Two official postcards issued by the Nazi regime to mark the establishment of the Generalgouvernement (the “General Government”) in the occupied territories of Poland, 1939-1940.
Official Postcard Issued by the German Regime to Mark the Establishment of the Generalgouvernement (the General Government) in the Occupied Polish Territories. Krakow, November 7, 1939. After the conquest of Poland and the establishment of the Generalgouvernement, the Nazis issued this postcard to mark the implementation of the “General Government” in the occupied territories. At the top of the postcard appears an eagle with a swastika, along with the German inscription: “Umtsantritt Generalgouverneurs für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete” – “The General Governor of the Occupied Polish Territories Assumes Office.” It includes a stamp from the German Empire and a special postmark indicating the date November 7, 1939. A similar postcard is on permanent display at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.
Ein Jahr Generalgouvernement – Official Postcard Marking “One Year of the General Government” – October 26, 1940. It bears the official stamp of the Generalgouvernement in Krakow and a “General Government” stamp. Slight creases in the upper part of the postcard.
The General Government (German: Generalgouvernement, Abbreviation of: Generalgouvernement für die besetzten Polnischen Gebiete – “General Administration for the Occupied Territories in Poland”) was the name given by the Nazis to the areas of occupied Poland that were not annexed directly to Germany after the invasion of Poland during World War II. In October 1939 Hitler proclaimed the administrative division of the occupied territories. Large areas were annexed by the “Reich” while four districts – Warsaw, Lublin, Radom, and Krakow – were declared the “General Government” with Krakow selected as the capital of the new administration. The GG population initially included 12 million people, later increased by 860,000 Poles and Jews expelled from areas annexed by the Reich. The tight German control in the GG was a first step towards deporting Jews to extermination.
Same size: 15×10.5 cm. good condition.
