A region of northern central Europe which has been one of the battlefields of Europe. The German tribes resisted the attempts of Rome to subdue the area and although some parts were administered, the Romans were expelled in the third century. Charlemagne subdued the Saxons and other tribes, and was crowned emperor at Rome in 800. After the collapse of his dynasty control was vested in successive elected rulers until it became hereditary again under the Habsburgs from 1437 to 1804.

By the 18th century, there were hundreds of petty German states paying nominal allegiance to the Holy Roman Empire, but still trying to retain a measure of independence. The Thirty Years War (1618-1648), which was one of the great religious conflicts between protestants and catholics, led to some depopulation of the area and laid waste enormous territory. This in turn severely affected the development of the social structure of the region.

Although some postal services had been established by the Italian merchants and the Counts of Thurn and Taxis in the 16th century, these were massively disrupted by the successive wars of the following centuries and remained essentially transit posts without handstamps until late in the 18th century.

In the early part of the French Revolutionary Wars, the Emperor quickly lost the Netherlands and all his territories west of the Rhine. In 1806, after having created the Kingdoms of Bavaria, Wurttemberg and Westphalia, (1807), Napoleon dissolved the German Empire and formed the Confederation of the Rhine on 12 July. Northern Germany fell in 1810-11 and was incorporated into the French postal service using many handstamps which included departmental numbers.

The ports on the North coast including Bremen, Hamburg and Lfibeck had formed a League in the 12th century and became the Hanseatic League in 1241. These were essentially trading ports and were also centres of mail transmission in receipt from Scandinavia and Britain. The League lost much of its importance in the 17th and 18th century, but Hamburg remained a free port until 1888.

The Prussian influence to unite Germany into a single empire began in the 18th century under the leadership of Frederick the Great (1749-1786). In 1818, Prussia was the originator of the Zoliverein or Customs Union which, by 1844, included all of northern Germany. This led initially to the ease of transfer of goods but inevitably towards postal union which was finally agreed with Austria and most German states in 1850.

The district was occupied by Soviet troops in 1945 and was then transferred to Poland, which has administered the area ever since under the name of Olsztyn.

Earliest postal markings appeared during the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806. After Napoleon's defeat in Russia, Baden joined the allies against France and hence was not reduced in size at the Congress of Vienna.

In May 1848 there was a major uprising against the Grand Duke and he was forced to flee the country. He was restored by Prussian intervention in August 1849. In April 1850 a postal union was formed between Prussia and Austria in which Baden was included. Separate issues for Baden ceased in 1871 when the Baden postal administration was incorporated into the German Empire and new stamps were issued in January 1872. (For issues during the French occupation after World War II see Germany 1945 to date)

Earliest postal markings were namestamps of towns to indicate the route or town from which the letters had come, either in French or German: thus 'de Munique' indicated that the letters had come from Munich.

During the French occupation the departement number was included in the postal marking. Most places used the number 100 but Landau was placed in departement 67. After 1815 other pre-adhesive markings were used for each town until adhesives were issued. Bavaria issued stamps before either Prussia or Austria.

1850-71
First adhesives were usually cancelled with identifying numerals and these were allocated to individual towns. In June 1866 Bavaria, like Hanover, sided with Austria against Prussia, but made peace on 22 August 1866. The country was forced to pay a large indemnity and changed allegiance. Sided with Prussia against France in 1870. In December 1871 King of Bavaria proposed that King of Prussia should become Emperor of Germany. The kingdom became part of the German Empire but continued to issue its own stamps.

1871-1914
Kingdom continued within the German Empire throughout this period, but with its own stamps. A new issue was released in March 1914 and these were the first stamps in the world to he printed by the photogravure process.

1914-18
Bavaria entered the war in August 1914. However, during the strains of the later war years the monarchy collapsed. Revolution broke out on 7 November 1918 and a republic was proclaimed the following day.

