The Riddle of the Hindenburg Medallions
This is an exhibit of ordinary mail, simple missives, business and personal letters that appeared in Germany's mailstream between 1932 and the end of the war in Europe on May 8, 1945. The covers in this exhibit have one feature in common: each bears the abundantly common Hindenburg Medallion stamp--the only postage stamp that was produced continuously during the Third Reich.
The Hindenburg Medallion was first issued on October 1, 1932 to celebrate the 85th birthday of Paul von Hindenburg, president of the Weimar Republic. The plain design of the stamp was based on the Hindenburg medallion, created by medalist Karl Xaver Goetz.
The first and second series of Hindenburg Medallion stamps, issued in 1932 and 1933, were printed on watermarked paper using the network or mesh design-more popularly termed the waffle or Waffein design. A third issue was printed in 1933 by the Nazi government and was watermarked with a swastika or Hakenkreuz. On September 4, 1934 a final set ofsix medallion stamps were issued with the swastika watermark and black borders to note the death ofvon Hindenburg in August.
This exhibit intends to show that the Hindenburg Medallions were co-opted by Nazi propagandists in 1933 to express solidarity with the Hindenburg legacy. It was important to the Nazis to be viewed in support of familiar ideals of patriotism, continuance and harmony during the radical transition from a democratic republic to the authoritarian dictatorship that followed for a dozen years.
The Medallion definitives were popular with the public. By 1932 Paul von Hindenburg had become a national hero, a man nearly as large as his myth. Hindenburg was not a Nazi, he stood for Germany, for empire, for conservative Prussian values-and for calm in the face ofchaos.
Chaos in Germany began during the final years of World War 1. By 1918 Germany was facing ruin, people were starving, the army was ill-equipped to face continuing stalemate in the trenches; there were rumors of betrayal in the government and mutiny brewed in the Navy; Emperor Wilhelm II, and King of Prussia, renounced his crowns in November; the war was lost, the Weimar Republic was born and war reparations drained the German treasury. The prevailing excuse for military defeat and social disintegration was that Germany's army had been betrayed, "stabbed-in-the-back" by socialists in the government, by traitors who undermined the war effort and by Jews who were blamed for profiting from the war; government ministers were blamed for conceding to the crippling terms of the Versailles Treaty. Violent political factions emerged from the beer halls and bloodied each other in the streets. By 1919 Germany was in revolt.
