F02_P09: Annexation of the Sudentenland
1938 October 24, Front side - Envelope with adhesive Czech censor.
Green envelope with cursive handwriting in Czech using blue ink. At the top right, three stamps depicting President Paul von Hindenburg facing to the left. One is a brown 3-pfennig stamp, one a red 12-pfennig stamp, a green 6-pfennig stamp. At the top edge, an adhesive brown piece of tape positioned at the top edge. Overtop, a purple ink censorship stamp appears.
Name/Title
F02_P09: Annexation of the SudentenlandEntry/Object ID
2008.4.26Scope and Content
1938 October 24, envelope with adhesive Czech censor.Context
After absorbing Austria, Adolf Hilter set his sights on the German-speaking area of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland. The Sudeten Nazi Party had fomented riots and uprisings against the Czech regime ever since Hitler took power in Germany. On September 15, 1938, Hitler demanded the immediate cession of the Sudetenland, promising a German invasion if his demand were to be rejected. The Czech government resisted, bat at a hastily convened conference at Munich, Czechoslovakia’s allies, Great Britain and France, capitulated to Hitler. On October 1, German troops marched in, and by October 10, the occupation was complete. Poland occupied and annexed the Teschen area. Provisional postmarkers were issued for use in towns conquered by Germany. This crude purple straight-line cancel of Rudig, combined with a separate datestamp, served for the duration of the emergency. Mailed to Prague (a foreign destination after Germany annexed the Sudetenland) on October 24, 1938, this cover was opened, examined, and resealed with tape by a Czech censor. Provisional postmarks were valid only until November 1, 1938, when the markers were replaced by standard German cancelers in the areas annexed by Germany.Collection
Nazi Scourge II: Five Frame ExhibitCategory
Cover
Philatelic Material