1918-39
Stamps of Bavaria overprinted 'Volksstaat' were issued in 1919 but the leader of the new government, Kurt Eisner, was assassinated on 1 February 1919. There followed a Communist uprising and this was only quelled after fierce fighting. On 5 May 1919 Bavaria became a 'Freistaat' and new overprinted stamps appeared on 17 May. A new, unoverprinted issue appeared on 14 February 1920 and the P0 was incorporated into that of the Weimar Republic on 29 April 1920.

Bavarian stamps ceased to be valid on 30 June 1920. However, official stamps for Bavaria had been issued on 1 April by overprinting Bavarian officials 'Deutsches Reich' and a similar overprint for use in the whole of Germany was applied to remaining stocks of Bavarian stamps on 6 April 1920.

Stamps were issued while Bergedorf was still under the joint control of Hamburg and Lubeck. The design showed the arms of the two cities. On 8 August 1867 Hamburg bought Bergedorf outright from Lubeck and from that date stamps of Hamburg were used.

Post operated by the Counts of Thurn and Taxis had an office in Bremen from 1784. In 1802 the postal convention with the French government allowed the Thurn and Taxis service to continue. Bremen was annexed to the French Empire in 1810, but it became a Free City again in 1813. By 1814 Bremen was operating a service to North America.

There were several POs in operation in Bremen in the 19th century and these included the Duchy of Berg, Hanover and Prussia. These offices used their own postmarks and were responsible for handling the foreign mail of the relevant territories.

Bremen joined the North German Confederation (q.v.) on 31 December 1867 following the Austro-Prussian war of 1866, and used the Confederation's stamps until incorporated into the German Empire in 1871; German stamps were issued in January 1872.

Brunswick joined the North German Confederation and used stamps of the Confederation after 31 December 1867 until incorporated in the German Empire in 1871; German stamps were issued in January 1872.

The city was incorporated into the postal system run by the Counts of Thurn and Taxis in 1615, but, later, Hamburg allowed the following states to open POs:

Denmark in 1651 (including Sweden).
Brandenberg in 1654 (later became the Prussian office).
Mecklenberg-Schwerin in 1674.
Hanover in 1684 (also used as the link with Britain until 1798).
Sweden in its own right in 1685.
Schleswig-Holstein in 1695.
Brunswick in 1706.
Britain from 1798 to 1806.

All the foreign POs were closed during the French occupation in 1806. Postal affairs were transferred to. the Duchy of Berg, which was under Joachim Murat who became King of Naples in 1808. France annexed Hamburg in 1810 and gave it a departement number (128), which was incorporated into the postmark.

Stamps of the city were used until Hamburg joined the North German Confederation in 1867 and were withdrawn and replaced by those of the Confederation in 1868. Stamps of Hamburg were also used in Bergedorf (q.v.) from 8 August 1867.

Stamps of the Confederation were withdrawn in 1871 when the Confederation joined the German Empire, and German issues were used thereafter. However, Hamburg remained a Free City until 1888, the last of the German Free Cities to be incorporated fully into the German Customs Union (Zollverein).

Before Hamburg issued its own stamps in 1859, six territories used their own stamps in Hamburg which can be recognized by datestamps or numeral obliterators. These were: Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, Prussia, Denmark, Mecklenburg and Thurn and Taxis.

In 1837 Queen Victoria was unable to accept the Hanoverian Crown because there was no descent through the female line. Ernest, Duke of Cumberland became King of Hanover on 20 June 1837.

1815-50
By 1826 the island had become a fashionable bathing resort, and regular steamers made the run from Hamburg to the island. Up to 1830 mails were carried weekly to and from Cuxhaven for transmission to Hamburg or the island. After that date more numerous sailings were made by steam vessels.

The currency was changed from Hamburg to German currency on 1 January 1876 and Heligoland became a member of the UPU in 1879. It was ceded to Germany on 18 June 1890 in return for giving up interests in Zanzibar, and has used German stamps ever since.

Lubeck joined the North German Confederation at the end of 1867. Following the incorporation of the Confederation into the German Empire in 1871, stamps of Germany were used throughout the region.

