F05_P07: Annexation and Dismemberment of Poland The General Government Vassal State
c. 1939-1940, Front side - Envelope with provincial issued German stamps.
White envelope with cursive handwriting in pencil. At the top right is writing/marking in red crayon or pencil. Directly below is a 100-pfennig orange stamp depicting President Paul von Hindenburg facing to the left. Overtop is the provincial printing issued by Germany for Pulawy, Poland.
Name/Title
F05_P07: Annexation and Dismemberment of Poland The General Government Vassal StateEntry/Object ID
2007.5.7Scope and Content
c. 1939-1940, envelope with provincial issued German stamps.Context
Following the conquest, western and northern areas of Poland were annexed to Germany along with the formerly free city of Danzig (Gdansk). German place names replaced Polish ones. Nazi governor Hans Frank ruled the area of Poland (Kraków, Lemberg, Lublin, Radom, and Warsaw districts) that remained nominally independent called the General Gouvernement, taking the French name from an earlier historical period of Polish subjugation. Once all-out war began with the invasion of the U.S.S.R. in June of 1941, the General Government became a province of the German Empire. A provisional issue of German stamps overprinted Deutsche Post Osten was issued on December 1, 1939, for use in the General Government, which remained valid until September 30, 1940. Provisional canceling devices also were used at first, with special service endorsements in manuscript. The Michel catalog states, "Covers with provisional cancels on official letters are sought after,” such as this police regiment cover from Pulawy, Poland, to Schöneberg, Germany, using a single 2-zloty stamp, with manuscript endorsements for registry and prepaid courier special delivery services.Collection
Nazi Scourge I: Primary ExhibitionCategory
Cover
Philatelic Material