Postcards with a story
door In the last few days Holland celebrated the liberation from the German occupation, 75 years ago. But in this article we go back to the very beginning of the German invasion.
Categorie: Military mail and War-times
Emergency hospital at the end of Second World War
door After the September 1944 Battle of Arnhem hospitals were evacuated in early 1945. One location for the patients was an emergency hospital in Nunspeet, unfortunately some 60 kilometers away from Arnhem. It was situated in an empty barack camp of the Arbeidsdienst. It was in …
“Winterhulp” (1941)
During the Second World War Winterhelp, short for “Stichting Winterhulp Nederland” (the Netherlands Winterhulp Foundation), was the national-socialist organization that took over all social aid from the government in the Netherlands. Part of the funds came from lotteries and stamps.
Air protection
The outbreak of Second World War didn’t came as a real surprise. On August 28, 1939 the mobilization in the Netherlands was announced. Also larger enterprises were prepared and the Dutch Post Office launched in September 1939 a booklet ‘Luchtbescherming’ (Air protection). It was issued …
Military Mail from Belgian UN-troops during the Korean War
Belgium, together with Luxembourg, sent a UN-contingent to Korea in 1951. This contingent, the Belgian United Nations Command (BUNC), consisted exclusively of volunteer soldiers: 3.171 Belgians and 78 Luxembourgers.
Disliked by the censor (1940)
Censorship in wartime is nothing special. What happened with this postcard from the occupied Netherlands (31-05-1940) to Batavia, Dutch East Indies, is therefore not rare. The two-line red stamp “Gecensureerd” (censored) is very common.
Avis de réception as Überroller
In case the sender needed a proof of delivery he could pay for an Avis de réception. The addressee had to sign this Avis de réception and the post office of arrival stamped the card on the day of arrival and sends the card back …
Business as usual
After the Second World War Dutch business men tried to continue their business with foreign clients as before. This was not always easy, as postal connections were disturbed. Also with the Czech capital Prague, which had been with Bohemia and Moravia a protectorate of Nazi …
Prison Siegburg
Some Dutch political prisoners were send off to the Zuchthaus (prison) in Siegburg, Germany. This envelop, which includes the letter, was sent by Willem Hammer to his wife in Rotterdam. It was sent from Köln, March 26, 1944. Of course, both the envelope and the …
War time identity card
There are things which are puzzling. Like this one. An identity card from the Second World War with a special identity card fiscal stamp of 50 cent. This rate was for people not having too much money but who were not poor or for a …