German Reich postage stamps year 1934 Saar Restoration set

German Reich postage stamps year 1934 Saar Restoration used set

🪙 Context: Saar Plebiscite & Reintegration

• After World War I, the Saar Basin (Saargebiet) was placed under League of Nations administration, with France controlling its coal mines.
• A plebiscite was held on 13 January 1935, and over 90 % voted to rejoin Germany. The Saar officially became part of Germany again on 1 March 1935.

📮 Saar-Related German Reich Stamp Issues

🇩🇪 1934 Saar Plebiscite Set (pre-referendum)

Issued by the Deutsche Reichspost on 26 August 1934, these two stamps were released in anticipation of the upcoming referendum to promote and commemorate the event:

• Mi Nr. 544 – 6 Pfennig, showing two hands holding a piece of coal with the letters SAAR (symbolizing the Saar’s mining industry), blackish opal green.
• Mi Nr. 545 – 12 Pfennig, depicts the German Reich eagle with Saar inscription, dark carmine red.
• These stamps remained valid through 31 December 1935.

These do not depict “restoration” yet but are tied to the plebiscite campaign.

🇩🇪 1935 “Saar kehrt heim” / Saar Restoration Set

After the successful plebiscite, a special set of stamps commemorating the Saar’s return to Germany was issued. In German philatelic catalogs this is often referred to as the “Saar kehrt heim” (The Saar returns home) set:

General characteristics:

• Issued around 16 January 1935 (just after the referendum).
• Designed by Emmy Glintzer, it symbolically shows Germania (a female allegory of Germany) welcoming back the Saar territory, personified as a child.
• Reflects the propaganda theme of “Mother Germany welcomes her child home”, emphasizing national unity.

Typical catalogue listings (Michel numbers):

• Mi 565 – likely 3 Pfennig
• Mi 566 – likely 6 Pfennig
• Mi 567 – likely 12 Pfennig
• Mi 568 – likely 25 Pfennig

(Exact denominations and colors vary by catalog edition; specialized catalogs like Michel Saar-Spezial give precise details.)

This set celebrates the actual reintegration of the Saar into the German postal system and records the event in Third Reich philately.

📌 Catalog & Collecting Notes

• The Saar Plebiscite 1934 set (Mi 544–545, 6 Pf & 12 Pf) and the Saar Restoration “Saar kehrt heim” 1935 set (Mi 565–568) are distinct issues: the first is about the referendum; the second commemorates the return.
• Michel specialized catalogs (e.g., Michel Saar-Spezial) cover these in detail, including varieties and cancellations.

📊 Summary Table