Eastwards bounded rates from
German Reich
after "Anschluss" of Austria
The annexation of Austria to the German Reich took place on 13.3.1938 and as
of 1.4.1938, postal accounting in Reichsmark was mandatory. The conversion
was made at the rate of 1.5 Schilling = 1 Reichsmark and commercial rounding
was required.
As of 4 April 1938, the use of stamps of the German Reich was permitted in
Ostmark, as the former Austria was now called. As a transitional measure,
the postal rates of the former Austria and the German Reich were combined
from 4 April 1938 to 31 July 1938. This led in part to politically intended
lower postage rates. For example, the price of a simple long-distance letter
was reduced from 24 Groschen (=16 Rpf.) to 12 Rpf.
As
of 1 August 1938, the postal rates of the German Reich applied and the
Austrian Groschen stamps were valid for postage until 31 October 1938.
Postage Rate
German Reich / Austria - Iraq (surface mail):
Date Format dd.mm.yyyy
From
|
Till
|
Cover up to 20 grams
|
Each additional 20 grams
|
4.4.1938
|
31.7.1938
|
25 Rpf (38 Groschen)
|
15 Rpf (10 Groschen)
|
The only recorded cover from Austria after the
"Anschluss" to the German Reich to Iraq, carried by the Overland Mail:
Cover from Radenthein (24 May 1938) to Baghdad. Franking 38 Groschen which
corresponded to 25 RPf. After the annexation of Austria to the German Reich,
Austrian postage stamps could be used up until 31 October 1938. Also cachet
of the Devisenkontrolle Villach 2 (Currency Control Villach). The only known
use in the "Ostmark
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