German Democratic Republic

East Germany, officially the "German Democratic Republic" (GDR), in German "Deutsche Demokratische Republik" (DDR), was a Communist state that existed from 1949 to 1990 in the former Soviet occupation zone of Germany. East Germany was proclaimed in East Berlin on 7 October 1949. It was declared fully sovereign in 1954, but Soviet troops remained on grounds of the four-power Potsdam agreement, largely to counteract the American presence in West Germany during the Cold War. East Germany was a member of the Warsaw Pact. Following free elections, it merged with West Germany to form a united Germany in 1990.

At the end of World War II, at the Potsdam Conference in 1945, the victorious countries France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union decided to divide Germany into four zones of occupation. Each country would control a part of Germany until its sovereignty was restored. The Soviet occupied zone became East Germany.

The territories of East Germany were initially settled by Slavic Wends and conquered by Germany in Middle Ages. The newly acquired land was organised in margravates, German feudal states on the land of Slavs. Consequent waves of German settlements, later also Jewish and French Hugenots, gradually advert ethnic composition of land, except the small community of Sorbs in Lusatia. Most of East Germany became later part of Kingdom of Prussia.

In Imperial Germany and Weimar Republic territory that would become East Germany was situated in the centre of the state. This territory was known as "Mitteldeutschland" (Middle Germany), while "East" was reserved for provinces such as eastern Pomerania, eastern Brandenburg, Silesia and East and West Prussia. The Allied leaders of WWII decided at the Yalta Conference that post-war borders of Poland would be moved westward to the Oder-Neisse line, just as Soviet borders were also moved westward into formerly Polish territory.

Discussions at Yalta and Potsdam also outlined the planned occupation and administration of post-war Germany under a four-power Allied Control Council, or ACC (composed of the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union). The Länder (states) of Mecklenburg, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and the eastern sector of Greater Berlin fell in the Soviet Sector of Germany, or SBZ. Soviet objections to economic and political reforms in western (US, UK, and French) occupation zones led to Soviet withdrawal from the ACC in 1948 and subsequent evolution of the SBZ into East Germany. Concurrently, the western occupation zones consolidated to form West Germany (or the Federal Republic of Germany, FRG).

East Germany adopted a socialist republic and became part of the Warsaw Pact. The first leader of East Germany was Walter Ulbricht. The East German Constitution defined the country as "a Republic of Workers and Peasants."

On 17. June, 1953, following a production quota increase of 10 percent for workers building East Berlin's new showcase boulevard, the Stalinallee, demonstrations broke out in East Berlin and other industrial centers. Later that day, Soviet troops and tanks suppressed the demonstrations killing at least 125.

Just as Germany was divided after the war, Berlin, the former capital of Germany, was divided into four sectors. Since Berlin was entirely enclosed in the Soviet part of Germany, the areas of Berlin being held under the control of the three western countries soon became known as West Berlin.

Conflict over the status of West Berlin led to the Berlin Airlift. The increasing prosperity of West Germany and growing political oppression in the East led large numbers of East Germans to flee to the West.

Competition with the West was carried also on the sport level. East German athletes were sure winners in several Olympic disciplines. Of special interest was the only football match ever between West and East Germany, a first round match during the 1974 World Cup. Though West Germany was the host and the eventual champion, East beat West 1-0.

Since the 1940s, refugees had been leaving the Soviet zone of Germany to start a new life in the west. Although the inter-German border was largely closed by the mid-1950s, the sector borders in Berlin were relatively easy to cross. In the night of 13 August 1961, East German troops sealed the border between West and East Berlin, and started to build the Berlin Wall, literally physically enclosing West Berlin. Travel was greatly restricted into, and out of, East Germany. The Stasi spied extensively on the citizens to suppress dissenters through its network of 175.000 informants and 90.000 agents.

In 1971 Erich Honecker replaced Ulbricht in a technical coup with Soviet blessing.

In August 1989 Hungary removed its border restrictions and several thousand people fled East Germany by crossing the "green" border into Hungary and then on to Austria and West Germany. Many others peacefully demonstrated against the ruling party. These demonstrations eventually forced the resignation of Honecker; in October he was replaced, albeit briefly, by Egon Krenz.