From this bedlam, a man emerged with calming effect. Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg, called the Victor of Tannenberg for his defeat of Russians in 1914, during an early battle of the long, devastating "'mli '"'" "'.., .t ... M • pm."ioml >eli... .,nomrchi>t, • P"",,;"n ";'tocnt-. """",.Ii", >mn ",ith u",lW<.oI>lo 'onfiOo""_Oo"'mod by hi> own ,cl.i"" .., • rod in .., 00•.., of hnnoil Hini."".", ..1 in f..,t ,till tho f.." of G."""" in tho ,taob, bo qu.1Iod tho nuhri" ..-.I bocuno, duri", thol920" • ".Iioml ho., ofmyth>o In ln5,.t... 77, fi.1i M",holI Hiroio"".", "'''' ,.nod ""t oh.tinm"t ""...>in b 10><1 tho Woinur R."",l>o ill" tho d..th offu,ii.nt fri.drioh Ebort. Hini.rou", •..,ily",on "_.Ioc~,,, in 1932 ,,,10 of tho c.,."iro; pcv>Wity of",uri", f..,lio", ,till plrin< tho ,taob-..-.l fillinc ".b intho R.ioNt.. A, p",ii.nt of tho \1loim>r Ro",bl>o, Hiroio"".", oxm~od • 'octhin<, p.lonW crip on G.""""y; bo .tt.mplod b ...ii. tho wmhy b m occo>om>o ""0"'''' in m ino"..,i",ly no,liI••nri>uunont of"'uinc f..,lio", ",bo" <""'inc doubt.ni mi>tm,t ",.t.d.., .wnomnort in ",lUoh tho N.Iio".l Sooiili>t G."""" 11'0",,', Pmy p."pond, ..-.I "'''' 01>10 b buill """""'hip ..-.I pdilio Tho Nm, inoilod mlo",• ..-.I p"..,bod • pcv>J.r, ,..,~t..-.l ".tioouli,'" murif"to. Adolph Hitl,,', c_inc d ..ri"". .tt,..,lod tho ""-",llu]i,,od .m unilod ",JIio", of _plo in ,hu.d f"",i".t"" '" ".Iionili>m, ",lUoh Iod, fmilly, b • mojori". in tho R.ioNt.., .>mine Hill" .., 'weintmont .., Ch>.",.llo G Whon ~n Hiroiorou", d;od in Au..... t of 1934, Hm p from 19:J.1 unliI tho .m of tho Thinl R.ioh in 1915, "'0 " WMt follow, ~ • 'i",,10 po,W hi>b'Y oftho Hini.mu", ,tun", tlat ,.,.d tho ri" .ni f '" ..,..""...."c.. T .... ,...... ,...... """"=r. .._ _'I'...,;- .,...,,,.,,,.. ..,""'.. .. ,P.", "'"H' " ""l .;,•• 0.'" '~.-...... , '" , ...... , '- '~.':~:- ~_d.2:""'::::::::::'_~. """f"~~ .. ~-"~' '.,...:::::.:.....,•• "__... WlI"""k_._,:-;;:.... , ..,Ii•.•,,_.. • ~ ~IJ ~l.' ~ • ..--"'", ,- ,... I 0-- %'- ..... - ,...... dfi.- . __- . - .' If It_,...... , ...... '.ll''':_~;:::::_____ Y; ill .... '.••.... "...or..,-_...... -,. , • 4' "-'....~ '". HINDENBURG AGREES ""'~ ..J4 TO SEEK RE·ELEGTIO~I ...._ lU - NAZIS TD FIGHT HIM ~... ~ '" ~">.4- .r-···t~ ~ /' Vid...y 01 ~.'f ..r·ord ""'lhal J<~ ~J ~' on Mil,clIl3 B~I;t~td Ct!lai~. Oesoltt Growing Opl'O"t·on. , ~-';1- . . .•~ .>--.k'1-.". OCtober 2, 1932: This postal card was a souvenir of the Weimar Republic in celebration of President Paul von Hindenburg's 85th birthday. Mailed from leipzig to Asuncion. Paraguay attha foreign postcard rate of 1S Reichspfennigs. The card was paid with the newly issued 4Rpf and SRpf Hindenburg Medallions plus a 6+4Rpf Deutsche Nothitfe semi-postal depicting the Tannenberg Memorial. Von Hindenburg was hailed as The Victor of Tannenberg for defeating a Russian army there in August 1914. The message reads: "The just issued Hindenburg new issues with best wishes -Berthhold Krueger. leipzig.