Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
After World War II, Berlin was occupied by the allied forces of France, Great Britain and the United States in the west and the Soviet Union in the eastern part.
These powers divided the city into four sectors.
The three western sectors formed West Berlin, the eastern sector was East Berlin.
Berlin was in the middle of the Soviet occupation zone of Germany.
When the D-mark was introduced in the western sectors, Stalin declared that it was contrary to the joint agreements.
In response, he cut off connections between the western sectors of Berlin and West Germany, thus starting the Berlin blockade.
The Western Allies responded by establishing an airlift: all the goods the city needed were brought in by planes.
The blockade was lifted on May 12, 1949.
The enclave of West Berlin now remained accessible from West Germany via the border crossing Helmstedt-Marienborn (Checkpoint Alpha) along a 170 kilometer route. (highway A2 hanover - berlin)
The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was established in 1949.
According to the West German constitution, Berlin was a federal state of the Federal Republic.
The four occupying powers (France, England, America and the Soviet Union) did not accept this part of the constitution.
West Berlin was therefore not a constitutional part of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The parliament of the Federal Republic in Bonn could not pass laws for West Berlin, this had to be done by the Berlin House of Representatives.
West Berlin citizens had different identity cards than citizens of the Federal Republic and men living in West Berlin were not conscripted into the Bundeswehr,
which made West Berlin a popular place to live for young West German men.
West Berlin was an enclave within the GDR and was de facto a West German exclave.
It did not belong to the GDR, which completely enclosed the area, and citizens of West Germany and citizens of West Berlin were free to travel between these two areas.
From August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989, West Berlin was separated from East Berlin and the GDR by the Berlin Wall.
The Wall had a number of border crossings, of which Checkpoint Charlie is the best known.
Train and S-Bahn traffic was also possible.
The border formalities for S-Bahn passengers were carried out at Friedrichstraße station.
These border crossings could be used freely by West Germans and Western Europeans.
West Berliners, on the other hand, were only able to visit East Berlin from the entry into force of the Four Powers Agreement in 1972.
The border remained closed to most East Germans (except the elderly).
Since the 1989/1990 Wende, East and West Berlin were once again merged into one city.
With the disappearance of the Wall and the administrative differences, the differences in history and development of four decades have not disappeared.
In many ways West Berlin is still clearly distinguishable from East Berlin, even though great efforts have been made to brush away all remnants of the division as much as possible.
West Berlin's significance within the city has declined since reunification; the center of the former East Berlin, Berlin-Mitte, has regained its function as the city center of Berlin.
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Berlin (West)
After the capitulation of the German Reich, the former capital of the Reich was spun off from the rest of occupied Germany and placed under its own four-power administration. This also had to manage the postal service. Except for the so-called "bear stamps" (see Berlin and Brandenburg before SBZ) there were no own postage stamps issued, but the issues of the occupation zones and the Allied joint issues were used. For more information, see "Forerunners".
The political events initiated by the Soviet currency reform of June 24, 1948 led to the division into a western and an eastern part of the city. While the eastern part of the city continued to use the issues of the Soviet occupation zone and only used them in postal traffic and was finally fully integrated into the territory of the GDR, after a short transitional period, separate postage stamps were created for West Berlin.
After the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany, West Berlin remained an independent political entity, but was then gradually incorporated into the federal territory in many respects. Although the company's own postage stamps were retained until the end of 1990, these and the federal German stamps had mutual franking validity. For more information, see the introduction to the Federal Republic of Germany.
From July 2, 1990 to December 31, 1991, the stamps of the German Democratic Republic with the inscription "Deutsche Post" including number 3353 with the inscription "GDR" could also be used throughout Germany and in Berlin (West).
Particularities:
Official first day covers see note after No. 67 announcement boxes see note after No. 118 brighteners in the fluorescent substance see note after No. 507
Sheet edge printing "BERLIN" see note after No. 352
Sheet signatures see note after No. 100 printer's (ei) sign see note after No. 63 letter prices see note after No. 191
Cancellations of the Deutsche Bundespost Berlin see note after No. 531
First Day Sheets (ETB) see note after No. 154 color margins see note after No. 249
Fluorescent paper see note after No. 487 Form numbers see note after No. 100 Gumming see note after No. 216 House order numbers (HAN) see note after No. 87 Reprints see note after No. 71
Postal rates from 1946 see table before Federal Republic of Germany
Roll stamps (R) see note after No. 531 and cataloging in the respective issues Stamp forgeries see note after No. 309
Until June 24, 1948 1 Reichsmark (RM) = 100 Pfennig (Pf),
from June 24, 1948-31. 3. 1949 1 Mark (M) (East) = 100 Pfennig (Pf),
from June 25, 1948 1 Deutsche Mark (DM) (West) = 100 Pfennig (Pf).
