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  • Bizone Mi.1-9 American Printing

    Mi.1-9 (19.03.1945) American Printing Mi.1-9 (19.03.1945) American Printing 1/1 'Philatelic' postcard featuring a complete set of American printing definitives, Mi.1 - Mi.9. Ref: 01.07.1945 Links to Bizone - American - German - English Allied Occupation (American and British Zone) Mi.1 - 9 issued 19th March 1945 American Printing Allied Military Post 3 Pf - Mi.1 (Ref:22.06.1946 - 17/51) Allied Military Post 4 Pf - Mi.2 (Ref:01.07.1945) Allied Military Post 5 Pf - Mi.3 (Ref:01.07.1945) Allied Military Post 6 Pf - Mi.4 (Ref:01.07.1945) Allied Military Post 8 Pf - Mi.5 (Ref:01.07.1945) AM Post Mi.5 with offset image on perforated paper measuring 24 x 26 total. Ref: 21.03.1946 - 25/73 Allied Military Post 10 Pf - Mi.6 (Ref:01.07.1945) Allied Military Post 12 Pf - Mi.7 (Ref:01.07.1945) Allied Military Post 15 Pf - Mi.8 (Ref:01.07.1945) Allied Military Post 25 Pf - Mi.9 (Ref:01.07.1945)

  • Stalag I-V

    Stalags I-V 09.12.1943 Stalag IIA Neubrandenburg reverse.jpeg 09.12.1943 Stalag IIA Neubrandenburg reverse.jpeg 1/1 POW letter-sheet from Stalag IIA at Neubrandenburg to an address in Italy. Ref: 09.12.1943 List of camps, numbers I - V with links (in bold) Camp location, nationalities and population taken from 'Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-1945 by Gianfranco Mattiello (2003) I - A Stablack (1939-1945) I - B Hohenstein (1939-1945) I - C Heydekrug (1941-1943) I - D Ebenrode (1942) I - D Heydekrug (1942-1943) I - E Prostken (1942) I - E Sudauen )1942-????) I - F Sudauen ((1942-1944) II - A Neubrandenburg II - B Hammerstein II - B Neubrandenburg II - C Woldenberg II - C Greifswald II - D Stargrad II - E GroßBorn-Rederitz II - E Schwerin see 25/70 (no date) II - F (315) Hammerstein/ Schlochau II - G (323) Groß Born/Westfalenhof II - H (302) Barkenbrügge II - H (302) GroßBorn-Rederitz III - A Luckenwalde III - B Fürstenberg III - B Luckenwalde III - B Stettin III - C Alt-Drewitz III - D Berlin III - E Kirchhain IV - A Elsterhorst IV - A Hohenstein IV - B Mühlberg IV - C Wistritz IV - D Neuburxdorf IV - D Torgau IV - D Heilag IV - E (384) Altenburg IV - F Hartsmannsdorf IV - G Oschatz IV - H (304) Wistritz V - A Ludwigsburg V - A (Schattenlager) Biberach V - A/Z Münsingen V - B Villingen V - C Wildberg (up to 10th September 1940) V - C Malschbach (from 10th September 1940) V - C Offenberg (April 1942 - January 1945) V - D Stransbourg V - E Mülhausen Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Schleicher Dohnanyi Bonhoeffer

