Germany 1940/1944 - Exceptional Homogeneous Archive Collection: Annexation Period, Moselle 1940–1944

Rare archive assemblage with exceptional chronological continuity and uniformity, documenting day by day the Germanization and administrative submission of Moselle from autumn 1940 to 1943. The correspondence is almost entirely addressed to the Tax Office (Steuerkasse) and its steward (Rentmeister) at Audun-le-Tiche.

This unique fonds enables the study of all postal marks of the Deutsche Dienstpost Lothringen, the evolution of the exemptions (Frei durch Ablösung Reich) and the eagle stamps of the Chief of Civil Administration (Landrat and Landkommissar).

• Major Military Reuse: Rare official French envelope from the “Genie Leading Office of Thionville” captured by the occupier, completely overprinted by the Finanzamt Diedenhofen-West.
• “Returned” Transition Envelope (Mirror): Envelope from the “Town Hall of Florange” (Moselle) April 1940, entirely dismantled and reversed for reuse by the German administration in October 1940.
• Historical Overlay (Nilvange/Knutange): February 1941 fold showing a spectacular triple overprint: original stamp of the French town hall of Nilvange, erasure, post-debacle overprint, and final strike of the Nazi eagle of the “Gemeinde Nilvingen.”
• Military & Security History: Official issue of the occupation police dated September 1941, bearing the large rare stamp “Der Polizeipräsident in Metz – Briefstempel / Polizeiamt Diedenhofen.”
• Postal Varieties & Logistics: A registered letter from June 1941 with the official red label “R-Diedenhofen” and double overprint (one inverted), as well as a registered letter from February 1941 bearing the handwritten note sought after “Päckchen” (Small parcel).
• End of Period (1943): Letter from June 1943 sent in the reverse direction by the Steuer- und Gemeinde-Einnehmerei Deutschoth, stamped with the large official violet “Zurück” (Return to sender).
Condition:
Good overall state for archival documents circulated. The inks of the administrative stamps (violet, blue, green) are very fresh. The mechanical postmarks from Thionville (Diedenhofen 1) are crisp and clearly legible. Some folds show the blue erasures or red archival pencils used at the time.