GPS May 2020

German Postal

Specialist

May 2020

Volume 71 No. 04

Whole No. 779

The Feldeisenbahn Evidence Stamps

by W. David Ripley III Page 152

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German Postal Specialist


Volume LXXI, No. 04 Whole Number 779 May 2020

Columns

Letters to the Editor.....................................148

President’s Message....................................149

Articles

The Feldeisenbahn Evidence Stamps

by W. David Ripley III......................................151

An Interesting Post World War II French

Stationery Card

by Harold Peter..............................................159

Germans in the French Foreign Legion

by Jerry H. Miller.............................................161

Deutscher Reichspost-Kalender 1931.......163

The 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing

by Rudi Anders...............................................164

Occupations and Plebiscites, Part 4

(Conclusion)

by Larry Wirth................................................167

Query #2. Follow-Up. Michel 200 B x

A Blind Overprint?

by David Mielke..............................................178

Deutscher Reichspost-Kalender 1939.......187

News

Announcement from the Third Reich Study

Group

by Christopher Kolker, M.D............................181

New Issues.....................................................182

GPS Study Groups.........................................188

GPS Chapters.................................................189

Adlets..............................................................190.

Germany Philatelic Society

www.germanyphilatelicsocietyusa.org

American Philatelic Society Affiliate No. 48

Opinions of the authors expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Germany

Philatelic Society.

Copyright 2020, Germany Philatelic Society. The German Postal Specialist

(ISSN: 0016-8823) is published 12 times per year by the Germany Philatelic

Society. Periodical postage paid at Chesterfield MO 63006-6547 and additional

mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Germany Philatelic Society, 627 Goodrich

Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105-3522. Subscription rate $40 annually. Single copies $3.

Germany

Philatelic Society

Dedicated to the documentation,

preservation, advancement and promotion

of the stamps and postal history of

Germany and its related areas through

education, study, research and services.

Rudi Anders, President

3230 E. 24th Street.

Minneapolis, MN 55406

rudi.anders@iphouse.com

Don Unverrich, Vice-President

PO Box 10285,

Ogden UT 84409

516mru@gmail.com

Marcus Meyerotto

Secretary-Treasurer

PO Box 40

St. Charles, MO 63302-0040

marcusmeyerotto@gmail.com

Peter Weisensel, Editor of the


502 Lynnhurst Ave. E., #404, St. Paul,

MN 55104.

weisensel01@gmail.com

Peter Weisensel & Rudi Anders

Advertising Managers

Lena and Don Unverrich

GPS Research Librarians

P.O. Box 10285

Ogden, UT 84409

Email: 516mru@gmail.com

Ph. 801-309-0466

Harold E. Peter

Director International Relations

37850 S. Golf Course Drive

Tucson, AZ 85739

hepeteramgs@aol.com

May 2020 147

Letters to the Editor

Regarding Ken Gilbert’s article in the March and

April 2020 Specialist, pp. 75-79, and 104-113. It has

been a long time since something new – not just a

rehash of a catalog everyone owns – and ORIGINAL

AND informative AND interesting.

GOOD WORK!!!

Dr. Jason Manchester

Re: Bruce Wright’s German Gem item in the April Specialist, I am

not looking to nitpick or belittle the significance of his Schalburg sheet.

However I would like to point out for the sake of accuracy that the

Schalburgs were a private non-postal issue apparently created to be sold

to raise funds for the Danish Nazi Party. They had no postal validity and

are therefore more properly classified as labels rather than stamps.

Whether the Schalburgs ever appeared on any Feldpost covers

as did the Belgian and French Legion private issues, I can not say.

Whether singles or pairs of Schalburg labels are fairly common as Bruce

Wright believes may be open to question, based on the relatively high

prices presumably genuine examples bring in auctions. Unfortunately

what are fairly common are the high number of forgeries that are out

there.

Complicating matters, according to Michel the German BPP will

not authenticate these issues.

Martin Blumenthal


Have a correction or reaction?

Want to respond to an article?

Write a letter to the editor!

148


President’s Message

Rudi Anders

Annual Meeting ZOOM

Captain Kirk ordered the Enterprise slowed from warp speed as the

ship entered the orbit of the third planet from its distant sun. The giant

screen in front of him flickered and revealed the face of a weary-looking

commander quarantined at the Federation’s only remaining outpost

on the planet’s surface. Ever optimistic, Kirk responded with a greeting:

“Thanks for zooming in.”

200 years earlier - At the time of writing this message, Jerry Jensen,

past President of the GPS, and I are planning to use Zoom* to hold the

2020 GPS Annual Board meeting. We hope that the meeting will take

place by mid-May. Why are we doing this? In the very unlikely event

that Covid-19 will have disappeared later this year, there is no guarantee

that we can hold a ‘regular’ meeting this year. But even if that were

the case, a meeting in May is needed in order to inform the Board of our

finances, present a budget, and plan for next year’s GPS elections. Some

of this could be done by email, but Zoom allows us to discuss issues

and forge a consensus for future action in a meeting-like environment.

Beyond that, we need to be prepared to hold other Zoom meetings –

perhaps quarterly – to more effectively communicate.

Does the GPS face an immediate crisis? NO. But we must look

beyond the next few months and be nimble enough to respond quickly

if issues arise. Let’s focus on two issues: Membership and financial

solvency.

Membership:

I just looked at the April mailing list and find we’re mailing ‘paper’

Specialists to 686 person/entities. Add in the digital Specialists we’re

over 700 members. (We have 19 complimentary memberships – nine

of these are to the German Federation leadership per agreement reach

in 2019). Before getting too deeply into the weeds, what matters: how

many paying members? Answer: 643 regular and 33 life members. (This

includes 39 foreign members – some are life members). Assuming we

remain at same levels we would expect to receive dues of ca. $28,000.

May 2020 149

Financial solvency:

The assessment of Marcus Meyerotto, Sec. /Treasurer is that GPS

will break even this year. That assessment is based on the past nine

months. But with dues income of ca. $28K and expected expenses of

about 48K – we must make up the difference with ca. $5K in advertising

and the rest from donations (direct money & auctions). As a non-profit

we’re not expected to generate a profit, but we do need to look ahead. I

will not recommend a dues increase, but will recommend that the Board

helps to generate added income and/or offers suggestions for cuts. My

preference is for generating more income. Thus I’m recommending a

budget which assumes we can generate more income. Yes, that’s realistic!

