2017-05-10 Wed

Marinus Van der Lubbe’s buring of the Reichstag building, intentionally or unintentionally, paved the way for Hitler’s ascend to a fuhrer. His fierce oratory enabled him to seize control of the Nazi Party. In 1924 Hitler and his henchmen attempted an armed coup against the Vienna government. It failed, and he was sentenced to nine months. In jail he wrote a book ‘Mein Kampf’ (My Struggle) in which he blamed Germany’s defeat on the Jews and his plans for seeking new territories in the east.

The Definitive stamp of 1941-1944 produced by Reichspost, features the head profile of Hitler. These magnificent looking stamps come in multitude shades with varying denominations. In the later years the stamp inscription "Deutsches Reich" meaning German Empire was changed to "Grossdeutsches Reich" meaning Greater German Empire.

On President Hindenburg’s death Hitler declared himself the President and on 2nd August, 1934, he became the absolute Fuhrer of Germany. This totalitarian empire came to be known as Third Reich or the Nazi Germany. The symbol of ‘swastika’ became its infamous logo.

During this period coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 Reichspfenning were struck at seven mint facilities. The reverse illustrates the denomination while obverse depicts an image of the Nazi eagle clutching the Swastika along with the date and legend ‘Deutsches Reich’.

He implemented his plans for world domination with the annexation of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland which led to a war with France. These countries felt compelled to issue postage stamps of Hitler which depicted the dominance of the Nazi power over the conquered territories. Italy produced Mussolini-Hitler stamps celebrating the Rome-Berlin Axis. Holed, zinc coins in 5 and 10 Reichspfennig denominations and banknotes of 1, 2, 5, 20, 50 Reichsmark and 50 Reichspfennig served as legal tender alongside the currency of the occupied countries during the time of the war.