On 9 November 1989 the Berlin Wall opened, resulting in emotional scenes as hundreds of thousands of East Germans crossed into West Berlin (and West Germany) for the first time. Soon the whole socialist system of East Germany fell away. Although there were some small attempts to create a permanent non-socialist East Germany, these were soon overwhelmed by calls for reunification with West Germany. After some negotiations (involving the two Germanies and the allied powers United States, France, Britain, and the Soviet Union), conditions for German reunification were agreed on.

On 3 October 1990 the East German population was the first from the Eastern Bloc to join the European Union as a part of the reunified Federal Republic of Germany. The East German territory was reorganized into what is now the city of Berlin and five states, reconstituting political entities that had been abolished in 1950.

To this day, there remain many differences between the former East Germany and West Germany (e.g. in lifestyle, wealth, political beliefs and other matters) and thus it is still common to speak of eastern and western Germany distinctly. The Eastern German economy has struggled since German re-unification, and large subsidies are still transferred from west to east.

Capital: Berlin

Government: socialist republic

Area: 108.333 km²

Population: 16.111.000 (1990)

Currency: East German Mark (Mark der DDR) (100 pfennig)

Internet TLD: .dd (never used)

Dialling code: +37 (until April 1992)

Member of: United Nations (18 September 1973-3 October 1990) and most specialized organizations

Links

German Democratic Republic in Wikipedia.

Flag of German Democratic Republic in Flags of the World.

Stamp catalogue

UPU 75th anniversary

date: 9 October 1949

designer: Jacob and Weise

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13½

remark: reproduced on a stamp for the 150th anniversary of postage stamps on 8 May 1990 (see nr. 60)

1 50 PF dove with letter, globe, text "75 JAHRE / WELTPOSTVEREIN"

blue, deep blue

(cat. Michel 242/SG E 1/Yvert 59 (general issues))

Human Rights Day

date: 10 December 1956

designer: Axel Bengs and Rudolf Skribelka

printer: Graphische Werkstätten, Leipzig

perforated: 13½:13

2 5 Asian woman with flowers, text "TAG DER MENSCHENRECHTE"

green on olive

(cat. Michel 548/SG E 284/Yvert 273)

3 10 African woman with child, text "TAG DER MENSCHENRECHTE"

brown on pink

(cat. Michel 549/SG E 285/Yvert 274)

4 25 European man with peace dove, text "TAG DER MENSCHENRECHTE"

blue on lavender

(cat. Michel 550/SG E 286/Yvert 275)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights 10th anniversary

date: 10 December 1958

designer: Gerhard Stauf

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13:12½

5 10 African and European men, text "ZEHN JAHRE / TAG DER / MENSCHEN- / RECHTE"

black, green

(cat. Michel 669/SG E 403/Yvert 384)

6 25 Asian and European women, text "ZEHN JAHRE / TAG DER / MENSCHEN- / RECHTE"

black, blue

(cat. Michel 670/SG E 404/Yvert 385)

The World United Against Malaria

date: 6 February 1963

designer: K. Hennig and Dietrich Dorfstecher

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13:12½

7 20 man with DDT spray gun, world map, text "DIE WELT VEREINT GEGEN MALARIA"

black, red, orange

(cat. Michel 942/SG E 667/Yvert 649)

8 25 red cross, rod of Asclepius, world map, text "DIE WELT VEREINT GEGEN MALARIA"

red, blue, black

(cat. Michel 943/SG E 668/Yvert 650)

9 50 malaria mosquito (Anopheles maculipennis), cross, world map, text "DIE WELT VEREINT GEGEN

MALARIA"

yellow, green. black

(cat. Michel 944/SG E 669/Yvert 651)

Nikita Khrushchev

date: 15 April 1964

designer: K. Sauer

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13:13½

10 25 Khrushchev and East German workers, USSR and DDR flags

blue

(cat. Michel 1020/SG E 741/Yvert 723)

11 40 Khrushchev, Valentina Tereshkova, Yuri Gagarin, space orbits

black, purple

(cat. Michel 1021/SG E 742/Yvert 724)

ITU Centenary

date: 17 May 1965

designer: Karl-Heinz Bobbe

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 12½:13

12 20 ITU emblem, telephone frequency scheme, text "100 JAHRE / INTERNATIONALER FERNMELDEVEREIN"

and "TRÄGERFREQUENZ FERNSPRECHEN"

black, yellow, olive

(cat. Michel 1113/SG E 831/Yvert 815)