Berlin under Allied administration
After the resumption of postal traffic, cash franking was initially carried out mainly due to a lack of stamps. For more information, see "Allied occupation - emergency measures after the resumption of postal traffic".
From August 2, 1945, Nos. 1-7 of the Soviet zone of occupation and from August 20-17 9.1945 sold at post office counters in Western Sectors Nos. 4, 5 and 7 of the American and British Zones. In addition, all issues from the American, British and French zones were valid for franking in Berlin, as well as the other OPD issues from the Soviet occupation zone (see also: Günter Klein, "Marken der Französischzone in Berlin 1946/1950" - No. 2 of the Publication series of the research community Berlin in the BdPh).
From February 1946, all local issues of the SBZ could also be used for franking, provided they had not already been withdrawn from circulation.
The Allied Community Issues were also used in all four sectors.
SBZ No. 1-7 as well as all joint issues do not deserve a special evaluation. ,
Bizone Briefstuck Brief
6 pfg 30,= 80,=
8 pfg 30,= 80,=
12 pfg 30,= 80,=
(Be aware that these prices are in Deutsch Marks and from 1992 !!)
The other editions mentioned are sought after and require considerable surcharges. The issues of the French zone were extremely rarely used in Berlin.
Berlin (West)
The currency reform in the three western zones of occupation did not include the Berlin area. The currency reform in the Soviet occupation zone of June 24, 1948 expressly included the entire city area of Berlin. This was not recognized by the Western Allies. Instead, a separate currency reform was decreed on June 25, 1948. However, the Ostmark remained a valid means of payment and therefore all postage stamps of the SBZ in West Berlin remained valid for franking.
From December 28, 1948, certain postage could only be paid in DM (West). With a second currency reform of March 21, 1949, the DM (West) was declared the sole means of payment. All postage stamps in East Mark currency became invalid for postage at the end of March 31, 1949.
From April 1, 1949, only the own expenditures for Berlin in DM (West) currency were valid, but from October 27, 1949 the issues of the Federal Republic of Germany as well as all still valid stamps of the countries of the French zone and the Bizone admitted to franking in West Berlin.
In order to be able to recognize the stamps or covers used in West Berlin based on the cancellation, the relevant
permanent post offices listed.
Independent post offices in West Berlin:
Berlin SW 11, Berlin W 15, Berlin N 20, Berlin NW 21, Berlin SW 29, Berlin W 30, Berlin W 35, Berlin SO 36, Berlin NW 40, Berlin SW 61, Berlin N 65, Berlin SW 68, Berlin SW 77, Berlin NW 87, Berlin-Borsigwalde, Berlin-Britz 1, Berlin-Charlottenburg 1, Berlin-Charlottenburg 2, Berlin-Charlottenburg 4, Berlin-Charlottenburg 5, Berlin-Charlottenburg 7, Berlin-Charlottenburg 9, Berlin -Dahlem, Berlin-Friedenau 1, Berlin-Frohnau 1, Berlin-Grunewald 1, Berlin-Halensee 1, Berlin-Hermsdorf 1, Berlin-Kladow, Berlin-Lankwitz 1, Berlin-Lichtenrade 1, Berlin-Lichterfelde 1, Berlin-Mariendorf , Berlin-Marienfelde, Berlin-Neukölln 1, Berlin-Nikolassee, Berlin-Reinickendorf, Berlin-Rudow, Berlin-Schlachtensee, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Berlin-Schoeneberg 1, Berlin-Siemensstadt, Berlin-Spandau 1, Berlin-Staaken, Berlin- Steglitz 1, Berlin-Tegel 1, Berlin-Tempelhof 1, Berlin-Waidmannslust, Berlin-Wannsee 1, Berlin-Wilmersdorf 1, Berlin-Wittenau, Berlin-Zehlendorf.
