Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting German WWII-era Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes (WHW) donation collection can, or Sammelbüchse, issued for use in Gau Wien, Kreis III. Finished in the characteristic red paint and retaining its large original paper identification label, this is a beautiful example of the collection cans used during the extensive Winter Relief fundraising campaigns of the Third Reich period.

The Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes, commonly abbreviated WHW, may be translated as the “Winter Relief of the German People.” Established in 1933, the WHW became one of the largest National Socialist welfare and fundraising programs. Money and material donations were collected during the winter months through street collections, house-to-house campaigns, special collection days, and other organized fundraising efforts. Following the incorporation of Austria into the German Reich in 1938, the WHW system was extended into Vienna, where these distinctive collection cans were used by the local organization.

This example retains its large brown paper body label identifying its place of issue:

Gau Wien — Kreis III

This translates essentially as: Vienna Gau — District / Circuit III

The term Gau referred to the larger regional administrative organization, while Kreis designated one of its subordinate local districts or circuits. Contemporary administrative records show that Gau Wien's Kreis III encompassed Vienna's municipal districts 3, 4, and 5 during the period.

The can itself is constructed of red-painted sheet metal with a hinged carrying bail at the top. The lid retains the characteristic separate openings intended for different types of donations. Around the circular opening is the embossed marking:

PAPIERGELD

meaning “paper money” or “banknotes.” This opening allowed folded or rolled paper currency to be inserted into the collection can, while the adjacent hinged assembly provided the entry for coin donations.

The hinged upper assembly is clearly stamped with the individual number: 14056

The underside is clearly embossed:

M. Westermann & Co.
G.m.b.H.
WESCO
Neheim-Ruhr

The central diamond-shaped WESCO trademark identifies the manufacturer as M. Westermann & Co. GmbH of Neheim an der Ruhr. This factory marking is an excellent feature, as it provides a positive manufacturer attribution rather than relying solely upon comparison with other surviving examples. A small embossed 8 is located beneath the manufacturer's marking.

The closure hardware is also still present, including the small wire locking or sealing arrangement at the side of the lid. Perhaps the strongest feature of this example is the surviving original paper label. It remains largely intact with strong black printing, although careful handling is recommended because it has creasing, tears, and areas of wear where portions of the label have been lost.

The original red-painted finish is also quite well retained overall. There are scattered chips and areas of finish loss along the entirety of the body, exposing the darker metal beneath. The wear is entirely appropriate for a utilitarian collection can that was intended to be carried and handled repeatedly. The handle, lid components, numbered flap, paper-money opening, and sealing hardware all remain present.