Bohemia and Moravia
Postage stamp issues 1939-1945

Bohemia and Moravia stamp issues 1939-1945

21.11.1939 Czech various reverse.jpeg

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Cover sent from Muglinau to an address in Luhačovice. Featuring various Czech/ Bohemia and Moravia stamps: 5 H ('mitläufer' - Mi.277 - first issued 1929 - valid until 15.12.1939); 5 H, Mi.1 (Mi.277 overprint), and 25 H, Mi.4 (Mi.280 overprint); new definitives 5 H, 10 H, and 20 H (Mi.20-22). Ref: 21.11.1939 - 15/65

In the early hours of the morning of 15th March 1939, the German Army marched in and occupied the Czech lands of Bohemia & Moravia, the important industrial and mining region around the town of Ostrova had been occupied during the preceding night.

One of the immediate declarations was the establishment of the Reichsmark as legal tender with a fixed rate of exchange of 1 RM = 10 Czech. Crowns.

Further to this came the extension of the validity of the then current Czechoslovakian stamps and postal stationery to 15th December 1939 with the current issue of Czech stamps being over-printed 'Bohmen-Mahren/ Cechy-Morava' on 15th July 1939.

German feldpost mail (postmark Form 1, 28mm: single circle, ''FELDPOST'/ identification letter/ date/ Reichsadler) were cancelled without any feldpost number (FPN). However, registered mail was postmarked with Field Post Office number 531 (not catalogued in Michel Deutsche Feldpost) with the feldpost R-Label bearing the Field Post Office number (either had-written or stamped). Feldpost Form 26, 29mm double circle was also used in Brno (Brunn).

Feldpost in the Czech-Moravian territory was terminated in May 1939, but was re-opened at the end of 1944.

[For further information on german feldpost in Czechoslovakia see Michel Deutsche Feldpost pp.41-42]

The occupation authorities were well aware of the animosity of the local population and therefore did not trust their official mail to the Czecho-Moravian postal services. Thus following the termination of the field post service, a special 'Deutsche Dienstpost Bohmen-Mahren' was introduced to cater for letters sent by the Occupation Authorities, and for German civilian and military agencies and their personnel. It was later extended to cover essentail war industries, which however, had to obtain a special permit. This service did not carry any parcels or money orders, onlt letters and registered and special delivery mail.

This service was restricted to the transfer of mails from one office to another, they did not deliver to the addressees, official organisations and offices had to collect it from the 'Dienstpost' office. Letters to private individuals were sent to the nearest Dienstpost office, and from there either via the Protectorate Post Office for delivery, or an advice wa sent advising the addressee to call and collect in person.

Dienstpost offices were sited in all the more important towns and cities, and in the capital Prague, there were three: Prague 1 at the Czernin Palace, Prague 2 in Bredovska Street, and Prague PLST (Postleitstelle) which was used as a sorting and routing centre.

German official mail was canceled using a double circle postmark containing the words 'DEUTSCHE DIENSTPOST BOHMEN-MAREN' together with the town name.

German military mail began to use new double circle cancel types bearing the words 'DEUTSCHE REICHSPOST' together with the post office identification letter (no place name).

Source: Germania Vol.6 No.2 pp.114-120

Further information regarding the identification numbers and letters used on 'Deutsche Dienstpost' and 'Deutsche Reichspost' cancellations can be found in this volume.

Bohemia and Moravia

Postage stamp issues 1939 - 1945

Vorläufer - Czech stamps cancelled between 15.03 - 12.04.1939

Mitläufer - Czech stamps cancelled between 13.04 - 15.12.1939

1939

Mi.1-40

16th March 1939 - Local issue overprints from Mährisch-Ostrau

Mi.A1

13th April - Definitive

Mi.B1

22nd April - Airmail

Mi.1-19