We’ve been very successful doing just that for the past 9 months

– roughly $20K. Admittedly, given the impact of the current pandemic,

raising money will be more difficult. But the Board can help brainstorm

how we can accomplish that mission.

Mr. Sulu - Let’s put this ship into warp speed.

*Zoom is per Wikipedia an “American cloud-based videotelephony,

online chat, and business telephone system service”.

With so many GPSers homebound and

bored because of COVID-19, now is a good

time to investigate the dealer and auction

websites, to merge new stamp purchases

with the old in your albums, to write up

descriptions of recently purchased covers

(e.g., why did I buy this?), or to verify your

old identification of problematic, pesky

varieties.

150


The Feldeisenbahn Evidence

Stamps

W. David Ripley, III

Following the Rundfunkmarken (radio permit stamps) listing at

the end of the Generalgouvernement section of the Michel Deutschland-

Spezial catalog is a paragraph about the so-called Feldeisenbahn (field

railway) evidence stamps. It indicates the stamps are not postage

stamps and were attached to the ID cards of workers employed by the

Feldeisenbahn and the stamps are watermarked quatrefoils. There is no

mention of how many values exist. Very little information about these

stamps can be found in the literature. The original Michel Feldpost catalog,

published in 2002, listed 6 different colors; dark grey, red, brown,

violet, light grey and blue, all with “1944” overprints in green indicating, at

that time, the use of the stamps was not known. The Michel Deutschland

Spezial catalog now shows black & white images of both unoverprinted

and overprinted stamps depicting the so-called hoheitszeichen (eagle

perched on swastika). An old ARGE Generalgouvernement listing indicated

12 colors without and 11 colors with the overprint were known at

that time Today, 12 colors of each type are known.

BACKGROUND

The Feldeisenbahndirektion was established on March 20, 1941 in

Wehrkreis IV in Dresden in preparation for the forthcoming invasion of

the Soviet Union. After annexing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the

Soviet Union embarked on a program to convert all the existing standard

1435mm European gauge railway lines of the Baltic States over to the

wider 1524mm Soviet gauge. Because of this, the Germans knew there

would be much work to do to convert the Soviet railway lines back to

the European gauge in order to supply a swift moving German invasion

force. Although the Soviets had converted a few key lines, the conversion

process was slow. By the time of the German invasion in June 1941,

much gauge conversion work still had not been completed. This was

fortunate for the Germans as they had fewer railway lines to convert in

the Baltics.

However, despite this advantage, the Germans still did not possess

enough qualified personnel to convert, maintain and manage the Soviet

May 2020 151

railway system effectively, so they clearly needed to supplement their

forces. This was achieved by employing local civilians after the East

Front moved eastward, most of whom had previously worked for the

Soviet state railway. Accounts regarding the number of employees and

the length of the railway system operated vary greatly; between about

36,950, of which about 11,390 were Germans, operating about 2,040

kilometers of tracks, to about 58,420, of which about 10,280 were

Germans, operating about 2,520 kilometers of track. Regardless of the

true number of civilian employees, identity papers and proof of employment

were necessary.

THE STAMPS

For security purposes, bilingual German/Russian identification

papers and ID cards were issued to the local civilian Feldeisenbahn

employees. Monthly validation of an individual’s ID card required a

cancelled proof of employment, or a so-called evidence stamp.

Based on this, it is reasonable to assume exactly 12 colors make a

complete set of each type. Image 1 shows 12 different color unoverprinted

stamps and 12 different color overprinted stamps. While the

colors are all different in each set, note there is a close correspondence

between colors in the unoverprinted and overprinted sets.

interested

in German Philately -

maybe a friend is too.

Why not ask your

friend to join you and

become a member of

the GPS?

152


Image 1: 2 Full Sets of Feldeisenbahn Stamps. Identifying the colors is subjective,

however, my best guess is as follows:

Row 1 (Non-overprinted): Dark Brown, Red Brown, Sienna, Lilac, Red Orange, Red

Row 2 (Non-overprinted): Blue, Turquoise, Olive Green, Violet, Grey, Green

Row 3 (Overprinted): Dark Brown, Light Brown, Brown, Dark Lilac, Orange, Red

Row 4 (Overprinted): Blue, Turquoise, Olive Green, Violet, Light Grey, Dark Grey

THE ID CARD

A bilingual folded ID card is shown in Image 2 (outside) and Image

3 (inside) which verifies the stamps were used as proof of employment

and renewed monthly. The unoverprinted stamps were used in

1943 and the overprinted stamps were apparently intended for use in

1944. To my knowledge, the Feldeisenbahn ID cards are the only such

ID cards to have text in both German and Russian. On the top part of

both sides the text is in German and on the bottom side the text is in

Russian. Each line of text has been translated into English below, but

it is interesting to note: the Russian equivalent of the German text was

determined by either a German with a very poor command of Russian

or an illiterate Russian with little understanding of German. Any reader

fluent in Russian can easily see this.

May 2020 153

Image 2: The Outside of an ID Card

Belong to a local stamp club?

It’s amazing what you can learn.

154


Image 3: The Inside of an ID Card

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May 2020 155

TEXT TRANSLATION - IMAGE 2

The ID card is only valid in connection with the temporary identity card.

ID card Nr. ______

Surname: ______

Occupation: ______

First name: ______

Place of residence: ______

is in the service of the German Wehrmacht. He is employed at the

official field railway station: (Handwritten name of station)

In the exercise of his service: he is allowed to enter the railway systems. It

may not be used elsewhere by another agency.

Signature / “Hauptman u. Komp.=Führer” (Handstamp)

Invalid without a validation stamp with cancel in the current month field.

TEXT TRANSLATION - IMAGE 3

The ID card is only valid, if the month field contains a validation stamp with

official cancel.

This is followed by a 3 row, 4 column grid providing space for each

month’s proof of employment stamp.

