German Democratic Republic

Under construction
The German Democratic Republic (GDR), or Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR), aka East Germany was the former Soviet zone of occupation following World War II. The GDR/DDR was established in October 1949.  File:DDR UPU.jpg|1949 50 pfennig UPU File:DDR going postal 1949.jpg|1949 12pf Postal Workers Union Day File:DDR 1949 Stamp day.jpg|1949 Stamp Day semipostal File:DDR 1950 winter sport.jpg|1950 24pf Winter sports championships File:DDR 24pf Pieck.jpg|1950 24pf Pieck File:DDR Pieck 2m first.jpg|1951 2 mark Pieck File:DDR 6c scientist.jpg|6pf value from the 1950 scientists series File:DDR 8pf Personalities.jpg|8pf value from the Personalities series File:DDR 48pf Marx.jpg|1953 48pf Karl Marx 
 * Its first issue was released in October 1949, a stamp commemorating the UPU. It and other 1949 issues were inscribed DEUTSCHE POST. So were issues of the American and British Zone ("Bizone") and 1949 issues of the Federal Republic. Other DDR isues of that year included an international labor conference set and a Stamp Day semipostal. All others so inscribed are Bizone, Federal Republic issues, or from the Soviet Zone.
 * In 1950, a winter sports championship set was issued. It and following issues were inscribed DEUTSCH DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK.
 * Also in 1950, the first Wilhelm Pieck set was issued on Stars watermark paper. In 1952, stamps were issued on DDR and Posthorn watermarked paper. In 1953, the 1m and 2m values were issued with a finer screen print resulting in finer detail. In 1958, the fine prints were issued on Multiple DDR and flower watermarked paper. In 1961, a 20pf value was issued with dates added.
 * In 1952-53, the Soviet Zone Personalities series of 1948 was released by the DDR on DDR and Posthorn watermarked paper.

(more to follow) 
 * Also in 1953, the first of the Five Year Plan definitive sets was issued in offset lithography. Reprints exist.
 * In 1953-54, the second five Year plan series was issued, redrawn. The new versions are much clearer, with solid shading lines not broken up into dots like the first series.



 File:DDR Schumann A.webp|Robert Shumann, with corrected music. File:DDR rose.jpg File:DDR Zentraler.A.webp 

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