Issued during World War II by the Grossdeutsches Reich (Greater German Reich), this 6 + 4 Pfennig violet semi-postal stamp features a Kriegsmarine (Navy) officer operating a submarine periscope. The surcharge (“+4”) supported wartime welfare funds. Designed in a striking monochrome style emphasizing discipline and technology, it reflects the propagandistic focus on military strength and vigilance beneath the seas. Part of the 1944 Winterhilfswerk (Winter Relief Fund) series, it embodies the industrial and militaristic themes common to late-war German issues.