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 29992 (serial number). 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. Embossed to the can itself, Gau Süd Hannover–Braunschweig. It also features and embossed NSV insignia under the latch, something we only see rarely on these tins. 

Gau Southern Hanover–Brunswick (German: Gau Südhannover–Braunschweig) was a regional district established in 1933 in NSDAP Germany. Initially the gau was a territorial component of both the Free State of Prussia and the Free State of Brunswick from 1933 to 1935. However, after the German constituent states were abolished in 1935, the Gaus replaced them in their responsibilities. Gau Southern Hanover-Brunswick was dismantled after Germany's defeat in 1945. The territory after the war became part of Lower Saxony in West Germany.

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 be believe is a 1941 date.

This example looks to have seen long use, and the paint is retained at less than 50%, with one side showing more oxidation than the other. We would assume that when they were soliciting donations, one side was held against the body, while the other was exposed to the elements. A rare NSV marked donation tin, ready to research and display!