· Krueger was editor of The Illustrated Stamp Journal in leipZig. Hlndenburg Medallions 1933 "m: ~ q"..ti P., '" Hill.. •, G._ {' w 'ipwl i.o Dil __' _Q~' ••~"'s. .... ,_'w '''''••'''. v,''' __ ...... , ~ ,.."."...... " -~ ~ t...... , ~-. _. , '" ,,. _., .. '--~- ~ ...... -.""....,....: ,-'-.....,_..- , . ".--.... _...,.' ...... -..~--_... ,"', _,-__.",~-.....,... - ...... _.-.,-",.. _..~, ,.... ~, .. ~_...... ,, ,.._",... _ ,... _',f _ ... ~~'''''''.''-' .-"~l...... ~...... "__., ,,~ .,.... "_L_ "..,,,...- _I • ..-,.", "~,,,...,...... ~ ...... _. wI .,,, .. ,.• ",.,," _, -_"',_ ... -,.~ ~-., M _,-- ".", ,.- July 29. 1933: Berlin to Weggis, Switzerland. Foreign rate 25Rpf. Paid 24Rpf with three SRp' Medallions. Shortpaid, Boxed T and manuscript 10 with Switzerland lOa: Postage Due added. Postal slOgan reads: Combat the labor shortage buy German goods. Hlndenburg Medallions 1934 VON HINDENBURG DIES AT 86 -'._~.. _._------.-... AFTER A DAY UNCONSCIOUS; --_~_ ... ~ '-.--,-~~._-.. HITLER TAKES PRESIDENCY ._--.--" ---.....~----_.-_------"-'- --,.."'-'"_, .... loW --~__ t>o --,--....._ - ~ - ..._...... ~--- ::--=':::1- --""--1.--- -_...... - "",="".:.:3 ::.::.... _-'=:--; &K:IAUST SlJ = ...'".. 1/lIGJrrBYAUSI1II! '::::::::"------'..-"': _ , ..... ::..::::...-= _· ·-1-...... , ___-T" ... -_ I ._-::"'"_-:. =.01 HAOUll" ...... :. " January 30, 1934: Ostrach to Basel, Switzerland. Foreign postcard rate (15Rpf) paid with an BRpf and a 1Rpf medallion plus a 6Rpl postal card indicia showing Hindenburg in uniform with Hitler in the background in civilian dress. The Nazis wanted the public to believe that Hindenburg and Hitler were working together. The card pictures SA troops marching through the Brandenburg gate on January 1, 1933, days before the "Decree for the Protection of the People and the State" was signed by Hindenburg in February, which effectively stripped all civil liberties guaranteed by the Weimar Constitution. Hindenburg's death on August 2, 1934 was remembered by black-bordered, Medallion definitives issued on September 5,1934. Hindenburg Medallions 1935 REICH mlY IS SUPREME SAAR GOES GERMAN BY 90Z; AD SOLE MILITARY FORCE LEAGUE DELIBFr "£5 TODAY; mlDER PLEDCE BY HlTLEF ANTI-NAr 'Y FLEEIN£ ""ct;" t'd' I' Cl.;>H 'Ill CHIEf\ MAS\ 'IIIl~T IHHOU~C£ III [.jYSTERf r.AtL1 TO'~\~IFESTI":'''''' 1 lor the Nazi! j, !}uo 46,6J3, " 2,083 • , • Onry Good Nazis fo Hoi Posfal Jobs in Germolt)'_-' "" ..,... ,. ,~. ,..,. ",.. J1I!:RLI~, J .... :!1._Tb l'Osl31 a~d \~l.phon•• h,.u~d 'oday ...h'~"'... : l' 1935 Top: Local letter rate 16Rpf (20-100 grams) plus 30Rpf registration fee was made with three Medallions and a 25Rpf musicians' commemorative (Handel). Bottom: The foreign rate 25Rpf (to Zurich) was made with Medallions and a Bach commemorative. The Nazi govemment produced prodigious amounts of patriotic philatelic material for collectors in the 19305 and 40s as part of the effort to normalize social and political life. Hlndenburg MedlIlllona 1938 Hitler Open. the Winter Olympic.; GERMAN HOARDERS U. S. Defeat. Germany in Hacke:!, TO FACE EXECUTION 1,600 Tait '.rt i. P.,..It .f ZlI /II'aJiUI III G:m"iulr ':io~tl'nmt(11 P"rtrllltiuIJffI SI..Il•• &f.,t Fnlr.tr-A.tnC4ft1 Wi. Order Alfrds All WhO Illegally E.port Their 11.11 I I. U, • 14t E".,"ohN Stntl. '_to Capital or Good'- " .' ;;i: 1._ with n ,1> HI, _.--rt..... 1( ~ loT II.. ,,,.,. '0>••<"".... • 1O~ ..... ~"'" " '''. "' . • 1".4 ,,, • ,,," I •• un",' '''' ....\1 b.~. II l» ,... ".."" .r.. I·., '''f' ...."".... C" January 22, 1936: Stuttgart to Philadelphia. Winter Olympic Games were held February 6-16 in the Bavarian village of Garml9ch aoo Partenldn::hen. Foreign letter rate 25Rpl to 20 grams. Overpaid 1RpI' wtth 4th Winter Olympic Games semi-postals 12+6Rpf aoo 6+4Rpf and an 8Rp! Medallion. The SUtCharge was deposited in HltIer'S CUntn fund aoo used for stadlLm ronstnJCtion. August 3, 1936: Berlin to Bethlehem, PA: Foreign postcard rate of 15Rpf paid with Medallion. The SLmmer Olympic Games slogan postmar1o: depicts an Icon 01 the ThIrd Reich, the Brardenborg Gate. Hlndenburg Medallions 1937 CATHOLIC AND NAZI YOUTH I'NAZIREGIMETOTRYINAZISIOINTENSIFY j lMXl MONKS IN WAR BOYCOTT OF JEWS CLASH IN MUNICH, 10 HELD; ,AGAINST CATHOLICS ''::;~ '::.::-'=:;" HITLER WARNS THE CHURCH ." .". MOO ,,,' """, , .....""" Bolo" Re.,h TrilIun.11 on DD~D T~KU ~(:TION TODAT ~I ~ - .- I Chal1l" In"'••allty I"'" 01>1 • PRIESTS ARRESTED )!!!Yil- .' ~ .,::::;.:;::...;" ~.:s..",<"~~,,, II - 'THCK .. 0_ ... Com,oI.... flghllOg Begins as Their .1/ n." - ~..' "-"'."'':;~. Groups aod Hillerilcs. a '~~ ~ ._.... Exchange Jeers r;: t "ZC31_" 19J; 11 COUlGNE CATHOUCS flAt ~.~. Glil In For~, 10 Knr Car _Ch."".11or S.,I K. WI T~lefat. IltligIQUI S'__ 'k~ DEFENSE READ II , ~.P .-~ . -' f~' 1o-rf ~ • ~~~a .. .•." ...... >"" ~ PACKS NUREMBER !)eUtec}Uln ~ .~ den~. ' ,OOOiroHOIIIOdlnlJT. U1 ll~ell!!!- Cltlel tor C.ng,.... Oponit B..t1il:!-_=- ~ 2 1: Today-Moro Aro on WI} =- - " ... " on ...... 00Il*" [101>I ..... the '1.200 Bl...... Who , ...... SponifII SolI' Top: June 7, 1937: Hamburg to Cuxhaven sent at inland letter rate 12Rpf to 20 grams. Slogan postmark: ~Community power through joy. ~ July 3. 1937: Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland) to Berlin, 12Rpf Medallion paid inland letter rate. Letter addressed to DRL, the umbrella organization of sport in Nazi Germany (Deutscher Reichsbund fur Leibesiibungen). After 1933, sporting clubs connected to the Social Democratic Party, the Communist Party or a church were banned. Postmark slogan notes a coming Gennan Art Day. Fetes, fests and fairs were popular, generated crowds and enhanced a sense of community; all strongly supported in Reichspost slogans. Hlndenburg Medallions 1938 iD NAZIS SEIZE AUSTRIA AFTER HITLER ULTIMATUM; IT!I GERMAN TROOPS INVITED TO MAINTAIN ORDER; •• SEYSS-INQUART CHANCELLOR; POWERS PROTEST , • T OUT. N~:t..::~:--~7':: jlTALY GETS SHOCK The Austrian Situation SCHUSCHNIGG GOES .