Fun at the Fair

These are forgotten relics of a magical time. They are very rare and most people have never seen them, so I thought I would share them with you. Until recently I had never seen or heard of them myself. You will notice the outstanding quality of the medals, they are truly award quality. Each one has the initials 'K.D.F.', this is the 'Kraft durch Freude', or Strength Through Joy organization. A National Socialist program that lifted up the spirit of the nation from the deathly chains of the Treaty of Versailles. A nation bankrupt and a people strangled by hopelessness. But one man changed it all, and for six years the nation rejoiced, reborn. You will also notice some of the badges have the letters 'IG', this stands for none other than I.G. Farben, the huge chemical company that made the bug spray Zyklon B. The first four I.G. Farben medals are exquisite quality, the first three are silver plated and beautifully enameled.

[Below: 1937 KDF award by I.G. Farben.]

[Below: 1935 KDF award by I.G. Farben.]

[Below: 1938 KDF award by I.G. Farben.]

[Below: 1935 KDF award by I.G. Farben.]

[Below: 1939 KDF award.]

[Below: Undated K.D.F. carnival award.]

[Below: A glimpse at another K.D.F. carnival award from 1936-37. Sorry for the size, but it is not mine.]

[Below: A tinnie badge from the Winterhilfswerk (Winter Relief Agency) 1937/1938.]

[Below: A very rare booklet from Strength Through Joy, showing a softer side of the Third Reich and National Socialism. A happiness and innocence murdered by the diabolical monsters who rule this world.]

[Below: Pages within.]

[Below: Back of booklet. 'Humor ist unser Ziel - Narrhalla macht mobil' (Humor is our goal - Narrhalla mobilizes). Narrhalla is a German phrase used to describe the central gathering place for carnival events.]

[Below: Carnival postcard, it says: 'Ne Schöne Groß vum Kölsche Fastelovend (Kölner Karneval)' (A big beautiful picture from the Cologne Carnival (Cologne Carnival)). This postcard was sold in two colors (seen below). This carnival is still running today in Cologne.]

[Below: Postcard reverse.]

[Below: Postcard #2.]

[Below: Postcard #2 reverse.]

[Below: Close-up of postage of both postcards.]