Postal Rates Saarland 1920-1945

Saarland
Postal Rates 1920-1945

001

30-01-1920 – 06-05-1920

local letter

15 Pfennig

heavier local letter ¹)

20 Pfennig

registered local letter

45 Pfennig

local postcard

10 Pfennig

local printed matter

5 Pfennig

inland letter

20 Pfennig

heavier inland letter ¹)

30 Pfennig

registered inland letter

50 Pfennig

inland postcard

15 Pfennig

inland printed matter

5 Pfennig

international letter

30 Pfennig

registered international letter

60 Pfennig

international postcard

15 Pfennig

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► Saarland is governed by France under a League of Nations mandate, under the name of ‘Saargebiet’. The name Saarland only comes into use after World War II
► the first stamps of the Saargebiet are issued on 30-01-1920. German stamps may be used until 15-04-1920
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

002

06-05-1920 – 01-04-1921

local letter

40 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)

heavier local letter ¹)

60 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)

registered local letter

90 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)

local postcard

30 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)

local printed matter

10 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)

inland letter

40 Pfennig

heavier inland letter ¹)

60 Pfennig

registered inland letter

90 Pfennig

inland postcard

30 Pfennig

inland printed matter

10 Pfennig

international letter

80 Pfennig

registered international letter

1 Mark 30 Pfennig

international postcard

40 Pfennig

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

003

01-04-1921 – 01-05-1921

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

60 Pfennig

heavier inland letter ¹)

80 Pfennig

registered inland letter

1 Mark 60 Pfennig

inland postcard

15 Pfennig
40 Pfennig

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

15 Pfennig

international letter

1 Mark 20 Pfennig

registered international letter

2 Mark 20 Pfennig

international postcard

80 Pfennig

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

004

01-05-1921 – 15-01-1922

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

20 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

25 centimes

registered inland letter

50 centimes

inland postcard

5 centimes
10 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

5 centimes

international letter

50 centimes

registered international letter

1 franc

international postcard

30 centimes

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

005

15-01-1922 – 01-01-1923

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

15 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

25 centimes

registered inland letter

45 centimes

inland postcard

5 centimes
10 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

5 centimes

international letter

50 centimes

registered international letter

1 franc

international postcard

30 centimes

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

006

01-01-1923 – 01-08-1923

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

20 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

30 centimes

registered inland letter

50 centimes

inland postcard

5 centimes
15 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

5 centimes

international letter

50 centimes

registered international letter

1 franc

international postcard

30 centimes

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

007

01-08-1923 – 01-03-1924

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

25 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

30 centimes

registered inland letter

55 centimes

inland postcard

5 centimes
15 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

5 centimes

international letter

50 centimes

registered international letter

1 franc

international postcard

30 centimes

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

008

01-03-1924 – 01-10-1924

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

25 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

40 centimes

registered inland letter

65 centimes

inland postcard

10 centimes
20 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

5 centimes

international letter

50 centimes

registered international letter

1 franc

international postcard

30 centimes

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

009

01-10-1924 – 01-08-1925

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

25 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

40 centimes

registered inland letter

65 centimes

inland postcard

10 centimes
20 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

5 centimes

international letter

75 centimes

registered international letter

1 franc 50 centimes

international postcard

45 centimes

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

010

01-08-1925 – 01-10-1925

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

30 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

50 centimes

registered inland letter

90 centimes

inland postcard

15 centimes
20 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

10 centimes

international letter

1 franc

registered international letter

2 francs

international postcard

60 centimes

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

011

01-10-1925 – 01-03-1926

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

30 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

50 centimes

registered inland letter

90 centimes

inland postcard

15 centimes
20 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

10 centimes

international letter

50 centimes
1 franc

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

1 franc 50 centimes
2 francs

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

30 centimes
60 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

012

01-03-1926 – 06-05-1926

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

30 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

50 centimes

registered inland letter

90 centimes

inland postcard

15 centimes
20 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

10 centimes

international letter

50 centimes
1 franc 25 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

1 franc 75 centimes
2 francs 50 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

30 centimes
75 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

013

06-05-1926 – 01-08-1926

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

40 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

65 centimes

registered inland letter

1 franc 40 centimes

inland postcard

20 centimes
30 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

20 centimes

international letter

50 centimes
1 franc 25 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

1 franc 75 centimes
2 francs 50 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

30 centimes
40 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

014

01-08-1926 – 11-08-1926

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

40 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

65 centimes

registered inland letter

1 franc 40 centimes

inland postcard

20 centimes
30 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

20 centimes

international letter

75 centimes
1 franc 25 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

2 franc
2 francs 50 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

40 centimes
40 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

015

11-08-1926 – 01-09-1926

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

50 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

75 centimes

registered inland letter

1 franc 50 centimes

inland postcard

25 centimes
40 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

30 centimes

international letter

75 centimes
1 franc 25 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

2 francs
2 francs 50 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

40 centimes
40 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

016

01-09-1926 – 01-04-1929

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

50 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

75 centimes

registered inland letter

1 franc 50 centimes

inland postcard

25 centimes
40 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

30 centimes

international letter

75 centimes
1 franc 50 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

2 francs 25 centimes
3 francs

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

40 centimes
90 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

017

01-04-1929 – 01-04-1930

local mail

local rate equal to inland rate

inland letter

50 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

75 centimes

registered inland letter

2 francs

inland postcard

25 centimes
40 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

30 centimes

international letter

75 centimes
1 franc 50 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

2 francs 25 centimes
3 francs

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

40 centimes
90 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

018

01-04-1930 – 20-10-1934

local letter

40 centimes

heavier local letter ¹)