THE CANCELS

There are two different almost illegible cancels on both side of

the ID card. By examining parts of the various cancels I have determined

most of the text. On the outside of the ID card (Image 2) the

cancel on the left (Cancel-1) reads “Dienststellefeldpostnummer <illegible

5-digit number>” (Command Headquarters for Fieldpost Number)

around the inside of a circle. The Hoheitszeichen appears in the center

with a star or asterisk underneath just inside the circle. The cancel on

the right (Cancel-2) reads “Feldeisenbahnbetriebsdirection 16” (Field

Railway Operations Office) also around the inside of a circle with the

Hoheitszeichen in the center but with “1” just under the swastika. The

same cancels appear on the inside of the ID card (Image 3). The top

3 stamps are tied by Cancel-1 and the remaining stamps with Cancel-

2. Based on this it is likely this employee moved to a new location after

serving 3 months at the previous location.

156


REMAINING QUESTIONS

The use of the stamps has been known for some time but the ID

cards are very hard to find. From Image 3 we can determine the month

of use, presumably in 1943, of 7 unoverprinted stamps. At first glance,

it appears the months of February through August of 1943 are populated;

however, with a closer look, the handwritten text in the January

space tends to indicate this employee’s service began in June, 1943. This

would make these 7 stamps used from June to December, despite being

placed in the incorrect spaces. Because the top section of the ID card

is in German and the bottom section is in Russian, one can speculate

German or Russian speaking employees were supposed to use the appropriate

section for each months evidence stamp. However, in this case,

as shown in Image 2, because the outside is written in both German and

Russian, it appears this speculation, if true, was not enforced.

Another question involves the number of unused Feldeisenbahn

stamps vs the lack of Feldeisenbahn ID cards, or used stamps, on the

market today. It’s not too difficult, however, to surmise no local civilian

who had been in service to the Germans would want it known to

the Soviets when the East Front moved westward. This would indicate

many of the ID cards were destroyed by employees in an effort not to be

identified as a German collaborator, hopefully avoiding a death sentence.

This could also be the reason why the intended use of the stamps was

not known when the 2002 edition of the Michel Feldpost catalog was

published. This also implies the unused stamps on the market are

remainders, possibly liberated by Soviet troops, the employees themselves,

or other wartime profiteers. Additionally, this would explain why

most of the unused stamps on the market are the overprinted stamps. It

is likely the overprinted stamps were prepared in advance but saw much

less use, if any, as the East Front moved westward in 1944.

The stamps themselves also depart from the typical monthly dues

stamps used by many Nazi organizations. The Feldeisenbahn stamps

are beautifully executed, printed on high quality paper in 12 different

atypical colors with evenly applied vertically ribbed gum. While

no information concerning the printing house is known, it is clear the

product was superior to most other dues stamps printed in Germany.

Many Nazi organizations used the same dues stamp for longer periods

of time together with a date cancel to tie the stamp to a dues receipt

card. Perhaps additional security was necessary in this case enforced by

a color-coding scheme.

May 2020 157

REQUEST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

It would be very enlightening if other collectors shared additional

information, or can refute my speculation, concerning these stamps

or have examples of ID cards, especially from 1944. However, after

almost 8 decades, it might not be possible any longer to determine which

colors were used for which months. Any additional information is

certainly welcomed. Please contact me through the editor with any new

information.

Your membership

dues and donations

finance the GPS.

When the time comes,

be sure to renew

your membership,

and please consider

making a donation.

158


An Interesting Post World War II

French Stationery Card

Harold Peter

Image 1: Kurzbefund, front

This is a French Occupation Zone card, Michel P C 814 b II, original

(Ur) card P 314 II, used as a “use up issue” (Aufbrauchausgabe) plus

postage paid (Gebühr bezahlt) for the pencil manuscript 60 Pf, upgrade

imprint for 6Rpf – Gubühr bezahlt and 6 Pf (Mi 4z) Washington printing,

totaling 72 Pf, paying for the registered out of town card rate due as

of March 1, 1946. The card was mailed from Regensburg 1e on 03.5.46 –

16, and has an arrival postmark 7.5.46 – 8 in Wurmannsquick a.

What is interesting is the fact that it is a French Occupation Zone

card used in the American Zone. Though the French Occupation Zone

card was not valid in the American Zone, it was validated by the postal

clerk, who undoubtedly lacked the knowledge.

May 2020 159

Image 2: Kurzbefund, back

Errata:

In the May Specialist in Ken Gilbert’s “An

Introduction to German Rural Mail Markings

and Cancels, Part 2,” there are two errors

on p. 106. In the paragraph beginning in the

middle of the page, Image 6 should read Image

5, and Image 11 should read Image 6.

Editor

160


Germans in the

French Foreign Legion

Jerry H. Miller

The ‘French Foreign Legion’ is a voluntary military group composed

primarily of non-French volunteers. As an arm of the French military,

Legion members are not so-called mercenaries but serve minimum

five-year-duty contracts. Serving twenty years entitles participants to a

French-paid pension as well as lifetime health care at military hospitals.

The Legion was organized in 1831 for missions in Algeria, which

mostly consisted ofsuppression of local uprisings. Between 1831-1999, it

was actively involved in twenty-four wars or campaigns worldwide. The

Foreign Legion as well as the Paratrooper Unit Command are considered

the elite of French fighting forces.

German-speakers were volunteers in the Legion from its origin,

becoming 35% of its total force post World War II.

Before German prisoners of war were released from French camps at

the end of the war, the Legion is known to have recruited inmates.

Upon release from Allied camps in Europe & abroad, many former

members of the German Wehrmacht returned home to civilian life often

finding towns and cities in ruins with few employment opportunities.

Some of those young men, had volunteered or were drafted into German

service between 1939-1945 prior to completion of apprenticeship or

occupation training. Many of those returnees therefore returned to civilian

life with only qualifications relating to military service motivating

them to join the Legion.

In post-war French-Occupation-Zone Germany, an estimated third

of men between 18-20 years of age were enrolled in the Legion, not all

of whom were volunteers, since the French were known to have pressed

some of them knowingly or unknowingly into service. After signing

volunteer contracts, they were smuggled into France wearing uniforms

and brought to Legion bases.

