I've been expanding my purview of Germany to include "related" (not necessarily "occupied") territories that issue stamps.
One example would be stamps from Deutschosterreich (German Austria) which was briefly formed after WWI then became simply Austria - and was then part of the Anschluss at the start of WWII. (Please excuse slight spelling or historical errors...)
I recently read about a part of Northern Italy that Mussolini established as a "puppet state" (?) still loyal to Germany and thought that might be something else to add.
I will of course Google it to find out more, but wondered if anyone else thought this might be an interesting Germany/WWII-related collection area and if someone could post a few examples of stamps (overprints or regular issues - not sure what was created) so I know what I should be looking for.
RSI stamps range from the very easy to acquire to the virtually impossible, often within the same extended set. Early overprints are generally harder than the later specially produced stamps, and as always with overprints you have to watch out for forgeries.
There is little to connect the stamps themselves with the historical entity they represent, though that story is interesting enough (and easily googled). My RSI pages include 84 stamps and 48 blanks (example below); most of the latter catalogue at over $100 and are seldom offered. There are also unofficial stamps, including an interesting set from April 1945 overprinted on RSI stamps, issued by a group of anti-fascist organisations (the CdiLN). Events outran their use, which was surely to propagandise rather than to prepay postage.
Other than assembling mint examples of RSI stamps (which is my own usual procedure) it might be more interesting to find these on cover and attempt to gauge just how frequently they were used for postage, as opposed to a slew of issues designed purely to publicise their short-lived and ill-fated state.
Yesterday I posted a post card post marked Schwiebus come to find out it's part of Poland, stamps do broaden your knowledge of the world we live in That was 3 post in one sentence I need to take a nap now
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re: Italian Social Club/Republic & Germany
It was definitely a very short-lived political state - an off-shoot perhaps. I find some occasionally and add them to my German collection.
My theory is if it carries an historical connection, then it belongs with the collection. I actually am happiest that I have the matching Hitler/Mussolini issues. That was something I came by across with surprise because I don't collect Italy and only noticed the Italian issue whilst flipping through Scott. That's when I also noted the Italian Socialist Republic.
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"I actually am happiest that I have the matching Hitler/Mussolini issues."
I'm just reading Richard J. Evans, The Third Reich in History and Memory, a collection of extended book reviews. In the chapter 'Hitler's Allies' he reviews Fascist Voices by Christopher Duggan, and says this - presumably from Duggan:
"When Mussolini visited wounded soldiers in hospital he was greeted with cries of 'Assassin!'... People refused to buy the 50 cent stamp with the picture of Hitler and Mussolini on the front, complaining that 'they're even forcing us to lick his backside'." (Evans, p.249)
A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent). 21 Jan 2017 03:58:29pm
re: Italian Social Club/Republic & Germany
I would think that Hitler wouldn't have appreciated Mussolini bring depicted at the same height as him - he was probably thinking Mussolini should have been at least 1/8" lower than himself since he was the "better" of the two - he was noted for comparing is "oratory skills" in contrast to lack thereof in his "ally". The relationship between these two leaders had always been fascinating to me. Aside from the "fascism" they were opposites in terms of goals, conduct, etc. And of course we know that Hitler broke every pact he made with another country with the exception of Japan.
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Not that I need yet another excuse to further add (rather than sell-off excess) stamps, but this "sideline" to Germany/WWII history is very interesting. Great synopsis!
When (if???) I get time I'd like to do some of the same thing - a one or two page presentation that combines interesting history with stamps. For example, a few months ago I found some Romania stamps (which I wasn't intending to collect) with clear town cancels. A quick Google search turned up some interesting stories about pogroms in those areas that decimated the Jewish populations. So another glassine gets started for future reference.
Thanks for sharing!
Dave.
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