My collection of Third Reich postkartes:
Nazi Rally (1933):
This is a commemorative postcard from 1933 featuring a nationalistic image of a party rally at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Below the image are the words 'Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles!' or 'Germany, Germany above all!'' in English. It also lists the date of January 30th 1933 which was the date Hitler became chancellor of Germany after being appointed by President Paul von Hindenburg. In the top right of the card is the dual side portrait of Adolf Hitler and Paul von Hindenburg with a value of 6 Pfennig printed above them.
This particular example was postally used on the 24th of February 1934, sent from the village of Rossla and is addressed to Paul Berger in Halle. There is an lengthy message on the back of the postcard although I've only managed to determine so far that the author is writing to inform Mr Berger that he won't be able to accept an invitation due to the late notice he was afforded.
Factory Workers (1934):
This postcard was issued in 1934 and was valid for use until the end of that same year. It features an illustration of factory workers carrying swastika flags and in the bottom right the words 'Nationaler Feiertag' or National Holiday in English. This example was postally used with the message being written on the 1st of May 1934 and then sent or at least postmarked the next day. It has a brief correspondence on the back of the card and it should be no surprise that it is entirely in German. The swastikas are censored in the image only.
I've attempted to translate the writing and know that it begins with 'Liebes Muttchen!' or Dear Mummy/Mother in English, the writer explains that they've been busy and then (I think) that they feel sad today having just watched the 'Illamanation', potentially a mispelling of illumination. The writer gives their warm wishes and then signs off with the name Anna.
NSKOV and the 1936 Olympics (1937):
This postcard features the Brandenburg gate of Berlin, a popular Nazi landmark, alongside an olympic arena. It bares the words 'Reichstreffen Der NSKOV Berlin' which represents the organisation of the 'Nationalsozialistische Kriegsopferversorgung' or The National Socialist War Victim's Care in English. An organisation created by the NSDAP to help seriously wounded veterans as well as the frontline fighters of world war one. In the top right is a light-brown 3 Pfennig Hindenburg medallion print.
This example was never postally used but bares a Berlin cancel from the 25th of August 1938.
Ax-Heu Soldier with Banner (1941):
This postcard displays an Ax-Heu illustration drawn by the husband and wife team Axster-Heudtlass. Above it bares the words; Im Kampf um die Freitheit! Which translates to 'For the Battle of Freedom'. It was issued in 1941 as a Day of German Stamps KdF collector group postcard. This particular example was postmarked in Mannheim and features a greyish brown Winterhilfswerk stamp of Danzig with a face value of 3+2 Pfennig, with the stamp being first issued on the 5th of November 1940.
Ax-Heu Railway Artillery (1941):
This postcard was issued to commemorate Stamp Day on the 12th of January 1941. It is part of a series of eight postcards adorned with the words 'Im Kampf un die Freiheit', which translates to 'In Struggle and Freedom'. The whole series of eight postcards were designed by the husband and wife team of illustrators Axster-Heudtlass and display different branches of the German armed forces. This card in particular shows railway artillery and is the fifth in the series. It features a 6 Pfennig Hindenburg medallion print with a 'Luxemburg' occupation overprint. This postcard was never used.
First Postage Stamp Exhibition of Litzmannstadt (1942):
This postcard was issued for the first postage stamp exhibition held in Litzmannstadt from the 13th to 16th of June 1942. Indeed 'Postwertzeichenschau' translates to postage stamp show in English. The phrase of the left hand side 'Gemenschaft Deutscher Sammler' translates to the community of German collectors. This event took place during the Nazi occupation of Poland and Litzmannstadt was the German moniker for the occupied city of Lodz in Poland. The exhibition also occured during the operation of the Lodz Ghetto, the second largest ghetto in German-occupied Europe. The image portrays an expanse of factories, many with billowing chimneys. This was likely an attempt to obscure the reality of the Ghetto and to mislead the German public into believing it was only an industrial compound. The imagery in hindsight is disturbing to say the least.
This example was never sent postally but has the Litzmannstadt exhibition cancel on the back atop a green 5 Pfennig Hindenburg medallion print.