13 25 ITU emblem, telephone transfer scheme, text "100 JAHRE / INTERNATIONALER FERNMELDEVEREIN"

and "FERNSPRECH VERMITTLUNG"

black, mauve, violet

(cat. Michel 1114/SG E 832/Yvert 816)

Inauguration of WHO Headquarters, Geneva

date: 26 April 1966

designer: Dietrich Dorfstecher

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13:12½

14 20 WHO headquarters, WHO emblem, text "Neues Gebäude der Weltgesundheitsorganisation in

Genf 1966"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1178/SG E 896/Yvert 875)

International Co-operation Year

date: 13 September 1966

designer: H. Prieß

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

remark: part of a series of three stamps

15 20 + 10 ICY emblem, Red Crescent, Red Cross, Red Lion and Sun emblems, text "INTERNATIONALE /

ZUSAMMENARBEIT"

red, violet

(cat. Michel 1208/SG E 926/Yvert 901)

World Weather Watch / World Meteorological Day

date: 24 January 1968

designer: Joachim Rieß and Manfred Gottschall

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13½:13

remark: issued in strips of three stamps

16 20 antenna, satellite picture of Europe with clouds , text "WELTWETTERÜBERWACHUNG"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1344/SG E 1062/Yvert 1038)

17 25 crops, corn field by day and by night, text "WELTTAG DER METEOROLOGIE / 23.3.68"

black, yellow, green

(cat. Michel 1344/SG E 1063/Yvert 1039)

International Year for Human Rights

date: 24 January 1968

designer: Hans Detlefsen

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13½:13

18 5 hammer and anvil (right to work), text "INTERNATIONALES / JAHR DER / MENSCHENRECHTE"

mauve, purple

(cat. Michel 1368/SG E 1089/Yvert 1065)

19 10 tree and globe (right to live), text "INTERNATIONALES / JAHR DER / MENSCHENRECHTE"

bistre, brown

(cat. Michel 1369/SG E 1090/Yvert 1066)

20 25 dove and sun (right to peace), text "INTERNATIONALES / JAHR DER / MENSCHENRECHTE"

blue, turquoise

(cat. Michel 1370/SG E 1091/Yvert 1067)

ILO 50th anniversary

date: 12 November 1969

designer: Dietrich Dorfstecher

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

21 20 jubilee emblem, text "1919 50 JAHRE / INTERNATIONALE / 1969 ARBEITS / ORGANISATION"

silver, green

(cat. Michel 1517/SG E 1238/Yvert 1210)

22 25 jubilee emblem, text "1919 50 JAHRE / INTERNATIONALE / 1969 ARBEITS / ORGANISATION"

silver, mauve

(cat. Michel 1518/SG E 1239/Yvert 1211)

UNO 25th anniversary

date: 20 October 1970

designer: Manfred Gottschall

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13

23 20 UN Headquarters, UN emblem, text "25 JAHRE ORGANISATION / DER VEREINTEN NATIONEN"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1621/SG E 1342/Yvert 1312)

UNICEF 25th anniversary

date: 13 July 1971

designer: Manfred Gottschall

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13

24 20 child's face, UNICEF emblem, text "25. Jahrestag des / Kinderhilfsfonds der / Vereinten Nationen"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1690/SG E 1410/Yvert 1379)

International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

date: 23 September 1971

designer: Joachim Rieß

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13

remark: photo by John Heartfield (1891-1968), originally Helmut Herzfeld, German photomontage artist

25 35 white and black arms, year emblem, text "FÜR KAMPFAKTIONEN GEGEN RASSISMUS / UND

RASSENDISKRIMINIERUNG" and "JOHN HEARTFIELD 1937"

black, silver, blue

(cat. Michel 1702/SG E 1422/Yvert 1392)

World Health Day 1972 - Your heart is your health

date: 4 April 1972

designer: Dietrich Dorfstecher

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13

26 35 WHO emblem, text "GESUNDHEIT / LEISTUNGSFÄHIGKEIT / LEBENSFREUDE" and "WELTTAG /

DER GESUNDHEIT / 1972"

ultramarine, silver, blue

(cat. Michel 1748/SG E 1466/Yvert 1435)

International Book Year

date: 22 August 1972

designer: Naumann

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

27 50 painting "Reading young worker" by Jutta Damme (1929-2002), IBY emblem, text "INTERNATIONALES /

JAHR DES BUCHES / 1972" and "LESENDER JUNGER ARBEITER"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1781/SG E 1496/Yvert 1465)

