Transition of the Austrian Post to the Reichspost in 1938

The 3rd German - Austrian rates period (1st August - 31st October 1938)

1. August: Parts of the ordinance of 9 July 1938 came into effect; the following consequences were announced:

(a) Letters with advice of delivery have not yet been introduced in Land Austria; they are thus permissible only in Germany.

(b) COD letters between Germany and Land Austria are permissible from 1 November 1938.

(c) Mail circulars from Germany to Land Austria may not yet be accepted until further notice.

(d) Printed matter with receipt cards for disability insurance or printed matter from professional associations or insurance companies are permissible only in Germany

(e) From that day, letters posted in Land Austria attract the same Air Mail surcharges as in Germany.

(f) Due to the withdrawal of Postage Due stamps, the following are to be paid in cash … postage due and similar fees on letters… late-posting fees are to be paid by affixing stamps. Any Postage Due stamps remaining at post offices are to be returned to the warehouse.

The effect of this was that the German tariffs were now in force, not only for the basic rates, but also for all incidental charges; however Austrian postage stamps in private hands could still be used. The rates table is the same as that issued on 1st November: see Appendix I column 'D'. Places still storing stocks of Postal Stationery and stamps in Groschen and Schilling currency were to return them to the warehouse. The postage stamps were invalidated after 31 October, but could still be exchanged free of charge up to the 31st December.

It was also announced that the Nazi Party stamps could now be used in Land Austria; they had been useable to it since 24 March.

The withdrawal of Postage Due stamps had been expected earlier - since they bore "ÖSTERREICH" and "GROSCHEN" as well as a large Austrian eagle they were decidedly politically incorrect! The German system had always been to write the amount on the envelope; they did not use Postage Dues. The simplest solution was to abolish them. See separate page.

3 August: German Bildpostkarten may be obtained henceforth also through post offices in Land Austria.

5 August: "All stamps in Groschen and Schilling currency are to be withdrawn from sale with immediate effect and returned to the warehouse by 10 August." This decree ended the counter sale of the former Austrian stamps. They remained valid for franking up to 31 October 1938.

18 August: Stamp Retailers were notified that stamps in Groschen and Schilling currency could be exchanged without fee up to 31 August 1938.

Local letter dated 4 August. Rate 8 Rpf; franked 6 Rpf + 3 Gr = 2 Rpf making 8 Rpf in total.
[The 'overspilling' of the address is standard Austrian practice]

8 September: It is pointed out that Air Mail stamps should not be used for the franking of surface mail.

1 October: It is again pointed out that Air Mail stamps should not be used for the franking of surface mail. Some aspects of the "21. Postgebührenweiser" amended; however letter rates are not affected by this. The German "regulations for Air Mail" come into force in Land Austria.

4 October: The following general instruction was issued with regard to the subsequent cancellation of postage stamps: "The experimental introduction of subsequent cancellation of postage stamps not cancelled on posting by printing them with the day’s date in transit or at place of destination and the identification of subsequent cancellation by the letter 'n' [for 'nachträglich entwertet' = 'subsequently cancelled'] in indelible or blue pencil in German script to be applied next to the cancellation strike has proved its worth at the Post Offices etc that do not use special cancellers for subsequent cancellation and will be permanently retained. No other markings are to be applied."


Austrian system for uncancelled stamps: Vienna W1 canceller, used 7th April 1938	German system for uncancelled stamps: Wien 1 Nachträglich entwertet (this example used in 1943).

31 October: In the Official Gazette of the Reichspostministerium is found the following decree: "With effect from the 31st October 1938 all Austrian postage stamps lose their validity for the franking of mail. Unused stamps of this kind can be exchanged at the post offices in Land Austria up to the 31st December 1938 free of charge for valid postage stamps (exchange rate 3:2). Redemption against cash is impossible."

1 November: From this day the post offices in Land Austria are to use the reissued "22nd Postgebührenweiser" (ie the rates table: see its column 'D'). Between 26 March and the issue of this, they had had to manually amend their copies of the 21st Postgebührenweiser, issued 1 January 1935.

Thus the 7½ months transition period with its mixed frankings and specifically Austrian practices was brought to an end. One could say that the 1st November 1938 marked for postage stamps and postage rates the "completion of the Anschluß of Austria into the German Reich".

My thanks for advice and examples to many members and friends of our Society including Christine Kainz, Klaus Schöpfer, Hans Moser, Frau Pollischansky, Ian Nutley, Colin Tobitt, Henry White, Gerry Roberts, Walter Green, Hans Smith & Brian Madeley; but most especially to Henry Pollak. But all the errors are mine!

Transition of the Austrian Post to the Reichspost in 1938

The 3rd German - Austrian rates period (1st August - 31st October 1938)

Thus the 7½ months transition period with its mixed frankings and specifically Austrian practices was brought to an end. One could say that the 1st November 1938 marked for postage stamps and postage rates the "completion of the Anschluß of Austria into the German Reich".

Further reading: