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28th December 1939 Oflag XI-A 28th December 1939 Oflag XI-A 28.12.1939 Oflag XIA reverse.jpeg 28.12.1939 Oflag XIA reverse.jpeg 1/1 Postcard photograph taken of Polish officers at Oflag XI-A. The reverse featuring the censor hand-stamp of the camp. Ref: 28.12.1939 Oflag XI-A A further postcard photograph (sent by the same officer) depicting a group of Polish officers within Oflag XI-A. Posted 24.01.1940. Ref: 28.12.1939 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

27th December 1939 27th December 1939 27.12.1939 voraus gegen Engeland reverse.jpeg 27.12.1939 voraus gegen Engeland reverse.jpeg 1/1 Propaganda postcard featuring an illustration by artist Harry Tress. The slogan translates to 'In 1940 full speed ahead against England', note that 'A.K.' is the abbreviation of 'äußerste Kraft', a naval term for full speed ahead. With feldpost cancel (Type 22) over a red feldpost number cachet (FPN 27928 - Minenschiff 'Kaiser'). Ref: 27.12.19 Story of the Kaiser Postcard depicting the turbinen-schnelldampfer 'Kaiser'. Launched 1905. Fate: scrapped 1954. During WWII converted to a minelayer for the Kriegsmarine. Armed with two 8.8cm guns and could lay up to 180 mines. In 1943 temporarily under the command of Carl Kircheiß. The ship ended her days in Poland as a stationary training and accommodation ship in Stettin. Ref: 07.06.1933 Reverse Extract fro m Wikipedia.de The Kaiser was commissioned by the Nordsee-Linie Dampfschiffs-GmbH from the Stettiner Maschinenbau AG Vulcan in 1904. When HAPAG took over the North Sea Line on 1st January, 1905, it also bought the Kaiser , which was still under construction on the slipway, along with its three other ships – Cobra , Prinzessin Heinrich and Silvana . The launch took place on 8th April, with commissioning on 10th September, 1905. The Kaiser was in service from Hamburg - Helgoland and from there deployed to Sylt or Norderney. The travel time from the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken to Helgoland was around four and a half hours, and from there to Norderney another three hours. Kaiser Wilhelm II used the ship for occasional trips on the North Sea . The Imperial Navy requisitioned the Kaiser on 4th August, 1914 and had her converted to an auxiliary mine ship (having the rear funnel removed). The ship could hold up to 200 mines. Under the command of Korvettenkapitän von Bülow, together with the mine cruisers SMS Albatross and SMS Nautilus , it laid a large mine barrier in the North Sea on September 9th September, 1914. However, the speed of the Kaiser proved to be too slow for a warship. At the end of the First World War she was the flagship for the flotilla 'Elbe' under commander Erich Graf von Zeppelin. In 1918 she was damaged by a mine and had to be made seaworthy again at a repair yard. Following the German surrender the Kaiser was requistioned by Great Britain. However, it was not put into service there and was bought back by HAPAG on 23rd September, 192. In 1922 there was a conversion at the Bremer Vulkan shipbuilding and machine works in Vegesack. On 17th June, 1923, the British steamer Bellbro and the Kaiser collided below the Stör. The starboard side of the Kaiser was damaged above the waterline. One of 1,887 passengers was killed and four were seriously injured. Initially back in service between Hamburg and Helgoland and to Amrum, Föhr and Sylt, the Kaiser sailed from 1st July, 1934, equipped with additional cabins, for the East Prussia sea service . During the Second World War, the Kaiser was converted into a mine ship by the Kriegsmarine. It was armed with two 8.8 cm guns and could carry up to 180 mines. She was temporarily under the command of Carl Kircheiß and was used as a test ship by the Navy from 1943. After the war, the Kaiser was once again given to Great Britain, from where she was handed over to the Soviet Union in 1946 and subsequently then to the People's Republic of Poland in April 1947. In 1949 (as the Beniowski ) she became a training ship of the Polish Navy. The Beniowski was laid up in Gdynia from 1950 and served as a stationary training and accommodation ship in Stettin until she was demolished in 1954. Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

11th December 1939 11th December 1939 1/1 Postcard (feldpost), sent from Olomouc (German: Olmütz) to Dußlingen. Ref: 11.12.1939 The story of Olomouc (Olmütz) Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

9th December 1939 9th December 1939 Cover with Mi.31 1/1 Cover featuring three stamps of Bohemia and Moravia (Mi.22, Mi.30 and Mi.31). Ref: 09.12.1939 link to details of these stamps Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