West Berlin branches:
These mainly stamped the consignments delivered at the counter. They are: Berlin W 10, SO 26, N 28, N 31, SW 47, N 49, W 57, S 59, N 69, N 96, NW 108, Berlin-Buckow East, -Buckow West, -Eichkamp, - Gatow, -Haselhorst, -Heiligensee, -Konradshöhe, -Lübars, -Neuheiligensee, -Plötzensee, -Ruh-leben, -Südende, -Tegelort, Berlin central airport; also all post offices
with the above names, which differ only by additional numbers (e.g. Berlin-Tegel 2 etc.) or additions like "Ost 2" (e.g. at -Reinickendorf).
It should be noted that the post offices in Berlin W 1, NW 6, NW 7, W 8, W 9 and Staaken via Falkensee are located in the Soviet sector of Berlin or in the SBZ and are therefore not taken into account.
Literature: "West Berlin documents for the currency reform 1948/1949" by Wolf J. Pelikan
Source : Michel Special Catalogue
P.S.
All numbers in the above text are according the Michel Catalogue.
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And here are some pictures of the Berlin stamps from my collection :
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Be aware that there are a lot of fakes of Block 1 (Minisheet 1) :
Front of a REPRINT
Back of this REPRINT.
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Well,
hope you liked my postings.
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Your postings are always the most informative! And spectacular to see all the great stamps you scan. Much appreciated!
Dave.
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Very well done and a lot of work. I really appreciate it. Thanks.
Larry
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Hi HockeyNut,
Thanks again for your articles about Germany.
The period 1945-1949 is still a great unknown to me (that's my fault for not having centralized all the information you provided in your previous articles).
I collect from this period mostly MNH stamps (obliterated ones involve checking the zoning and periods of use - I don't have the evaluation capabilities yet )
Which edition of the Michel catalogue did you use?
I couldn't find your references to the remarks appearing after certain Michel catalogue numbers.
I have Michel Specialized 2019 and you may need to add to the "Particularities" line item , references to the new Michel catalog numbers where the observations appear.
Greatings
George
PS. I don't have the Michel catalogue for postcards for identification.
I noticed it uses the photo you posted earlier.
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"Which edition of the Michel catalogue did you use?
I couldn't find your references to the remarks appearing after certain Michel catalogue numbers."
In those old Catalogs are often more info than now-a-days.
In 1992 it was one thick book with very thin paper (1480 pages in black and white)
In one of my earlier posts I showed a table of all differences (types of gum and paper) of the Hitler stamps.
Sorry you did not find those remarks in the modern catalogs.
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Here is one of those remarks after Michel number 100 (It is printed in bold face)
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Here is another one of those remarks after Michelnr 352 (printed in bold face)
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He, Gerom if you are interested in one of these remarks, let me know.
But I have to rush because :
Tonight is HOCKEYNIGHT !
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These observations are also found in Michel 2019 (value awards are updated) otherwise they are identical.
This can be found after Mi # 590.
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Berlin and Brandenburg (The former East side)
Area Greater Berlin and OPD Potsdam (Province of Brandenburg)
On May 19, 1945, by order of the Soviet military command, responsibility for the postal system in Greater Berlin was transferred to the city's newly appointed magistrate. This municipal responsibility did not change when, on July 11, 1945, the administration of Greater Berlin was taken over by the newly created Allied Command for the City of Berlin (as a joint body of all four occupying powers). The magistrate's decision of May 20 to issue separate stamps for Greater Berlin, which were initially only to apply to postal traffic within Berlin, was recognized. Defaced stamps of the German Reich were not allowed to be used in Berlin.
From August 2 (within the Soviet sector of Greater Berlin and to certain locations of the SBZ) and August 6 (all sectors of Greater Berlin and to all locations of the SBZ), these stamps could be used for open letters (up to 20 g) and postcards be used. The remaining postal items were permitted from October 15 (SBZ) or October 24, 1945 (western zones).
After the resumption of general postal traffic, the so-called "bear stamps" were also issued in the Brandenburg district (OPD Potsdam). "Blackened" stamps of the German Reich were also permitted here.
Local editions District of Brandenburg: Fredersdorf, Perleberg For cataloging see German local editions from 1945
1945, Aug. 2 to Dec. 6 Definitive stamps: Berlin bear and oak. W Goldammer (Nrs. 1, 3, 7) and Schwabe (Nrs. 2, 4-6); Or. Berlin State Printing Office (10x10); different types of paper, different gums; A drawn K 14 (Nrs. 1 and 5 also sawtooth-like (13 1/2), B zigzag-shaped 13 1/2.
