Postcard depicting 'Haus Vaterland' (c.1931) in Berlin. Ref: 19.04.1935 Index Buildings of significance Postcard depicting 'Haus Vaterland' (c.1931) in Berlin. Ref: 19.04.1935 Significant buildings within the Brief History collection Bayreuth Festspielhaus (Wagner) - see 12.07.1936 Haus der Deutschen Erziehung (House of German Education) - see 26/94 (x2) Berchtesgaden Haus Wachenfeld (pre-Berghof) Berghof - see 36/28 (interior view) Berlin Deutschlandhalle 27.09.1939 Dietrich Eckart Bühne Haus Vaterland (Food, drink & entertainment complex) '...the essence of Berlin' National Gallery Reichssportfeld - see 14.08.1938 Bocholt Bocholt Stadtwald 05.10.1939 Dresden Gewerbehaus Rudolf Heß Krankenhaus Gmunden Schloss Cumberland Hamburg Carl Hagenbeck's Tierpark (Zoo) 11.09.1934 Husum Ludwig Nissen Haus Munich Braunes Haus 17.10.1936 Feldherrnhalle 02.02.1936 Haus der Deutschen Kunst (including 'HDK' postcard number references) Nuremberg Der Deutsche Hof (Hotel), Frauentorgraben Kongressbau (The Nuremberg Congress Hall) Nuremberg Castle (Nürnberger Burg) Saarbrücken District Theatre Stuttgart Tagblatt Tower Vienna Burgtheater Wiener Messe Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

1st February 1941 Carlo Buerose Cover sent from Carlo Buerose in his role as director for the Southwest Region, Reichsbund der Philatelisten e.V. Ref: 01.02.1941 - 15/12 Carlo Buerose From Consilium Philatelicum Carlo Buerose, born on 28th April 1903, in Frankfurt a.M. He attended the Wöhler-Gymnasium there, then the higher commercial school and completed an apprenticeship at the Frankfurt company Türk & Pope. From 1927 he was the owner of a general agency for Frankfurter Allianz Insurance (which was continued by his son after he retired from active professional life). He started collecting stamps as a teenager. In 1920 he joined the 'Globus' association in Frankfurt, and in 1931 he joined the Association for Stamp Studies of 1878 e.V. Frankfurt, in which he held numerous positions. He was secretary from 1934, also a librarian and deputy chairman from 1953, for which the association later thanked him with honorary membership. Buerose had also played a role at association level before the Second World War. He was director of the Southwest Regional Association and from 1935 held the same position at the newly founded Hesse Regional Association in the Reichsbund der Philatelisten. Buerose continued this position after the Second World War and also took on new philatelic tasks in the German federal government. From 1957 to 1970 he was its vice president, at times treasurer and chairman of the administrative committee. From 1966 to 1973 he was director of the Foundation for the Promotion of Philately and Postal History. He not only worked as a juror at numerous exhibitions, but also as an organiser. Buerose's own collecting interests focused on post-used stamps from Baden, Hanover, Mecklenburg, Saxony and Thurn & Taxis issues of the German Empire, as well as stamps of the Saarland. Günther Welter wrote about Buerose's farewell from the board of the BDPh in the then 'Bundesnachrichten' in 1970: 'This pioneer from the very beginning worked in and for the federal government for 25 years; he headed, no, he embodied the federal office. …Carlo Buerose is sovereign and sovereign, a patriarch of the old school, he reacted, acted, made decisions patriarchally, always intuitively and spontaneously, always unconventionally and without concern for effects.' Philately knew how to thank him. In 1941 he received the silver pin of the Reichsbund, in 1952 he was awarded the Baurat Luce Medal from his Frankfurt association, and in 1954 the gold pin of merit from the BDPh. Ten years later, Alois W. Bögershausen, the chairman of the Philatelists Association in North Rhine-Westphalia, thanked his board colleague - like Buerose was also Vice President of the BDPh at that time - with his association's Medal of Honor for special services to association philately and - last but not least - the Hans Wagner Medal followed four years later, in 1968. The term 'pioneer of the first hour' was a perfect fit for Buerose, who died on 29th April 1993 at the age of 90, meaning he was only a member of the Consilium for seven years. Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

