Official postal stationery (Mi.P222) featuring an imprint 15 Pf Hindenburg Medallion. Ref: 21.12.1933 21st December 1933 Mi.P222 Official postal stationery (Mi.P222) featuring an imprint 15 Pf Hindenburg Medallion. Ref: 21.12.1933 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

National Socialist propaganda postcard issued by the N.S. Gefangenen- und Verwundetenhilfe (National Socialist Prisoners’ and Wounded Aid), from a design by Felix Albrecht (1900–1980). The illustration depicts uniformed SA men advancing beneath a swastika banner and carries the facsimile inscription of SA Chief of Staff Ernst Röhm, “Der Wille erzwingt den Sieg” — “Willpower compels victory.” Attached is a 50-Pfennig donation label inscribed “Reichspräsidenten-Wahlkampf – Entscheidungsjahr 1932”, relating the card to Hitler's unsuccessful campaign against Paul von Hindenburg in the presidential elections of March–April 1932. Although the underlying postcard design has been attributed to c.1929, the description of Röhm as Stabschef suggests that this particular version was produced no earlier than 1931; its precise issue date requires further confirmation. The card provides an unusually concentrated example of pre-1933 Nazi propaganda linking the SA, political campaigning, fund-raising and the support organisation for imprisoned and wounded National Socialists. Ref: Fleurs & Papillons 11th March 1932 Presidential Election of 1932 (I) National Socialist propaganda postcard issued by the N.S. Gefangenen- und Verwundetenhilfe (National Socialist Prisoners’ and Wounded Aid), from a design by Felix Albrecht (1900–1980). The illustration depicts uniformed SA men advancing beneath a swastika banner and carries the facsimile inscription of SA Chief of Staff Ernst Röhm, “Der Wille erzwingt den Sieg” — “Willpower compels victory.” Attached is a 50-Pfennig donation label inscribed “Reichspräsidenten-Wahlkampf – Entscheidungsjahr 1932”, relating the card to Hitler's unsuccessful campaign against Paul von Hindenburg in the presidential elections of March–April 1932. Although the underlying postcard design has been attributed to c.1929, the description of Röhm as Stabschef suggests that this particular version was produced no earlier than 1931; its precise issue date requires further confirmation. The card provides an unusually concentrated example of pre-1933 Nazi propaganda linking the SA, political campaigning, fund-raising and the support organisation for imprisoned and wounded National Socialists. Ref: Fleurs & Papillons Albrecht (1900–1980) is significant. He joined the NSDAP in 1927, was in the SA from 1927–29, joined the SS in 1930, and became an established designer of National Socialist propaganda. Importantly, archival material confirms that he was producing NSDAP election artwork in 1932, including material for Hitler's presidential campaign. Part One — The Presidential Election of 1932: Hitler challenges Hindenburg By early 1932 Germany was experiencing a severe political and economic crisis. Unemployment had reached more than six million, parliamentary government had become increasingly ineffective, and Chancellor Heinrich Brüning governed extensively through presidential emergency decrees. Against this background came the election for the most powerful directly elected office in the Weimar Republic: Reich President. The seven-year term of President Paul von Hindenburg, elected in 1925, was approaching its end. Hindenburg was now 84 and initially hoped that another election could be avoided by extending his term through constitutional amendment. Brüning attempted to secure the necessary parliamentary support, but Adolf Hitler and Alfred Hugenberg refused to cooperate. Hindenburg consequently agreed to stand for re-election. The political alignments were remarkable. Hindenburg was a conservative former Field Marshal who had defeated the republican candidate in 1925, yet in 1932 the Social Democratic Party (SPD) supported him. Faced with the possibility of Hitler becoming president, the SPD did not nominate its own candidate and urged its supporters to vote for Hindenburg. The Catholic Centre Party and other moderate parties also supported him. Hindenburg therefore found himself relying heavily upon voters who had once opposed him. The principal challengers were Adolf Hitler of the NSDAP, Ernst Thälmann of the Communist Party (KPD), and Theodor Duesterberg, deputy leader of the nationalist veterans' organisation Stahlhelm and candidate of the nationalist right. Hitler faced an unusual obstacle: although he had lived in Germany since before the First World War, he was still stateless and therefore could not stand for president. On 25th February 1932, the Nazi-controlled government of Braunschweig appointed him to a minor government position as Regierungsrat . The appointment conferred German citizenship, removing the legal obstacle to his presidential candidacy. The NSDAP presented Hitler as the representative of a younger, dynamic Germany in contrast to the elderly Hindenburg and the existing political establishment. The election therefore became far more than a contest between individual candidates: it demonstrated the extent to which National Socialism had developed from a fringe movement into a major electoral force. The first ballot took place on 13th March 1932. Hindenburg received 49.6 per cent, Hitler 30.1 per cent, Thälmann 13.2 per cent and Duesterberg 6.8 per cent. Hindenburg had come tantalisingly close to victory but had failed to obtain the absolute majority required on the first ballot. Hitler had not won, but approximately three German voters in ten had supported him. More importantly, Hindenburg's failure to cross the 50 per cent threshold meant that the contest was not over. Germany would vote again on 10th April 1932. PART TWO CONTINUES THE STORY OF THE ELECTION Sources: German Federal Archives — Presidential Election, 1932 — Federal archival account of the candidates, ballots and Hindenburg's re-election. Bundesarchiv Weimar German Historical Museum (LeMO) — Reich Presidential Election 1932 — useful overview of Hindenburg's candidacy and both ballots. Deutsches Historisches Museum (DHM) Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) — Destruction of Democracy, 1930–1933 — detailed discussion of the election, Hitler's citizenship and the political alignments behind the candidates. bpb.de German History in Documents and Images — Hitler's German citizenship — documents Hitler's Braunschweig appointment on 25th February 1932. The Hessisches Staatsarchiv Darmstadt confirms Felix Albrecht as a designer of NSDAP material for the April 1932 presidential election. Arcinsys Contemporary reporting confirms the two-stage presidential election and the continuation of campaigning after the 13th March ballot. Exist Research into the Munich NSDAP documents the activities of the Gefangenen- und Verwundetenhilfe during 1932. Dokumen