Buildings 1939 Booklet (12.1939) Buildings 1939 Booklet (12.1939) 1/0 Fridericus 1933 , Hindenburg 1933 , Wagner 1933 , Hindenburg 1934 , Professions 1934 , Folk Costumes 1935 , Olympic Games 1936 , Hindenburg 1936/37 , Modern Buildings 1936 , Hindenburg 1937/39 , Ships 1937 , Ostmark 1938 , Hindenburg 1939 , Buildings 1939 , Hindenburg 1940/41 , Buildings 1940 , Adolf Hitler 1941 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

Mi.15 (01.12.1939) B&M Postage Due Mi.15 (01.12.1939) B&M Postage Due Screenshot 2021-11-27 at 09.29.50.png Screenshot 2021-11-27 at 09.29.50.png 1/1 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

9th December 1939 9th December 1939 1/3 Feldpost featuring a Danzig cancellation 'dzg'. Ref: 09.12.1939, MFP1P48 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

4th December 1939 4th December 1939 1/1 Postcard depicting the German light cruiser 'Emden'. Ref: 04.12.1939 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

Mi.52 (01.12.1939) Mi.52 (01.12.1939) 1/0 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

Mi.1-13 (01.12 & 04.12.1939) O/p 'Deutsche Post Osten' Mi.1-13 (01.12 & 04.12.1939) O/p 'Deutsche Post Osten' 16.01.1940 Deutsche Post Osten Krakau 627.jpeg 16.01.1940 Deutsche Post Osten Krakau 627.jpeg 1/1 'Philatelic' covers sent from Krakau to Ferdinand Redwitz (self-addressed), a stamp dealer in Stuttgart. Two covers featuring a full set of regular issue Hindenburg Medallion stamps overprinted 'Deutsche Post Osten' and the relevant value. Ref: 16.01.1940 Next General Government stamp issue Mi.1 (6 Gr on 3 Pf - Mi.513). First issued Dec. 1st. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.2 (8 Gr on 4 Pf - Mi.514). First issued Dec. 1st. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.3 (12 Gr on 6 Pf - Mi.516). First issued Dec. 1st. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.4 (16 Gr on 8 Pf - Mi.517). First issued Dec. 4th. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.5 (20 Gr on 10 Pf - Mi.518). First issued Dec. 4th. With upper margin obliteration. Ref: 22.12.1939 Mi.6 (24 Gr on 12 Pf - Mi.519). First issued Dec. 1st. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.7 (30 Gr on 315 Pf - Mi.520). First issued Dec. 4th. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.8 (40 Gr on 20 Pf - Mi.521). First issued Dec. 4th. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.9 (50 Gr on 325 Pf - Mi.522). First issued Dec. 1st. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.10 (60 Gr on 30 Pf - Mi.523). First issued Dec. 1st. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.11 (80 Gr on 40 Pf - Mi.524). First issued Dec. 4th. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.12 (1 Zł on 50 Pf - Mi.525). First issued Dec. 1st. Ref: 16.01.1940 Mi.13 (2 Zł on 100 Pf - Mi.528). First issued Dec. 1st. Ref: 16.01.1940 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