3rd February 1941 Munich: Wohlfahtsamt This is an official Munich municipal Welfare Office (Wohlfahrtsamt) Family Maintenance Department (Abteilung Familienunterhalt, Amt 5) card sent to Rosa Stadler of Lindwurmstraße 135/I, München 15, and postmarked 3rd February 1941. Stadler was requested to attend the office within the following three working days and specifically to bring her new rent book (Mietebuch). The Familienunterhalt system provided financial support to qualifying dependants of men called into military service, so the card was probably connected with the assessment or review of such payments, although the serviceman concerned and his relationship to Rosa Stadler have not yet been identified. Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

10th February 1941 'Arkona' Feldpost correspondence sent to Kapitanleutnant Otto L. von Spies. One of six envelopes containing letters from another member of the von Spies family. A prolific sequence dated between 10th February 1941 and 1st March 1941. All sent from Riezlern with a special date cancel (JB:Riezlern2/645). Ref: 10.02.1941 17/35 The first piece of correspondence is sent to an address in Wilhelmshaven, whilst subsequent envelopes are addressed to FPN 09200. FPN 092 00 relates to Schwimmende Flak-Batterie 'Arkona' ( Floating anti-aircraft battery ‘Arkona’). Correspondence dates: 10th February 1941 14th February 1941 16th February 1941 20th February 1941 23rd February 1941 27th February 1941 - 33/93 1st March 1941 'Arkona' (Arcona) The Arkona , floating anti-aircraft cruiser. Ref: 33/93 (from the estate of Erich Gröner Archiv für Marine. Erich Gröner (1901-1965), German historian of naval warfare and shipbuilding). Keel laying: 1901; Launched: 22nd April 1902; Commissioned: 12th May 1903 The light cruiser 'Arcona' is the ninth ship of the 'Gazelle' class. The ships of this class were the first modern small cruisers of the German Imperial Navy and were built as additional ships based on the first naval law of 1898. As a ship class, they had no predecessors, but were designed based on the avisos of the Meteor class (1890/92) and the single ship SMS Hela (1895). The general specifications and lines of the Hela were adopted and the hull was increased in width so that more powerful armament could be installed. The class is the forefather of a series of other classes of small cruisers, which culminated in the Kolberg class of 1910. The small cruiser 'Arcona' was commissioned on 12th May 1903. After the trial runs, the ship was integrated into the reconnaissance ship group on 18th July 1903. The small cruiser took part in several foreign voyages. In 1907, she was prepared for foreign voyages at the Imperial Shipyard in Wilhelmshaven. For this purpose, she was given a white coat of paint, among other things. The conversion was completed on 14th August 1907. The ship then undertook a voyage to East Asia. When she reached Singapore on 23rd October, the cruiser entered the area of the East Asian Station and the Cruiser Squadron. The small cruiser undertook further voyages here and visited the USA at the end of 1909. On 17th January 1910, the 'Arcona' set off for home and reached Wilhelmshaven on 24th March 1910, where the ship was decommissioned on 30th March 1910. The cruiser went to the Imperial Shipyard for basic repairs, where it was converted into a mine cruiser. The two middle 10.5 cm guns were removed and facilities were created to accommodate 200 mines. The stern was also flattened and the ship was given a second chimney. On 31st October 1912, the cruiser was recommissioned and assigned to the inspection of coastal artillery and mines. Training and maneuvering trips in the German Bight followed. With the outbreak of the First World War, the two removed 10.5 cm guns were reinstalled and the ship became the lead ship of the Ems coastal defence division there, from autumn 1915 coastal defence flotilla and from autumn 1917 outpost flotilla of the Ems. In spring 1919, the ship was converted and from then on served as the mother ship for UZ boats for the 5th Minesweeping Flotilla. During the conversion, all guns were removed from the ship except for the light forecastle guns for mine shooting. In February 1920, this task for 'Arcona' also ended and the small cruiser was dismantled. The ship