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1942 (5 Aug) Third Reich, Germany, Censored Folded Letter from Dachau Concentration Camp to Insterburg East Prussia (now Russia), Censorship Postmarks, More Details in Description

Germany / WWII Occupations (1939-1945)

This historical document is an authentic inmate folding-letter sheet (Häftlings-Faltbrief) from the Dachau Concentration Camp, dated August 5, 1942
During the National Socialist regime, concentration camp inmates were not allowed to use regular stationery. Instead, the SS camp administration issued special, standardized folding forms. The left half of the outside sheet always contained the rigid, printed camp rules, while the right half was used for the address and the postage stamp. The personal letter itself had to be written exclusively on the inside pages.
Every single piece of mail went through a strict, multi-layered visual and content check by the SS censorship office before it was allowed to leave the camp

Sender was the prisoner Stanislaus (Stanisław) Banasiak, born May 5, 1904 with prisoner number 19353
Location inside the Camp: Block 18, Room 3, Dachau Concentration Camp (KZ Dachau)
Recipients were his wife Marie and daughter, living in Insterburg, East Prussia (now Chernyakhovsk, Russia).

The text is written in German with several spelling and grammatical errors, which was typical for prisoners whose native language was Polish. Stanislaus signs the letter with his affectionate Polish nickname "Masiu".
He states that, "thank God," he is healthy and wishes the same for them. He notes that everything on his end is going "the usual way."
Family Bonds: He expresses great joy that everyone at home is well. He is relieved that they are not angry about his delayed birthday or holiday wishes, stating that he never forgets them and thinks of them "every minute."

The letter features multiple elements illustrating the total control and surveillance the SS maintained over inmate correspondence:

On the bottom right of the inside page, there is a framed ink stamp reading "Postzensurstelle K. L. Dachau / geprüft:" (Post Censorship Office, Dachau Concentration Camp / Checked), accompanied by the handwritten initials or shorthand mark of the SS censor-
The outer folder features a circular red stamp reading "Zensiert / K.L. Dachau" (Censored / Dachau Concentration Camp)
Blockführer Field: A designated printed box exists on the outer back for the "Kontrollzeichen des Blockführers" (Control mark of the Block Leader), used to track internal camp logistics.

The left side of the letter sheet lists the official, rigid rules enforced by the Camp Commander (Der Lagerkommandant)
Inmates were strictly limited to sending and receiving only two letters or two postcards per month. Letters could not exceed 15 lines on a single sheet, and postcards were restricted to 10 lines. Writing about the brutal reality of the camp, hunger, or diseases was entirely forbidden. The phrase "I am healthy" was a mandatory formula forced upon inmates. Any hidden messages, political comments, or complaints resulted in the immediate destruction of the letter.
Sending money via mail was permitted under strict registration rules. However, packages of any kind were strictly forbidden, under the cynical pretext that inmates could "buy everything they need inside the camp."
Phone calls, visits, or general communication permissions (Sprecherlaubnis) were absolutely banned.
The rules explicitly stated that any petitions for release (Entlassungsgesuche) were "purposeless" (zwecklos) and would not be processed.

Provenance: Ex Werbizky.

Condition: Used.

Cover Censorship, Censor Postal History

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Rare Stamps and Postal History of The World

Auction 58

October 12 - 26, 2026

United States , Black Mountain , NC

A major auction showcasing exceptional rarities and distinguished collections. 9,570 lots of valuable stamps and postal history from around the world — a record-breaking auction and the largest sale in our history.

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Worldwide

Lots 1 - 731

October 12, Monday, 4:00 PM PM

Worldwide Postal History

Lots 732 - 1397

October 13, Tuesday, 4:00 PM PM

Great Britain & British Commonwealth

Lots 1398 - 2051

October 14, Wednesday, 4:00 PM PM

France & Colonies, Italy & Colonies, Poland, Judaica

Lots 2052 - 2672

October 15, Thursday, 4:00 PM PM

German States

Lots 2673 - 2930

October 16, Friday, 4:00 PM PM

Germany 1871–1945

Lots 2931 - 3307

October 16, Friday, 5:30 PM PM

Germany: Colonies, Offices Abroad, Plebiscite Areas & Territories

Lots 3308 - 3750

October 17, Saturday, 4:00 PM PM

Germany: WWII Occupations

Lots 3751 - 3966

October 17, Saturday, 6:30 PM PM

Concentration Camps & Forced Labor Camp Posts

Lots 3967 - 4163

October 18, Sunday, 4:00 PM PM

Germany after 1945: Local Posts & Occupation Zones

Lots 4164 - 4634

October 18, Sunday, 5:30 PM PM

Third Reich, Italy & Olympic Games Propaganda

Lots 4635 - 5418

October 19, Monday, 4:00 PM PM

Russian Civil War: South Russia

Lots 5419 - 5712

October 20, Tuesday, 4:00 PM PM

Russian Civil War: Revenues, Siberia, Caucasus

Lots 5713 - 5895

October 20, Tuesday, 5:30 PM PM

Russian Empire, Wenden, Zemstvo, Cinderellas

Lots 5896 - 6165

October 21, Wednesday, 4:00 PM PM

Russian Offices Abroad

Lots 6166 - 6338

October 21, Wednesday, 5:30 PM PM

Russian Postal History

Lots 6339 - 6557

October 22, Thursday, 4:00 PM PM

RSFSR, Soviet Union, Tannu Tuva

Lots 6558 - 7107

October 22, Thursday, 5:00 PM PM

Ukraine: Underground Post

Lots 7108 - 7832

October 23, Friday, 4:00 PM PM

Ukraine: Territories, DP Camps, Plast

Lots 7833 - 8356

October 24, Saturday, 4:00 PM PM

Yevhen Vyrovyi Tridents Collection

Lots 8357 - 9138

October 25, Sunday, 4:00 PM PM

Yevhen Vyrovyi Tridents Collection: Podolia

Lots 9139 - 9462

October 26, Monday, 4:00 PM PM

Yevhen Vyrovyi Tridents Collection: Postal History

Lots 9463 - 9570

October 26, Monday, 6:00 PM PM

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