Germany: Postage Meters During Occupation - Printable Version

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Germany: Postage Meters During Occupation - Hugh - 24-01-2026

Germany adopted meter franking later than many other countries. However, during the currency crisis in 1923 prototype machines were rushed into use in several cities. The three biggest players merged and formed FRANCOTYP GmbH. Their first commercial, multi-value, lever machines were heavily marketed in  1924.

Over ten thousand machines were in use for commercial and bulk mailings by early 1932. In 1934, the new regime ordered all new meter dies to carry state symbols. Initially this was a small swastika but it was quickly replaced with a larger eagle and swastika by the end of the year. By 1939, there were 25,000 such machines in use.

The operator fed the mail through a lever operated printing head and, in one motion, the dater and value frank was struck. Values were selected by a hand-wheel and counter-wheels reduced the prepaid credit.

Here is an example of a FRANCOTYP meter franking on a cover (actually a folded advertising reply card) from August 7, 1939. The metered postage of 3Pf (for printed matter) was applied with red ink (the UPU standard for such mail). This commercial cover was sent by Förster & Borries courting distributors for its 1940 “Föbo” line of calendars.

The single ring dater die reads, around the inside rim, ZWICKAU (SACHS) / II. The II suggests the firm had two machines. In the centre is the date ... 7 . 8 . 39 / 19‑20. [Evening, August 7, 1939]

[attachment=1125]

Here is an example of a metered cover, using the same type of machine, during the occupation after the war.

It's the same basic die but Deutsches Reich and the swastika have been ground off. Allied directive No. 30, on May 13, 1945, ordered the removal of all emblems of the Third Reich. Francotyp meter dies were literally milled away and, as with adhesive stamps, become examples of local or provisional franking. The ink colour is no longer a red but a violet or brown ink which was common toward the end of the war and during the occupation (until late 1946) when aniline red ink was scarce. The UPU still required red ink, but the violet/brown ink was tolerated until red became available. The printed matter postage rate is now 6Pf. The Allied Control Commission increased the Drucksache [printed matter] rate on March 1, 1946. The 1946 dater die is a double ring with bar.

These are catalogued as aptiert [altered] dies. The term describes any cancel, meter die, or printing plate whose design was physically excised or re‑engraved.

The cover is a commercial cover. That is, a folded flyer from Erwin M. Meine, a Berlin stamp wholesaler / dealer. The meter reads, BERLIN SW 11 / am and 11.9.46. -16 [September 11, 1946] Berlin 11 would have been postal district Kreuzberg in the American Zone.

Later in the year, new replacement dies with the more neutral DEUTSCHE POST began to appear across all four occupation zones.

[attachment=1126]

One other interesting change, I suppose, is in the area of language used in correspondence. It changed too. The text of the 1939 marketing material included a phrase at the end of the copy ... Mit Deutschem Gruß [With German Greetings]. In 1933, Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick ordered this phrase be used for traditional sign-offs on all government correspondence. In other words, it become a compulsory closing to a letter. Over time it also become common in commercial correspondence and was added to contemporary 'style manuals'. The copy of the 1946 flyer doesn't use this expression. The phrase was banned by the Allied Control Commission. It was classified as verfassungsfeindliche Kennzeichen [an unconstitutional sign].

[attachment=1127]

As for the stamp dealer .. his product offering is quite interesting. On the surface he is simply promoting the few German issues he is allowed to trade. Yet, he seems to be doing a good job of positioning the local and occupation stamps aa a patriotic tokens of Germany's physical and economic reconstruction.

He writes, "These lots contain only officially recognized issues in splendid assortments, and the material sells quickly. ... The print‑runs of these issues are almost universally far smaller and therefore full of future promise!"

[attachment=1128]

I got both covers from one of Roy's approval boxes. With apologies to Forrest Gump, you never know what you're going to find.

Cheers, Hugh

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