=;~;;.';;.==... -~..:... _ I...... "_.... _...... Visit af Hitler Probably ... __...... -,::;-..=.:-::...:-.:~ __,.__ ...._ ...... -''::':;;a-. Resigns After Threat of no =:..-;:::.:~= Will Be Canceled as - ... ----,.---.. - Invasion as ~t$ ~ "':..':":*'_~..:::.. ~=. ___:.::;:::::,"" __....,..::::, ReSull ollhe Coup ::.::::::.._,__-:-'._.. ..uo __"...; Failla Back Him N"'_,." .... <>0- ,_ _ _ __.. ..-,__ ,.. _ -.-. •• ..-_ ~aME 8E~~I~ UIS SHUEH I -.-.. ""-- n.E8ISCllE IS C~LLEO OF' ...... ""...... _ "".... I .....-~ _.""., ...... -"...", _ ..-...... ---_...... ~.r'Ity. -:=: =::: '.=.00;:: ='.;:....:: "",llo 8,it... I.llltly t. ....,.." _ _-_ .. ___ -...e w H.. Elpoole6 '-,_ .._--.._ft.,..,...... -. I.spoodedand.li: ., • • .d Alter B )'f'~er .. ,. " March 1938: Wlen 10 Milan, Rsly. Foreign rale 25Rpf paid with two Medallions and an Austrian 1 Groschen stamp valid after the Anschluss was completed on Mardl13. 1938. Two plebiscites were held, both yielding 990/0 vole of acceptance of Auslria into Grealer Germany_ April 26, 1938: Essen to New York. Foreign rate 25Apf using Medallions and a 12+38Apf Hitler birthday semi-poslal. Several German cities used similar special postmarks to rote Hiller's 49th birthday on April 20. 1938. Hindenburg Medallions 1939 EXTR ",':.":.."!" ID~t IDimt~. !"""- - :'-: I I Nt\lJ i[ark I ...::.:..=...... -:.' --~ ---.-- __ ..... _.~ -=..__ ~_"'" ,n ".. '_T. n"' .... '" ...... - :- ~ .. ""'''-;::. .. - ~ - -- GERMAN ARMYATTACKS POLA}\;D CITIES BOMBED, PORT BLOCKAnb~ DANZIG IS ACCEPTED Tl\T"'O REI Jlr.M .m IlL'.5 • ... _ ~'. c.Ad lI."'lll-n!:-;r..A _ '--~'--.:.-..:.::..:.,::;..:--- swoe:"_lrrJ~' ~--- ---...1*11'"- I 'Co..'••, .. , ..••, _.•• --..--. '-;'~ ~ ..:-.::. '••• .. '::'-: ·--.-'.-. •••• ••• •• •••--.._. • ..0-::::: • .- ., •• .. - --=--- __•__~bana_ClllJa .===-""':...-.~ _ f"ed«,ga-eaut ---- eutre " '" OCtober 26, 1939: Wien (Vienna) to Sydney, Australia paid 25Rpf foreign letter rate plus 150Rpf. Alnnail should account lor 90Rpt at 5 grams. The Australian Jewish Welfare Society was established in 1936 as a ~port agency for Jews lIeeing the Nazis. April 11, 1939: Cologne to Havana. foreign letter rate 25Rpf plus airmail 3ORpt. ReglAations required that aU letters to non-hostile foreign courtries be mailed at a post offICe COIJller by the writer wtlo must presert an official idenIiIy card with photo. On August 17, 1938. the Nazis isslled an ExecUive Order reqliring German Jews bearing first names 01 IlOO-Jewish origin to adopt an additional name: Israel for men and sara for women. The writer above OOfTl)lied by showing his "Jewish' middle name, lssac on the bad< nap. Hlndenburg Medalllona 1940 UTE an BlM ... _.. - .. ~- --- FRENCHSIGNREICH TRUCE, ROME PACTNEXT; BRITISlf BOMB KRUPP WORKS AND BREMEN; HOUSE -.. V PASSES 2-0CEAN NA VY BlLL EEPIIW.