    Postcard depicting a Junkers G38 D-2000. Most likely sent by Rüdiger Schleicher to Christel and Hans von Dohnányi. The message reads, in part, 'Dear Christel and Hans, Today Dietrich flew to London in a big plane. Hence this card. How are you? Is the weather better now? Thank you, dear Christel, for your long letter. We are very pleased that Anne (?) is so lively. We are all doing very well... Greetings from your Rüdiger'. Ref: 26.08.1931 - Fleurs & Papillons 26th August 1931 'He died for freedom and justice' 1/1 Postcard depicting a Junkers G38 D-2000. Most likely sent by Rüdiger Schleicher to Christel and Hans von Dohnányi. The message reads, in part, 'Dear Christel and Hans, Today Dietrich flew to London in a big plane. Hence this card. How are you? Is the weather better now? Thank you, dear Christel, for your long letter. We are very pleased that Anne (?) is so lively. We are all doing very well... Greetings from your Rüdiger'. Ref: 26.08.1931 - Fleurs & Papillons See 20.07.1964 - 25/67 (SG. MS1343 - 20th anniversary of bomb attempt) The postcard introduces us to three members involved in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in what became known as the 20th July Plot, orchestrated in part by Claus von Stauffenburg in 1944. An innocuous postcard purchased for a mere £4 from the on-line auction site Delcampe and described as 'German Reich 1931 - postcard from Berlin'. The postcard lay outside the collecting remit of 1933-1947, however, the image depicted a Junker's G38 aircraft. The Luft Hansa passenger plane would be used during the 3rd Reich period and therefore found legitimacy within the collection. The aircraft photographed on this postcard was written-off following an accident in 1936 and it's sister aircraft (there were two built) was destroyed by the RAF in 1941. So, an innocuous postcard of a long out-of-service aircraft. Well that's literally one side of the story... It immediately came to our attention that the addressee had a ' v. ' preceding his surname. From previous experience we realised that this denotes a ' von ' and is often worthy of a brief investigation. And so, with the help of the internet and Twitter, the postcard revealed itself. The message is one that could have been written on a million postcards (see above). But by piecing all this together we find we have the following players that participated, in one from or another, in the 20th July Plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Whilst this is obviously pre-3rd Reich and 13 years away from the 1944 assassination attempt it still brings together a group of people who's fate would forever be seen as heroic in the face of such adversity. The card is written by Rüdiger Schleicher (1895-1945) , a German legal academic. By 1935 Rüdiger was working for Hermann Goring in the Ministry of Aviation. If the revolt against Hitler were to be successful he was to be responsible for the re-organisation of air travel. Rüdiger was sentenced to death in February 1945 and executed in April... Rüdiger writes his message to Christel and Hans von Dohnányi (1902-1945) . Dohnányi, a German legal scholar worked for Reich Ministry of Justice. By the time of the assasination attempt he was already under arrest, and his involvement in the plot was later discovered. Dohnányi was executed in April 1945. Christel (née Bonhoeffer), his wife, was also arrested in 1943, however, she was later released and survived the war. And finally, Christel's brother is mentioned. The ' Dietrich ' who is travelling to London is most likely Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) . Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi. Hans Dohnányi had brought Bonhoeffer into the German Abwehr (Intelligence Organisation) as a means of keeping him safe amongst co-conspirators. Despite this Bonhoeffer was arrested in 1943. Following the discovery of his involvement in the 20th July Plot he was sentenced to death and executed at Flossenburg Concentration Camp on 9th April 1945... An innocuous postcard indeed. Timeline: Letter to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in part, 'In accordance with § 1 of the Church Law of March 4, 1930, Concerning the Assignment of Candidates for the Ministry to Work as Assistant Pastors in the Church— K.G. u. V.B1. 1930, p. 113f.—your year of work as an assistant pastor begins on 1st August, 1931. We assign you, effective beginning on that date until further notice, to work as assistant pastor in the city [Stadtvikar] in Berlin for the time being, doing whatever work is possible without ordination. Please see General Superintendent Dr. Karow in Berlin-Charlottenburg well before that date; he will decide about your further work...' Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Mi.20-37 Bohemia and Moravia

    Mi.20-37 (29.07.1939/1942) B&M definitives Mi.20-37 (29.07.1939/1942) B&M definitives 1/1 Registered cover sent from Prerov to an address in Slezská Ostrava. Featuring various postage stamps of Bohemia and Moravia (Mi.22, 24 & 32) tied with a Czech language 'C.S.P.' date cancel (valid up to 30th June 1940). To the reverse is a vignette depicting female dancers. The commemorative label was issued for the 10th All-Sokol Rally in July 1938. This All-Sokol Rally took place in Prague at the Strahov Stadium and was attended by over 300,000 athletes from several European countries and over 2.3 million spectators. Both the Czechoslovak army and soldiers from the states of the Little Entente took part in the rally itself. The entire gathering took place at a time of increased political tension between Czechoslovakia and neighbouring Germany and underlined Czechoslovakia's determination for unity in difficult times. The placing of this vignette to the envelope could be seen as an act of defiance. Ref: 31.10.1939 Mi.20 - 37 Definitives Mi.20 in a group of four (30.08.1939). Ref: 21.11.1939 - 15/65 Mi.21 (30.08.1939). Ref: 17.01.1942 - 1/83 Mi21 ZW ndgz (gutter not perforated). Ref:12.12.1941 - 15/61 Mi.22 (30.08.1939). Ref: 21.11.1939 - 15/65 Mi22 ZW ndgz (gutter not perforated). Ref:12.12.1941 - 15/61 Mi.23 (30.08.1939). Ref: 21.12.1940 - 17/9 Mi.24 (30.08.1939). Ref: 31.10.1939 - 9/40 40h see 1.12.1939 - 25/49 50h see 07.06.1940 Mi.27 (29.07.939). Ref: 06.06.1941 - 15/66 1K see 24.10.1940 Mi.30 (15.08.939). Ref: 09.12.1939 Mi.31 (15.08.1939). Ref: 09.12.1939 Mi.32 (15.08.1939). Ref: 31.10.1939 - 9/40 Mi.33 (a or b? Nov.1939). Ref: 17.07.1940 Mi.34a (01.12.1939). Ref: 13.09.1940 - 9/24 Mi.34a LS lower field (01.12.1939). Ref: 10.03.1941 17/76 Mi.34a LS upper field (01.12.1939). Ref: 10.03.1941 17/76 Mi.34a with 2 stars to right edge piece - see 24.10.1940 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Edward VIII

