Previously mentioned Adolf Hitler medal of the year of 1938. (Image)

This “Volkssturm“ stamp was designed by v. Axster-Heudtlass. The Ministry of Propaganda rejected the draft because a wounded warrior with head bandage could not be a motivation for the “final battle“. By order of the ministry all proofs had to be destroyed. Indeed, only few items survived. The colours used for the print are always red and green. (Image)

The new design of Erich Meerwald was judged by the Ministry of Propaganda as “exemplary“. This photo essay is UNIQUE. (Image)

The presentation card for the selection of the final colour of the last official issue of a postage stamp of the German Reich. On January 23rd 1945, the officer in charge of the Postal Ministry in Berlin gave the order to the State Printers in Vienna to start with the production of the stamp. The colour had to be the same as that indicated by the order number „1“ on the card. In February 1945 this so-called „Volkssturm“ stamp was distributed to the post office counters in the German Reich. (For more details see vol. I of „Thema 3.Reich“, from p.33) The presentation carton of the Vienna State Printing with the four colour proofs is a historical gem oft he highest calibre. Wolfgang Jakubek valued this carton higher than the carton with the four SA/SS/NSKK/NSFK proofs. (Image)

René Ahrlé, a painter living in Berlin, was the creator of this motif “SA man with a torch“. The fighting man of the “Waffen-SS“ with the light machine gun on his shoulder was created by Erich Meerwald. In the upper right hand corner Meerwald integrated the figur of an ensign of the “Hitler-Jugend“. Both photo essays are unique. (Image)

Single prints of the SA-SS motif with broad margins. This proof – imperforated - is very scarce as nearly all prints were perforated to be used on the presentation cards. Only four copies each showing these broad margins survived. (Image)

This card fragment went – by courier – on February 10 (1945) from the Post Ministry in Berlin to the State Printers at Vienna. This is how it was discovered after the war in the printing plant. The two removed items were the unissued NSKK-NSFK stamps. A truly historical item which documents the printing order for the last two postage stamps of the Third Reich. (Image)

This motif designed by Matejko dates back to the year of 1941. The dynamic design was intended to promote the National Socialists Drivers` Corps. (“Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrerkorps = NSKK“) In 1945, the motif was used for the NSKK stamp which remained unissued. (Image)

The colour “red“ was determined by the ministry in Berlin for the four “Pateiformationen“ (“Formations of the National Socialist Party“, e.g. SA, SS, NSKK, NSFK). Vienna was instructed to produce appropiate colour drafts. The “Staatsdruckerei“ delivered colour proofs of five different shades of red to Berlin. These master drafts were quite eleborately executed. The pre-production division of the “Staatsdruckerei“ printed all four motifs as single prints in five different shades. All four motifs of each shade were mounted on one presentation card. Five different shades of red required consequently five presentation cards. These cards were consecutively numbered at the bottom using Roman numerals from I to V. In addition all proofs were consecutively numbered (in Arabic numerals) from 1 to 20. The corresponding numerals are shown below each colour proof. The card number V shown here bears accordingly the four examples with the order numbers 17, 18, 19 and 20. Six presentation cards of each colour shade were produced in the pre-production division of the printers plant. Half of them were sent to the ministry in Berlin, the rest stayed in Vienna as archive material. Certficate Wolfgang Jakubek (Image)

The presentation cards for the Ministry of Propaganda were delivered from Vienna in a very elaborate style. Each of the four motifs was presented on a larger sized carton embossed with the seal of the “Staatsdruckerei“. There was a documentary collection in the Ministry of Propaganda which contained proofs of all issued postage stamps. After the war many “legends“ were told about the whereabouts of this collection. Far-fetched stories could be heard in Berlin and, of course, all story tellers had acquired their knowledge from “well informed sources“. Here are some examples: “Stored in the Alps fortress“ (Hitler`s domicile), or, another version: “Hidden together with top secret files of the Postal Ministry in a secret bunker under the Tempelhof airfield“. In fact, there was such a bunker but this was found empty. The few people who knew about this matter later said “lost“. This most probably applies to the larger parts of this material. However, there were always people who might have had access to „such“ sources. A unique item with an impressive historical background! (Image)

The hand swearing an oath: The last sketch for a postage Stamp of the Third Reich was made in Febuary 1945. Sketch of Lothar Wüst for a planned 1945 issue symbolising the “total war“. This topic was rejected by the Ministry of Propaganda. (Image)

Indeed, they are existing! A handful of correctly used registered letters, which were franked with the both last postage stamps of the Third Reich. However, this did not happen during the Third Reich! Both commemorative stamps showing the motifs „SA“ and „SS“ became after the war regular postage stamps - local issues. Dr.Philipp Harder, the recognized expert has documented this item in his photo certificate. More information can be obtained in volume 1 of the „Thema 3.Reich“ books (page 89) under the title „Rarities from a wild period“. A documentation about the historical background of the „SA/SS“ stamps can be found in the same volume on more than 50 pages from page 37 onwards . This chapter will surely enrich the knowledge of „philatelic historians“! Certificate Harder BPP (Image)

Heroe's memorial day 1942 Three different colour shades – the only known specimen. The impressive motif was designed by Prof. Klein (of Munich). (Image)

In these two colours only this item is known. (Image)

The presentation card showing these three different nuances is unique. The shade of the upper left stamp (“1“) is that of the final issue. (Image)

PHOTO ESSAYS FOR THE HEROS`MEMORIAL DAY STAMP Several drafts for the heroe's memorial day stamp are shown. All four different motifs were created by Erich Meerwald. However, they did not stand a chance against the impressive draft of Professor Klein whose draft was finally executed. Of Meerwald`s drafts only the seven photo essays offered here are existing. (Image)

Following an idea of Felix Albrecht, Erich Meerwald designed a commemorative stamp featuring the “Day of the German Armed Forces 1941“. This stamp was not issued. The motif only survived as a photo essay. Meerwald declared the value as “6 + 94“ Rpf. This tremendous surcharge was already in use on the “Heligoland“ commemorative stamp which he had created. (Image)

DAY OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1943 Photo essay depicting signalmen and strings of telephone lines. (“Heeresnachrichtentruppe“). The indicated value of “3+2“ Rpf. was not used. (Image)

DAY OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1943 Photo essay depicting “pioneers“, however, the indicated value “4+3“ Rpf. was not issued. (Image)

DAY OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1943 Photo essay showing “light flak“ but the “5+3“ Rpf. face value was not issued. (Image)

DAY OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1943 Photo essay showing “motorcycle driver“ but with the un-issued value of “6+4“ Rpf. (Image)

DAY OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1943 Photo essay showing “Stukas“ (dive-bombers – these were the famous “Junkers Ju 87“ warbirds). The value “8+4“ Rpf. was not issued. (Image)

DAY OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1943 Two photo essays showing the motif “speedboat“. The value of “10+5“ Rpf. was not issued. (Image)

DAY OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1943 Photo essay showing “parachute troopers“, however, with the value of “15+10“ Rpf. which was not issued. (Image)

DAY OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1943 Two photo essays depicting the motif “machine gunners of the armed SS“, however, showing the value “24+10“ Rpf which was not issued. (Image)