DAF / Kraft durch Freude “Deutsche Gemeinschaftstänze” 78 RPM Record – Der Ostmärker / Mazurka

An interesting and seldom encountered period Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF) / N.S.-Gemeinschaft “Kraft durch Freude” (KdF) 78 RPM shellac record, produced as part of the “Deutsche Gemeinschaftstänze” series.
The distinctive cream and red labels feature the DAF cogwheel emblem and the inscription “Die Deutsche Arbeitsfront – N.S. Gemeinschaft ‘Kraft durch Freude’”. Unlike regular commercial Telefunken records, these records were specially produced for organized cultural and recreational activities associated with the KdF organization.
The record carries catalogue number T 70197 and contains:
“Mazurka” – BIEM 51654
Composer: Paul Kickstat
Instrumentation: Karl Marx
“Der Ostmärker” – BIEM 51661
Piano arrangement: Paul Kickstat
Instrumentation: Walter Kolneder
Both pieces were performed by the Orchestra of the Deutsches Opernhaus, Berlin, conducted by Carl Hannemann.

Of particular interest is the manufacturer's inscription around the lower edge of the label:
“Hergestellt von der Telefunkenplatte G.m.b.H. Abt. Spezialaufnahmen Berlin”
The reference to Telefunken's “Abteilung Spezialaufnahmen” (Special Recordings Department) indicates that this was a special-purpose production rather than a standard commercial Telefunken release.
The record belongs to the documented “Deutsche Gemeinschaftstänze” series associated with the DAF and Kraft durch Freude. Other dance titles from the same series are known in German archival collections. The series dates from the late 1930s, with circa 1939 being an appropriate dating for this example.
The reverse title “Der Ostmärker” is particularly characteristic of the period, as the designation Ostmark became associated with Austria following its incorporation into Germany in 1938.
The shellac record remains in very nice condition for its age, with both labels well preserved and displaying strong, clear printing. The reverse of the record also retains the impressed “Made in Germany” marking.
A particularly attractive and unusual piece of period DAF/KdF material, combining Kraft durch Freude history, German pre-war recorded music and Telefunken special-production history. Much less commonly encountered than ordinary commercial German 78 RPM records.

“An identical example of this recording is documented in the collection of the Archiv der deutschen Jugendbewegung as part of the DAF/Kraft durch Freude ‘Deutsche Gemeinschaftstänze’ series.”