    3rd June 1937 Edward VIII 3rd June 1937 Edward VIII 03.06.1937 Edward VIII marriage reverse.jpeg 03.06.1937 Edward VIII marriage reverse.jpeg 1/1 Commemorative cover celebrating the marriage of Edward, Duke of Windsor, to Wallis Simpson. Ref: 03.06.1937 - 25/40 Edward VIII - The Duke of Windsor Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Royalty and Nobility

    Royalty & Nobility Royalty & Nobility 1/1 Royalty & Nobility House of Hannover Ernest Augustus (1887-1953) Duke of Brunswick (Braunschweig) and family House of Windsor Edward VIII (1894-1972) House of Wittelsbach Royal correspondence to Madeleine Pinkerton (1936-1940) Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • General Assault Badge

    1st June 1940 General Assault Badge 01.06.1940 general Assualt Badge reverse.jpeg 01.06.1940 general Assualt Badge reverse.jpeg 1/1 Half-length photograph depicting a German Gefreiter (Lance corporal) displaying a General Assault badge on his left breast pocket. Ref: 01.06.1940 - 25/30 General Assault Badge Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Infantry Assault Badge

    20th December 1939 Infantry Assault Badge 20th December 1939 Infantry Assault Badge 20.12.1939 Infantry Assualt badge reverse.jpeg 20.12.1939 Infantry Assualt badge reverse.jpeg 1/1 Full length photograph depicting a German Gefreiter displaying the Infantry Assault Badge upon his left breast pocket (together with a ribbon, for the Iron Cross, 2nd Class, worn form the second tunic button). Ref: 20.12.1939 - 25/29 Infantry Assault Medal Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Cross of Honour of the German Mother

    Small half-length photograph depicting an elderly lady wearing the Cross of Honour of the the German Mother around her neck. This civil state decorations came in three classes: Gold, silver, and bronze. It is difficult to recognise which class of order the lady is wearing. Ref: 16.12.1938 16th December 1938 Cross of Honour 16.12.1938 Cross of Honour of the German Mother reverse.jpeg 16.12.1938 Cross of Honour of the German Mother reverse.jpeg 1/1 Small half-length photograph depicting an elderly lady wearing the Cross of Honour of the the German Mother around her neck. This civil state decorations came in three classes: Gold, silver, and bronze. It is difficult to recognise which class of order the lady is wearing. Ref: 16.12.1938 Cross of Honour of the German Mother Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Telegram Large format Schmuckblatt

