Deutsche Post "Wir Bauen Auf!"

DEUTSCHE POST Bundesland Sachsen" (German Post, State of Saxony) on 13 March 1946 issued two semi-postal stamps entitled "Wir Bauen Auf!" (We are building up!).

These stamps were issued in the Soviet occupation zone of East Germany after World War II to raise funds for reconstruction. The stamps carried face values of 6pf+44pf and 12pf+88pf, indicating that an additional amount was charged for the reconstruction fund.

The Zwinger Palace (green, 6pf+44pf) and Rathaus (red-orange, 12pf+88pf) stamps, both located in Dresden were severely damaged during World War II but were later meticulously restored.

The stamps were postmarked Dresden and affixed to a postcard of the destroyed Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), a Lutheran church in Dresden.

On 13 February 1945, Allied forces began the bombing of Dresden in World War II. The church withstood two days and nights of the attacks, and the eight interior sandstone pillars supporting the large dome held up long enough for the evacuation of 300 people who had sought shelter in the church crypt, before succumbing to the heat generated by some 650,000 incendiary bombs that were dropped on the city. The temperature surrounding and inside the church eventually reached 1,000 °C (1,830 °F). The dome finally collapsed at 10 a.m. on 15 February. The pillars glowed bright red and exploded; the outer walls shattered and nearly 6,000 tons of stone plunged to earth, penetrating the massive floor as it fell.

The remaining ruins were left for nearly half a century as a war memorial, following decisions of local East German leaders. Following the reunification of Germany, it was decided to rebuild the church, starting in 1994. The reconstruction of its exterior was completed in 2004, and the interior the following year. The church was reconsecrated on 30 October 2005 with festive services lasting through the Protestant observance of Reformation Day on 31 October. 

The maximum card (postcard) shows the Königsufer in Dresden with the Elbe River and the Augustus Bridge in the background. Königsufer is a prominent riverside area known for its scenic views and historical significance. Augustus Bridge spans the Elbe River, connecting the old town with the new town. The statue, Bogenschütze (The Archer) by Ernst Moritz Geyger (1902), stands on the bank of the Elbe River.

Source: Wikipedia