60 centimes

registered local letter

1 franc 90 centimes

local postcard

25 centimes
30 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

local printed matter

30 centimes

inland letter

60 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

1 franc

registered inland letter

2 francs 10 centimes

inland postcard

25 centimes
40 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

30 centimes

international letter

1 franc 50 centimes
1 franc 50 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

3 francs
3 francs

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

90 centimes
90 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

019

20-10-1934 – 01-03-1935

local letter

40 centimes

heavier local letter ¹)

60 centimes

registered local letter

1 franc 40 centimes

local postcard

25 centimes
30 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

local printed matter

30 centimes

inland letter

60 centimes

heavier inland letter ¹)

1 franc

registered inland letter

1 franc 60 centimes

inland postcard

25 centimes
40 centimes

(not more than 5 words)
(more than 5 words)

inland printed matter

30 centimes

international letter

1 franc 50 centimes
1 franc 50 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

registered international letter

3 francs
3 francs

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

international postcard

90 centimes
90 centimes

(Luxemburg)
(other countries)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► on 13 January 1935 the Saarlanders decide by referendum on Saarland’s future: return to Germany, incorporation into France or continuance of the status quo as a French protectorate. A majority of more than 90 percent votes for return to Germany. On 1 March 1935 the Saargebiet is reunified with Germany
► inland rate for mail to Germany, France and the French colonies, not for mail to the Free City of Danzig

020

01-03-1935 – 01-08-1938

local letter

8 Pfennig

heavier local letter ¹)

16 Pfennig

registered local letter

38 Pfennig

local postcard

5 Pfennig

local printed matter

3 Pfennig

inland letter

12 Pfennig

heavier inland letter ¹)

24 Pfennig

registered inland letter

42 Pfennig

inland airmail letter

22 Pfennig

registered inland airmail letter

52 Pfennig

inland postcard

6 Pfennig

inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

international letter

20 Pfennig
25 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia)
(other countries)

registered international letter

50 Pfennig
55 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia)
(other countries)

international airmail letter

35 Pfennig
40 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia)
(rest of Europe)

registered international airmail letter

65 Pfennig
70 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia)
(rest of Europe)

international postcard

10 Pfennig
15 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia)
(other countries)

international airmail postcard

25 Pfennig
30 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia)
(rest of Europe)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
► inland = Germany. Saarland is a part of the Saargau under Gauleiter Josef Bürckel
► inland rate (with some modifications) applies to mail to the Free City of Danzig, Lithuania (until 01‑02‑1936; as from that date mail to Lithuania must be sent at international rate), Luxemburg and Austria (annexed on 13‑03‑1938).
Inland rate for letters and postcards to Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland, on condition that the destination is less than 30 kilometres from the border

021

01-08-1938 - 01-09-1945

local letter

8 Pfennig

heavier local letter ¹)

16 Pfennig

registered local letter

38 Pfennig

local postcard

5 Pfennig

local printed matter

3 Pfennig

inland letter

12 Pfennig

heavier inland letter ¹)

24 Pfennig

registered inland letter

42 Pfennig

inland airmail letter

17 Pfennig

registered inland airmail letter

47 Pfennig

inland postcard

6 Pfennig

inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

international letter

20 Pfennig
25 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia) ²)
(other countries)

registered international letter

50 Pfennig
55 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia) ²)
(other countries)

international airmail letter

30 Pfennig
35 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia) ²)
(rest of Europe)

registered international airmail letter

60 Pfennig
65 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia) ²)
(rest of Europe)

international postcard

10 Pfennig
15 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia) ²)
(other countries)

international airmail postcard

20 Pfennig
25 Pfennig

(Hungary, Czechoslavakia) ²)
(rest of Europe)

particulars

¹) > 20 grammes
²) from 15‑03‑1939 this rate applies to mail to Hungary and Slovakia only; mail to the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia can be sent at inland rate from 01‑04‑1939, mail to the Sudeten-German area, annexed by Germany, too, of course
► inland = Germany. Saarland is a part of the Saargau under Gauleiter Josef Bürckel, from 1941 a part of the Gau Westmark
► inland rate (with some modifications) applies to mail to the Free City of Danzig (annexed on 01‑09‑1939) and Luxemburg (de facto annexed on 06‑08‑1940).
From the outset mail to the occupied territories in the east may be sent at inland rate. Mail to the General-Gouvernement, for instance, from 01‑12‑1939, mail to the Ostland from 19‑08‑1941, mail to Ukraine from 09‑12‑1941.
From 01‑01‑1942 inland rate for mail to Italy and the Netherlands, from 01‑04‑1942 for mail to Finland, from 01‑06‑1942 for mail to Denmark, from 01‑07‑1942 for mail to Hungary and Croatia, from 15‑07‑1942 for mail to Romania, from 01‑09‑1942 for mail to Bulgaria, Norway and Slovakia, from 01‑01‑1943 for mail to Belgium.
Inland rate for letters and postcards to Belgium (until 01‑01‑1943), Denmark (until 01‑06‑1942), the Netherlands (until 01‑01‑1942) and Switzerland, on condition that the destination is less than 30 kilometres from the border.

Sources:

Michel Postgebühren-Handbuch Deutschland, Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, München, 2001
Rainer E. Lütgens, Deutsches Reich: Postgebührenkatalog 1923 bis 1945, own book, Langenhagen, 1986
Reinhold Schwarzer, Die Luftpostgebühren für deutsche Briefsendungen nach dem Ausland (1926-1945), own book, Osnabrück, 1989
http://www.bund-sammlung.de/Portotabelle.htm
http://www.gruen-as.de/2003/01/artikel7.html
For Germany's current rates: http://www.deutschepost.de

The flag at the top of the table is the flag of the present-day Bundesland Saarland. Below left: the flag of the Saargebiet during the years 1920-1935; below right: Saarland's flag during the years 1947-1959.

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