Plebiscite was held on 11 July 1920 and 92 per cent of the votes were in favour of remaining in Germany. Marienwerder was returned to Germany on 16 August 1920 and special issues were withdrawn. German stamps were re-introduced and used until 1945, when the area was occupied by Soviet forces. It was handed to Poland and has been administered as Kwidzya since that date.

Postal services in the area operated from 1810 and town postmarks were issued soon after this date. Mecklenburg-Schwerin maintained a P0 in Hamburg and another at the railway station in Berlin.

Before the release of the Strelitz issues, the stamps of Schwerin were also used in part of this grand duchy. Both issues were withdrawn when both dukedoms joined the North German Confederation at the end of 1867. Following the incorporation of the Confederation into the German Empire in 1871, stamps of Germany were used throughout the region until 1945. (For later issues of Mecklenburg under Russian Occupation, see Germany 1945 to date).

First postmarks were used in 1811 and showed the name of the duchy and the date in two lines. It was included among the occupied departements by France and given the numbers 124, 129 and 130, which were included in the markings until 1815.

Currency was the North German thaler divided into 72 grote. The initial stamps showed more than one currency so that they could be understood by the other members of the Union.

Oldenburg came increasingly under the control of Prussia, especially after the wars of 1864 and 1866. It joined the North German Confederation in 1867 and its issues were withdrawn. It became part of the German Empire from 1871 and issued no further stamps in its own name.

In 1848 Berlin rioted and rose against the king. Martial law was declared and the rising was suppressed. In 1849 Prussia supported the German elements in Schleswig-Holstein.

Following the Austrian war of 1866, the Prussians, who had acquired the postal interests of the Count of Thurn and Taxis in July 1867, formed the North German Confederation, which issued its own stamps in 1868. This provided a postal union of all the states north of the River Main.

However, although Prussia had a currency of silver groschen and thaler from 1857, with the acquisition of the POs of Thurn and Taxis it was necessary to issue stamps in kreuzer and gulden, for use in the southern region. These were released in July 1867.

Prussian stamps were withdrawn after 1867. It became part of the German Empire from 1871 and issued no further stamps of its own.

1945 to date
Saar was part of the French Zone of Germany and the general issue for the French Zone was used from 17 December 1945 until the issue of special stamps for Saar in January 1947. These were used until 1956. In 1955 a referendum of the population decided on a return to Germany, and from 1 January 1957 stamps were issued by the German Federal Republic inscribed 'Saarland' and valued in French currency. On 6 July 1959 stamps and currency of West Germany came into use in the district and have been used ever since.

The King of Saxony supported Napoleon, and Saxony was the scene of the war of 1813, which led to the defeat of the French at the Battle of Leipzig in October that year. At the Congress of Vienna, Saxony lost territory to Prussia but the kingdom gradually regained its position and became one of the most highly industrialized areas of the German Empire.

The first postal markings were introduced at Dresden and Leipzig in 1817 and these were followed by marks at other towns from April 1818 onwards.

Saxony sided with Austria during the war of 1866 and the army was present at the Battle of Koniggratz (Sadowa) on 3 July. The Prussians had entered Saxony on 18 June and peace was signed on 21 October. As a result, the army of Saxony was subjected to Prussia and the kingdom became part of the North German Confederation. Saxony ceased to have its own issues from 31 December 1867 when the stamps of the Confederation were introduced.

In 1871 Saxony became part of the German Empire and stamps of Germany were used from 1871 onwards. (For stamps of East and West Saxony issued under Russian control see Germany from 1945.)

During the period up to the issue of stamps in 1850, the duchies had used handstruck markings and most of the international mail was sent out through Hamburg.

With Austria as ally, Prussia invaded Denmark in February 1864. This was followed by a truce in April, but a renewed invasion began on 26 June and Denmark sued for peace on 1 August. Denmark renounced its claim to the provinces and they were. awarded to Prussia and Austria.

