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Correspondence rules

In May 1940, an agreement was concluded between Rumkowski and the Reich Post Office on the exchange of mail, while in June 1940, rules were established for sending correspondence. They were communicated to ghetto residents in Announcement No. 63.

Announcement No. 63 regulating the rules of correspondence
(Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi)

Announcement No. 63

By order of the Reich Post Office, I inform you as follows:

Direct and indirect correspondence with hostile foreign countries is prohibited (indirect correspondence is the transmission to non-hostile foreign countries of information intended for their onward transmission to hostile foreign countries).

Correspondence with non-hostile foreign countries is generally permitted. In mail traffic to foreign hostile countries, it is forbidden to send postcards of any kind, pasted photographs, mail written in writing for the blind, chess tasks, crossword puzzles and any other puzzles. In addition, the use of sympathetic ink, Esperanto and the Hebrew alphabet, shorthand and padded envelopes, and the dropping of mail into post office boxes are prohibited.

Postcards and letters must be written in German, in clear and legible handwriting. Letters may be a maximum of four pages in length.

All letters addressed to non-native foreign countries must be posted at the Postal Department window at either No. 6 Church Square or 1 Rybna Street.

The full address of the sender must be indicated on the top of the envelope. Postage must be paid at the window; sticking stamps is prohibited. The above regulation also applies to postal traffic with the General Government.

Litzmannstadt-Getto, June 17, 1940.

(-) Ch. Rumkowski
The Eldest of the Jews
In Litzmannstadt

In Proclamation No. 121, which was published on September 16, 1940, further rules for the use of mail were detailed:

Only letters to the Reich, the General Government and the Protectorate are allowed in mailboxes.
Letters sent abroad must be posted in person at the windows of my Postal Department: 6 Church Square and 1 Rybna Street,
with simultaneous presentation of an identity card with a photograph and proof of registration.
You are requested to send only postcards if possible.
On foreign postcards on the side used to write the address, write only the address of the recipient. The sender will be added at the post office window upon presentation of an ID card. On the side used to write out the address, no text should be placed.
All letters must be open.

The obligation to write in German caused difficulties for some ghetto residents. To solve this problem, application writing offices were established at both postal branches in February 1941. A notice informing about the offices also contained detailed correspondence rules for those writing cards or letters on their own.

Announcement No. 216 regulating the rules of correspondence
(Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi)

Announcement No. 216

Concerning: the opening of two domestic and foreign letter writing offices for private individuals.

As is well known, all domestic and foreign letters must be written in pure German. However, in view of the fact that many postcards and letters are written badly and unclearly, they have been returned to my Postal Department.
In order to prevent this, I have decided to set up two letter-writing offices, namely, at 4 Church Square and 1 Rybna St.
In these offices, letters and postcards will be written under the supervision of my Postal Department, in accordance with current regulations. The fee for writing a postal card is 10 fen. The fee for writing a letter is 20 fen.
I would like to remind those who correspond on their own that it is necessary to comply with the regulations in force, and I would like to remind them that if they fail to do so, their letters will not be sent, but will be destroyed.

Regulations for postal traffic with foreign countries:
- Only postal cards can be written.
- Cards must be written legibly, cleanly and only in German.
- Sending postcards, stick-on photographs, writings for the blind, charades or drawings of any kind is forbidden.
- It is forbidden to write at all about the economic situation.
- Letters should be posted at the window of my Postal Department by the sender in person, showing an identity card with a photograph and a registration slip.
- On the back of the card you must not put the text or the name of the sender, only the address and the name of the addressee should be written.
- Write briefly and clearly.

Regulations for postal circulation in the country:
- Both letters and postcards can be written.
- Letters - with a weight of up to 20 g.
- Envelopes can only be ordinary, unlined.
- The sender's name and address should be written out.
- Parcels must not be requested.
- The text of the letter can cover at most four pages.
- You should write briefly and clearly.

For the benefit of the population I ask that these rules are strictly adhered to.

Litzmannstadt-Getto, February 19, 1941.

(-) Ch. Rumkowski
The Eldest of the Jews
In Litzmannstadt

Delivery notice used by the Post Office in the ghetto
(Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi)

Ghetto post office sign

Double postal fees were imposed on ghetto residents, in addition to higher than the German tariff. Both mail sent from the ghetto and mail delivered were charged. Ghetto letter carriers charged 10 fenigs (in ghetto currency) for a post card, 20 fenigs for a domestic letter and 20 fenigs for a foreign delivery.

A shortage of petty cash led the Postal Department to obtain permission in May 1942 to print vouchers with a denomination of 10 fenigs.

The prevailing poverty in the ghetto meant that many people were exempted from paying fees. Postal cards addressed to the Superior Jewish Elders and certain offices, most notably the Labor Office, were also delivered without fees. There were times when Rumkowski allowed letters with official letters to be dropped into mailboxes without additional fees.

The stamp Frei von Zuschlaggebühr (free of additional charge) was put on parcels exempt from fees.

Employees of the Postal Department. Seated in the third row in the center are Abram Jacob Dawidowicz (left) and Herbert Grawe.
(Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi)

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Correspondence rules

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Correspondence rules

Announcement No. 63 regulating the rules of correspondence

Announcement No. 216 regulating the rules of correspondence

Delivery notice used by the Post Office in the ghetto

Delivery notice used by the Post Office in the ghetto

Delivery notice used by the Post Office in the ghetto

Employees of the Postal Department. Seated in the third row in the center are Abram Jacob Dawidowicz (left) and Herbert Grawe.

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POSTAL SERVICE
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