The Great Stamp War

[Strider]

As we're on the subject I'll put a quick plug in for the book I'm writing at the moment on British "black" propaganda to Germany. Many of these propaganda forgeries and parodies will be mentioned and illustrated in it.

Political Warfare Executive also forged the standard Hitler head Deutsches Reich stamps, many of the French Petain stamps and the Ju 52 Luftfelfpost stamp. As well as other parodies including the Witzleben stamp based on the 1943 Beer Hall Putsch commemorative issue. Others included a pair of Winterhilswerk stamps, one showing an illustration of Himmler pointing a pistol in one hand and a WHW collection tin in the other. The second stamp shows a German officer with the front of his face blown away with Nazis partying in the background.

PWE/SOE also forged German ration coupons and various other IDs and documents, some of which were used by M.I.9 and smuggled into POW camps to assist escapers. I can post a few scans of forged ration coupons if anyone is interested in these?

Lee
www.psywar.org

[Ralph A]

Absolutely!

Post away!

Do you also have available pictures of some of the other forgeries you mention?

Best,

Ralph

[Strider]

Hi Ralph,

Well I do have scans of the British stamps from official archives but only have permission to reproduce them in the book, so can't really post them here unfortunately.

I'll put up some of the rations coupons from my own collection. Should I create a new thread or continue on this one???

Lee

[Ralph A]

Here, at least!

or both... your call.

I plan to post some ration coupons, lottery tickets and a miscellaneous "schein" or two to this thread myself!

[Strider]

OK first off is a British parody of the Italian - German friendship stamp. The Italian text has been changed to German. Unfortunately I don't have the original to compare it.

(This is from my own collection, so can post it)



www.psywar.org

[Strider]

SOE forged German Gentleman's Second Clothing Coupon

This is the Special Operations Exectuive (SOE) forgery of the German Gentleman's Second Clothing Card. This was the first attempt at this kind of operation and wasn't too impressive. The RAF dropped over 100,000 of these cards at the end of 1941. Each one had a unique serial number but not all had the rubber stamp applied.

Can anyone spot the mistake?




Lee
www.psywar.org

[Strider]

PWE/SOE Reichskarte für Urlauber

These ration coupons were forged by PWE for SOE in January 1942. They supplied soldiers going on leave rations whilst travelling. This one has 6 days worth of supplies. 2 and 7 day versions were also forged. All had rubber stamps for different cities in Germany. They were dropped by the RAF during March and April 1942. It was a high quality forgery unlike the 2nd man's clothing coupon above.




Lee
www.psywar.org

[Strider]

PWE/SOE forged Travellers' and Restaurant coupons

PWE/SOE forged Travellers' & Restaurant coupons dropped by the RAF and USAAF during 1944. This example is for 50 grams of Bread but other versions exist for cheese, butter, meat and processed foodstuffs. The originals have text printed on the top margin but the coupons were removed from the sheet when used, so it didn't matter about the margin.





That's it for now!


Lee
www.psywar.org

[Strider]

I should point out the purpose of producing these forged ration coupons was not primarily to reduce food stocks in Germany. The principle goal was part of a much broader plan of the German Sections of SOE and PWE to fuel as much chaos and confusion inside Germany as possible.

Every time a new batch of forged rationing documents were dropped over Germany a lot of administrative mayhem was caused. New procedures had to be implemented, perhaps ration documents had to be redesigned. Many Volk were arrested for trying to use them and got harsh prison sentences and even the death sentence.


Lee
www.psywar.org

[Ralph A]

Fascinating!

Lee, if you are so inclined, you definitely should start another thread with these fabulous stamps and coupons.

These items deserve it and I think the rest of the forum would agree!

I have a German-Italian friendship set I can post later.

[Strider]

Yeah that's a good idea. Is it possible to move these posts into their own thread????

[Ralph A]

Hitler-Mussolini stamp

:

[Ralph A]

More Fuehrer/Duce commemoratives...

in no particular order:

[Ralph A]

Obviously these are from Fascist Italy:

...

[Ralph A]

Nice closeup...

...