarked, perf K14 and had vertically ribbed dark yellow gum and was available in sheets of 50 (5x10).



Mi 906: 6+24Rpf - dark rose red - More Details

MICHEL 3
PERMISSION STAMP for FELDPOST
(PACKAGES UP TO 2Kg)

Issued: 24th Nov 1944. The design is the same as that of Michel 795 from 1941 with an overprinted "FELDPOST 2kg". This label was recess printed on sheets of 100 on unwatermarked, perf K14, vertically ribbed or smooth paper from the Berlin State Printing works.



Mi 3: dark lilac to light bluish violet - More Details

MICHEL 4
PERMISSION STAMP for FIELD POST
(CHRISTMAS PARCELS)

Issued: 20th Oct 1944. This stamp is very similar to a Michel 2 1942 concession label, except it is much smaller, being 22½ x 18mm. It was unwatermarked, perf K14 and typography printed at the Berlin State Printing Works.



Mi 4: More Details

MICHEL 5

Mi 5: See 1943

Stamps catalogued as Michel 6 to 12 are referred to as Island post or Inselpost.

Following the successful action by Allied forces in pushing German troops out of most parts of the Greek mainland, small pockets of resistance remained on some of the smaller Greek and Aegean islands. From the Autumn of 1944 it became impossible for these troops to be supplied other than by air. This led to a large drop in the quantity of mail carried as the limited capacity was required for the transportation of food and war material.

Three independent headquartes were set up by the Germans on the various islands: Kommandant des festen Platzes KRETA (Commander of fortress Crete), Kommandant OST-ÄGÄIS (Commander East Aegean Islands) and Festungskommandant LEROS (Commander of fortress LEROS).

A decree was issued stating that all mail to and from these islands must have a valid field post number and only field post stamps overprinted 'Inselpost' were to be used. In addition all mail was to be handled by the Luftgaupostamt (Air Force Post Office) and was to be routed through Vienna. This routing also had to be noted on all mail items.

NOTE: due to high number of cheaper, unused Michel 2 parcel stamps there are a great number of forgeries overprinted with the inscription 'Inselpost'. These range from forged perforations, forged overprints, forged cancellations and everything else in between. Expertisation marks have also been forged so caveat emptor.

MICHEL 6
INSELPOST - ISLAND POST
(VUKOVAR OVERPRINT)

Issued: Oct 1944. These labels were created by the German forces trapped on Crete and the neighbouring islands to be used as airmail concession labels. 200,000 of the Michel 2 1942 parcel labels were overprinted with the word "Inselpost" but the plane carrying them was shot down over the Gulf of Salonika and they were all lost. Approximately 2,000 labels remained in Vucovar, Yugoslavia where they were issued to collectors. Most of these are CTO and have been cancelled with a letter 'e' but they were never used on official mail. Genuine used stamps do not exist.



Mi 6: More Details

MICHEL 7
LOCAL ISSUE CONCESSION LABELS
(CRETE)

Issued: . Airmail concession labels of 1942 were overprinted red "Inselpost" between two parallel lines of asterisks in Crete. Approximately 100,000 labels were produced at the soldier's newspaper "Veste Kreta" printing works.

More details here



ABOVE LEFT: Mi 7 A
ABOVE RIGHT: Mi 7 B

MICHEL 8 and 9
LOCAL ISSUE CONCESSION LABELS
(RHODES)

Issued: Oct/Nov 1944. Both concession labels of 1942 (the blue airmail and brown parcel labels) were re-used in late 1944, this time with the word "INSELPOST" printed in black capital letters horizontally across the stamp.



Mi 8B: More Details
Mi P9: More Details

MICHEL 10
FIELD POST STAMP
(AGRAM [ZAGREB])

Issued Nov 1944, This stamp is the same as Michel 2 with "INSELPOST" overprint in italic capital letters instead of lower case.



Mi 10: More Details