    Telegrams Large format (Schmuckblatt) Telegrams Large format (Schmuckblatt) 1/0 Link to small format telegrams (Din C6) Large format Greetings telegram (Schmuckblatt Telegramme) Note: The 'Lx' number may have design variations. Lx 1 (variation I - Wedding Coach and Riders. 15th November 1926 ) Lx 1 (variation II - Wedding Coach and Riders. July 1930 ) Lx 1 (variation III - The Four Seasons. c.1937 ) Lx 2 (variation I - Two Doves. c.1929 ) Lx 2 (variation II - A Sailing Ship at Sea, with a North German Lloyd Liner on the horizon: Top flag in blue. Lower flag in black, white and red. June 1931 ) Lx 2 (variation III - Design as Lx 2 v.II, but with swastika flag on main mast and lower flag in black, white and red. c.1933 ) Lx 2 (variation IV - Design as Lx 2 v.II, but with top flag in blue and a larger lower swastika flag. September 1935 ) Lx 2 (variation V - Design as Lx 2 v.II, but with top flag in dark blue and a smaller lower swastika flag. May 1936 ) Lx 3 (variation I - A mounted courier. November 1928 ) Lx 3 (variation II - A group of children. June 1931 ) Lx 3 (variation III - Couple and symbols of marriage and domesticity. c.1937 ) Lx 4 (variation I - Stylised vase with flowers. June 1930 ) Lx 4 (variation II - A high mountain peak. June 1931 ) Lx 4 (variation III - A high mountain peak. May 1936 ) Lx 5 (variation I - A border landscape. Reverse an eagle, ‘snowflakes’ and wood frame. January 1929) Lx 5 (variation II - A border landscape. Reverse an eagle and wood frame. c.1935 ) Lx 5 (variation - III - A border landscape. Reverse an eagle with swastika and wood frame. May 1936 ) Lx 6 (variation I - Three children dancing over a garland of roses. Reverse an eagle and postal scenes. May 1930 ) Lx 6 (variation II - Three children dancing over a garland of roses. Reverse an eagle swastika and garland. c.1937 ) Lx 7 (Christmas tree and New Year Bell. June1930 ) Lx 8 (variation I - Cherubs in a garland of flowers and fruit. January 1930 ) Lx 8 (variation II - Christmas. October 1937 ) Lx 9 (variation I - Eagle in flight over swastika flags, with swastika sun breaking through the clouds. Reverse – Garrison Church, Potsdam, 21st March 1933. Listed as ‘Tag von Potsdam, 21.3.33’ , but issued for the 1933 Nuremberg Rally and later used as a normal Greetings Telegram. August 1933 ) Lx 9 (variation II - German Airways. c.1938 ) Lx 10 (variation I - Eagle over Nuremberg Castle. Issued for the 1934 Nuremberg Rally. c.1934 ) Lx 10 (variation II - Flowers. September 1939 ) Lx 11 (Bereavement. c.1938 ) Lx 12 (variation I - Hitler Youth (without ‘Schriftleiste’) . Issued for the 1935 Nuremberg Rally. c.1935 ) Lx 12 (variation II - As above, but with ‘Schriftleiste’. c.1935) Lx 12 (variation III - Eagle atop a wreathed swastika and oak leaves (assumed that this is the design in question). With inscription over a swastika to back page. Printed for the 1939 Nuremberg Rally, but never issued, owing to the outbreak of World War II. Used up in the internal service of the Post Office. c.1936 ). See here . Notes on Lx 12 - An earlier version exists with the same imprint of C187 LX12, this dates from 1935. On this earlier version the back page has the image of the eagle, below which it states, 'Reichsparteitag der NSDAP Nürnberg' . The image of the Hitler Jungend depicted on the front page appears to be the same, but on closer inspection one can see the signature of artist Ludwig Hohlwein appears beside the roof and not above it (as can be seen to the lower left edge here). The imprint number on the earlier version appears at the foot of page 3 to the left edge, in the later version it is at the right edge. The final difference appears to be the colour of the tint used for the inner message pages. The earlier version is blue-grey, the later version is buff. Check that this doesn't contradict the Lx 12 descriptions Lx 13 (variation I - Winter Olympic Games. c.1936 ) Lx 13 (variation II - Summer Olympic Games, Berlin. c.1936 ) Lx 13 (variation III - Summer Olympic Games, Kiel. c.1936 ) Lx 14 (Childhood scenes, with pram. c.1936 ) Lx 15 (Children at play. c.1936 ) Lx 16 (Nuremberg Castle. Issued to mark the 1936 Nuremberg Rally. c.1936 ) Lx 17 (The Führer. Issued to mark the 1936 Nuremberg Rally. c.1936 ) Lx 18 (Wedding Day. c.1936 ) Lx 19 I Good fortune. Goddess with Cornucopia. 1938 Special Issues – sold only to be sent to the persons commemorated. 1. 80th birthday of Hindenburg. c.1927 2. 50th birthday of Hitler. c.1939 Special issues – sold only to be sent to ships. 1. Kogge (ship of the Middle Ages). c.1927 2. Liner. c.1939 Bohemia & Moravia Lx 3 (Dancing Cherubs - II-1940) Danzig Lx I (Marienkirche and the Krantor. c.1933 ) Lx 2 (variation I - Kogge, Children and Blutenkranz. c.1937 ) Lx 2 (variation II - Kogge and six buildings of the town. c.1938 ) Saar Lx 1 (Wedding Coach. c.1933 ) Lx 2 (Die Untsere Saar. c.1933 ) Lx 3 (The Ludwigkirche in Saarbrücken. c.1933 ) Lx 4 (The Old Tower in Mettlach. c.1933 ) Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Wehrmacht ranks and responsibilities

