Stamps series "People's Storm Troopers"

The official Postal Decree for this issue reads: Issued on account of the Führer’s order of the 25th September 1944 calling up the "Volkssturm" (People’s Army), a special stamp at 12pf plus 8pf. The design is by the painter E. Meerwald. Stamps being produced in sheets of fifty by the State Printing Works, Vienna. These stamps will be sold upon receipt up to 15th March by the Postoffices in groups A to F. Subscribers will however be supplied only after all five stamps are received. The public is to be notified by poster and in the newspapers. The N.S.F.K. and Volkssturm are horizontal and the others of vertical design”. So it could be assumed that this stamp although being issued separate was actually one of a set of five stamps. (These follow on in issue sequence).

General interest: The Führer’s order of 25th September 1944, states: On the 18th October 1944, all males between the ages of 16 and 60 years are called up to do service in the People’s Army to fight side by side with the army in defence of Germany. No medical examination is required and there are no reserved occupations.

As can be seen, the bottom of the barrel was being scraped as the U.S.A. 1st Army had crossed the frontier of Germany on the 12th September and the Russians were on the borders of East Prussia.