Membership of the United Nations

date: 19 September 1973

designer: Manfred Gottschall

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

28 35 UN Headquarters, UN emblem, DDR coat of arms, text "DEUTSCHE / DEMOKRATISCHE / REPUBLIK /

MITGLIED DER UNO"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1883/SG E 1607/Yvert 1570)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights 25th anniversary

date: 20 November 1973

designer: Dietrich Dorfstecher

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13

29 35 human rights jubilee emblem, text "25. JAHRESTAG DER ALLGEMEINEN / ERKLÄRUNG DER

MENSCHENRECHTE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 1898/SG E 1622/Yvert 1579)

UPU Centenary

date: 9 October 1974

designer: Manfred Gottschall

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13

30 10 steam ship, freighter, UPU emblem, text "UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE / 1874 1974 / WELTPOSTVEREIN"

multicoloured, green frame

(cat. Michel 1984/SG E 1700/Yvert 1665)

31 20 steam locomotive, diesel locomotive, UPU emblem, text "UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE / 1874 1974 /

WELTPOSTVEREIN"

multicoloured, pink frame

(cat. Michel 1985/SG E 1701/Yvert 1666)

32 25 early plane, Tupolev Tu-134, UPU emblem, text "UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE / 1874 1974 /

WELTPOSTVEREIN"

multicoloured, blue frame

(cat. Michel 1986/SG E 1702/Yvert 1667)

33 35 mail coach, mail truck, UPU emblem, text "UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE / 1874 1974 / WELTPOSTVEREIN"

multicoloured, brown frame

(cat. Michel 1987/SG E 1703/Yvert 1668)

International Women's Year

date: 25 February 1975

designer: Joachim Rieß

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13:13½

remark: printed in strips of three stamps

34 10 African women with book and rifle, IWY emblem, text "INTERNATIONALES JAHR / DER FRAU 1975"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2019/SG E 1735/Yvert 1700)

35 20 European women with flowers and helmet, IWY emblem, text "INTERNATIONALES JAHR / DER FRAU 1975"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2020/SG E 1736/Yvert 1701)

36 25 South American woman with child, wheat, rose and barbed wire, IWY emblem, text "INTERNATIONALES

JAHR / DER FRAU 1975"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2021/SG E 1737/Yvert 1702)

World Telecommunication Day

date: 17 May 1977

designer: Jochen Bertholdt

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

37 20 telephone channel translator, ITU emblem, text "DEUTSCHE / POST", "Kanalumsetzer VKM mit

mechanischen Filtern" and "Weltfernmeldetag 1977"

black, blue, red

(cat. Michel 2223/SG E 1935/Yvert 1896)

World Telecommunication Day

date: 25 April 1978

designer: Jochen Bertholdt

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

38 10 TV Tower Dequede, transmission truck, text "DEUTSCHE / POST" and "WELTFERNMELDETAG 1978"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2316/SG E 2031/Yvert 1985)

39 20 TV Tower Dresden, equipment in TV Tower Berlin, text "DEUTSCHE / POST" and "WELTFERNMELDETAG 1978"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2316/SG E 2031/Yvert 1985)

International Anti-Apartheid Year

date: 3 October 1978

designer: Hans Detlefsen

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 12½:13

40 20 African man behind barbed wire, word "NO", text "INTERNATIONALES / ANTI-APARTHEID-JAHR 1978"

blue, black, red

(cat. Michel 2369/SG E 2078/Yvert 2033)

Albert Einstein

date: 20 February 1979

designer: Joachim Rieß

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

size souv. sheet: 55 x 86 mm

41 souvenir sheet, Albert Einstein Tower at GDR Academy of Sciences, text "E=mc² / ALBERT EINSTEIN /

100. GEBURTSTAG" and "EINSTEINTURM DER AKADEMIE / DER WISSENSCHAFTEN DER DDR"

1.- M portrait, text "ALBERT EINSTEIN / 1879-1955"

brown, green, black

(cat. Michel block 54/SG MS E 2112/Yvert BF 51)

World Maritime Day

date: 20 March 1979

designer: Jochen Bertholdt

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

42 20 container ship 'Meridian', tugboat, world map with shipping route, IMO emblem, text

"WELTSCHIFFAHRTSTAG 1979"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2405/SG E 2121/Yvert 2072)