Danish stamps were withdrawn early in 1864 (Schleswig - 31 March, and Holstein -29 February). At first, stamps were issued for each of the duchies. A joint issue by Austria and Prussia for Schleswig was released in 1864, and for Holstein an issue was released by the German Federal Commissioners on 1 March 1864. An issue for the combined duchies appeared under Austria and Prussia in 1865, but the individual duchies still issued their own stamps, Schleswig under Prussia and Holstein under Austria, although Prussia maintained a garrison in this area. Stamps were issued under the different authorities on 1 November 1865 but were again withdrawn in 1867 when Prussia gained the two duchies from Austria and incorporated them in the North German Confederation. Stamps of the Confederation were used until 1871, when SchleswigHolstein became part of the German Empire.

In northern zone 1 the voters elected to be included in Denmark, but southern zone 2 wished to remain in Germany. Zone 1 was incorporated in Denmark from 9 July 1920 and stamps were withdrawn at the same time.

By the establishment of postal conventions with the independent states of Germany, the post operated by the Counts was maintained until the Napoleonic wars, but with the formation of the Kingdom of Italy and the Confederation of the Rhine, the French postal service gained the ascendancy; this was lost with the defeat of Napoleon in Russia and the re-alliance of the German states.

1815-50
The Counts of Thurn and Taxis reestablished control of the German area after the Congress of Vienna. The first postal stationery was issued in Wurttemberg in 1846, and, although control was maintained in some of the northern states, the service which they had operated began to fall into disuse with the creation of the postal union of Prussia and Austria in 1850. At the same time, many of the independent states began to issue their own stamps.

Because of the variation of currency throughout Germany, two issues were released on the same day. The first for the southern states in kreuzer and guilden and the northern in silvergroschen and thaler.

In the north the stamps were used in Bremen (until 1855), Hamburg, Gotha, Hamburg (until 1859), HesseKassel, Lippe Detmold, Lubeck (until 1859), Reuss, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Schaumburg-Lippe and Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen. In the south: Coburg, Frankfurt-am-Main, HesseDarmstadt, Hesse-Homburg, Hohenzollern-Hechingen, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Nassau, Saxe-Meiningen and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.

On 28 January 1867 the Count sold his postal service to the Prussian postal administration for three million rhaler. At this time the postal service had 302 POs and services - although these had been disrupted by the Austrian war of 1866. Prussia had not issued stamps in kreuzer currency, and these were prepared and released for use in southern Germany on 1 July 1867. The Counts retained a franking privilege under the German Empire until 1918 and a special handstamp FRANCO Taxis was applied to their letters until that date.

1871-1914
Kingdom came increasingly under the control of Prussia and stamps for postage purposes were withdrawn in 1902 when German imperial stamps were issued on 1 April 1902. Stamps of Wurttemberg remained valid until the end of that year and official stamps continued to be issued until 1922.

1914-18
During World War I the forces of Wurttemberg played their part in the Germany army. As with other southern states of Germany, the collapse of the German government in 1918 was followed by abdication of the king. Provisional government was established on 30 November 1918 and a number of overprints on the official stamps were made.

1919-39
Provisional government of 30 November 1918 was replaced by a republic on 26 April 1919. In 1919 the earlier official issues were overprinted 'Volkstaat' (People's State). These municipal service stamps were used until 1924, the official stamps being replaced by overprints 'Deutsches Reich' on 1 April 1920.

Thereafter, stamps of Germany were used throughout the former kingdom. (For issues for the French zone of occupation after World War II see Germany 1945 to date.)

At the end of 1867 individual stamps of the member states were withdrawn and the new issues were used in Bremen, Brunswick, Hamburg, Lubeck, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Oldenburg, Prussia and Saxony. By that date Prussia had also taken control of the postal services in Bergedorf, Hanover and Schleswig-Holstein and had acquired the postal interest of the Count of Thurn and Taxis. Thus the stamps of the Confederation were used universally in German territory north of the River Main. However, stamps were issued in the currency of the southern states for use in the region previously controlled by the Counts of Thurn and Taxis. Stamps of the Confederation were merged into the Imperial German service on 4 May 1871, and were withdrawn from 1 January 1872. Stamps of the Confederation were used. in Constantinople in 1870 and 1871.

German unification 1815-71
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