1938 Third Reich Nazi German Savings Day Sparkasse 38 Million Savings Poster Sheet

Original two-sided Third Reich Era Nazi German advertising sheet from 1938 produced for Deutscher Spartag (German Savings Day), October 28, 1938. This is a particularly attractive piece of prewar German banking and financial ephemera, with a colorful illustrated front and extensive period text on the reverse.

The front reads “Deutscher Spartag – 28. Oktober 1938 – 38 Millionen Sparkassenbücher!” — translating to “German Savings Day – October 28, 1938 – 38 Million Savings Books!” The large stylized 38 is formed by a procession of men, women and children in regional/traditional clothing, many carrying savings books. The artwork is signed Moldenhauer at the upper right.

The bottom identifies the participating public savings banks of the Oberbergischer Kreis, including Gummersbach, Wiehl, Waldbröl, Marienheide, Bergneustadt, Ründeroth and Hückeswagen, along with their branches and receiving offices.

The reverse provides an extensive explanation of the 1938 savings campaign. It states that after more than 150 years of operation there were approximately 38 million Sparkassenbücher in the hands of German citizens, and prominently declares:

“Fast jeder zweite Deutsche besitzt ein Sparkassenbuch!”
Translation: “Almost every second German owns a savings book!”

The reverse also discusses savings among different occupations and age groups and specifically mentions savings education in schools and the Hitler-Jugend. It references the incorporation of Austria and the Sudetenland during 1938 and gives the contemporary population figure of approximately 78.5 million Germans. It concludes with “Die Sparkasse erwartet Dich am Deutschen Spartag!” — “The Savings Bank awaits you on German Savings Day!”

The historical context is particularly interesting because 1938 was the first year the German savings observance was officially called “Deutscher Spartag.” It had previously been called Nationaler Spartag under the Third Reich and was renamed Kriegsspartag in 1939. Contemporary archival material confirms the October 28, 1938 observance, and surviving institutional archives show this same distinctive “38 million” campaign design adapted for different regional Sparkassen.

Marked 8273 at the lower edge. The piece remains complete and presents very well, with age toning, scattered foxing/brown spotting, minor edge wear and a small hole/puncture near the upper center, as clearly shown. The colorful front remains especially strong despite the age spotting.

A very displayable and historically interesting example of 1938 German Sparkasse advertising, financial history and Third Reich-era paper ephemera, with considerably more content than a standard one-sided advertising poster.

Guaranteed original period item. Item is exactly as shown. We combine shipping and ship every day, including Saturdays.

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