10th October 1933 Seidel & Naumann Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

Index Page Postal Stationery - PRIVATE 1923-1932 R.James Bender Volume 1 1933 R.James Bender Volume 1 1934 R.James Bender Volume 1 1935 R.James Bender Volume 1 p.247 - Saar - Commemorating the successful 13th January 1935 vote (text full width of postcard) . p.263 - Beposta 1935 (Mercury) - 3 Pf ('Drucksache', red , black , blue, brown, green), 5 Pf, 6 Pf , 10, Pf, 15 Pf . 1936 R.James Bender Volume 1 p.300 - 25 Jahre Verein Leipziger Briefmarkenbörse, 11th January 1936 (3 Pf brown , blue green, black) - see 34/50 1937 R.James Bender Volume 2 p.274 - KdF 'Sammeln am Feierabend' Berlin 3rd-5th September 1937 (Mi.P245) - see 34/52 1938 R.James Bender Volume 2 p.115 - LZ129 Hindenburg crash memorial, 8th January 1938. See 34/45 - cancelled/unused) p.134 - Berliner philatelisten zeigem... 1.-3.4.38 - without dotted 'i' in 'Berliner'- See 34/53 1939 R.James Bender Volume 2 1940 R.James Bender Volume 3 p.9 - Tag der Briefmarke, 1940. KdF Sammlergruppen - See 30/52 p.10 - Tag der Briefmarke, Leipzig ('Wer Ein VolkRetten Will...'). With printed greeting to the reverse from stamp dealer Martin Greif (1941) - See 32/22 p.20 - 100 years of postage stamps, 70 years of postcards - See 23/73 p.28 - Iron Cross and Oak Leaves: 'Es Kann nur einer...' p.30 - German Red Cross series of six postcards: Hitler, Wounded Soldier, Soldier with Club, Soldier with Hand-grenade , Countryside Sunrise , Graves Beneath Tree p.36 - KdF 300 years of the postal service in Hannover - 3 Pf (dark blue over tan, black over tan) 6 Pf (dark blue over tan - See 34/49 ) p.36 - Postal show held during the occasion of the 7th anniversary of the KdF - See 30/87 p.67 - Informing the German people of Germany's position in world-wide sea travel - see 30/54 1941 R.James Bender Volume 3 p.45 - Tag der Briefmarke (Wiener Klapperpost) without imprint stamp (but using Mi.762) with inscription 'Sondermarke zum Tag der Briefmarke 1941'. Variation of Mi.P241 p.46-48 - Tag der Briefmarke. Eight different designs each with inscription, ''Im Kampf un die Freiheit'. Mi.P242-01/08: 01 - Infanterie , 02 - Gebirgsjager, 03 - Gebirgsjager im Winterausrustung, 04 - Panzertruppe , 05 - Eisenbahn-Artillerie , 06 - U-Boot, 07 - Luftwaffe signals troops, 08 - SS p.49 - Tag der Briefmarke - KdF Sammlergruppe Kreisgruppe Dortmund - See 32/23 p.98 - Six years of the KdF collectors' group, 1935-1941. 5 Pf (green), 6 Pf (violet) - see 34/46 (unused) Lorraine (Lothringen) p.249-251 - Tag der Briefmarke. Eight different designs each with inscription, ''Im Kampf un die Freiheit'. Mi.P4-01/08: 01 - Infanterie, 02 - Gebirgsjager, 03 - Gebirgsjager im Winterausrustung , 04 - Panzertruppe, 05 - Eisenbahn-Artillerie, 06 - U-Boot, 07 - Luftwaffe signals troops, 08 - SS 1942 R.James Bender Volume 3 p.116 - Day of the German Police, 1942 - 'Die Polizei in Fonteinsatz' p.127 - 'the Soviet Paradise', Berlin, 9th May - 21st June 1942 (Probable (Bender) six postcard series: The Bolshevik Memorial of Union - see 19/17 (unused) ; Workshop of a shoemaker in the Paradise of the workers and Farmers; One-room flat for a family of six; Den dwelling of a cabby and his wife in a large city in the 'Paradise of the Worker and Farmers'; A one-room dwelling of a family of three in the 'Paradise of Workers and Farmers). 1943 R.James Bender Volume 3 1944 R.James Bender Volume 3 1945 R.James Bender Volume 3 Occupation Stationery R.James Bender Volume 3 General Government p.235 - 12 Gr postcard for internal mail - Mi.P12/02 (III. 42.) - see 35/35 Elsaß (Alsace) p.241 - Tag der Briefmarke, 1941 (Wiener Klapperpost) - Mi.P3 (Mi.P241) - see 34/48 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

