PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1939)

This page was last updated
24-Sep-2026 06:59

1939 REICH'S GARDEN SHOW
(22nd Apr/31st Oct 1939)

BACKGROUND: There were several postcards published to commemorate the 1939 Reichs-Gartenschau held in Stuttgart from 22nd Apr to 31st Oct. The 1939 show was held in Killesberg in Stuttgart. It opened on 22nd Apr and was scheduled to run until the end of October. However, It was closed on 2nd Sep 1939, the day after Germany invaded Poland, with the official reason given as the "gegenwärtigen Umstände" ("present circumstances"). By then it had drawn roughly 4.5 million visitors.

The design of the type 1 postcard below closely matches the design of the special cancel.

SPECIAL CANCEL: A special handstamp and a slogan cancellation were used to commemorate the show. The handstamp used at the venue is inscribed "STUTTGART | STADT DER AUSLANDS DEUTSCHE | REICHS-GARTENSCHAU 1939". The slogan cancellation, not used at the venue is inscribed "Besuchte die | REICHS-GARTENSCHAU | STUTTGART 1939 | APRIL BIS OKTOBER".

See also the The 1936 Reichsgartenschau held in Dresden and The 1938 Reichsgartenschau held in Essen

TYPE 1

TYPE 2

The type 2 postcards features two flags, the yellow and black of the Stuttgart Coat of Arms and the red sailing ship on white background being the flag of the VDA (Volksbund fur das Deutschtum im Ausland), The Association for German Culture Abroad [REQUIRES CONFIRMATION].

TYPE 3

This series of cards bears the title "Reischsgartenschau Stuttgart 1939 | Im Tal der Rosen" and was published by "DFW Naturfarben fotographie gedruckt" - "DFW nature color photography print"

Card No. 202

The example below was cancelled at the show on 26th Jul 1939 and sent to Fürth.

Card No. 203

The following example was cancelled in STUTTGART on 10th Aug 1939 but not at the show itself. It features the special slogan cancellation advertising the show inscribed "Besuchte die | REICHS-GARTENSCHAU | STUTTGART 1939 | APRIL BIS OKTOBER"

TYPE 4
SERIES OF 10 or MORE

This set of cards numbers at least 10 cards and bears the title "Reichsgartenschau Stuttgart 1939 | Blumen der Berge" - "Reichs Garden Show 1939 | Mountain Flowers"