Original WW2 German 1944 Ski Race Photo Postcard SA Stormtroopers RAD Swastika Armbands

Outstanding original Third Reich-era German photograph postcard from 1944, showing a large winter ski race / wintersports event at Bad Hofgastein, Austria. Hundreds of spectators line both sides of the snow-covered course while skiers and other participants can be seen around the slope.

The foreground provides particularly interesting uniform detail. Visible among the crowd are SA (Sturmabteilung) stormtroopers wearing SA kepi hats and swastika armbands, along with an RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) member displaying a distinctive unit/organizational sleeve patch and swastika armband. The close proximity of these uniformed men to the ski course makes this an unusual photographic record of Party and RAD personnel attending a wartime winter sporting event.

The reverse retains its original 6 Pfennig Adolf Hitler Deutsches Reich postage stamp, tied by an excellent large BAD HOFGASTEIN / Thermalbad cancellation dated 02.2.44 (February 2, 1944). The special cancel incorporates a winter-sports design and the wording “Ganzjährige Kurzeit – Idealer Wintersportplatz”, roughly translating to “Year-round spa season – ideal winter sports resort.”

Also present is a purple promotional handstamp:

“Der sonnige Wintersportplatz
Thermalbad-Hofgastein”

Translation:

“The sunny winter sports resort, Thermalbad-Hofgastein.”

The postcard is additionally marked by the photographer/publisher Photo E. Wintersteiger, Hofgastein, with a 1944 copyright/production marking visible on the reverse.

The reverse contains a lengthy original handwritten German message and is addressed to Bad Salzuflen.

Historical Highlights:

• Original wartime German photograph postcard
• Bad Hofgastein, Austria
• Large organized ski race / winter sporting event
• Hundreds of spectators lining the ski course
• SA stormtroopers clearly visible
• SA men wearing distinctive kepi hats
• Swastika armbands clearly visible
• RAD member with sleeve unit patch and armband
• Original 6 Pfennig Hitler stamp
• Excellent Bad Hofgastein winter-sports cancellation
• Postmarked February 2, 1944
• Additional Bad Hofgastein winter-sports promotional handstamp
• Original handwritten wartime correspondence
• Excellent crossover piece for collectors of Third Reich photography, SA, RAD, skiing, winter sports, Austrian history and postal history

Condition:
Original used condition with normal age and handling wear, including minor corner/edge wear and toning. Photograph remains quite sharp with excellent foreground uniform details. Stamp and special cancellation remain intact. Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition.

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YB6 series