Accession Number: 2022.02.10.1.18 Date: March 21, 1933 Stamp: Deutsches Reichs 6, MI: DR 465; Sn: DE 369. Postmark: BERLIN SW, 21.3.33 4-5N Historical Background:  After a fire destroyed much of the Reichstag building, a celebratory reopening occurred on March 21, 1933, or “Potsdam Day.” Both Reichsprasident von Hindenburg and Reichskanzler Hitler attended, famously shaking hands…

Accession Number: 2022.02.3.3.10Date: 1933Stamp: BERLIN SW, 03 3.41-12Postmark: Rectangular stamp featuring Nazi War Eagle symbol and “Deine Pflicht: Mitarbeit im Deutschen Roten Kreus,” or “your duty: work in the German Red Cross.”Historical Background: Brandenburg gate, among the most recognizable landmarks in Berlin, provided a convenient location for Nazi propagandic processions. This is exemplified through Hitler’s…

Accession Number: 2022.02.3.3.4 Date: 19/8/41 Stamp: BERNAU BERLIN, 21.8.41-10. Postmark: Dienfistelle Feldpost, or “Office feldpost,” 16 163. Nazi War Eagle symbol is central to the postmark. Historical Background: The Neue Reichskanzlei, or “New Chancellery,” was constructed between 1938-9, designed by Albert Speer at the behest of Adolf Hitler. Its formidable, “modern” design reflected the significant financial…

Accession Number: 2022.02.1.10 Date: 1933 Designer: Heinrich Hoffmann Historical Background: This tobacco card would have been traded amongst civilians in Nazi Germany. The “last” Nazi Party rally is depicted on the front, an event held in celebration of the official Nazi claim to power in Germany. Nuremberg provided the central location for Nazi demonstrations between…

Accession Number:2022.02.1.9 Date: 1933 Designer: Heinrich Hoffmann Historical Background: This tobacco card would have been traded amongst civilians in Nazi Germany. It highlights the Hitler Youth, an organization originating in the early 1920s. Its membership skyrocketed by 1933, partially due to the ban on other youth organizations like the Boy Scouts. The man in the…

Accession Number: 2022.02.11.5.77 Artist: Erich R. Döbrich-Steglitz Historical Background: Döbrich was wounded twice while serving in a machine gun company during World War I.  In the late 1920s and early 1930s, he was a member of the National Socialist Sturmabteilung (SA) in Berlin.  Döbrich attracted public attention at this time when, as leader of SA…

Accession Number: 2022.02.13.2 Stamp: Effigy Victor Emmanuel III, SN: IT-RSI 1b Postmarks (left to right): Oval mark (purple) reads “Salle de la Conference Locarno”; Round mark (black) reads “Messagere Varese Milano 22.4.3.” Historical Background: The Locarno Treaties were negotiated in 1925 regarding the sanctity of Germany’s western border. This primary treaty was signed by France,…

Accession Number: 2022.02.2.1.49 Date: 9/25/36 Stamps (From left to right): Soccer player (green), Mi: DR 626; Gymnast (brown), Mi: DR 609; Munich motorway (brown), Mi: DR 634y. Postmark: Nurnberg, Die Stadt der Reichsparteitage 25.9.36.-17. Historical Background: Prior to Hitler’s reign in Germany, Berlin was selected as the host for the 1936 Summer Olympics. Once he…

Accession Number: 2022.02.13.7 Date: 13-12-42 Postmark: Top right, “Ansiero Vicenza, 2-143” Historical Background: Mussolini declared war on the USSR on June 22, 1941. He promptly sent a unit of the Italian army on a campaign in Russia the following year, where they fought and suffered until 1943. Over 200,000 soldiers made the journey, and the…

Accession Number: 2022.02.8.69 Stamp: N/A (unsent) Designer: Adolf Munser Historical background: Despite the intent to oppress and murder Europeans with disabilities, Nazi Germany created robust support systems for its own disabled war veterans. The Nazis expanded the existing veteran pension program, increasing labor pathways and outlining a future retirement plan for the disabled. Postcards (such…