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Third Reich

Commemorative Issues 1938



The Third Reich issued the set of stamps, shown at the upper left (Mi. #660-61, Sc. #B116-17), on January 28, 1938, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Assumption of Power by the Nazis. The stamps depict a German youth holding a torch and a laurel.

The two stamps, shown at the upper right (Mi. #662-63, Sc. #484-85), were issued on April 8, 1938, to celebrate the Anschluß or the Union of Germany with Austria.

Most Austrians probably prefer to call the event the "Annexation of Austria" though. The two stamps were issued simultaneously in Berlin and Vienna, with the first stamp being the German issue and the second stamp being the Austrian issue.


The Anschluß souvenir card above incorporates a Hitler stamp of 1937, which is canceled "Ein Volk - Ein Reich - Ein Führer / Wien / 10 April 1938". This commemorative postmark translates to "One People - One State - One Leader / Vienna". The card features the inscription "Großdeutschland", or "Greater Germany", at the bottom.

There are many different Anschluß related philatelic souvenir cards, postal cards, and covers. They aren't cheap, but they are readily available on the market.



The two German stamps shown above were issued during 1938, and they feature identical portraits of Adolph Hitler.

The stamp on the left (Mi. #664, Sc. #B118) was issued on April 13 to celebrate Hitler's 49th Birthday. The stamp on the right (Mi. #672, Sc. #B120) was issued on September 1 to publicize the annual Nazi Party Congress at Nürnberg. The surtaxes, on these semi-postal stamps, went to Hitler's Culture Fund.


Commercial Cover with the Hitler's 49th Birthday Issue


The four German stamps shown above (Mi. #665-68, Sc. #486-89) were issued on June 21, 1938 to publicize the upcoming 16th German Gymnastic and Sports Festival, to be held at Breslau, July 23-31, 1938.

From left to right, the stamps depict Cathedral Island, Herman Goering Stadium, Breslau Town Hall, and Breslau's Centennial Hall.


This unofficial commemorative souvenir card, created by the German Philatelic Federation, was canceled on July 28, 1938 at the German Gymnastic and Sports Festival.



The stamp shown above, at the left (Mi. #671, Sc. #B119), was issued on July 20, 1938 to publicize the Fifth Running of the Brown Ribbon Race at Munich-Reim.

This postage stamp depicts a figure of Victory riding a horse and holding a laurel wreath.


The two airmail stamps shown above, at the right (Mi. #669-70, Sc. #C59-60), were issued on July 5, 1938 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin (1838-1917), airship inventor and builder.

The 25 Pf. depicts Count (Graf) Zeppelin, and the 50 Pf. depicts an airship gondola.



The two stamps shown above, at the left (Mi. #673-74, Sc. #B121-22), were issued on October 9, 1938 for the Inauguration of the Theater of the District of Saarpfalz at Saarbrucken. The stamps depict a view of the theater.


The two stamps shown above, at the right (Mi. #684-85, Sc. #B132-33), were issued on December 2, 1938 to publicize the Annexation of the Sudetenland by the Third Reich. The stamps depict a Sudeten couple.



The nine semi-postal stamps shown above (Mi. #675-83, Sc. #B123-31) were issued on November 18, 1938 to publicize the scenery and flowers of Austria, now a part of the Third Reich. The surtax was for Winter Relief charities.

By denomination, from lowest to highest, they depict the Castle of Forchtenstein, Flexenstrasse in Voralberg, Zell am See in Salzburg, Grossglockner, Ruins of Aggstein, Prince Eugene Monument, Vienna, Erzberg, a Hall in Tyrol, and Braunau.

The 3 Pf., 5 Pf., 6 Pf., and 12 Pf. denominations were also issued in booklets.





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