16th July 1943 C Pf N. 1. 42 16th July 1943 Telegram C Pf N. 1. 42 See 16.07.1943 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

10th June 1943 Marine-Kommando Toulon 10th June 1943 Marine Kommando Toulon Feldpost cover sent from FPN 41846 (Deutsches Marine-Kommando Toulon). Ref: 10.06.1943 Deutsches Marine-Kommando Toulon Until the fall of 1942, the southern part of France was not occupied by German troops. German troops only moved in in November. At first the organization was only improvised. The Italian Navy took over command and only one German office remained in Toulon. In terms of military service, the German units were subordinate to the sea commander Toulon, Captain Rolf Gumprich. In December the name and also the commander changed. Rear Admiral Werner Scheer became head of the German naval command in Toulon. After Italy's surrender, the office of the Commanding Admiral was created. Units stationed at Toulon included: Marine Artillery Detachment 612 (05.43 - 09.43) Light Marine Artillery Detachment 682 Marine Flak Detachment 819 29.Submarine Flotilla (partial) 7.Speedboat Flotilla (partial) In the La Valette district: staff of the naval commander, naval artillery arsenal, parts of the 28th naval motor vehicle department, navy office. Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

Azad Hind (Mi.I A/B - Mi.X A/B - 1943) Azad Hind (Mi.I A/B - Mi.X A/B - 1943) Azad Hind Mi.I - Mi. X Azad Hind (Free India') unissued postage stamps for the national government under Subhas Chandra Bose. Shown above Mi.IA (1 A + 1 A perforate) and Mi.IB (1 A + 1 A imperforate). Both ref: Prophila2 The Provisional Government of Free India or, more simply, Azad Hind, was a short-lived Japanese-controlled provisional government in India. It was established in Japanese occupied Singapore during World War II in October 1943 and has been considered a puppet state of the Empire of Japan. It was a part of the political movement originating in the 1940s outside India with the purpose of allying with the Axis powers to liberate India from British rule. It was established by Indian nationalists in exile during the latter part of the World War II in Singapore with monetary, military and political assistance from Imperial Japan. Mi.I (A&B) depicts a Sikh soldier armed with a German MG 34 machine gun. On his right shoulder he bears the insignia of the Indian Legion. The Indian Legion (German: Indische Legion), officially the Free India Legion (German: Legion Freies Indien) or 950th (Indian) Infantry Regiment (German: Infanterie-Regiment 950 (indisches)), was a military unit raised during the Second World War initially as part of the German Army and later the Waffen-SS from August 1944. Intended to serve as a liberation force for British-ruled India, it was made up of Indian prisoners of war and expatriates in Europe. Owing to its origins in the Indian independence movement, it was known also as the 'Tiger Legion', and the 'Azad Hind Fauj'. As part of the Waffen-SS it was known as the Indian Volunteer Legion of the Waffen-SS (German: Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen-SS). (Source: Wikipedia) Note that the high value 1R+2R (Mi.VIIB, Ba, Bb, - imperforate only) is not shown here due to it's rarity and cost. Mi.VIIIB depicts three Indian soldiers holding the Azad Hind flag. This stamp is available in three variations: black/orange/emerald green (Mi.VIIB); black only (Mi.VIIBa); black/orange (Mi.VIIBb). Mi.IIA (perf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.IIIB (imperf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.IVB (imperf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.VA (perf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.VB (imperf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.VIA (perf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.VIII A/B - Mi.X A/B No surcharge - to have been issued to the Andaman Islands and Niobrara Mi.VIIIA (perf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.VB (imperf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.IXA (perf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.IXB (imperf.) Ref: Prophila2 Mi.XA (perf.) Ref: Prophila2 Article by R.J. Szymanski, 'Germania' Volume 6, Issue No.2, April 1970 'Maria [Axster-Heudtlass] wrote that she was the designer of the AZAD HIND Legion stamps, - her husband Werner specialised in script design. The themes for the six stamps were all chosen by Subhas Chandra Bose - the Indian Nationalist leader. He was very concerned with the designs and was especially interested in two of them, the 8A + 12A , and the 12A + 1R values, showing a map of India and the 'broken chains of colonialism'. Also another design used for the 3A + 3A value showing a nurse attending a wounded patient. The nurse portrayed has the features of a friend of Bose, he provided Maria with a photograph to work from. The result pleased Bose very much. In appreciation of their work, a special ceremony was held which was broadcast over German Radio, at which a special 'Holy Sword' was presented to them after being consecrated by passing it through the flames of a fire built in their studio. This sword appears in the design of both the 8A + 12A and the 1R + 2R of the series. It was still in her possession in 1964. To clear a philatelic query, she insisted that the Azad Hind stamps were issued primarily for postal use, and the propaganda motive was a secondary consideration.'

