Third Reich
Commemorative Issues 1934
In 1934, the new German Third Reich began
issuing commemorative themed stamps in earnest. Even back in the early
20th Century, the stamps of Germany were very popular with collectors
Worldwide, and orders for them came from almost every country on the
planet. The Nazi's quickly learned of the propaganda value of their
postage stamps, not only to show the wonders of their country, but also
to spread their political, social, and cultural views. The Third Reich
utilized this medium to its fullest extent, throughout the remaining
years of the regime.
The four stamps shown above (Mi. 540-43, Sc. #432-35) were issued on June 30, 1934 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary
of the establishment of the German colonial empire.
The design attributes are as follows.
- 03 Pf. - Franz Adolph Lüderitz (1834-1886) - a German tobacco merchant and founder of the colony of German Southwest Africa.
- 06 Pf. - Gustav Nachtigal (1834-1885) - a German explorer and the German Empire's commissioner for West Africa. His mission as commissioner resulted in the creation of the colonies of Togoland and Kamerun.
- 12 Pf. - Karl Peters (1856-1918) - a German traveler in Africa and one of the founders of the colony of German East Africa.
- 25 Pf. - Hermann von Wissmann
(1853-1905) - a German explorer and administrator in Africa. He
assisted the Kingdom of Belgium in the founding of the Belgian Congo and
was also one of the founders of the colony of German East Africa.
The two stamps, above left (Mi. #546-47, Sc. #442-43), depict the sun and
swastika rising above Nuremberg Castle. The stamps were issued on September 1, 1934 to
publicize the Nazi Congress, held at Nuremberg.
The
two stamps, above right (Mi. #544-45, Sc. #444-45), depict hands holding Saar, symbolizing that
"Saar Belongs to Germany" and the German eagle holding a swastika.
The set was issued on August 26, 1934 to publicize the upcoming Saar Plebiscite.
Think there was a little psychological persuasion going on here?
President Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934) died in August 1934, and the last
traces of the old Weimar Republic quickly faded away.
The Hindenburg
Memorial Issue, shown above (Mi. #548-53, Sc. #436-41), was issued on September 4, 1934.
These six stamps of the Hindenburg
definitive stamp series were overprinted in black, between the stamp
designs, being a traditional sign of mourning.
The two stamps shown above (Mi. #554-55, Sc. #446-47) were issued on November 6, 1934 to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the Birth of Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805).
Friedrich von Schiller
was a poet, philosopher, playwright, and historian. Working in Weimar,
he often collaborated with his friend, the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. This
period is referred to as the "Weimar Classicism".
The nine Third Reich semi-postal stamps, shown above, were
issued on November 5, 1934 for "Nothilfe". The surtax amount on the
stamps went to charitable organizations.
The
theme of these nine Third Reich stamps is "German occupations", and, by denomination,
from lowest to highest, they depict -- a businessman, blacksmith,
mason, miner, architect, farmer, chemist, sculptor, and judge.
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