International Year of the Child

date: 22 May 1979

designer: Lüders

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

43 10 mother, children playing and reading, text "INTERNATIONALES / JAHR DES KINDES / 1979"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2422/SG E 2132/Yvert 2087)

44 20 doctor, children from different races, text "INTERNATIONALES / JAHR DES KINDES / 1979"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2423/SG E 2133/Yvert 2088)

Heinrich von Stephan 150th anniversary

date: 20 January 1981

designer: Gerhard Stauf

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13:13½

45 10 portrait, text "Heinrich von Stephan / 1831-1897 / DEUTSCHE POST"

black, yellow

(cat. Michel 2579/SG E 2294/Yvert 2236)

International Year of Disabled Persons

date: 23 June 1981

designer: Joachim Rieß

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13:12½

remark: printed in strips of two stamps with a centre tab (IYDP emblem, text "INTERNATIONALES / JAHR DER /

GESCHÄDIGTEN / 1981"

46 5 disabled javelin throwers and coach, text "INTERNATIONALES JAHR / DER GESCHÄDIGTEN 1981"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2621/SG E 2334/Yvert 2274)

47 15 disabled people visiting an art gallery, text "INTERNATIONALES JAHR / DER GESCHÄDIGTEN 1981"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2622/SG E 2335/Yvert 2275)

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

date: 21 September 1982

designer: Korn

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

48 10 + 5 Palestinian family with tree, text "Solidarität / mit dem palästinensischen Volk"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2743/SG E 2451/Yvert 2392)

World Communications Year / World Telecommunication Day

date: 8 February 1983

designer: Detlev Glinski

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

remark: stamp 52 is also issued for the 15th World Telecommunication Day

49 5 telephone, number buttons, WCY emblem, text "DEUTSCHE POST / MOSKAU / PRAG / PARIS / HAVANNA /

BERN / NEW YORK / TOKIO / ALGIER / WELTKOMMUNIKATIONSJAHR 1983"

brown, black, deep brown

(cat. Michel 2770/SG E 2487/Yvert 2415)

50 10 coastal radio Rügen Radio, radio ships, WCY emblem, text "DEUTSCHE POST / RÜGEN /

WELTKOMMUNIKATIONSJAHR 1983"

blue, turquoise, deep blue

(cat. Michel 2771/SG E 2488/Yvert 2416)

51 20 mail ship, mail plane, letter, parcel, WCY emblem, text "DEUTSCHE POST / WELTKOMMUNIKATIONSJAHR

1983"

green, deep green, black

(cat. Michel 2772/SG E 2489/Yvert 2417)

52 35 glass fibre cables, WCY emblem, text "DEUTSCHE POST / 15. Weltfernmeldetag /

WELTKOMMUNIKATIONSJAHR 1983"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2773/SG E 2490/Yvert 2418)

Paul Robeson

date: 22 March 1983

designer: Lindner

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13:12½

53 20 portrait, text "FÜR FRIEDEN / GEGEN RASSISMUS / FOR PEACE / AGAINST RACISM" (also in Russian) and

"PAUL ROBESON 1898-1976"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2781/SG E 2498/Yvert 2426)

UNO 40th anniversary

date: 22 October 1985

designer: Hans Detlefsen

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13

54 85 UN emblem, Cecilienhof Castle, Potsdam, text "1945 1985 / 40 JAHRE UNO" and "KÜNFTIGE GENERATIONEN

VOR DER / GEISSEL EINES KRIEGES BEWAHREN"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 2982/SG E 2692/Yvert 2605)

International Year of Peace

date: 5 August 1986

designer: Kaiser

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13

55 35 peace doves, IYP emblem, text "Internationales Jahr des Friedens"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 3036/SG E 2747/Yvert 2657)

Indira Gandhi

date: 18 November 1986

designer: Hans Detlefsen

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

56 10 portrait, text "INDIRA GANDHI / 1917 1984"

stone, brown

(cat. Michel 3056/SG E 2765/Yvert 2676)

WHO 40th anniversary

date: 22 November 1988

designer: Lenz

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

57 85 WHO emblem, DDR coat of arms, text "40 Jahre / WHO"

silver, blue, grey

(cat. Michel 3214/SG E 2920/Yvert 2820)

UNICEF

date: 5 September 1989

designer: Lehmann

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

58 10 + 5 African children, UNICEF emblem, text "SOLIDARITÄT"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 3275/SG E 2974/Yvert 2880)