~ fUt... ·_"'1It ._ '_ ~TD.ti~ ._,um:· ~ ...... r--- .., - .1.1 TI ' :::: .,_ .iioo ~ _.~.,.-....- .= .. _.... '" ------_... .w_-.... :=.-. : . ~.. -_... 1'"- " ' .. ".- • ••• -_._- ..•• =- ••-. - - =•• • ~J • - t c' - .. Cl~renee g. ?1ekett _~. SerT1ce c~1ttee AII:er1oan 'r1e...... , ~C • - south twelfth street -.. ~e •• Fh1ladelpb1., . MIT tUfTPo;"l- - U.S.A. • " " ...•• July 15, 1940: Kial to San Cristobal, Venezuela. Foreign sutface letter rate of 25Rpt paid with Medallion. The cover was censored in Gennany and arrived In caracas on September 12 and San Cristobal on the 17th. The writer may have been asked to spell oul her mlcklle name for the Kiel postal clerk.. December 3, 1940: Ber1in to Philadelphia 65Rpt paid with Medallions (25Rpf + 30Rpf ainnail). Censored in Gennany. Clarence picken was an American Quaker active in humanitaJian services and engaged in the rescue at refugees in Europe and the Middle East. The Yankee ~r service from Lisbon was threatened after the fall cI France-service would end it' Spain or Portugal joined the Axis. Hlndenburg Medallions 1941 u. S. DECLARESWAR, PA C~ MANILA AREA BOMBED; 1 HOSTILEPLA~Tr SIGHTI • • • URN BACK 10 SEA Philippjp- 1LESHIP LOSl --.• ••• • • -~ ••- •• / /;.r " •• • . '. O~ ~~; -("\ ~ . \\0\';,#, \J /' _",,, U February 7, 1941: Hamburg to Erie, PeMsylvania. Foreign postcard rate 15Rpf (convenience overpayment of 2Rpf). Sent to U.S. via Dissabonn (lisbon). Jewish sender has added the middle name of "Israel" to comply with the 1938 law requiring German Jews bearing names of "non-Jewish" origin to add Israel and Sara (beloW) to their given names. October 7, 1941: Berlin to Lynbrook, New YorK Foreign 1ett8l' alrmaH to North America 65Rpf (25Rpf+ 40Rpf airmail. A "Sara" letter complying with the August 17,1938 law on Alteration of Family and Personal Names. Hlndenburg Medallions 1942 ...\Y. S£I"iDtBER ,. lIN%. NAZIS PUSHED BACK ABOVE STAUNGRAD , CLAIM NOVOROSSllSK, BLACK SEA PORi ,10TH FORTRESS RAID COSTS 2, FIRST LO~ : HEAVIESTU.~.RAIDSr "" '""~:,~.::t" '0' nu ;,;:~ ;VILLAGES RETAI d Bombers Blast Factory I~~~ T~nks Pierce Nazi l f in Meaulte, Bases at ! F- ._ In Red ~y Attac ;i St Om~. A~vine I r __ at Stahngrad , AlLIED FIGHTERS HIT roE FOE 1$ HELO BELOW 'i --- I ~ Fwtren GunMl'll an&! E~ •CemoaIt COIllf,wlll C13I' ;1 ratf T...f "alii--«. A.. r ~ at VoIp,lIIIt RfSI " Attacb Rnell at ,.;. -llCCUsn III C;lIlICa$I ~I "I -.,..~-., ....."'" .. - .._, .. ,.0""""''' "A'''', ... • l.a••• ,.. ~1:~~ -,~-,...-... .. , , -- ~ ~"'>.'_.. ,..' '. "••,'"< • ...... ',,_.~ t •• .1:~"'"... 'J~." --<.. , 1.-__"'"• ~- .,...... _,.... 10. -~,~ ,'A--._ - -~. I-'~=' .," .,--- ,,- .=-.':.='~ , -. -'''-'''''''''' .. , '- -~ .-...... ,.. ,.._....--,...... -,.-, , -. ..-.A..., __""''''''''"' v.10 • ...... , -.. _,,,~t...... ,. ....l , _,_._...., ....~.r ,-...._ .- - ..... -. 