Galerie

 

The abbreviations in the last column of the above table are to be read as follows
Br. The steamer “Brernen”
E. The steamer “Europa”

Unfortunately the number of items dispatched is not known for all flights.

During 1929 and in the greater part of 1930 only the steamer “Bremen” operated catapult flights, and the first catapult flight on the maiden voyage of the “Europa” marked the start of a regular alternation of flights between the “Bremen” and the “Europa”. Previously there had been three feeder flights from Cologne to the steamer “Europa”, being on 16.7. 7.8. and 23.8 from Cologne, although catapult mail had still not been possible. A new special handstamp was produced for each flight, impressions of which were mostly in red ink, but green or black also exist.

The flights serial numbers 3, 22, 24 and 51 were cancelled and appropriate handstamps in red,blue or blue and red identify these.

In the years 1934 and 1935 the handstamps for the catapult flights were very much standardised and each of the two steamers had its own stamp (with only the date changeable) for the entire year. So in 1934 the steamer “Bremen” had a square catapult handstamp, whilst that of the “Europa” was circular, which indeed are found in red. violet, green, black and blue.

Also in 1935 each vessel had its own handstamp, with changeable dates, found in violet, green, red and black.

 

Danzig Report  Nr. 64 - July - August - September - 1989, Page 25.