was converted to a fleet cruiser, but no major conversion work was carried out. On 25th May 1921, the cruiser was recommissioned and joined the North Sea forces. On 1st December 1923, 'Arcona' was finally decommissioned and transferred to the reserve. On 15th January 1930, the ship was struck from the list of warships and used as a barracks for ship's crews, first in Wilhelmshaven, then in Swinemünde and Kiel. At the beginning of 1940, 'Arcona' was converted into a floating anti-aircraft battery. For this purpose, she received four 2-cm anti-aircraft guns, one 3.7-cm anti-aircraft gun and four 10.5-cm anti-aircraft guns. A fifth 10.5-cm anti-aircraft gun was installed in 1941. The five 10.5-cm guns were divided into two batteries. In order to achieve the greatest possible distance between the port and starboard guns, they had to be installed close to the ship's side. The bridge and part of the rear deck superstructure were converted into a control station and each received a 4-meter basic rangefinder. During a final conversion, the 'Arcona' was given a platform that extended over the stern, on which a 2 cm anti-aircraft gun was mounted. On 18th September 1940, she moved into her firing position on the Jade without her own propulsion. On 7th May 1942, the ship moved to its new position at 53° 39'8 north and 8° 9'33 east. At the end of the war, the ship was sunk in the second entrance to Wilhelmshaven on 3rd May 1945, and scrapped in 1948/49. Source: lexikon--der--wehrmacht-de (2025) NOTES ON OTTO L. VON SPIES Taken from an on-line catalogue selling items belonging to Otto von Spies (the same?): Extensive estate of the officer, travelled on His Majesty's ship ‘Emden’, among others. Military passport, officer's pay book and command book, numerous entries such as promotions and missions in the First World War (Flanders, sinking on ship ‘G 96’, time on board ‘Freya, Emden, Kaiserin Augusta’). Identity card from the harbour commandant's office in Bruges in Belgium, photos of a coastal battery on the beach in Flanders. Two large-format portrait photos of officers of the Emden. Document folder made of wine-red leather with applied insignia for deck officers. Enamelled badge ‘Deutscher Flottenverein’. Imperial war flag of the kaiserl. Navy made of printed flag fabric, dimensions 52 x 74 cm. Naval binoculars made by Carl Zeiss in Jena. Plus photos, postcards and other documents. Otto von Spies was born on 5 November 1898 in Würzburg. He served on the torpedo boat ‘G 96’, among others. The boat ran into a mine on 26 June 1917 and sank with the loss of four men. He also served on SMS Emden (1916), named after the well-known predecessor ship that sank near the Cocos Islands on 9 November 1914. The images accompanying the sale. It may well have been Spies was given the job of commander of the 'Acona'? At this time Spies would be aged 42. Was he in the reserve? (See below) Marineartilleriearsenalinspektion (Naval Artillery Arsenal Inspection) Formed in August 1943 from the re-naming of the Inspektion der Marineartilleriezeugämter (Z.J.). The Inspektion was based in Bad Segeberg until March 1945 when it was moved to Flensburg. It was subordinate to OKM for technical matters and to Stationskommando Nordsee for all other matters. The Inspektion had technical, troop servicing & admimistrative control of all Marineartilleriearsenale in Germany. For the Marineartilleriearsenale in occupied lands it only had technical and administrative control with troop servicing granted to the local Befehlshabern. After the surrender the Marineartilleriearsenale continued use under British control until 1946. Chef des Stabes Kapitän zur See Hermann Hansing (00 Jul 1943-00 Aug 1943)Kapitän zur See Karl Arthur Freiherr von Killinger (00 Apr 1944-00 May 1945) InspizientKapitän zur See (W) Bruno Woiczinski (00 Aug 1943-00 Feb 1944)Kapitän zur See (W) Emil Stegelmann (00 Feb 1944-00 May 1945) Stab Stabsoffizier beim Stabe: Fregattenkapitän der Reserve Ernst von Voigt (00 Aug 1943-00 May 1945) Militärische Referent: Korvettenkapitän der Reserve Dipl.Agr. Otto von Spies (00 Aug 1943-00 Apr 1944) etc., etc...... Source: axishistory-com Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

31st January 1941 Stalag XII-B Stalag XII-B Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

