Accession Number: 2022.02.4.68

Stamp: Green 6 Mark Reichsparteitag 1934 Nüremberg

Postmark: Riesa, 20.9.1934

Front: 

A map of German population distribution in Czechoslovakia titled “The Germans in Czechoslovakia.” From the legend, solid red depicts Sudeten Germans (ethnic Germans living in the Sudetenland, a region bordering Germany and Austria), red stripes depict all other German populations, solid yellow depicts Czech, yellow stripes depict Slovakia, and unfilled color depicts other peoples.

Czechoslovakia was founded by Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk in 1918 following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The multi-ethnic nature of this new country led to civil unrest as the German-speaking population of Sudetenland attempted to secede into the Republic of German-Austria. This movement was ultimately unsuccessful and German-Austria was never a recognized state.

Hitler started an occupation of Sudetenland in 1938. The eventual goal of the Nazi regime was to eradicate Czech nationality through assimilation, deportation, and extermination of 50% of ethnic Czechs. Czech losses resulting from political persecution and deaths in concentration camps totaled between 36,000 and 55,000.

Printed in 1934, this postcard was part of a propaganda strategy to incite feelings of injustice in the German population regarding the Sudeten-Germans belonging to Czechoslovakia.

Back:

Herrn Oberlandesgerichtsrat Klemm,
Dresden-L.
Blumenstraße 1.

Riesa, am 20.9.34
Lieber Hans, Zu deinem geburtstage senden den wir dir herzliche grüße verbunden mit unseren besten Wünschen für dein ferneres wohlergehen.

[—] Deinen nochmals grüßend, bin ich
Deine Schwägerin Lotte u. Kinder

[Translated]
The Honorable High Appellate Judge Klemm,
Dear Hans, We send you our warmest greetings on your birthday, along with our best wishes for your continued well-being.

[—] Greetings again, I am
Your Sister-in-law, Lotte + kids