5th October 1933 Mi.P281 Postcard Mi.P281/I with special cancel - Bochmann: Zwickau9 (Sachsen) Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

1st March 1933 Mi. P221 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

9th February 1933 News in Brief - Gersfeld ← Previous Next → 'Terror in Gersfeld' Article from the C.V.-Zeitung , 9th February 1933, p.41. Based in Berlin and with a circulation of 40,000 - 60,000 copies (c.1935), it was the most popular political weekly amongst German Jews. The paper reported on Jewish life in German society and addressed the topic of antisemitism. 'Over the course of the last week the windows of various Jewish families in Gersfeld were smashed. Moreover, a Jewish businessman who gave chase when the windows were shattered was stabbed with a knife and seriously injured. The perpetrators fled but left behind a cap and gloves, so that one can expect them to be identified. Larger riots broke out on the evening of Saturday 4 February. The leader of the NSDAP, the carpenter Heun [William Heun (b.1894); joined the NSDAP in 1930], called on his followers at the marketplace to fetch the Jewish inhabitants from their houses. The fanaticised multitude hereupon marched to the house of the respected businessman Bachrach from the Liebstadter company. [Correctly: Sally Bacharach (b.1881); lived from 1909 in Gersfeld and moved to Fulda in March 1934 with his wife, Ida]. Three National Socialists forced entry into the house and injured the unsuspecting businessman Bachrach, who was sitting with his family, with punches and kicks that were so severe that he collapsed and required medical attention. The barbarous attack is all the more incomprehensible since businessman Bachrach has never been active politically and enjoyed widespread popularity both personally and in business.' Gruner, 2019, p.85 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

