THE LAST STAMPS ISSUED BY THE THIRD REICH .. 20 APRIL 1945
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The above stamps are among the very rarest of Nazi Stamps.
They were issued on the 20th.April 1945, only 10 days before Hitlers Death.

They represent the last gasp of the Third Reich. Indeed, they are the final philatelic issues of the Nazi Regime.

Intended to nostalgically commemorate the founding of the SS and SA, and thereby inspire the battered German Volk to withstand
Allied onslaughts from both West and East, the designs use quintessential Nazi propagandistic imagery to glorify the "heroism"
and determination of both the SS (Schutzstaffel) and the SA (Sturmabteilung).
Both stamps are engraved in red, and both are large in size (approx. the size of the large, high denomination Hitler Head stamps).
They both remain in "mint", postally unused, fully gummed condition and are very very rare as such.
The stamp at the left depicts a resolute "SA Brown Shirt" holding one of the torches that had become the hallmark of Nazi rallies.
The stamp at the right depicts a "Waffen-SS Man" in battle gear, machine gun perched on his shoulder. In the background, an NSDAP member proudly holds a Swastika-clad flag.

These stamps were in use in Berlin for only a very short time.
These stamps arrived in Berlin's receiving offices "Berlin C.2" and "Berlin W.8",
which distributed them to as many post offices as were still functioning.
The Soviets were already "softening up" the city with continuous artillery barrages.
They were placed on sale on April 20 and were available in at least one post office until April 28.
The stamps were sold at the following post offices in Berlin:
Berlin C.2: open April 20 and probably the next day
Berlin-Charlottenburg 2: abandoned late April 20
Berlin SW.68: closed April 21
Berlin C.25 (sub-post office): open April 20 and probably the next day
Berlin-Wittenau: closed 7pm on April 21
Berlin-Wilmersdorf: closed 11am April 25

In mid-April 1945, most Berliners were either fleeing, hiding, dying, or already deceased.
As the city was completely surrounded by Allied armies, even if someone wanted to mail a letter,
there was no way for it to be sent anywhere.
In the ensuing battle, the city of Berlin was COMPLETELY demolished.



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