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Front: “A Sonderkarte für das Winterhilfswerk (Special Card for the Winter Relief) with an imprinted Hindenburg 3 Rpf. stamp. Issued in the fall of 1934 by the Gau München-Oby. Civil Servants Collection Office and the München Postal Administration. The card was designed by H. Stockmann and printed by several München firms among them Deutsche Kunst- und Verlagsdruckerei and Brend’amour, Simhart & Co.”

Back: “The Sonderkarte für das Winterhilfswerk was posted in München on 20 February 1935. The date stamp/postal slogan cancelling the imprinted 3 Rpf. Hindenburg translates: House mailboxes on the first floor hasten delivery.”

Rough translation of letter: “Dear Ms. Tait. Your dear Kaite arrived safely this evening, thank you very much. When did you write to us? The weather is wonderful here, with two days of clear blue skies. May I send you my warmest regards? Best wishes also to Mr. Willg-Gerz Duz Betzele.

Your devoted Rese & Amole.”

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The title of this postcard is Verschmoren in Treue zum Volk, which translates to “Bestow your faith in the People”

In the illustration, the male figure wears a tunic bearing a “Julfest” symbol, with his arm raised in a salute. The background behind him is a forest fire.

The postcard comes with an explanation of the Winterhilfswerk:

“The Winterhilfswerk (Winter Relief Agency) came into being during the crisis winter of 1931-32 to provide the needy with money, groceries, meals, clothing, and fuel. It was jointly maintained by private welfare associations, including the German Red Cross. However, a proclamation by Hitler and Goebbels on September 13, 1933 introduced the first National Socialist WHW for the winter of 1933-1934. Although officially proclaimed as a broad-based organization of all welfare resources, in reality the WHW was subordinate to the NS Volk Welfare agency (NSV). The WHW was granted its own legal rights in 1936, but the ties between it and the NSV remain evident.

“The WHW engaged in street and house-to-house collections, and the leaflets displayed on these pages were given as a donation certificate and were subsequently mounted on the front door. (That’s why two of them are punctured.)”

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Stamp: The stamp is pre-printed on and from the Winterhilfswerk collection. It features a sailing ship design and has a face value of 6+4 pfennigs.

The postcard lacks any printed or handwritten text, only the word “Postkarte” on the top right of the postcard.

The illustration is of deep-sea fishermen with the signature of Axster-Heudtlass on the bottom right corner of the illustration. This is likely Werner von Axster-Heudtlaß (1898-1949), an illustrator who founded the von Axster-Heudtlass advertising graphics studio with his wife Maria von Axster. Werner’s brother, Willy Heudtlass, was also a collaborator. This graphic studio printed a number of stamps and one collection specifically had a surcharge for the Wintershilfswerk.

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Stamp: The stamp is pre-printed on and from the Winterhilfswerk collection. It features a sailing ship design and has a face value of 6+4 pfennigs.

The postcard lacks any handwritten text. “Postkarte” is printed on the top right of the postcard, and under the postcard’s illustration is the text “Winterhilfswerk des deutschen Volks 1938/39” as well as the month this postcard was produced “Februar”.

The illustration on this postcard is a worker carrying a large hammer on his shoulder, a common theme during this time of national socialism used to symbolize labor and unity. This series of labor-themed postcards were produced to promote a number of German trades as well as promote the ideal of a unified, hard-working people. There is also an illustration of the official seal of the Third Reich, an eagle clutching a swastika emblem.

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Stamp: The stamp is pre-printed on and from the Winterhilfswerk collection. It features a sailing ship design and has a face value of 6+4 pfennigs.

The postcard lacks any handwritten text. “Postkarte” is printed on the top right of the postcard, and under the postcard’s illustration is the text “Winterhilfswerk des deutschen Volks 1938/39” as well as the month this postcard was produced “Oktober”.

The illustration on this postcard is a female agricultural worker smiling while carrying wheat. This series of labor-themed postcards were produced to promote a number of German trades as well as promote the ideal of a unified, hard-working people. There is also an illustration of the official seal of the Third Reich, an eagle clutching a swastika emblem.

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Stamp: The stamp is pre-printed on and from the Winterhilfswerk collection. It features a sailing ship design and has a face value of 6+4 pfennigs.

The postcard lacks any handwritten text. “Postkarte” is printed on the top right of the postcard, and under the postcard’s illustration is the text “Winterhilfswerk des deutschen Volks 1938/39” as well as the month this postcard was produced “Januar”.

The illustration on this postcard is a female worker smiling. This series of labor-themed postcards were produced to promote a number of German trades as well as promote the ideal of a unified, hard-working people. There is also an illustration of the official seal of the Third Reich, an eagle clutching a swastika emblem.

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Stamp: The stamp is pre-printed on and from the Winterhilfswerk collection. It features a sailing ship design and has a face value of 6+4 pfennigs.

The postcard lacks any handwritten text. “Postkarte” is printed on the top right of the postcard, and under the postcard’s illustration is the text “Winterhilfswerk des deutschen Volks 1938/39” as well as the month this postcard was produced “Dezember”.

The illustration on this postcard is a female worker crafting small items. This series of labor-themed postcards were produced to promote a number of German trades as well as promote the ideal of a unified, hard-working people. There is also an illustration of the official seal of the Third Reich, an eagle clutching a swastika emblem.

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