1IIu.... -.riol ""t. _ --- -- ~-~ -~- -- February 7, 1942: Inland SUfface rate of 12Rpf is paid with a 1Rpt Medallion. and two Winter ReDef Ftn1, semi-postal stamps (5+5Apf and 6+4Apf) both issued in November 1940 and valid through June 30 1941-eight months invalid at the lime this cover was cance~. July 24, 1942: Halle to Berlin. Inland rate 12Apf plus 30ApI registlatDn fee is met with six Medallions, a 12Rpf Hitler definitive and one 12+38Rpf semi-postallssued on Hitler's 52nd birthday in April. The Hitler-read defir¥tive was first issued in August of 1941 and was in prtxfuc:tion until May 1945. Hlndenburg Medallions 1943 ~:y:"~:'~·~u~:·~~:· ...t .....~~=·· ======~~~" ROMMEL GAINS IN DRNE TO SPUT Jol • • RSTAUN SAYS SOVIET BEARS WAR'S B! .850 WST ON 2 OF OUR SHIPS IN ATLA YIllmIS OF U-BOA~irl:-. - - 16-1lLB I -::;;:::aF!::,-/~n~s:,::L - ••Most ~,.u)\ I Two • .I: AI /TIT (;/Ie JTOaPEl j}/ensl. te ~ Craft. t ·• ..... • Sw • -,. of WMWNo '" _ --1IliO .... -) " ...~ ...... W' ' ·--- ""' '".:" ..... '-"--=.-=--- ~. \ ';) . .4,)- /Iod f.:dk.- .~.:~: ' ~,~' , ...-:::: rwilEL llBTIlBATS 11 A D,fj!t,1J liilrt-loogllarrageLefs lur Infantry seize Pass Without A'ng Shot '/,n / February 13, 190t3 (top): Registered Olver to Berlin from Rhelne. 12Rpf inland plus SOAp( registration using a 'o'efOOa1 pair at 1Apr MedaHions and a 1941 40Rpf Hitler definitive. April 8, 1943: Moresnet to E~n: Local rate 6Rpf. MoresnetIEl()en was a Gennan-speaklng region in eastern Belgil.m that was annexed by Nazi Germany on May 23, 1940. The mOl.ming coYer was franked by a SApf Medallion to pay the local rate. Aprfl18, 1943, _'080_ paid the mlard "'Ie of 12Apl with Iv«> 6RpI Medallions. Hlndenburg Medallions 1944 ...... -..-,J.... '--'-"'" YU~". F1!1ll."'. M\MCU li. 1_.,. _ ,N.tI;.,h.mfQ1W,kom, 6, 720 TONS HIT REICH IN 24 HOURS', ;;;::;;:"';..-1 RUSSIANSRIPLINENEAR TARNOPOL; :;::::=,~_. &_._ ..- JAPANESE CONVERGEONINDIA BASE '...... _.... [ =:.,c:" 37'~ILE GAIN MADEl TEllJ'O Of' AIR WAnI'AnF: IS ~"EPVlm l:P 5.000 PLANES mBD -~._- I n ••t_...... I.r • to ...... ,_ '> ...... ""'"'''""'...... ,- Red Army in New Drive Fires Rage in Frank/ort :-:::::.::..-:; ~ashes Hinge of After RAPs Record :;..."':;'....·1' ·:.... Front 3.36(}TonBlow ..... o._utU, .-.~ ...... _, AI ALUES LOSE iI6 etArT _ -..... , .., "". _..- .. __ ... A",.....,.. a~1 Sj, E.....' B~'et-tlesl/'rf -,"'"' .. to_, v_.. zo Gtm.Ift ...... , ,_ T.,..p • F'lttr1 III S~y Ilallla 'r'- ""'~•• J. _ ~ - ....,.,..,."... 11.- ><_,.... H~ BANIC ...... _--... ,_..,---__...... PAI.\I Bf ._ .... _... ,..--__...... _ "..···_r_. .• ,,-.,..oJr« £to• ._. ....to --":->t""., . .~ -_ •• 1-"'--_ -~ · ~ _.-. ,..,. .... •• ....-.._.. --...... -. _~,_ ~ ... • ...... ___...... t... • '13 1945 .... machine cancelled with added obliteration of Hitler's image....... to moli ",bl>o op;";,,,; bo ",,~d tho _""Hini."",,,,', im.oc.
..>nJi,b ,,"'d tho ",portuni". b ",.10 • W..",ri.., fur.,