Seventeen Winterhilfswerk (WHW) Postcards 1933

Seventeen Winterhilfswerk (WHW) Postcards 1933 - Each postcard depicts people of various occupations at work (10), in ceremonial dress (5) and in religious garb (2), with appropriate captions on their reverses, each is dated "1933/34", one with a handwritten message, the others are plain, edited by R.S. Bolkes Welfare, printed by Hans Retzlaff, Berlin-Charlottenburg with dark brown ink, simulating a duotone look on their obverses and black ink on their reverses, 90 mm x 130 mm, one exhibits offset smudging on the reverse, extremely fine. Footnote: The Winterhilfswerk (WHW = Winter Help Work) was an annual drive by the Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt (the National Socialist People’s Welfare Organization) to help finance charitable work. Its slogan was "None shall starve nor freeze". The drive was originally set up under the government of Heinrich Bruning in 1931, though Hitler would later claim sole credit. It ran from 1933-1945 during the months of October through March, and was designed to provide food, clothing, coal, and other items to less fortunate Germans during the inclement months. As part of the centralization of Nazi Germany, posters urged people to donate rather to give directly to beggars. The "Can Rattlers", as they became known, were relentless in their pursuit of making sure every good German citizen gave their share to the WHW. In fact those who "forgot" to give had their names put in the paper to remind them of their neglect. Neighbours, and even family members were encouraged to whisper the names of shirkers to their block leaders so that they could persuade them to do their duty