Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. The WHW, Winterhilfswerk (Winter-help-work), was an annual charitable donation event held by the "NS -Volkswohlfahrt" (National Socialist - Peoples’-welfare-organization), in which personnel from all of the organizations would solicit donations from the public, and reward contributors with a wide variety of lapel badges or propaganda booklets.
This is an very nice patinated condition red-painted, sheet metal can, roughly 17cm in overall height, and 10.5cm in diameter. Featuring a hinged lid which is stepped as it ascends, with an angled coin slot to its apex, unto whose surface are the raised serial numbers 8687. To the lid, immediately above its hinge, is a small, circular perforation, with Papier (Paper) embossed to one side of it and Geld (Money) to the other. A handle is riveted to the reverse, beneath the lid’s hinge. This is an early pattern, which has the fold down catch for the lid, which fits around two loops where a lock would be placed. These loops are bent a bit to the side, so the catch cannot be put in place at present. The mechanism under the coil slot to prevent coins from being shaken out of the can is intact and looks to be functional.
Embossed to the can itself, Gau Westmark (English: Western March / Border), which encompassed the area around Saarbrücken, in the extreme West of Germany. This was an administrative division of NSDAP Ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945. From 1925 to 1933, it was a regional subdivision of the National Socialist Party. The region was originally called Gau Rheinpfalz (English: Rhenish Palatinate), but after the start of WWII and the defeat of France, territories were added to it, and it was renamed "Gau Westmark" on 7 December 1940, so this can is from the 1940-1945 period.
The bottom of the can is embossed with the maker’s name; M. Westermann & Co, with G.m.b.H. underneath it, for Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (Company with limited Liability), both arching above WESCO within a diamond, and with Neheim-Ruhr arching beneath that. The embossed number 41 may be seen below the latter location, which indicates 1941 manufacture.
Examples of these cans have become harder and harder to find, especially with all the components still present. Ready to display!
- This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
- Due to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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