Deutsche Bundespost Berlin
Encyclopedia
The Deutsche Bundespost Berlin (German Federal Mail of Berlin) was the governmental agency to provide mail
and telecommunication
services for West Berlin
. This civil service
agency was in operation from 1949 until 1990.
in 1945 the Allied Control Commission replaced the German government. Germany was divided into four occupation zones
, and Berlin
into four sectors; the territories east of the Oder-Neisse were placed under Polish authority. Initially Berlin and the provinces in the Soviet zone issued their own stamps (see Scott # 11N2), but by 1946 "Deutsche Post" stamp
s were authorized that were valid in the American, British, and Soviet zones.
When the negotiations about a general German currency reform broke down, the western zones proceeded with the currency reform, and on June 21, 1948 the Deutsche Mark was introduced. In response, the east German currency reform was set for June 24, 1948, the East German Mark
became the currency for the Soviet occupation zone and East Berlin
, and its stamps were marked with overprints. This established the economic separation of the two German states. In July 1948, the stamps of the previously common issue were overprinted with "Soviet Occupation Zone" and subsequently the Soviet zone issued different stamps than the western zone, all, however, under the "Deutsche Post" label. West Berlin now started to issue its own stamps on September 3, 1948, initially "Berlin" overprinted common stamps of the "Deutsche Post". The Deutsche Mark (West) became the sole currency for West Berlin on March 21, 1949 and seven month later the stamps of the western bizone
as well as the French oocupation zone became valid as well.
The Federal Republic of Germany
was founded on May 23, 1949, and shortly thereafter, the formation of the German Democratic Republic
took place on October 7, 1949. In each republic the "Deutsche Post" now became the government agency to maintain mail and telecommunication services, in West Germany the "Deutsche Post" was renamed "Deutsche Bundespost
" in 1950, and in the East Germany the term DP (of the GDR) was kept.
West Berlin retained its special status as it remained under the authority of the American, British, and French occupation forces. Thus it continued to issue its own stamps, these stamps became also valid in West Germany on January 1, 1950.
According to the Scott catalog, during its 41 years the DBP Berlin issued close to 900 stamps, namely 592 different stamps including many commemorative
s, plus 285 semi-postal designs; there are no air mail stamps or official stamps. Topics of commemoratives and semipostals include common topical
s (i.e. nature, sports, arts), science and technical issues and historical stamps. Additional stamps of the DP consisted of official stamps (44 types). All stamps were issued in West Deutsche Mark. The last stamp was issued on September 27, 1990 (Mi #879).
With the 1990 reunification, the DBP Berlin became part of the Deutsche Bundespost which in turn was five years later converted into the Deutsche Post AG. In this process its stamps (starting with Mi # 326) became valid for all over Germany until December 31, 1991.
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
and telecommunication
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
services for West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
. This civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
agency was in operation from 1949 until 1990.
Historical background
With the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1945 the Allied Control Commission replaced the German government. Germany was divided into four occupation zones
Allied Occupation Zones in Germany
The Allied powers who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative purposes during 1945–49. In the closing weeks of fighting in Europe, US forces had pushed beyond the previously agreed boundaries for the...
, and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
into four sectors; the territories east of the Oder-Neisse were placed under Polish authority. Initially Berlin and the provinces in the Soviet zone issued their own stamps (see Scott # 11N2), but by 1946 "Deutsche Post" stamp
Postage stamps and postal history of Germany
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Germany and philatelically related areas. The main modern providers of service were the Reichspost , the Deutsche Post under Allied control , the Deutsche Post of the GDR , the Deutsche Bundespost , along with the Deutsche Bundespost...
s were authorized that were valid in the American, British, and Soviet zones.
When the negotiations about a general German currency reform broke down, the western zones proceeded with the currency reform, and on June 21, 1948 the Deutsche Mark was introduced. In response, the east German currency reform was set for June 24, 1948, the East German Mark
East German mark
The East German mark commonly called the eastern mark , in East Germany only Mark, was the currency of the German Democratic Republic . Its ISO 4217 currency code was DDM...
became the currency for the Soviet occupation zone and East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
, and its stamps were marked with overprints. This established the economic separation of the two German states. In July 1948, the stamps of the previously common issue were overprinted with "Soviet Occupation Zone" and subsequently the Soviet zone issued different stamps than the western zone, all, however, under the "Deutsche Post" label. West Berlin now started to issue its own stamps on September 3, 1948, initially "Berlin" overprinted common stamps of the "Deutsche Post". The Deutsche Mark (West) became the sole currency for West Berlin on March 21, 1949 and seven month later the stamps of the western bizone
Bizone
The Bizone, or Bizonia was the combination of the American and the British occupation zones in 1947 during the occupation of Germany after World War II. With the addition of the French occupation zone in March 1948, the entity became the Trizone...
as well as the French oocupation zone became valid as well.
The Federal Republic of Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
was founded on May 23, 1949, and shortly thereafter, the formation of the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
took place on October 7, 1949. In each republic the "Deutsche Post" now became the government agency to maintain mail and telecommunication services, in West Germany the "Deutsche Post" was renamed "Deutsche Bundespost
Deutsche Bundespost
The Deutsche Bundespost was created in 1947 as a successor to the Reichspost . Between 1947 and 1950 the enterprise was called Deutsche Post...
" in 1950, and in the East Germany the term DP (of the GDR) was kept.
West Berlin retained its special status as it remained under the authority of the American, British, and French occupation forces. Thus it continued to issue its own stamps, these stamps became also valid in West Germany on January 1, 1950.
Activity
The first stamps were issued as "Deutsche Post", in 1952 the inscription was changed to "Deutsche Post Berlin", and three years later to "Deutsche Bundespost Berlin". Many stamps had the same appearance as the stamps of the FDR with just the inscription changed, while others were distinctly different.According to the Scott catalog, during its 41 years the DBP Berlin issued close to 900 stamps, namely 592 different stamps including many commemorative
Commemorative
Commemorative may refer to:*Commemorative coin*United States Commemorative Coin*Commemorative issue - a special edition of a book, magazine, or other item released around, or in memory of, a special event or occurrence.*Commemorative stamp...
s, plus 285 semi-postal designs; there are no air mail stamps or official stamps. Topics of commemoratives and semipostals include common topical
Topical
In medicine, a topical medication is applied to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes such as the vagina, anus, throat, eyes and ears.Many topical medications are epicutaneous, meaning that they are applied directly to the skin...
s (i.e. nature, sports, arts), science and technical issues and historical stamps. Additional stamps of the DP consisted of official stamps (44 types). All stamps were issued in West Deutsche Mark. The last stamp was issued on September 27, 1990 (Mi #879).
With the 1990 reunification, the DBP Berlin became part of the Deutsche Bundespost which in turn was five years later converted into the Deutsche Post AG. In this process its stamps (starting with Mi # 326) became valid for all over Germany until December 31, 1991.
Sources
- The basis of the article is a shortened translation of the corresponding German Wikipedia article (with literature references) from 03-30-2008.
See also
- Postage stamps and postal history of GermanyPostage stamps and postal history of GermanyThis is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Germany and philatelically related areas. The main modern providers of service were the Reichspost , the Deutsche Post under Allied control , the Deutsche Post of the GDR , the Deutsche Bundespost , along with the Deutsche Bundespost...
- Michel catalogMichel catalogThe Michel catalog is the largest and best-known stamp catalog in the German-speaking world. First published in 1910, it has become an important reference work for philately, with information not available in the English-language Scott catalog.The catalog started out as a price list for the dealer...
- Scott catalog