1st October 1947
JB: Schwerte
'Collectors' postcard with special cancellation commemorating 1000 years of Schwerte (a lesser seen cancellation - although in this case it should be noted that no postage stamp has been cancelled. Other postcards, almost identical, were sent by Otto Kusel). There may be a significance in the postage stamp used - the colours of the Schwerte flag are red and white (apparently agreed in 1947). The building depicted in the cancellation is the Town Hall (now a museum). Ref: 01.10.1947, JB:Schwerte1/681
Note: Schwerte was without a special cancellation up to this point in 1947.
Schwerte
Schwerte is situated in the Ruhr valley, at the south-east border of the Ruhr Area. South of Schwerte begins the mountainous Sauerland region.
After the local government reforms of 1975 Schwerte consists of the following districts:
Schwerte, Holzen, Westhofen, Ergste, Geisecke, Villigst, and Wandhofen
Schwerte received civic rights in the 12th century.
The railway facility in the eastern district of Schwerte became a branch of the Buchenwald concentration camp in April 1944. The camp had 445 prisoners in August and 670 in November 1944. The number of escapees was comparatively high; in November 1944 48 prisoners escaped. The camp in Schwerte was disbanded in December 1944 and the remaining prisoners were brought back to Buchenwald.