International parcel despatch document (Paketkarte / Bulletin d’expédition), numbered 3779 and originating at München 3, accompanying a parcel addressed to Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. The document retains its German postage franking and, importantly, a Swiss “Zoll-Quittung” (Customs Receipt) attached to the front. The parcel entered Swiss postal-customs processing at Romanshorn, where both the despatch document and customs receipt were struck “ROMANSHORN Postzoll” on 17th January 1934. The receipt records 1.80 Swiss francs in charges. A further Lindau i. B. marking provides evidence of its movement through the Lake Constance frontier area before Swiss customs treatment. Romanshorn had developed into an important transport centre on Lake Constance, connected with international postal and transport routes. The item is particularly suitable for the Brief History Customs section because the surviving Paketkarte, customs receipt and Postzoll markings demonstrate the practical interaction between the German Reichspost and Swiss customs/postal authorities in handling an international parcel during 1934. The underlying principle remains recognisable in Swiss postal customs today: goods arriving from abroad must be declared and undergo customs clearance, with the postal carrier handling the customs process from the sender's declaration. Featuring stamps Mi.414 - 15pf (first issued Sept. 1928), Mi.422 - 80pf (first issued Sept.1928), Mi. 468 - 5pf (first issed Oct.1932), and Mi.472 - 40pf (first issued Oct. 1932). Ref: 17.01.1934 - 1/4 17th January 1934 Customs: Switzerland International parcel despatch document (Paketkarte / Bulletin d’expédition), numbered 3779 and originating at München 3, accompanying a parcel addressed to Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. The document retains its German postage franking and, importantly, a Swiss “Zoll-Quittung” (Customs Receipt) attached to the front. The parcel entered Swiss postal-customs processing at Romanshorn, where both the despatch document and customs receipt were struck “ROMANSHORN Postzoll” on 17th January 1934. The receipt records 1.80 Swiss francs in charges. A further Lindau i. B. marking provides evidence of its movement through the Lake Constance frontier area before Swiss customs treatment. Romanshorn had developed into an important transport centre on Lake Constance, connected with international postal and transport routes. The item is particularly suitable for the Brief History Customs section because the surviving Paketkarte, customs receipt and Postzoll markings demonstrate the practical interaction between the German Reichspost and Swiss customs/postal authorities in handling an international parcel during 1934. The underlying principle remains recognisable in Swiss postal customs today: goods arriving from abroad must be declared and undergo customs clearance, with the postal carrier handling the customs process from the sender's declaration. Featuring stamps Mi.414 - 15pf (first issued Sept. 1928), Mi.422 - 80pf (first issued Sept.1928), Mi. 468 - 5pf (first issed Oct.1932), and Mi.472 - 40pf (first issued Oct. 1932). Ref: 17.01.1934 - 1/4 Sources: Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security – receipt of international postal consignments Swiss Federal Office for Customs – Romanshorn customs office City of Romanshorn – historical development of the harbour and railway Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

22nd June 1941 Bochmann: Hamburg Cover (most likely a CTO) sent from Hamburg to Sontheim. Featuring postage stamp Mi.779 (German Derby) and special cancellation JB:Hamburg114/358. Ref: 22.06.1941 HAMBURG cancellations as featured in the Bochmann catalogues (1952) JB:Hamburg36/351 - see 27/32 JB:Hamburg64 /353 - 'Hansposta/ 1935'. Ref: 12.10.1935 JB:Hamburg68/354 see 09.01.1937 - 26/81 (not the best example) JB:Hamburg85(I)/355 see 12.06.1938 - 24/47 JB:Hamburg93 /356 - 'Heimkehr der Legion Condor/ 31.05. 1939'. Ref: 31.05.1939 - 29/42 JB:Hamburg94/356 see 29/62 JB:Hamburg96/356 see 29/68 JB:Hamburg103/357 see 26.06.1940 - 23/97 JB:Hamburg108/357 see 12.01.1941 - 24/50 JB:Hamburg114 /358 - 'Grosser Deutschlandpreis der Drejährigen'. 'd'. Ref: 22.06.1941 Notes on JB:Hamburg114/358 - The 'a' stamp occurs in two types: The base stroke of the 'a' ending vertically downwards; base stroke of the 'a' bent to the right at the bottom. The 'b' stamp occurs in two types: Large 'b' ; small 'b'. Only surcharged postage stamps were cancelled. See 30/53 - 'a' vertical. GENERIC CANCELLATIONS used in numerous cities including Hamburg JB:102 /811 - 'Fernsprecher/ spart/ Zeit und Geld'. Ref: 02.04.1933 (Link) JB:126A/814 - see 10.04.1942 - 19/11 JB:143 /816 - 'Rollende Mark/ macht Handwerk stark!/ Deine Hand dem/ Handwerk: 15.-21.10.33'. Ref: 21.10.1933 JB:168/819 - see 19.03.1935 - 24/63 JB:175A/819 - see 34/92 JB:175Bd/819 - see 34/93 JB:208/823 - see 26.06.1942 JB:336/835 - see 19.09.1939 - 29/87 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

14th July 1941 Bochmann Merzig Registered cover sent from Frankfurt to Merzig. The cover includes the address 'Horst-Wessel-Strasse'. The street has since been renamed 'Forest Road'. The Merzig special cancellation to the reverse was the only one used by the town during this period. Ref: 14.07.1941 MERZIG cancellation as featured in the Bochmann catalogues (1952) In use 1935 - 1944 JB:Merzig1/533 - 'Das Tor zum/ romantischen/ Saartal'. Ref: 14.07.1941 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

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