The numbers of German speakers in the Legion were highest during

the French Indo-China and Algerian conflicts of the 1950s, decreasing

by 1962. A large number of casualties occurred with the French defeat

May 2020 161

at Dien Bien Phu in Indo-China with over 11,000 Legion losses with an

estimated 80% of those German-speakers.

German-Soldier Legion Mail was free-frank through the French

Military Post Office for mail from Indo-China to France. If such mail

was destined for Germany, it went free-frank to France with postage

affixed & postmarked by the French Military Post Office in France,

transferred to the French Civilian Post Office and forwarded to its

destination.

Image 1: Free-frank cover, military-unit validated & military post office postmarked

in French Indo-China on 21 March 1950, sent by Private “Jürgen Pattinger” to his girlfriend

located in Chemnitz (later renamed “Karl Marx Stadt”), Russian-Occupation

Zone of Germany, with additional 25 Francs postage added (UPU Single-Weight

Foreign-Bound Letter-Rate) and military-postmarked on 26 May 1950.

Even though today only 2-3% of Legion members are Germanspeakers,

Legion Member associations exist in the German Cities of

Mannheim, Dresden, Hanover, Dortmund, Frankfurt and Kassel. Only

members of the legion, not deserters or dishonorably discharged individuals,

are accepted into those associations, as supported by the French

Military which monitors membership.

Bibliography:

Wikipedia.de

Scholl-Latour, Peter, Der Tod im Reisfeld – 30 Jahre Krieg in Indochina

(Death in the Rice Field – 30 Years War in Indochina), Penguin Books, 1986.

162


Deutscher Reichspost-Kalender

(18-19 Juni 1931)

Customer service in the summer season

In the bathing and health resorts, special facilities are being used

to cope with the increased post, telegraph and long distance traffic. The

Kraftpost [i.e., Deutsche Post busses] ensure adequate postal connections

as well as quick and good accommodation for travelers.

The German Kraftpost is never missing

(Thanks to Cheryl Ganz for lending the GPS her copy of the 1931

Deutscher Reichspost-Kalender)

May 2020 163

50th Anniversary of the Moon

Landing – Another Stamp

Rudi Anders

164


Someone recently sent me a question about whether the Deutsche

Post had issued a stamp to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the

moon landing. I think he is not a member – no matter, because I always

see such questioners as potential members. I had to look this up. The DP,

in fact, issued a 370 Cent stamp in sheetlets of 10. But a single stamp in

a small souvenir sheet format was also issued in the same denomination.

May 2020 165

Michel numbers are: 3479 (stamp) and souvenir sheet is Block 84 (size

153 x 93 mm = ca 6 in x 3.7 in). These were issued on July 1, 2019.

So much for the ‘regular’ issues. I also remembered that at our Salon

last March in St. Louis I had received a gift of several folders commemorating

the 50th anniversary. The folders containing 10 x 45 Cent stamps

were produced for the firm of Hermann E. Sieger and feature 10 stamps

- all with a different design – i.e. personalized stamps. The designs have

some of the iconic images some of us may recall from the media in the

summer of 1969: the rocket; the capsule; Neil Armstrong climbing down

the steps of the lander; the footprint in the moon dust; and the return

landing in the ocean. The 45 Cent represents the domestic postcard rate.

The open folder size is about 11.5 in x 8.5 in. When folded it’s 5.75 in

wide and 8.5 inches tall.

I contacted the Sieger firm and was told that they still had some

of these “Portocard[s]” products. The cost of the Portocard “50 Jahre

Mondlandung” is 19.50 Euro plus shipping. I do wonder if the 45 Cent

stamps, used on card, could be purchased, or whether there are other

such stamps commemorating the anniversary.

Write an article

for the Specialist.

Your research is

welcome to us all.

166


Occupations and Plebiscites

Part 4 (Conclusion)

Larry Wirth

(Memel continued)

Annexation Commemoratives

12.4.1923

Image 1.

May 2020 167

While on its face, this series with its nautical themes celebrates

Lithuania’s obtaining a seaport, it also commemorates Memel’s annexation

by Lithuania, an act as illegal as the occupation itself. Eventually

this country would pay a huge price for this hubris, but at the time

Germany was powerless to do anything about either event. Stamps were

lithographed by the Margolin Printery at Kaunas.

Philatelically, they are undistinguished, with few variants. But with

only 30,500 sets issued, a bit more uncommon that the usual run, particularly

when we consider their later overprints.

Second Provisionals

1. Denominations in “Centu”

18-20.4.1923

Image 2.

Because Lithuania had been given independence by force of German

arms, its economy remained closely tied to that of Germany. As a result,

the inflation devastating Germany and her former territories was also

visited upon Lithuania. The authorities embarked on currency reform,

but, while successful, it also left Memel again without usable stamps.

To correct this deficiency, the new Lithuanian Printery at Memel

surcharged the first definitive series with appropriate values.

Overprinting was by means of typeset plates that seems to have

done in two passes. One pass included the obliteration bar at the top

168


and the word “centu” at the bottom and the “u” in that word comes in

two types; this is common to all denominations. On the second pass

thru the presses the value numeral was added and each of those has two

types.

As a result of combination, each denomination is found in at least

four types with a total of 37 types. The extra nine varieties arise from

the two digit numerals, which can have the two digits of either type.

Premiums for scarce types range up to 500%. All of this is well covered

by Michel, all type plate type positions are known and, as the stamps

aren’t too expensive to begin with, the interested fanatic could spend a

lot of type hunting them all down.

As you might expect, these are also found in se-tenants with different

types, so Michel lists 52 horizontal and 42 vertical such pairs!

Rounding things out are nine flavors of double and inverted overprints

and a dozen plate flaws (mostly broken letters), one of which is quite

valuable.

2. Denominations in “Cent.”

16.4, 16.5.1923

Image 3.

While the 5c on 300M was a necessary part of the above set, the

30c on 500M is difficult to explain. The only real difference between it

and its immediate predecessor was a change in the spelling of “centu” to

“cent.” for reasons unknown.

There are four plate types of the 5c and 5 of the 30c, plus the combination

se-tenants as with the preceding set. Taken together, the nine

items comprising these two sets had print quantities ranging from

100,000 to 220,000.

May 2020 169

3. Supplementary Surcharges

23.4 – 18.5.1923

Image 4.

