The GermanStamps.net Collection

The GermanStamps.net Collection

Germany & Related Areas, 1872 – 1945

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Third Reich Private Issues

Franzensbad Overprints

At the end of WWII, the U.S. Army occupied Franzensbad, Czechoslovakia (modern Františkovy Lázně, Czech Republic), as well as the neighboring towns of Eger (Cheb), Falkenau (Solkolov), and Wildstein (Skalná). Due to a lack of Czechoslovakian postage, German stamps (MiNr. 886, 888-893) were overprinted by the U.S. Army. They were to be issued on 26 May 1945, but on that day, the Army called the post offices and directed that they were to be issued only to U.S. Army personnel, not to civilians. This was honored at all post offices except Bad Wildstein, where the lack of telephone service delayed receipt of the directive. Therefore, valid civilian cancels exist from Bad Wildstein on 26 & 27 May 1945. The overprint is “[face value] / U. S. ARMY v C.S.R. / 18.IV.1945″.

Total printed were 1,250 of MiNr. 888-893 overprints, and 1,000 of MiNr. 886 overprint.

Set Date(s)

26 May 1945

Watermark(s)

None

Album Page(s)

Franzensbad Overprints

At the end of WWII, the U.S. Army occupied Franzensbad, Czechoslovakia (modern Františkovy Lázně, Czech Republic), as well as the neighboring towns of Eger (Cheb), Falkenau (Solkolov), and Wildstein (Skalná). Due to a lack of Czechoslovakian postage, German stamps (MiNr. 886, 888-893) were overprinted by the U.S. Army. They were to be issued on 26 May 1945, but on that day, the Army called the post offices and directed that they were to be issued only to U.S. Army personnel, not to civilians. This was honored at all post offices except Bad Wildstein, where the lack of telephone service delayed receipt of the directive. Therefore, valid civilian cancels exist from Bad Wildstein on 26 & 27 May 1945. The overprint is “[face value] / U. S. ARMY v C.S.R. / 18.IV.1945″.

Total printed were 1,250 of MiNr. 888-893 overprints, and 1,000 of MiNr. 886 overprint.

Set Date(s)

26 May 1945

Watermark(s)

None

Album Page(s)