In one of life’s odd coincidences just as Andrew Simpson posted his pieces on Postcards from Berlin during World War 1, I came into possession of this selection of German Mail, part of a donation at Oxfam’s shop in Chorlton-cum-Hardy (1).
Of particular interest is that they were sent from Rostock, East Germany to Kastrup, Denmark.
The postmark is a little unclear but it appears to be 23-3-64 which ties in with the date on the commemorative stamps.
This means that this mail had been sent across the Iron Curtain at the height of the cold war.
The Cuban missile crisis was less than eighteen months prior to this mail being sent.
Two observations occur to me.
Firstly, that this reveals the power of philately to forge international friendships even against adversity.
Secondly allied to this is the somewhat cynical use by the East German state to utilise their “First Day Covers” or “Ersttagsbrief” to spread a little propaganda. Hence, the “Helden des Antifaschistischen Freiheitskampfes” stamps which I’ve seen translated as “Heroes of the Anti-fascist Freedom Struggle” which were an issue of 1966.
Finally, although only loosely connected by virtue of it being of a quote from a German whose opposition to the Nazi regime ultimately cost him his life, I include this postcard which was part of the same donation.
It is one of my favourite political quotations and a very powerful one. A stark warning that we ignore injustice to others at our own peril.
Pictures; All from the collection of Tony Goulding.
Notes: -
1) Since returned to the shop.
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