The Sports Performance Book of the German Reichspost from 1938 represents a fascinating testimony to the Nazi penetration of all areas of life in the Third Reich. These documents were part of a comprehensive system for promoting and monitoring physical fitness that extended beyond military organizations to include civil authorities and commercial enterprises.

The German Reichspost was one of the largest employers in Nazi Germany, employing hundreds of thousands of people in all areas of postal, telephone, and telegraph services. After the seizure of power in 1933, the Reichspost was quickly integrated into the National Socialist system of rule. The physical fitness of employees became an important component of personnel policy, with sport and physical fitness understood as an expression of the “Volksgemeinschaft” (people's community) and as preparation for war.

This particular specimen from 1938 documents the athletic achievements of a young man born in 1920 from Koblenz. This young man was 18 years old at the time of issue and thus belonged to a generation that had spent their entire youth under National Socialist rule. The entry of an exercise on August 19, 1939 is of particular historical significance, as it occurred just days before the beginning of World War II on September 1, 1939.

The sports performance books of the Reichspost followed a standardized format and typically contained a photograph of the holder as well as detailed records of completed exercises and achievements. These typically included disciplines such as running, jumping, throwing, swimming, and other basic forms of physical exercise. Performances were evaluated and documented according to established standards, with the achievement of certain standards being rewarded with badges or awards.

The introduction of such sports performance books was part of the broader Reich sports policy established under the leadership of Reich Sports Leader Hans von Tschammer und Osten. The Reich Sports Office coordinated physical fitness across all areas of society, from schools and the Hitler Youth to businesses and government agencies. The goal was to create a “defense-ready nation” in which all citizens were physically fit and prepared for war.

For the German Reichspost, this meant the systematic organization of sporting events, competitions, and training sessions for employees. Larger post offices often had their own sports facilities or organized regular sports afternoons. Participation in these activities was formally voluntary but was subject to considerable social and professional pressure. Good athletic performance could have a positive effect on one's career, while lack of commitment could be interpreted as a sign of insufficient “loyalty to the people's community.”

The location of Koblenz, as an important city at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, was a significant administrative and military location. The local Reichspost administration employed numerous workers and was intensively integrated into the local NS organizational structure. The young men born in 1920 would, a few years later, be largely conscripted into military service, and many of them did not survive the war.

The fact that the book is punched indicates that it was kept in a binder, possibly together with other personnel documents. The used condition underscores the authentic use of the document and makes it a valuable contemporary historical testimony.

Today, such sports performance books are important sources for researching everyday life under National Socialism. They document the penetration of even seemingly apolitical areas such as sports by Nazi ideology and show how the regime attempted to control and instrumentalize all aspects of life for its purposes. For collectors of military historical documents and researchers, they are valuable testimonies to a dark period in German history.