In retrospect, it is clear that Memel’s postal officials expected a new

set of stamps from Lithuania. When that hope didn’t materialize, it

became necessary to surcharge more available values of the first definitives

to meet spot shortages of the low, commonly used, values. A 1

Litas denomination was added.

These were again printed from plates having movable type, so they

appear with many, many minor differences in font, spacing, etc. As they

are denominated in “cent.” the “u” variant isn’t involved, but there were

170


many more numeral variations giving us a total of 27 plate types in all,

three of which come from only a single plate position. Since quantities

were again small, the scarcest item only ever existed in a dozen copies.

While they aren’t terribly expensive, good luck ever seeing them for sale.

The usual se-tenants exist plus a whole new range of mis-struck and

flawed overprints And, this is already more information than anyone

reading this probably wants or needs.

4. New Surcharge Settings

5.1923

Image 5.

May 2020 171

When it became clear that no new stamps would by available from

Kaunas, Memel Post decided to regularize the surcharging of the first

definitives by making new plates without the nonsense of type font position

types. They are, however, far from flawless, with a listed total of 41

plate flaws of various kinds, some involving the original stamps, others

the overprinting and occasionally both.

Because quantities varied from 7000 to 40,000 for all but the two

top values (which are more common, this is a pricy set of stamps and

some of the flaws are very expensive items.

5. Surcharged Commemorative Issues

6.1923

Image 6.

172


The official Lithuanian position was that Memel was part of it, so

there was no reason to continue issuing stamps for the place. The League

of Nations, however, refused to accept that contention, so interim stamps

were still needed. Having run out of stocks of the first definitives, the

Lithuanian Printery (in Memel) surcharged remainders of the April

“Seaport” commemoratives to meet needs.

Again, no plate types but a total of 18 various overprint and plate

flaws on the basic stamps. As these are more abundant (70-163,000)

both the stamps and the flaws are more reasonably priced.

Also note that if the 1 Litas value was in strong demand, the new

currency unit must have had a very low rate of foreign exchange.

6. New Surcharges on First Definitives

6.1923

Image 7.

As summer turned to fall, it was evident that Lithuania’s difficulties

with the League might well be resolved later rather than sooner, and the

shortage of postage in Memel was becoming critical. Instead of printing

a fresh series with the new currency, resort was made to surcharging the

few remaining stocks of the first definitives with the denominations most

necessary for everyday use.

Although the “set” contains 24 stamps, there are only four

May 2020 173

denominations involved, each in six colors. Of the denominations

surcharged, the 1000M was in shortest supply, so the bluish green values

are comparatively scarce, followed by the brown 400M. Quantities

ranged all over the map from 12,000 to 127,000 and prices vary accordingly.

Overall, this is one of Memel’s more valuable sets.

A return to plates with movable type brought back the same issues

previously discussed, this time producing 158 plate types in all, of

which a robust 54 are known from only one plate position. As noted in

the above discussion, some of these plate types are rare. Michel doesn’t

bother listing the se-tenants that must exist in the hundreds of combinations.

And finally, there are 45 collectible inverts, double printings,

overprint and plate flaws.

7. Surcharges on First Provisionals

12.192

Image 8.

A small stock of the first provisionals was found and also pressed into

service via these surcharges. Between three and eight plate types are

174


known of each of the denominations. The total for each denomination

varied from 17-80,000, but the number of each type varies widely

making a handful very scarce. A dozen outright mistakes of the usual

kind are also known, all of which are almost certainly scarcer than their

prices would suggest.

8. Surcharges on Commemoratives

11.1923

Image 9.

A comparative handful of the “Seaport” issue was found and

employed for this short set. There are two types for each, but type II

of this surcharge comes only from position 100 and all denominations

must be considered rare. The type I’s are none too common either, only

about 6000 of each denomination being available. This in turn makes it

Memel’s most expensive set at a price (light hinged) of about 700E.

Michel offers no explanation for why the last two short sets are

listed after the December provisionals, but it is possible the two sets were

unknown when catalog numbers were assigned for the December issue.

As exact issue dates are not known, various other possibilities exist such

as that the earlier dates of the final two sets hadn’t been established.

May 2020 175

The philatelic history of Memel ended with a whimper, not a bang.

Early in 1924, the League of Nations acceded to French demands and

accepted the Lithuanian annexation, the first of many such instances

leading to 1939, where this well-intentioned organization could be seen

to have failed in all of its fundamental goals.

* * *

All very interesting, you may say, but while unfortunate, where’s the

tragedy? That came later, taking many years to fully unfold.

As a part of gaining League of Nations’ sanction for the annexation

of Memel, the government of Lithuania was forced to make a number

of concessions. Memel was officially bilingual, and had considerable

discretion concerning regional affairs over such matters as taxation and

marriage. Secular “mixed marriages”’ were permitted in Memel but not

in Catholic Lithuania.

A regional parliament was authorized and close ties with East

Prussia permitted to continue largely without interference from the

central government.

Despite the concessions, the inhabitants of Memelland remained

unhappy and staunchly pro-German. This situation grew worse over

time. At no point in time did the Prussian Lithuanians exercise control

over the parliament; census figures showed a continuing 80%+ of

ethnic Germans and Memellanders, despite Lithuanian attempts at

colonization.

Over time, the port of Memel was modernized and enlarged by

Lithuania, probably the biggest undertaking on its part during the interwar

years, and that country’s most important outlet to the world at large.

As Lithuania slipped into a fascist dictatorship under Antanas

Smetana, residents concluded that as long as a dictatorship was to be

their lot, it may as well be one that was showing great economic success

during the ‘thirties. Adolf Hitler was a better wager at that point.

By 1935, the sentiment for German re-unification had reached 81%;

by 1938 it was 87%. Just prior to the final vote, Lithuania had withdrawn

·its police and turned responsibility for keeping order over to German

auxiliary police, in effect admitting it had lost control of the area. The

Memel parliament petitioned the German government to redeem

the country.

On 19 March 1939, the German Foreign Ministry summoned their

Lithuanian opposite numbers to Berlin and offered them a deal they

176


couldn’t refuse: return Memelland to Germany or face war.

The stolen property was returned on the spot with only a concession

that Lithuania would have free access to the port facilities for 99

years. The event was openly and emotionally celebrated by the citizens of

Memel.

