President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org 06 Dec 2011 12:43:52pm
I purchased a bunch of WWII era German Covers at my local stamp club a few months back. Many seem very official and ominous. I'm not sure who some of the senders were and I am hoping someone who knows German can give me more info on these. I'm interested in what the cachets are saying.
Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 07 Dec 2011 12:40:43am
re: WWII German Covers - Help with Tranlations
You can group these into two piles. One piled franked with the offical stamps of the Scott #O80-O103 series. These stamps were issued for use by state and local governments. Second pile: franking is with the Nazi Party franchise stamps Scott #S1-22. These stamps were issued for various branches and organizations of the Nazi party (NSDAP).
I have difficulty coming up with synonyms for the various governmental agencies sending the letters. Almost all are from the city or county of Leizig, the trade office, something with forestry, social security office (?) etc.
The covers with the franchise stamps are a little easier. The senders have to be party sub-organizations.
October 28, 1944:
SA der NSDAP -- Sturm 3/106 -- Leipzig N.22
Storm troopers of the NSDAP (SA = Sturmabteilung) unit "3/106" of some Leipzig (North)district
January 26, 1943:
NSDAP local group Leipzig-West C
February 15, 1938
SA der NSDAP Sturm 11/245 Markkleeberg b. (bei = near) Lpzg. (Leipzig)
This is a postage due cover. It has a read boxed "Nachgebühr" marking (= postage due) and is marked due 4 in blue pen. -- Ever wondered why postage meteres are predominantly red? -- because, going back to the ancient stampless cover period, red markings indicated prepayment while blue markings meant postage due.