Germany WWII 1939-40 WHW Winterhilfswerk Winter Help 5 RM Reichsmark

Very Fine (VF) condition, but damaged.

The Winterhilfswerk (WHW) was an annual drive by the German Government welfare organization to help finance charitable work. The Winterhilfswerk's slogan was "None shall starve nor freeze". It was instituted in September 1933 and designed to provide food, fuel, clothing and various household items to indigent Germans at first, and to war refugees and other civilian casualties in the later years.  In many ways, it was similar to the US Foodstamp program.

WHW notes were issued by the government and were redeemable with merchants for various goods.  The merchants would usually enter their identity by the means of a stamp or handwritten signature on the back of the note, most of the time cut off the upper right corner as a sign of cancellation, and deposit the notes in a bank like cash in a normal banking transaction.

This is a variety not described in any catalogs I am aware of.  It has an overprint "Gültig bis 29. Febr. 1940", and also further prolonged until March 31, 1940 by a typewritten note and an ink stamp of Gau Saarpfalz. RARE!!!

The only prolongation overprint described in the existing catalogs I am aware of is a red "GÜLTIG BIS ZUM 31. JANUAR 1940".  There are also many types of prolongation ink stamps (not overprints), all with the January 31, 1940 prolongation date.

Please review the scans for condition.  The note has apparently been stored in a place where rodents damaged it (my guess). Still extremely rare!