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 a very nice 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 5472, which is quite a low number compared to many we have seen. 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 a later pattern, and is missing the piece to secure the can closed. The mechanism under the coil slot to prevent coins from being shaken out of the can is intact and looks to be functional. The paint is in phenomenal shape and is roughly 90% retained.

Embossed to the can itself, Gau Sudetenland, was historically part of Germany but became part of the Czech Republic before World War II, and was invaded to become part of Germany once again in 1939. This is the first example we have had for Sudetenland, making this a rare example!

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 8 is under that, which may indicate 1938 manufacture, very possible due to the low serial number.

Examples of these cans have become harder and harder to find, especially with so much of the paint retained. Ready to display!