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1944 (18 May) Third Reich, Germany, Censored Folded Letter of a Survivor from Auschwitz Concentration Camp to Tarnow (Poland), Censorship Postmarks, More Details in Description

Germany / WWII Occupations (1939-1945)

The documents present a rare, complete set of censored mail sent by a Polish political prisoner from the Auschwitz I (Stammlager) concentration camp in May 1944.
The envelope displays the strict camp regulations printed in German on the left margin. It features a red 12-Pfennig Third Reich stamp with Adolf Hitler’s portrait, postmarked with the official "Auschwitz (Oberschles)" stamp dated May, 18 1944 with a redpurple ink postmark, that the letter is approved
Prisoners were strictly forced to write only in German so the SS censors could easily monitor the content. Any mail deviating from the rules (e.g., length, topics, or language) was instantly destroyed.

Through the prisoner number 93698 visible on the envelope, official archives confirm the following trajectory:
The sender was Marian Baran, born on October 18, 1905. He was a professional school teacher from Tarnów (occupied Poland).
He was deported to Auschwitz I in early 1943 as a Polish political prisoner ("Schutzhäftling"). At the time of this letter, he was assigned to Block 15, Room 5.
Later in 1944, as the Red Army approached, the SS evacuated him to Sachsenhausen and subsequently to Bergen-Belsen, where he was liberated in the spring of 1945.

The letter is addressed to his wife, Helene living in Tarnów.
To pass the rigorous SS censorship, Marian used standard, enforced phrases assuring his family that he is "thank God, healthy and doing well." This was a mandatory camp tactic and did not reflect the brutal reality of Auschwitz.

 

Provenance: Ex Werbizky.

Condition: Used.
Cover Censorship, Censor Postal History
Current Bid:
$18
3 bids
Your maximum bid:
$20
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Auction Information
Rare Stamps and Postal History of The World
Auction 58
October 12 - 26, 2026
United States 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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Lots 1 - 731
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Lots 1398 - 2051
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Lots 2052 - 2672
German States
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Germany 1871–1945
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Germany: Colonies, Offices Abroad, Plebiscite Areas & Territories
Lots 3308 - 3750
Germany: WWII Occupations
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Concentration Camps & Forced Labor Camp Posts
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Yevhen Vyrovyi Tridents Collection
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