    Wehrmacht Ranks & Responsibilities Wehrmacht Ranks & Responsibilities Screenshot 2021-11-27 at 09.29.50.png Screenshot 2021-11-27 at 09.29.50.png 1/1 Wehrmacht - Ranks and Responsibilities A Abteilungsleiter (Section Leader) F Fürsorge-offizier (Welfare Officer) G Gefreiter (Lance corporal) O Oberwachmeister (Sergant Major in the Cavalry, Artillery, A.A. etc) Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

  • Mi.P312/01

    1st July 1943 Mi.P311-312 Kohlenklau 1st July 1943 Mi.P311-312 Kohlenklau Mi.P312/I Faßt Kohlenklau Mi.P312/I Faßt Kohlenklau 1/1 Official postal stationery Mi.P312/I (6 Pf) issued to promote energy saving. The slogan to the reads, 'Catch the coal thief! Spoil the fun of the coal thief and save on coal, electric power and gas.' Note: the postal address in Wiedner Hauptstraße 64 is featured on a Wikipedia page. Ref: 01.07.1943 - 23/31 FOR 'COAL THIEF' CARTOONS USED ON FELDPOST CLICK HERE Official postal stationery Mi.P311/I (5 Pf) featuring the slogan 'Catch the coal thief! Spoil the fun of the coal thief and save on coal, electric power and gas.' Ref: 08.08.1943 Official postal stationery Mi.P312/II (6 Pf) featuring the slogan,'Catch the coal thief! He pilfers the gas and dims the light, robs the electricity and coal. Do not tolerate it!' Ref: 07.06.1943 By 1942, the ongoing war effort and domestic demands made it increasingly difficult for the government to maintain its supply of a variety of resources, especially fuel, to homes and businesses. Coal posed a particular problem, as it was required to heat the furnaces and smelters of Germany’s industrial factories, as well as the majority of homes. The Propaganda Ministry had long used a number of subordinate offices to conduct public campaigns encouraging Germans to curb their use of a variety of consumer goods, and during the war these efforts intensified. More than merely calling on Germans to conserve coal at home or at work, this poster discouraged the private use of coal altogether. The 'Coal Thief' sent a clear message: misusing coal was tantamount to stealing from the war effort. The 'thief' (as a symbol for waste) was described in a nearly animalistic manner, suggesting 'His stomach growls, his sack is empty, and he sniffs around greedily,' waiting 'at the furnace, stove, window or door.' It from the urgency and paranoia of other propaganda to make a clear connection between coal’s misuse and traitorous behaviour. The campaign was largely unsuccessful, suggesting that by this time Germans believed they were already sacrificing to the greatest extent possible. Source: germanhistorydocs.org (2025) 'Hunt the Coal Thief' board game. c.1943 This game of propaganda was commissioned by the German government to encourage people to save raw materials for the war effort. 'Jagd auf Kohlenklau' is printed by Leptien-Schiffers for Werbeagentur (Advertising Agency) 'Arbeitsgemeinschaft Hohnhausen' in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1943-1944, with a print run of 5 million. On the blue squares a boy is saving energy, on the red squares we see 'Kohlenklau' and examples of wasting energy. The game was distributed free as part of a large campaign with the same slogan. A 'Kohlenklau' quartet game was also produced, probably for sale. One of the quartet cards says 'Ohne Kohlen kann kein Krieg geführt werden' ('without coal war is impossible'). Unusually for Nazi propaganda, the 'Kohlenklau' character does not have a Jewish appearance; at the time most Germans suffered food shortages, but 'Kohlenklau' clearly is overweight. At this period paper and ink were scarce; but the game is well printed in bright colours on board of reasonable quality. The game board was distributed folded, in an envelope, without dice or pieces. The rules are printed on the game. The game is not especially rare; it does not show swastikas or other nazi symbols, so probably many German families kept it to play after the war. Source: Gejus van Diggele (May 2016) Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

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