{"product_id":"untitled-aug19_15-13-51","title":"German Occupied Poland Social Insurance Card-Katowice-Eagle and Swastika Stamped","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePolish worker’s compulsory social-insurance contribution card later used under German occupation during World War II\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with numerous original contribution stamps and a prominent German administrative \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eeagle-and-swastika ink stamp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe document is a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Karta kwitowa”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or contribution\/receipt card, originally issued through the Polish social-insurance system for disability and related compulsory insurance. The front contains the individual’s handwritten personal information along with an original Polish administrative stamp.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFollowing the German invasion and occupation of Poland, the document continued to be used under the occupation authorities. The reverse is particularly noteworthy, retaining approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003etwenty-three blue 40-groszy Polish insurance contribution stamps\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, many individually cancelled with handwritten dates\/notations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the lower portion is a large circular German occupation-era ink stamp prominently displaying the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGerman national eagle and swastika\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Additional German-language administrative markings are present nearby, while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKatowice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is visible on the document.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKatowice and the surrounding Upper Silesian region were invaded in September 1939 and incorporated directly into Nazi Germany rather than administered simply as part of the General Government. This makes surviving paperwork showing the transition from the Polish administrative system into German occupation control particularly interesting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe card itself provides a tangible example of how existing Polish civilian records and social-insurance systems were adapted or processed under the German occupation. The combination of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePolish text, Polish contribution stamps and German Third Reich occupation markings on the same document\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e gives this piece considerably more visual and historical interest than an ordinary civilian insurance card.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Good original condition considering its age and extensive period use. The document exhibits significant edge wear, small tears and losses, creasing, toning, staining and general handling wear. The contribution stamps remain substantially intact and the large German eagle-and-swastika ink stamp remains readily visible. Nothing has been cleaned or restored. Please review photographs carefully for exact condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn excellent original piece of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWWII German occupation, Polish, Upper Silesian and civilian home-front history\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, particularly suitable for a collection focused on occupied Poland, Third Reich administrative documents, Katowice\/Silesia or WWII paper ephemera.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Whiskey Rebellion Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43487974719565,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0610\/9229\/8829\/files\/2D093921-FF0A-491B-ABE5-DFE467073D7C.jpg?v=1787232548","url":"https:\/\/whiskeyrebellionantiques.com\/products\/untitled-aug19_15-13-51","provider":"Whiskey Rebellion Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}