Distinguishing feature of the separations:
Comb teeth 14 (1A - 7A)
Sawtooth (1AB and 5AB)
Zigzag (1B - 7B)
Paper Differences :
u = glossy, white, coated paper (0.065 – 0.085 mm)
v = ordinary, matt, white paper (0.07 – 0.085 mm)
wa = grey-pink tinted paper (0.06 – 0.08 mm)
wb = light chrome yellow tinted paper (0.06 – 0.08 mm)
Gum differences :
x = smooth, matte to glossy gum
y = vertically corrugated gum
z = horizontally ribbed gum
zt = horizontally ribbed (almost invisible) dry gum
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Berlin Michel nrs 1-7 A
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Berlin Michel nrs 1-7B
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Some other goodies :
Postcard Airbridge Berlin
Nice cancellation Airbridge Berlin
US Airbridge 1st anniversary Airbridge Berlin (23-06-1949)
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Great covers ! I was in the Air Force during the "cold war" There were oldtimers who participated in the Berlin airlift and they mentioned how some men "cracked mentally" under the non stop flights.
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"There were oldtimers who participated in the Berlin airlift and they mentioned how some men "cracked mentally" under the non stop flights."
Sad to hear about that.
Were you stationed in Germany?
Our Hockeyteam played against several RCAF teams and Canadian Army teams who were stationed in west-germany.
RCAF 1 Wing Arrows from Lahr
RCAF 3 Wing Flyers from Zweibrucken
RCAF 4 Wing Raiders from Baden-Solingen
Canadian Army "Van Doos" from Werl
Canadian Army "Warriors" from Zweibrucken
to name a few.
Great Games.....
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Hockeynut, I was in Taranto, Southern Italy...we were on a radio net with Weisbaden that everyone said was heaven..but Southern Italy in 1961 was not a bad assignment..the area was very poor and the exchange rate against the lira huge...but then again i remember when i was going through Frankfurt i got tired of hauling my bag and hailed a taxi and the fee was 4 marks...all i had was 4 quarters and he took that...so i guess the mark was around 25 cents.
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Thanks for sharing the story Philb.
Henry
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"... hailed a taxi and the fee was 4 marks...all i had was 4 quarters and he took that...so i guess the mark was around 25 cents."
Sounds about right. According to Außenwert der Deutschen Mark the value of the dollar decreased only slowly between 1948 and 1968.
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Then it pretty much evened out in the late 80's!
I recall my boss went into town (Hügelsheim) to the Audi dealer checking out new cars. He said he liked one of them very much, but with the declining Dollar, didn't say any more, and left. Some months later, he gets a call from the dealer saying his car was ready to be picked up! He wasn't happy with the way deals are made over there, especially with the collapsing Canadian Dollar against the German Mark!
Glad that wasn't me, besides... I knew better!
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I remember guys would purchase a VW and get it shipped home..they had to get the safety glass option for U.S. requirements. How can i remember 60 years ago so vividly and not know what i had for lunch yesterday?
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"I remember guys would purchase a VW and get it shipped home..they had to get the safety glass option for U.S. requirements. How can i remember 60 years ago so vividly and not know what i had for lunch yesterday?"
Well, same thing with me, Philb
It comes with the age said my doctor.
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Just bought this this afternoon. Here is the story first :
The package approval stamps
The Berlin blockade of 1948-1949 caught the city completely unprepared.
After the USSR canceled the status of Berlin on November 27, 1958 and demanded the status of a free city for West Berlin,
the contrasts between East and West intensified again.
With the construction of the wall on August 13, 1961, the USSR and the GDR sealed off the western sectors from the east.
This should bring the flow of refugees to an end.
The events leading up to it caused those responsible to fear a new blockade.
This was compensated by an extensive stockpiling program that was supposed to ensure the survival of the citizens for about six months.
For emergencies, a control of the parcel post was also provided.
For this purpose, every citizen should be given ration cards and permission to send postal packages.
With the opening of the wall, stockpiling became superfluous.
Due to this fact, the package stamp booklets were also destroyed.
Only at the last moment did the Berlin Senate decide to officially sell a small amount.
In the MH there is a booklet containing 2 types of package approval stamps.
A stamps for outgoing packets.
B stamps were intended for parcels to Berlin.
The package MH were produced in the Federal Printing Office.