Germany immediately began conversion of the port facility into a

major naval base in preparation for the coming war against the Soviet

Union. The war years passed quietly until after the failure of Operation

Barbarossa.

By October 1944, the Soviet army had surrounded Memel, and

while most of the German civilians were evacuated by ship to Danzig

and elsewhere, the German Army made a stand.

The siege of Memel lasted three months, during which time virtually

all civilians in Memel had fled west. Those who made it to Danzig

would flee again a few months later as the Soviet Army closed in on

Berlin to end the war.

When the German military finally evacuated Memel in January

1945, the victorious Russians sacked the city, finding only 6 living

human beings. After the war, Memel became a part of the Kaliningrad

(Königsburg) Oblast of the Soviet Union, but was transferred back to

Lithuania in 1947. All the while, Memellanders, including Lithuanians

who objected to Soviet rule continued their exodus. Those who could

emigrated to West Germany, those who couldn’t wound up in the Gulag.

By 1950, not a single inhabitant of this once quiet German city remained

in Memelland. And that, my friends, was an immense tragedy for all

involved.

We want to ensure you

recieve your GPS issue.

If you’ve changed your

address please notify the

editor, he’ll see that the

change is made.


May 2020 177

Query # 2 – Follow-up Michel

200 B vx – Blind Overprint?

David Mielke

Thanks for that Query #2 article in the January/February issue of

the German Postal Specialist. Rudi Anders asks if someone has seen this

item in an auction (etc.) I have two copies of that stamp, including the

“Discovery Copy” with a Weigelt attest.* The other copy is very obvious

when you look at the back of the stamp. I am sending you some photocopies

of what I have.

The blind overprint on the non-expertised copy is clearly visible. I

just don’t want to pay “big bucks” to have it certified. I believe Weigelt

overstated the value of the stamp because it is not one, which would

be attractive to collectors. I obtained both stamps at a fraction of what

Weigelt stated as their worth.

Doesn’t it take five examples to be recognized in Michel?

*[That attest is identical to the one shown on page 44 where the

number is 399/96, except that its number is 398/96 – but also dated 14.

Okt. 1996]

Because of our forced isolation from

one another, this is a good time to

call or email our philatelic friends,

maybe to share coping strategies and

news of good luck (or near misses) in

recent auctions.

178


May 2020 179

AUCTION

GALLERIES Hamburg

vormals SCHWANKE GmbH

CONSIGNMENTS ARE

ALWAYS WELCOME

• Discreet and high-quality advice

• Free appraisals

• Prompt and reliable processing

• Reasonable consignment fees

with no hidden costs

• Four auctions per year

CONSIGN OR SELL NOW!

Give us a call:

+49-(0)40-33 71 57

Contact us by mail:

info@auction-galleries.de

INTERNATIONAL

AUCTIONS 2020

Member of the company group

CG COLLECTORS WORLD

17 th AUCTION

12 - 13 June 2020

18 th AUCTION

11 - 12 September 2020

19 th AUCTION

27 - 28 November 2020

www.auction-galleries.de

realized: 15,800 $ *

16 th Aucon | lot 1896

* hammer price + premium

GPS 05-2020

AUCTION GALLERIES Hamburg vormals Schwanke GmbH · Kleine Reichenstr. 1 · 20457 Hamburg

Tel. +49-(0)40-33 180 71 57 · Fax. +49-(0)40-33 13 30 · info@aucon-galleries.de German · www.aucon-galleries.de

Postal Specialist

News

Third Reich Study Group

Announcement

Christopher Kolker M.D.

Greetings Third Reich Study Group enthusiasts:

What a month it has been! So many changes, so many dangers. It

simply is a different world out there than it was just 4 weeks ago.

What everyone needs is to stay safe and to enjoy their favorite hobby

at home.

That’s where we come in. The latest issue of the Third Reich Study

Group Bulletin is out and available at www.trsg-usa.com. It’s another great

issue, and for those of you online, it is still free. Just click on the “Our

Journal” button, on the homepage, and there you are. In it you will find:

• The Feldpost in North Africa

• The Daimler stamp and story - And some great classic cars to boot!

• A great scan from Jerry Crow

• More interesting stuff form the Channel Islands’ Society

• A wonderful article from the Danzig archive

• And yes, Trivia - this one is a challenge

• And check out the very last page - a nice propaganda piece!

• I do have a special request from each of you. Please read the Editor’s

letter.

Stay safe, keep calm, and enjoy the Bulletin!

Your Editor,

Chris

May 2020 181

New Issues

Richard von Weizsäcker

Design: Andreas Ahrens, Hannover

Theme: Portrait of Richard von Weizsäcker with a quote from him;

Porträt © picture alliance/dpa

Value: 0,80 EUR

Size: Width 44,2 mm; Height 26,2 mm

Issue Date: 2 April 2020

Richard von Weizsäcker (1920-2015) is one of the outstanding

German statesmen of the 20th century. From 1984 to 1994 he was the

sixth Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany and also

the first of reunited Germany. Many citizens have remembered the law

degree as the ideal embodiment of a head of state. Significant historical

events occurred during his tenure, including German reunification and

the end of the Cold War. The present stamp will appear on the occasion

of his 100th birthday. Richard von Weizsäcker nad been a member

182


of the CDU since 1954 and was involved in the Evangelical Church

in Germany. He enjoyed a high reputation among the population and

across all parties. He has been awarded numerous prizes and honorary

doctorates for his political and social work. Even after he left the Federal

President’s Office, he remained in the public consciousness as the political

voice of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Marienplatz München

Design: Jennifer Dengler, Bonn

Theme: U-Bahn-Station Marienplatz München © Chris M Forsyth

Value: 0,95 EUR


Breite: 115 mm; Höhe: 158 mm


The Marienplatz stop shown on the first stamp from the new special

postage stamp series “U-Bahn-Stations” is the most important transfer

station in the Munich transport network. Located directly below

May 2020 183

the central square of the city center and the beginning of the pedestrian

zone, the station extends over four levels, on which the U3 and

U6 subway lines and the S1 to S8 S-Bahn lines run. The Marienplatz

underground station, designed by the architect’s office Alexander

Freiherr von Branca, stood out with its orange wall panels, the subtly

used ultramarine and dark green tiles as well as the white, light-reflecting

ceilings and its curved lines when it opened on October 19, 1971, in

the manner of the other subway stops in Munich. From 2003 to 2006,

two additional pedestrian tunnels were created, which almost doubled

the space available at the station: In addition to the platforms, two

100-meter-long tunnels were dug, each of which was connected to the

existing platforms by eleven wall openings.