27th November 1939 27th November 1939 1/0 27th November 1939 Sarvar to 26 Penhill Road, Cardiff Dear Madeleine! I can’t say how pleased I was to get your letter. Thousand thanks. I am so glad you wrote to me in spite of war, it couldn’t break our friendship, could it? Well there you are, studying medicine. It must be very interesting. And how useful its is, now when so many people get wounded. Do you any nursing or only studying? Many of my friends are nursing, as a matter of fact, I feel quite useless, but as Hungary is neutral, I havn’t got any opportunity here. Besides I can’t speak enough Hungarian, although I am studying this language since more than a year. It is very difficult, Muck is also taking lessons. But I am afraid I will never be able to say one correct sentence. It has got much to much grammar. Life hasn’t changed much here, it is only a little more quiet. There won’t be any food shortage here as Hungaria is an agriculturing land. But of course, coffee and tea are missing. I am not very sad about it, as I don’t like it either. In Germany they only get 4 eggs in a month, very little butter and bacon, a little meat, but enough bread, potatoes, fruits and vegetables. Mami has been out there. She stayed nearly two months with Baby, as Baby got a little girl. She, the little Elisabeth was born on October 22nd and Mami is her Godmother. I am very proud of my niece. Baby is very happy and prefers a daughter to a son. Her husband is also very proud. Deidi is still in Mandelieu near Cannes. Did I tell you she has two boys. The second, Eudes, was born in June. I am very glad her husband has not to fight either, as he is Brasilian. They want to go to Brasilia in December. It must be a very interesting land. My two brothers are here, I can’t say how glad I am about it. Besides I doubt if Ludwig would be able for military service, as he cut his leg last spring while skiing, and his calf isn’t any more what it was and he is slightly limping. In one or two years he must be operated again to fix it up.We had a very good time here during the shootings, heaps of guests and thats always great fun! Muck and Ludwig went hunting on horseback for the first time this year. They enjoyed it immensely. I had to stay at home, as I just caught a very bad cold. I was very disappointed. Now the weather is to bad to ride outside, so we must ride only in the covered riding hall. I must try out the young horses now and find one for next year for me. I am very busy sewing and knitting for Xmas. Imagine it to be in 4 weeks already. I’ll never finish all the presents I want to make for my family. Rasso was very proud as he shot a squirrel and two feazants yesterday. I shot the first hare or rabbit the other day. I was very excited. Afterwards I had to lie down on it and everyone was allowed to give me a strike with a stick. That’s the custom here. I am glad they were polite and didn’t strike me too hard. The only change and amusement here is going to the pictures. I saw “In Old Chicago” and “The Great Waltz”. “The Great Waltz” is the silliest, most American film I ever saw. How could they do such a stupid film? But “Chicago” was very good. I like Tyrone Power, as a matter of fact he is my favourite actor. I got quite mad when I saw “Suez”. It is a marvellous film, although the history is all wrong. Loretta Young wore the most beautiful dresses and Annabella is very good. I am afraid the Hollywood will spoil her, in her French films she was marvellous. I saw a very good French film the other day, Prison Sans Laveaux acted by Corinne Luchaire, she is only 16 years old, but one of the best actresses I ever saw. I must say good-bye now, and I hope you will write soon. Your letter took 11 days to arrive. Please give my kindest regards to your Aunt Eileen. With fondest love. Loll Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

30th November 1939 30th November 1939 30.11.1939 Feldpost Letter.jpeg 30.11.1939 Feldpost M34714 reverse.jpeg 30.11.1939 Feldpost Letter.jpeg 1/2 Feldpost letter-sheet sent from Hanns Hagl in Swinemünde (FPN M34714 5. Zerstorer-Division, dann 3. Zerstorer-Flottille) to an address in Kempten. Featuring a Type 19 variation date cancel. Ref: 30.11.1939 A loose translation of the typewritten message 'Today, after returning from a short sea voyage, you too should receive a greeting from me. After all our great successes, I feel like a million bucks, but I have to have some time to relax soon, since we've been doing our duty up here at the see since the beginning of the war with Poland and England and haven't had a moment's rest yet, while our grey comrades at the Westwall have been beating their fingers bloody playing skat for a long time. Well, no task is too difficult for us and we will spare no effort if only we can give our western mortal enemy a good beating. Hopefully I will be able to come to Kempten for a few days while my dear father is still there, and then we can sit down in a cosy corner one evening and talk about our experiences. At the moment I have a lot to do, because we have been joined by two fast destroyers, which are now being integrated into the new 'Fast Flotilla' and of course make most of the work for the flotilla adjutant. I am proud to be the only one of my year to be able to serve on such a splendid front line unit. In this respect, I have really become a mighty swine to my comrades, most of whom are now loafing around in a land formation. You poor warrior woman is now usually alone, too, or has your husband already been released for home service? Now I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you again. Now I'm going out again for a few days, and so I'd like to send you many heartfelt greetings.' 'After all our great successes, I feel like a million bucks...' (extract from Wikipedia) On the night of 17th-18th October 1939, Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp led Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt , Z17 Diether von Roeder , Z18 Hans Lüdemann , Z19 Hermann Künne , and Z20 Karl Galster as they laid a minefield off the mouth of the River Humber . The British were unaware of the minefield's existence and lost seven ships totaling 25,825 gross register tons (GRT). On the night of 12th-13th November Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp , now the flagship of the Commander of Destroyers ( Führer der Zerstörer ), Captain ( Kapitän zur See ) Friedrich Bonte , escorted Z18 Hans Lüdemann , Z19 Hermann Künne , and Z20 Karl Galster as they laid 288 magnetic mines in the Thames Estuary . Once again unaware of the minefield's existence, the British lost the destroyer Blanche and thirteen merchant ships displacing 48,728 GRT. Note: Z17, Z18, Z19, and Z20 were all part of the 5. Zerstorer Division, 3. Zerstorer Flottille, in which Hanns Hagl served, possibly onboard one of the ships in these actions. Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page