I obtained these two covers at my local stamp club auction. I like the looks of the covers but I know very little (okay - nothing) about Czech covers and in particular, the German overprint. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
These overprints were applied after Germany occupied the Sudetenland in response to the Munich Agreement. The overprint says "We are free". The bottom of the postmark ("Tag der Befreiung") says "Day of Liberation".
They are few places that issued "Wir sind frei" local overprints in 1938 in Sudetenland. Michel lists Asch, karlsbad, Konstantinsbad,Niklasdorf and Reichenberg-Maffersdorf. Your cover is the one of Schreckenstein (Now Strekov, part of the town called Usti nad Labem in Czech Republic) but got never officially approved by the local postal authority, therefore it is often labeled as private overprint. Many of these private overprints were created for philatelic purpose and not for real use.
Thanks for the additional info, Prahanoaki. So there is the probability that these covers were not actually sent through the postal system? Regardless I like the looks of the covers and they were cheap!
From my personal opinion, it hasn't been postally used. But there are people who collect seriously (especially Germans and czechs) those authentic 1938 private overprints (post-1945 made bogus fantasy overprints also exist). I have seen those in several Czech online auction and they are not cheap, believe me.
P.S. on the above list of local issues, I forgot to mention Rumburg. sorry.
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