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The booklet :
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Intro
After World War II, Berlin was occupied by the allied forces of France, Great Britain and the United States in the west and the Soviet Union in the eastern part.
These powers divided the city into four sectors.
The three western sectors formed West Berlin, the eastern sector was East Berlin.
Berlin was in the middle of the Soviet occupation zone of Germany.
When the D-mark was introduced in the western sectors, Stalin declared that it was contrary to the joint agreements.
In response, he cut off connections between the western sectors of Berlin and West Germany, thus starting the Berlin blockade.
The Western Allies responded by establishing an airlift: all the goods the city needed were brought in by planes.
The blockade was lifted on May 12, 1949.
The enclave of West Berlin now remained accessible from West Germany via the border crossing Helmstedt-Marienborn (Checkpoint Alpha) along a 170 kilometer route. (highway A2 hanover - berlin)
The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was established in 1949.
According to the West German constitution, Berlin was a federal state of the Federal Republic.
The four occupying powers (France, England, America and the Soviet Union) did not accept this part of the constitution.
West Berlin was therefore not a constitutional part of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The parliament of the Federal Republic in Bonn could not pass laws for West Berlin, this had to be done by the Berlin House of Representatives.
West Berlin citizens had different identity cards than citizens of the Federal Republic and men living in West Berlin were not conscripted into the Bundeswehr,
which made West Berlin a popular place to live for young West German men.
West Berlin was an enclave within the GDR and was de facto a West German exclave.
It did not belong to the GDR, which completely enclosed the area, and citizens of West Germany and citizens of West Berlin were free to travel between these two areas.
From August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989, West Berlin was separated from East Berlin and the GDR by the Berlin Wall.
The Wall had a number of border crossings, of which Checkpoint Charlie is the best known.
Train and S-Bahn traffic was also possible.
The border formalities for S-Bahn passengers were carried out at Friedrichstraße station.
These border crossings could be used freely by West Germans and Western Europeans.
West Berliners, on the other hand, were only able to visit East Berlin from the entry into force of the Four Powers Agreement in 1972.
The border remained closed to most East Germans (except the elderly).
Since the 1989/1990 Wende, East and West Berlin were once again merged into one city.
With the disappearance of the Wall and the administrative differences, the differences in history and development of four decades have not disappeared.
In many ways West Berlin is still clearly distinguishable from East Berlin, even though great efforts have been made to brush away all remnants of the division as much as possible.
West Berlin's significance within the city has declined since reunification; the center of the former East Berlin, Berlin-Mitte, has regained its function as the city center of Berlin.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Berlin (West)
After the capitulation of the German Reich, the former capital of the Reich was spun off from the rest of occupied Germany and placed under its own four-power administration. This also had to manage the postal service. Except for the so-called "bear stamps" (see Berlin and Brandenburg before SBZ) there were no own postage stamps issued, but the issues of the occupation zones and the Allied joint issues were used. For more information, see "Forerunners".
The political events initiated by the Soviet currency reform of June 24, 1948 led to the division into a western and an eastern part of the city. While the eastern part of the city continued to use the issues of the Soviet occupation zone and only used them in postal traffic and was finally fully integrated into the territory of the GDR, after a short transitional period, separate postage stamps were created for West Berlin.
After the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany, West Berlin remained an independent political entity, but was then gradually incorporated into the federal territory in many respects. Although the company's own postage stamps were retained until the end of 1990, these and the federal German stamps had mutual franking validity. For more information, see the introduction to the Federal Republic of Germany.
From July 2, 1990 to December 31, 1991, the stamps of the German Democratic Republic with the inscription "Deutsche Post" including number 3353 with the inscription "GDR" could also be used throughout Germany and in Berlin (West).
Particularities:
Official first day covers see note after No. 67 announcement boxes see note after No. 118 brighteners in the fluorescent substance see note after No. 507
Sheet edge printing "BERLIN" see note after No. 352
Sheet signatures see note after No. 100 printer's (ei) sign see note after No. 63 letter prices see note after No. 191
Cancellations of the Deutsche Bundespost Berlin see note after No. 531
First Day Sheets (ETB) see note after No. 154 color margins see note after No. 249
Fluorescent paper see note after No. 487 Form numbers see note after No. 100 Gumming see note after No. 216 House order numbers (HAN) see note after No. 87 Reprints see note after No. 71
Postal rates from 1946 see table before Federal Republic of Germany
Roll stamps (R) see note after No. 531 and cataloging in the respective issues Stamp forgeries see note after No. 309
Until June 24, 1948 1 Reichsmark (RM) = 100 Pfennig (Pf),
from June 24, 1948-31. 3. 1949 1 Mark (M) (East) = 100 Pfennig (Pf),
from June 25, 1948 1 Deutsche Mark (DM) (West) = 100 Pfennig (Pf).