Zinnia

184


Design: Stefan Klein und Olaf Neumann, Iserlohn

Theme: Zinnia © Stefan Klein und Olaf Neumann, Iserlohn

Value: 0,50 EUR



The zinnia (Zinnia elegans or Zinnia violacea) shown on the new

special postage stamp from the permanent series “Flowers”, which originally

comes from Mexico, is a summer flower that also thrives extremely

well in our temperate climate. Since the 19th century, the nectar-rich

flowers with their variety of colors and shapes have not only adorned

parks and decorative beds in domestic gardens, the robust and undemanding

perennial from the daisy family (Asteraceae) has also set colorful

accents as a container plant on balconies and window sills. The colorful

flower heads are also ideal as cut flowers. In early 2016, an orange

zinnia was grown on the International Space Station, which has since

been the first flower grown in space. The zinnias were part of NASA’s

veggie program, which the US space agency uses to research the growth

of plants in zero gravity. The experiments should lead to space travelers

being able to supply themselves with vegetables they have grown in the

future.

Two Shades of Gray

May 2020 185

Design: Thomas Steinacker, Bonn

Theme: Two shades of gray look differently bright but are exactly the

same © Thomas Steinacker, Bonn

Value: 1,10 EUR



Free Square

Design: Thomas Steinacker, Bonn

Theme: Where does the free square come from in the lower triangle?

© diskoVisnja/Shutterstock.com

Value: 1,70 EUR



Some optical illusions were known in ancient times and even today

the different types of visual illusions are a popular pastime for young

and old. They are based on errors in the processing of information from

optical impressions or misinterpretations of visual stimuli and are therefore

also described as perceptual delusions of the visual sense. The optical

186


illusions depicted on the two new stamps from the special postage

stamp series of the same name fool the viewer in different but different

ways. The optical illusion Two Shades of Gray? is called the Cornsweet

Illusion after the American experimental psychologist Tom Norman

Cornsweet (1929-2017) and is an example of the relativity of color and

brightness perception. There is an optical illusion if the subjectively seen

does not match the objectively measurable reality. Is that the motif of the

stamp two shades of gray? the case: the viewer does not see what is actually

there.

The Free Square on the stamp? The illusion shown here is called a

triangle puzzle and goes back to the American amateur magician Paul

Curry (1917-1986), who probably invented the riddle in 1953.

Deutscher Reichsbahn-Kalender

(23-25 März 1939)

Reichsautobahn, Reichsbahn and Landscape

This+ is a country with heavy all-round traffic, the Bergliche

Land, which is traversed by the Reichsautobahn Cologne - Düsseldorf

- Duisburg (-Berlin) and numerous, heavily used main lines of the

Reichsbahn. The picture shows the lines of the Reichsautobahn in

the area near Düsseldorf. It is crossed by the oldest railway in western

Germany, Düsseldorf - Wuppertal, on which heavy freight trains climb

the steepest incline.

(Thanks to Rainer Jaeschke for lending the GPS his copy of the

1939 Deutscher Reichsbahn-Kalender)

May 2020 187

STUDY GROUPS

German Colonies Collectors Group Contact: Oliver Wyrtki, 203 Mill

Xing, Yorktown VA 23693-3805. Email: germancoloniescollectorsgroup@

gmail.com. Publication: Vorläufer, published semi-annually. Sample copy

$5. Annual dues $18 (US, Canada and Mexico), $26 international (airmail).

Website: http://www.germancoloniescollectorsgroup.net/

Germany Revenues Study Group Contact: Jim Kellogg, PO

Box 5251, Q Supercentre, Mermaid Waters, QLD 4226, Australia.

Email: jim@aquakleen.com.au Free membership. Join online:

www.groups.yahoo.com/group/GERMANY REVENUES

Stadtpost Study Group Contact: Peter Rogers, 31 Springfield Road, Bury

St. Edmunds, Suffolk 1P33 3AR, UK; email: peterrogerscsc@aol.com

Color Study Group Computer identification of the various stamp colors

and shades. Various communications via emails. Contact John Cibulskis,

email: jcibulskis@sbcglobal.net

DDR Study Group. For all information contact Rudi Anders,

rudi.anders@iphouse.com or Richard Slater, richandpam@iinet.net.au

Third Reich Study Group Contact Dr. Christopher Kolker, email:

ctkolker@mail.com

An electronic version of the GPS is now available.

Contact our webmaster, Michael Wilhelm, at

webmaster@germanyphilatelicsocietyusa.org

188


GPS CHAPTERS

Baltimore (#16): Third Sunday at 1:30 p.m., Baltimore Philatelic Society Clubhouse, 3440 Ellicott

Center Drive, Suite 103, Ellicott City, MD 21043, Contact: W. David Ripley III, Box 854,

Beltsville MD 20704-0854, telephone: 301-785-0210, email: wdrip3@gmail.com

Carolinas (#37) Third Saturday at 11 a.m. at various locations in the Carolinas. Contact: Dave

Mielke at stettindave@gmail.com or telephone 336-264-4069

Central Florida (#23): Second Sunday at Grace Lutheran Church, 745 South Ingraham Ave.,

Lakeland, FL. Contact Priit Rebane, 8192 Wild Oaks Way, Largo FL 33773, telephone: 727-812-

1255, email: priit@rebane.com

Chicago (#5): Fourth Friday at 7:15 p.m. at the Burgundy Restaurant banquet dining room,

5959 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL Contact Bernard Bucholz, 0N079 Vermont Ct.,

Winfield, Il 60190 email bwb0269@gmail.com

Columbus (#20) Second Monday (plus other events). Chapter 20 meets with the Columbus

Philatelic Club, Wesley Glen Wellness Center, Guild Room, 101 Fenway Rd.,

Columbus, OH 43214. Contact: Jason Manchester, PO Box 20711, Columbus OH 43220-2,

email: jhm1939@yahoo.com

Denver (#27): Second Wednesday at Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library, 2038 South Pontiac

Way, Denver, CO. Contact: Patrick McNally, 4530 W 34 TH Ave, Denver CO 80212-1813,

email: diealtemarke@comcast.com

Milwaukee (#18): Third Sunday at 1 p.m. at German Festival Building, W140 N5761 Lilly Rd.,

Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 Contact George Breu, gbreu@aol.com, phone: 262-781-6135.

