Nazi defiance began with the “” (Hitler’s annexation of ) on 13 1938, and followed by a referendum on 10 April 1938, in which the Anschluss officially recorded a support of 99.73% of all the voters. During the few short weeks between the Anschluss and the 10 April referendum the German Army had marched all over Austria, and 70,000 people had been arrested. Robert Kauer, President of the “Protestants in Austria”, greeted Hitler on 13 March 1938 as "saviour of the 350,000 German Protestants in Austria" and he announced his support for the Anschluss, and he appealed for to vote in favor of it on 10 April. Thus Austria became the German province of Ostmark. The referendum itself was subject to large-scale propaganda, as is depicted on this commemorative postcard which announces the forthcoming union, and honors it with a German “10 April Stamp” coupled with an Austrian Stamp, each with reciprocal cancellations. The writer sent this postcard from the city of Linz Austria (which is ’s childhood hometown), to a family member in German Bavaria. The postcard celebrates the Anschluss three days prior to the referendum. Note the enthusiasm of the writer and the “Heil Hitler” salutation. (The postcard is part of Victor’s collections. The ballot card on right is not included). BELOW AT RIGHT: Only 10 days after Hitler’s successful “Auschluss Referendum” the two newly unified German people celebrated Hitler’s 49th birthday. On that day, 20 April 1938, Hitler visited his Austrian birth-house illustrated on this commemorative postcard, which has been stamp-canceled (on the postcard’s front) in on that infamous date.

AT LEFT : This 1938 Nazi Christmas card commemorates the two newly unified Germanic nations celebrating together their first, and what would be their last, peacetime christmas festivities. This post- card has a special commemorative stamp with a special c o m m e m o r a t i v e cancel dated 23 Dec 1938 Vienna, Austria

Sign of the times : This 1940 postcard of Benito Mussolini (DUX) was used by a young child as an Easter Greeting.

1939 1941

Fuhrer-Dux postal cancels to commemorate Hitler’s visit to Rome during 3-9 May 1938.

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Set of 3 full-size double-sheets of 100 stamps each (six full-size sheets of 50 stamps each)

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Set of three full-size sheets of 50 stamps each

This space reserved. This space reserved. Posting in progress. Posting in progress. A fascist era ten-cents contribution seal for Benito Mussolini and his wife Donna Rachele with their three sons Vittorio, Bruno, and Ro- alleviating poverty. mano, and daughter Edda holding their young- est girl Anna Marie. (These postcards were pur- chased by Victor in Predappio, Italy.)

(Translation) The city of Mussolini: Littoria. “Do not forget that death dominated here for centuries, and only the Black Shirt Revolution brought you life forever” (Speech by Mussolini on 18 December 1933 to members of Agro-Pontino).

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Continue to next page 1995 stamps and postcard commemorating 50th anniv: End of WW2

Birthplace of Mussolini and bed where he was born

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