Berlin under Allied administration
After the resumption of postal traffic, cash franking was initially carried out mainly due to a lack of stamps. For more information, see "Allied occupation - emergency measures after the resumption of postal traffic".
From August 2, 1945, Nos. 1-7 of the Soviet zone of occupation and from August 20-17 9.1945 sold at post office counters in Western Sectors Nos. 4, 5 and 7 of the American and British Zones. In addition, all issues from the American, British and French zones were valid for franking in Berlin, as well as the other OPD issues from the Soviet occupation zone (see also: Günter Klein, "Marken der Französischzone in Berlin 1946/1950" - No. 2 of the Publication series of the research community Berlin in the BdPh).
From February 1946, all local issues of the SBZ could also be used for franking, provided they had not already been withdrawn from circulation.
The Allied Community Issues were also used in all four sectors.
SBZ No. 1-7 as well as all joint issues do not deserve a special evaluation. ,
Bizone Briefstuck Brief
6 pfg 30,= 80,=
8 pfg 30,= 80,=
12 pfg 30,= 80,=
(Be aware that these prices are in Deutsch Marks and from 1992 !!)
The other editions mentioned are sought after and require considerable surcharges. The issues of the French zone were extremely rarely used in Berlin.
Berlin (West)
The currency reform in the three western zones of occupation did not include the Berlin area. The currency reform in the Soviet occupation zone of June 24, 1948 expressly included the entire city area of Berlin. This was not recognized by the Western Allies. Instead, a separate currency reform was decreed on June 25, 1948. However, the Ostmark remained a valid means of payment and therefore all postage stamps of the SBZ in West Berlin remained valid for franking.
From December 28, 1948, certain postage could only be paid in DM (West). With a second currency reform of March 21, 1949, the DM (West) was declared the sole means of payment. All postage stamps in East Mark currency became invalid for postage at the end of March 31, 1949.
From April 1, 1949, only the own expenditures for Berlin in DM (West) currency were valid, but from October 27, 1949 the issues of the Federal Republic of Germany as well as all still valid stamps of the countries of the French zone and the Bizone admitted to franking in West Berlin.
In order to be able to recognize the stamps or covers used in West Berlin based on the cancellation, the relevant
permanent post offices listed.
Independent post offices in West Berlin:
Berlin SW 11, Berlin W 15, Berlin N 20, Berlin NW 21, Berlin SW 29, Berlin W 30, Berlin W 35, Berlin SO 36, Berlin NW 40, Berlin SW 61, Berlin N 65, Berlin SW 68, Berlin SW 77, Berlin NW 87, Berlin-Borsigwalde, Berlin-Britz 1, Berlin-Charlottenburg 1, Berlin-Charlottenburg 2, Berlin-Charlottenburg 4, Berlin-Charlottenburg 5, Berlin-Charlottenburg 7, Berlin-Charlottenburg 9, Berlin -Dahlem, Berlin-Friedenau 1, Berlin-Frohnau 1, Berlin-Grunewald 1, Berlin-Halensee 1, Berlin-Hermsdorf 1, Berlin-Kladow, Berlin-Lankwitz 1, Berlin-Lichtenrade 1, Berlin-Lichterfelde 1, Berlin-Mariendorf , Berlin-Marienfelde, Berlin-Neukölln 1, Berlin-Nikolassee, Berlin-Reinickendorf, Berlin-Rudow, Berlin-Schlachtensee, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Berlin-Schoeneberg 1, Berlin-Siemensstadt, Berlin-Spandau 1, Berlin-Staaken, Berlin- Steglitz 1, Berlin-Tegel 1, Berlin-Tempelhof 1, Berlin-Waidmannslust, Berlin-Wannsee 1, Berlin-Wilmersdorf 1, Berlin-Wittenau, Berlin-Zehlendorf.