Jawaharlal Nehru

date: 7 November 1989

designer: Hans Detlefsen

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

59 35 portrait, text "JAWAHARLAL NEHRU / 100. GEBURTSTAG"

brown, black

(cat. Michel 3284/SG E 2988/Yvert 2888)

UPU 75th anniversary - reprint

date: 8 May 1990

designer: Manfred Gottschall

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

remark: issued in a series of three stamps for the 150th anniversary of postage stamps

60 110 stamp for the 75th anniversary of the UPU, text "150 Jahre / Briefmarken"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 3331/SG E 3027/Yvert 2935)

ITU 125th anniversary

date: 15 May 1990

designer: Joachim Rieß

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

size souv. sheet: 82 x 57 mm

61 10 portrait of David Edward Hughes (1831-1900), printing telegraph, ITU emblem, text "125 JAHRE UIT/

Typendruck-Telegraph von E. Hughes / 1855"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 3332/SG E 3028/Yvert 2937)

62 20 telephone distribution rods at Berlin-Köpenick post office, ITU emblem, text "125 JAHRE UIT/

Verteilergestänge am Postamt Berlin-Köpenick"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 3333/SG E 3029/Yvert 2938)

63 25 TV and radio tower Berlin, radio control desk, ITU emblem, text "125 JAHRE UIT/ Fernseh- und

UKW-Turm und Senderegie (Rundfunk)"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 3334/SG E 3030/Yvert 2939)

64 50 Molniya communications satellite, Earth, ITU emblem, text "125 JAHRE UIT/ Nachrichtensatellit vom Typ /

Molnija"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 3335/SG E 3031/Yvert 2940)

65 souvenir sheet, historical telephone network, Molniya communications satellite, TV and radio tower Berlin,

Reis telephone with knitting needle receiver, ITU emblem, text "125 JAHRE UIT / Historisches /

Fernsprechnetz / Nachrichtensatellit / Molnija / Telefon von Reis mit Stricknadelempfänger / Fernseh-

und / UKW-Turm Berlin"

70 portrait of Johann Philipp Reis (1834-1874), ITU emblem, text "1834 / 1874 / PHILIPP / REIS / 125

JAHRE UIT"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel block 101/SG MS E 3032/Yvert BF 100)

Pope John Paul II

date: 15 May 1990

designer: Joachim Rieß

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

66 35 portrait, papal coat of arms, text "PAPST JOHANNES PAUL II. / 70. GEBURTSTAG"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 3337/SG E 3033/Yvert 2936)

International Literacy Year

date: 24 July 1990

designer: Manfred Gottschall

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

remark: due to the currency change from East German Mark to (West) German Mark the stamp was overprinted

with a new value (original value 10 + 5)

67 30 + 5 pencil made up of letters from different alphabets, ILY emblem, text "INTERNATIONALES JAHR DER

ALPHABETISIERUNG 1990"

multicoloured, overprint in red

(cat. Michel 3353/SG E 3033/Yvert 2936)

League of Nations Stamp catalogue

Rudolf Breitscheid

date: 3 December 1957

designer: Axel Bengs and Rudolf Skribelka

printer: Graphische Werkstätten, Leipzig

perforated: 13½:13

remark: part of a series of three stamps; the surcharge is for the National Memorials Fund

1 25 + 15 portrait, text "RUDOLF BREITSCHEID / 1874-1944"

blue

(cat. Michel 607 A/SG E 348/Yvert 334)

Marie Sklodovska-Curie

date: 6 July 1967

designer: Bitzer

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

remark: part of a series of five stamps

2 10 portrait, text "MARIE CURIE / GEBOREN 1867"

blue

(cat. Michel 1294/SG E 1013/Yvert 991)

Rudolf Breitscheid

date: 9 July 1974

designer: Gerhard Stauf

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 13½:13

remark: part of a series of three stamps

3 10 portrait, text "RUDOLF BREITSCHEID / 1874-1944"

blue

(cat. Michel 1915/SG E 1682/Yvert 1648)

The Hague Peace Conference Stamp catalogue

Bertha von Suttner

date: 1 September 1964

designer: Voigt

printer: Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei

perforated: 14

remark: part of a series of three stamps

1 portrait, signature, text "FÜR DEN FRIEDEN DER WELT"

blue, black

(cat. Michel 1050/SG E 771/Yvert 753)

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last revised: 22 September 2008