Commercial wrapper sent from Emil Jansen steel goods and mail order company. Featuring an advert for Elastolin figures (S.A., S.S., and Adolf Hitler). Ref: 08.12.1933 8th December 1933 O. & M. Hausser: Elastolin Commercial wrapper sent from Emil Jansen steel goods and mail order company. Featuring an advert for Elastolin figures (S.A., S.S., and Adolf Hitler). Ref: 08.12.1933 Elastolin was the trademark used by the German company O & M Haußer (manufacturing from 1904 - 1983). Emil Jansen is obviously a reseller offering Haußer/Elastolin figures using his own catalogue numbers (and not the references used by Haußer). The image is also used in the 1933 and 1934 Haußer sales catalogues. There were numerous toy soldier manufacturers in pre-war Germany. However, Haußer, and the brand Lineol were by far the most well known. Also see: O. & M. Hausser: Scherenschnitte Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

2nd May 1942 O. & M. Hausser: Scherenschnitte Feldpost postcard written by a young German girl, Mimi Brzoska, at Adolf-Hitler-Straße 33, Ehingen (Donau), to her father, Gefreiter Wolf Brzoska, serving with 1. Kompanie, leichtes Radfahr-Straßen-Bau-Bataillon 503, Feldpostnummer 39004. The battalion was an Army road-construction formation and contemporary operational records place it with the 2. Panzerarmee in the Heeresgruppe Mitte sector of the Eastern Front during April 1942. Mimi's message reads: “Dear Papa! Lots of love and a kiss from your Mimi. I am getting on well at school. Come back to us soon. I hardly remember what you look like any more.” The illustrated side carries a Scherenschnitt, or paper-cut silhouette, showing a small fairy-like child beneath mushrooms. Mimi proudly records underneath: “ausgeschnitten von Mimi Brzoska” — “cut out by Mimi Brzoska.” The small printed emblem at lower left can now be identified as the trademark of Verlag O. & M. Hausser of Ludwigsburg. Comparison with the Hausser mark shows the same distinctive capital H within a black diamond/house-shaped device, accompanied on the identified example by “VERLAG O. & M. HAUSSER LUDWIGSBURG.” Hausser produced Scherenschnitte material intended for making decorative postcards, confirming the origin and purpose of Mimi's card. The combination of the Hausser children's craft card and the Feldpost message gives the item an unusually personal character. While her father was serving with a German road-construction battalion on the central sector of the Eastern Front, Mimi remained at school in Ehingen. Her simple request that he should “come back to us soon”, followed by “I hardly remember what you look like any more”, provides a contemporary child's perspective on prolonged family separation during the war. Identification of Wolf Brzoska's unit is confirmed; his precise location on 12th May 1942 remains under investigation. Ref: 02.05.1942 - 36/47 This card was made from an O. &. M. Hausser craft set called 'Scherenschnitte'. The kit came with 12 gummed silhouette pictures, 12 postcards and a pair of scissors (part code 1098). It cost 1.25 RM Also see: O. & M. Hausser: Elastolin Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

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Official correspondence sent from the district court in Wittstock. The letter states, 'A copy of the birth certificate of Alfred Granzow, born 7 December 1924 in Blandikow, is requested free of charge.' The Official postage stamps are Mi.116 X a (8 Pf - 1927) and Mi.127 X (4 Pf - 1931). Ref: 06.04.1933 6th April 1933 6th April 1933 Official correspondence sent from the district court in Wittstock. The letter states, 'A copy of the birth certificate of Alfred Granzow, born 7 December 1924 in Blandikow, is requested free of charge.' The Official postage stamps are Mi.116 X a (8 Pf - 1927) and Mi.127 X (4 Pf - 1931). Ref: 06.04.1933 Link to Official Stamps (1927-1933) Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

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Official postal correspondence of the Judicial Authority in Essen. Form 'G.K.F. 98.' Ref: 03.02.1933 Further research required 3rd February 1933 B.2 Francotyp Model 'C' Official postal correspondence of the Judicial Authority in Essen. Form 'G.K.F. 98.' Ref: 03.02.1933 Further research required The postcard features the postage meter B.2 Francotyp Model 'C', 74 - 75mm, horizontal convex/concave, multi value meter, single circle - with stops after the D/M/Y, angular font style (Ref: FTB2). Card reference G.K.F. 98. (Gerichtskasse Form 98). Postage Meter Resource Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

2nd May 1942 Suhl 12 Pf Bisect Postcard sent from Meiningen to Braunschweig depicting a street view in Suhl. Featuring a 12 Pf bisect postage stamp (Mi.519). Ref: 02.05.1942 SUHL (Überroller-post - Allied occupation 04.04.1945) Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page