West Berlin branches:
These mainly stamped the consignments delivered at the counter. They are: Berlin W 10, SO 26, N 28, N 31, SW 47, N 49, W 57, S 59, N 69, N 96, NW 108, Berlin-Buckow East, -Buckow West, -Eichkamp, - Gatow, -Haselhorst, -Heiligensee, -Konradshöhe, -Lübars, -Neuheiligensee, -Plötzensee, -Ruh-leben, -Südende, -Tegelort, Berlin central airport; also all post offices
with the above names, which differ only by additional numbers (e.g. Berlin-Tegel 2 etc.) or additions like "Ost 2" (e.g. at -Reinickendorf).
It should be noted that the post offices in Berlin W 1, NW 6, NW 7, W 8, W 9 and Staaken via Falkensee are located in the Soviet sector of Berlin or in the SBZ and are therefore not taken into account.
Literature: "West Berlin documents for the currency reform 1948/1949" by Wolf J. Pelikan
Source : Michel Special Catalogue
P.S.
All numbers in the above text are according the Michel Catalogue.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
And here are some pictures of the Berlin stamps from my collection :
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Be aware that there are a lot of fakes of Block 1 (Minisheet 1) :
Front of a REPRINT
Back of this REPRINT.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Well,
hope you liked my postings.
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08:22:56pm
re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Your postings are always the most informative! And spectacular to see all the great stamps you scan. Much appreciated!
Dave.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Very well done and a lot of work. I really appreciate it. Thanks.
Larry
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06:49:59am
re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Hi HockeyNut,
Thanks again for your articles about Germany.
The period 1945-1949 is still a great unknown to me (that's my fault for not having centralized all the information you provided in your previous articles).
I collect from this period mostly MNH stamps (obliterated ones involve checking the zoning and periods of use - I don't have the evaluation capabilities yet )
Which edition of the Michel catalogue did you use?
I couldn't find your references to the remarks appearing after certain Michel catalogue numbers.
I have Michel Specialized 2019 and you may need to add to the "Particularities" line item , references to the new Michel catalog numbers where the observations appear.
Greatings
George
PS. I don't have the Michel catalogue for postcards for identification.
I noticed it uses the photo you posted earlier.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
"Which edition of the Michel catalogue did you use?
I couldn't find your references to the remarks appearing after certain Michel catalogue numbers."
In those old Catalogs are often more info than now-a-days.
In 1992 it was one thick book with very thin paper (1480 pages in black and white)
In one of my earlier posts I showed a table of all differences (types of gum and paper) of the Hitler stamps.
Sorry you did not find those remarks in the modern catalogs.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Here is one of those remarks after Michel number 100 (It is printed in bold face)
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Here is another one of those remarks after Michelnr 352 (printed in bold face)
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
He, Gerom if you are interested in one of these remarks, let me know.
But I have to rush because :
Tonight is HOCKEYNIGHT !
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10:39:34am
re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
These observations are also found in Michel 2019 (value awards are updated) otherwise they are identical.
This can be found after Mi # 590.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Berlin and Brandenburg (The former East side)
Area Greater Berlin and OPD Potsdam (Province of Brandenburg)
On May 19, 1945, by order of the Soviet military command, responsibility for the postal system in Greater Berlin was transferred to the city's newly appointed magistrate. This municipal responsibility did not change when, on July 11, 1945, the administration of Greater Berlin was taken over by the newly created Allied Command for the City of Berlin (as a joint body of all four occupying powers). The magistrate's decision of May 20 to issue separate stamps for Greater Berlin, which were initially only to apply to postal traffic within Berlin, was recognized. Defaced stamps of the German Reich were not allowed to be used in Berlin.
From August 2 (within the Soviet sector of Greater Berlin and to certain locations of the SBZ) and August 6 (all sectors of Greater Berlin and to all locations of the SBZ), these stamps could be used for open letters (up to 20 g) and postcards be used. The remaining postal items were permitted from October 15 (SBZ) or October 24, 1945 (western zones).
After the resumption of general postal traffic, the so-called "bear stamps" were also issued in the Brandenburg district (OPD Potsdam). "Blackened" stamps of the German Reich were also permitted here.
Local editions District of Brandenburg: Fredersdorf, Perleberg For cataloging see German local editions from 1945
1945, Aug. 2 to Dec. 6 Definitive stamps: Berlin bear and oak. W Goldammer (Nrs. 1, 3, 7) and Schwabe (Nrs. 2, 4-6); Or. Berlin State Printing Office (10x10); different types of paper, different gums; A drawn K 14 (Nrs. 1 and 5 also sawtooth-like (13 1/2), B zigzag-shaped 13 1/2.
