Original WW2 German Third Reich NS-Reichskriegerbund Wels Austria Veterans Group RPPC – Rare Stamped Photo

Very interesting original Third Reich-era real photographic postcard showing a large gathering of approximately 25 German/Austrian military veterans and association members, with an outstanding official NS-Reichskriegerbund / Kyffhäuser veterans organization stamp on the reverse.

The group appears to have been photographed at an outdoor veterans gathering in Wels, Upper Austria (Oberdonau). Several of the men wear association insignia and traditional veteran-style clothing. The combination of the large group portrait and clearly identified organizational markings makes this much more historically interesting than an unidentified civilian group photograph.

Large Red Reverse Stamp

The most important feature is the large red circular organizational stamp. It reads substantially:

“Nationalsozialistischer Reichskriegerbund (Kyffhäuserbund) e.V.
Kriegerkameradschaft Wels”

The center incorporates the organization’s Kyffhäuser-style cross and swastika emblem.

Kriegerkameradschaft Wels translates approximately as:

“War Veterans’ Comradeship – Wels.”

The NS-Reichskriegerbund was the organization into which existing German and Austrian veterans’ associations were incorporated during the Third Reich period. Austrian historical sources document that after the 1938 Anschluss, existing veterans’ organizations were incorporated into the NS-Deutscher Reichskriegerbund “Kyffhäuser.”

This makes the Wels stamp particularly useful in establishing the historical context and Austrian provenance of the photograph.

Photographer Marking

The reverse additionally carries a purple photographer’s stamp:

“B. Fendler, Fotograf, Wels, Hausruckstr. Nr. 36”

This identifies the photographer as B. Fendler of Wels, with a local street address, giving the photograph strong period provenance.

Also present is an oval:

“Echte Photographie”

meaning:

“Genuine Photograph.”

This identifies the piece as a real photographic postcard (RPPC) rather than a mechanically printed postcard.

Historical Context

Veterans’ organizations were an important part of German and Austrian civic and military culture. Following the Anschluss in 1938, Austrian veterans’ associations were reorganized or absorbed into the NS-Reichskriegerbund system. Period Austrian records document the use of terms such as Kriegerkameradschaft and Kameradschaftsführer for these organizations during the Third Reich era.

Wels itself had a substantial military tradition. Historical records for Upper Austria document numerous military and veterans’ associations throughout the region, while Wels had longstanding connections with former Imperial Austrian military units and veterans’ organizations.

Details:

• Original Third Reich-era photograph
• Real photographic postcard / RPPC
• Approximately 25 people pictured
• German/Austrian veterans gathering
• NS-Reichskriegerbund
• Kyffhäuserbund
• Kriegerkameradschaft Wels
• Large red official organization stamp
• Swastika within Kyffhäuser veterans emblem
• Photographer-marked reverse
• B. Fendler, Fotograf
• Wels, Upper Austria
• Hausruckstraße 36
• “Echte Photographie” marking
• Card/reference number 37813
• Unused postal side

Condition:

Original period-used/handled condition with noticeable age and storage wear. There is surface wear and residue/adhesion evidence on the reverse, along with edge and corner wear. The lower-right corner has a noticeable chip/loss. The photograph itself retains very good contrast and considerable facial and clothing detail. Please study all photographs carefully for exact condition.

The large red NS-Reichskriegerbund Kriegerkameradschaft Wels stamp is exceptionally displayable and gives this photograph considerably more historical context than an ordinary unidentified veterans’ group portrait.

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