Registered cover franked with Scott Nos. 406 and 432-435, posted in Frankfort am Main, 10 July 1934. The cover was backstainped at the Stuttgart Telephone Office on the same date. Although this mailing was sent registered (the red “X”), the bright red labels cannot be translated at this time.
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The German Colonial Explorers commemorative stamps were the first propaganda for Lebensraum (living space). The colonies had been acquired by legitimate, peaceful means and a great deal of money had been invested in their development. However, it was not until 1914 that they started showing any profit. After the war, the Treaty of Versailles took them away from Germany as part of the reparations. Hitler had little trouble, therefore, convincing the German people that they had every right to expect the return of their former colonies.
Hitler himself had other ideas; in a speech given 18 October 1941, he stated, “For a colonial policy to make sense, one must first dominate Europe. In any case, the only colony I would like to have back would be the Caineroons—nothing else.” Hitler’s colony was Europe.