Distinguishing feature of the separations:
Comb teeth 14 (1A - 7A)
Sawtooth (1AB and 5AB)
Zigzag (1B - 7B)
Paper Differences :
u = glossy, white, coated paper (0.065 – 0.085 mm)
v = ordinary, matt, white paper (0.07 – 0.085 mm)
wa = grey-pink tinted paper (0.06 – 0.08 mm)
wb = light chrome yellow tinted paper (0.06 – 0.08 mm)
Gum differences :
x = smooth, matte to glossy gum
y = vertically corrugated gum
z = horizontally ribbed gum
zt = horizontally ribbed (almost invisible) dry gum
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Berlin Michel nrs 1-7 A
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Berlin Michel nrs 1-7B
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Some other goodies :
Postcard Airbridge Berlin
Nice cancellation Airbridge Berlin
US Airbridge 1st anniversary Airbridge Berlin (23-06-1949)
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Great covers ! I was in the Air Force during the "cold war" There were oldtimers who participated in the Berlin airlift and they mentioned how some men "cracked mentally" under the non stop flights.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
"There were oldtimers who participated in the Berlin airlift and they mentioned how some men "cracked mentally" under the non stop flights."
Sad to hear about that.
Were you stationed in Germany?
Our Hockeyteam played against several RCAF teams and Canadian Army teams who were stationed in west-germany.
RCAF 1 Wing Arrows from Lahr
RCAF 3 Wing Flyers from Zweibrucken
RCAF 4 Wing Raiders from Baden-Solingen
Canadian Army "Van Doos" from Werl
Canadian Army "Warriors" from Zweibrucken
to name a few.
Great Games.....
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Hockeynut, I was in Taranto, Southern Italy...we were on a radio net with Weisbaden that everyone said was heaven..but Southern Italy in 1961 was not a bad assignment..the area was very poor and the exchange rate against the lira huge...but then again i remember when i was going through Frankfurt i got tired of hauling my bag and hailed a taxi and the fee was 4 marks...all i had was 4 quarters and he took that...so i guess the mark was around 25 cents.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Thanks for sharing the story Philb.
Henry
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
"... hailed a taxi and the fee was 4 marks...all i had was 4 quarters and he took that...so i guess the mark was around 25 cents."
Sounds about right. According to Außenwert der Deutschen Mark the value of the dollar decreased only slowly between 1948 and 1968.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Then it pretty much evened out in the late 80's!
I recall my boss went into town (Hügelsheim) to the Audi dealer checking out new cars. He said he liked one of them very much, but with the declining Dollar, didn't say any more, and left. Some months later, he gets a call from the dealer saying his car was ready to be picked up! He wasn't happy with the way deals are made over there, especially with the collapsing Canadian Dollar against the German Mark!
Glad that wasn't me, besides... I knew better!
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
I remember guys would purchase a VW and get it shipped home..they had to get the safety glass option for U.S. requirements. How can i remember 60 years ago so vividly and not know what i had for lunch yesterday?
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
"I remember guys would purchase a VW and get it shipped home..they had to get the safety glass option for U.S. requirements. How can i remember 60 years ago so vividly and not know what i had for lunch yesterday?"
Well, same thing with me, Philb
It comes with the age said my doctor.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
Just bought this this afternoon. Here is the story first :
The package approval stamps
The Berlin blockade of 1948-1949 caught the city completely unprepared.
After the USSR canceled the status of Berlin on November 27, 1958 and demanded the status of a free city for West Berlin,
the contrasts between East and West intensified again.
With the construction of the wall on August 13, 1961, the USSR and the GDR sealed off the western sectors from the east.
This should bring the flow of refugees to an end.
The events leading up to it caused those responsible to fear a new blockade.
This was compensated by an extensive stockpiling program that was supposed to ensure the survival of the citizens for about six months.
For emergencies, a control of the parcel post was also provided.
For this purpose, every citizen should be given ration cards and permission to send postal packages.
With the opening of the wall, stockpiling became superfluous.
Due to this fact, the package stamp booklets were also destroyed.
Only at the last moment did the Berlin Senate decide to officially sell a small amount.
In the MH there is a booklet containing 2 types of package approval stamps.
A stamps for outgoing packets.
B stamps were intended for parcels to Berlin.
The package MH were produced in the Federal Printing Office.
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re: Berlin 1945 - 1990
The booklet :
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