New York City (#1): First Thursday (except July and August) at Collectors Club of New York, 22

E 35 th Street, New York City. Contact Ron Morgan, email: rnldmrgn@aol.com

Omaha (#43): Third Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. at TUVA Enterprises, 721 South 72 nd St.,

Suite 108, Omaha, NE. Contact Bob Hoff, 4706 Redick Ave, Omaha NE 68152-2562,

email: Hoff860@cox.net, phone: 402 884-6468,

Philadelphia (#2): Third Thursday of every month, social hour 6-7 p.m., meeting starts at 7 p.m.,

at Giuseppe’s Pizza, 1380 W Street Rd., Warminster, PA 18974 (215-674-5550). Auction will follow

the meetings. Contact Rich Nalichowski, PO Box 116, Zionhill PA 18981-0116, or email:

richnebay@yahoo.com

St. Louis (#26) 3rd Tuesday evenings at Petros Restaurant, 3801 Watson Rd., St. Louis,

MO. Contact: Marcus Meyerotto, 411 Meramec Way, Saint Charles MO 63303-8447,

email: mmarkie@swbell.net, phone: 636-447-0383

Tucson (#41): Second Saturday (except July and August). Contact Larry Wirth, 14490 S Stagecoach

Rd, Tucson AZ 85736-1430, email: sbgolfhi@msn.com

Twin Cities (#10): Second Friday at 7 p.m. at Gideon Pond, 9901 Penn Ave. South, Bloomington,

MN Contact Rudi Anders, 3230 E 24th St, Minneapolis MN 55406-1406, email:

rudi.anders@iphouse.com

Virginia (#44): Second Saturday at members’ homes. Contact Oliver Wyrtki, 203 Mill Xing,

Yorktown VA 23693-3805, email: okeeper@hotmail.com

Please send changes or corrections to the editor: Peter Weisensel,

627 Goodrich Ave, Saint Paul MN 55105-3522, email: weisensel01@gmail.com

May 2020 189

ADLETS

Third Reich Propaganda postcards. Good selection for sale. Barry Hoffman, 291 Spurwink

Ave. Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107. email: pakistan@tiac.net

For Sale: 1 frame exhibit of AMG Stationery Michel P-902 5 Pf green. Plated with 16 cards

utilizing very scarce uncut printing plate of 16 cards incl. 1 card single franking, catalog Euro

1,500, $1,950 - H.E Peter,

email: Hepeteramgs@aol.com (sa)

Canadian “Marke Individuell” stamps and FDC printed by Canada Post commemorating

various German anniversaries: Martin Luther Reformation Red Baron Richthofen, Koehls

Transatlantic Flight, Sistine Madonna, Ludwigsburg Palace, Helgoland, Bavarian Purity Law, 2014

Soccer World Cup etc. Contact: K. Peter Lepold, 278 Bornais St., Kelowna, BC, Canada, V1X7B6 –

email: lepold@telus.net (sa)

Wanted to Buy German Postal Stationery, official and private, mint and used. Peter M. Ross,

711 Terrace Lake Drive, Brea CA 92821.

email: Peter1937ross@gmail.com (sa)

BUYING AND SELLING Germany, Austria, Denmark, World. Old and new stamps, covers,

postcards, collections, accumulations. Jon Krulla, P.O. Box 88, Downsville, NY 13755. (sa)

Third Reich specialized stamps, propaganda cards, fieldpost, occupations, labels/poster stamps,

etc. Manfred K. Hoffelner (APS). email: mhoffelner@aon.at (sa)

Changing your

mailing address?

Notify the editor

(weisensel01@gmail.com).

He’ll see that the

change is made.

190


Guidelines for Articles

Text

Text should be sent as a Word document using the “Normal” style - don’t

attempt to format for the magazine! Bold text, italics and tabs are ok. It may

be sent as an email attachment or submitted via CD.

Do not imbed illustrations in the text document! Show the preferred location

if you wish but leave the actual illustration out - send them separately.

Simple, plain text works best.

Illustrations

Illustrations may be sent to us as either high quality photocopies (hard copies

made using a color laser copier and mailed to us) or as electronic files (scans).

Scans must be sized at a minimum of 100% and scanned at 300 dpi TIF or

JPG files for optimal quality. Internet transmittals can be used. A typical

cover should be at least 1,500 pixels wide.

Originals may be sent. We will make scans and return them immediately by

the same method as they are sent to us. The mails are not risk free – FedEx

may be a better alternative.

Deadlines

Deadline for the receipt of articles, letters, advertising and news is the first of

the month preceding the month of publication. For example, we need everything

for February by January 1.

Your attention to and compliance with these standards will assure the best

quality we can get. Thanks for your contribution!

May 2020 191

Germany’s Oldest Stamp Auction House

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New date 373 rd Heinrich Köhler-Auktion 23–27 June 2020

▲ German East Africa 1915, British occupation

Mafi a 1–3 Rupees – greatest rarities

Mafi a Island, East Africa, 1915. Shore Party from the

Ran Cruiser HMAS Pioneer on Mafi a Island

▲ Gdańsk 1937, DAPOSTA

– block proof without inscription

▲ Bergedorf 1861, 3 shilling blue

on rose on cover to Schwerin

Order the auction catalogue now !

Order your personal hard bound catalogue copy now.

Register for bidding online now at www.heinrich-koehler.de

Heinrich Koehler Auktionshaus GmbH & Co. KG

192

Hasengartenstr. 25 · 65189 Wiesbaden · Germany

Phone +49 611 34 14 9-0 · Fax +49 611 34 14 9-99

www.heinrich-koehler.de · info@heinrich-koehler.de


GPS May 2020

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