Mi.829 (26.01.1943) Mi.829 (26.01.1943) Mi.829 next stamp issue

23rd April 1943 23rd April 1943 Axis Samurai Another - not used within BH - Ref: 26/57 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

17th August 1943 Feldpost 'Aa' designation etc. 17th August 1943 Feldpost Aa designation etc Feldpost cover sent from FPN L 36735 to the Wehrmeldeamt (recruiting office) in Dresden. Featuring a feldpost date stamp with 'Qb' designation letters. Ref: 17.08.1943 'FELDPOST ' designation letters: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o , a1etc. , Aa etc. , Misc. Feldpost designation letter 'Aa', 'Ab', 'Ba', 'Bb' , 'Da', 'Db', 'Ea', 'Eb', 'Fa', 'Fb', 'Ia', 'Ib', 'Ka', 'Kb' , 'La', 'Lb' , 'Ma' , 'Mb' , 'Oa', 'Ob', 'Pa', 'Pb' , 'Pc' , 'Qa', 'Qb' , 'Ra', 'Rb', 'Sa', 'Sb', 'Ha', 'Hb' variations 'Bb' designation. Level position. Ref: 22.08.1943 - 19/116 'Kb' designation. Level position. Ref: 16.12.1942 'Lb' designation. Level position. Ref: 14.01.1944 'Ma' designation. Level position. Ref: 14.09.1942 'Mb' designation. Level position. Ref: 29.03.1943 'Pb' designation. Level position. Ref: 15.03.1943 'Pc' designation. Level position. Ref: 10.06.1943 'Qb' designation. Level position. Ref: 17.08.1943 'Qb' variation? See 12.07.1943 - 23/36 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

1st July 1943 Feldpost 'n' designation 1st July 1943 Feldpost 'n' designation Feldpost cover (with personalised envelope and letter heading), with clear 'n' designation to the cancel (level position). Ref: 01.07.1943 'FELDPOST ' designation letters: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o , a1etc. , Aa etc. , Misc. Feldpost designation letter 'n' variations Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

Mi.850 - 853 (26.06.1943) Labour Corps Mi.850 - 853 (26.06.1943) Labour Corps Mi.850-853 Unusual souvenir sheet (A76(b)) displaying all four Labour Service postage stamps. The sheet has a title that reads, '10 Years/ Reich Labour Service'. The issue of RAD stamps on the 26th June 1943 was for the 8th anniversary. The information below may shed light onto this discrepancy. To the reverse the printed text reads, 'Our Signature/ Your Signature' and the imprint code 'B/0045'. The cancellation used is JB:Wien108/769. Ref: 01.09.1943 - 23/33 Mi.850. Ref: 16.07.1943 - 23/44 Mi.851. Ref:16.07.1943 - 23/44 Mi.852. Ref: 16.07.1943 - 23/44 Mi.853. Ref: 16.07.1943 - 23/44 See 04.07.1943 - 23/32 (Souvenir sheet C16) Discrepency in inaugral year may stem from previous incarnations of the RAD and its continuation from 1933 onwards. From Wikipedia: In the course of the Great Depression, the German government of the Weimar Republic under Chancellor Heinrich Brüning by emergency decree established the Freiwilliger Arbeitsdienst ('Voluntary Labour Service', FAD), on 5th June 1931, two years before the Nazi Party (NSDAP) ascended to national power. The state sponsored employment organisation provided services to civic and land improvement projects, from 16th July 1932 it was headed by Friedrich Syrup in the official rank of a Reichskommissar . As the name stated, participating was voluntary as long as the Weimar Republic existed. The concept was adopted by Adolf Hitler, who upon the Nazi seizure of power in 1933 appointed Konstantin Hierl state secretary in the Reich Ministry of Labour, responsible for FAD matters. Hierl was already a high-ranking member of the NSDAP and head of the party's labour organisation, the Nationalsozialistischer Arbeitsdienst or NSAD. Hierl developed the concept of a state labour service organisation similar to the Reichswehr army, with a view to implementing a compulsory service. Meant as an evasion of the regulations set by the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, voluntariness initially was maintained after protests by the Geneva World Disarmament Conference. Hierl's rivalry with Labour Minister Franz Seldte led to the affiliation of his office as a FAD Reichskommissar with the Interior Ministry under his party fellow Wilhelm Frick. On 11th July 1934, the NSAD was renamed Reichsarbeitsdienst or RAD with Hierl as its director until the end of World War II. By law issued on 26th June 1935, the RAD was re-established as an amalgamation of the many prior labour organisations formed in Germany during the Weimar Republic, with Hierl appointed as Reich Labour Leader ( Reichsarbeitsführer ) according to the Führerprinzip . With massive financial support by the German government, RAD members were to provide service for civic and agricultural construction projects. Per Reich Labor Service Act of June 26th, 1935. Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

25th March 1944 Collector's Card 1943 25th March 1944 Collectors Card 1943 sammlerausweis Collector's card (Sammlerausweis) issued in Marburg 25th March 1943. Featuring five receipt cancellations for issues collected from the post office. Ref: 25.03.1943 The cards were probably introduced in early 1943 (it is to be noted that 'The Special Cancellations Stamp', specifically for stamp collectors, was issued 19th January 1943. At first, due to a lack of centrally supplied forms, local makeshift editions were used. These were beige postal forms, some of which were produced regionally and mostly had imprint marks from 1943. The cards had an address field for the recipient of the postage stamps and generally cancellation fields on the back, on which the purchase was noted by affixing a date stamp . However, there are also larger format cards with only one-sided printing. With the fee-based ID card (1 RM ), 20 issues of special stamps, postcards and official stamps could be obtained; in some cases official stamps were not listed on the forms. The ID card was renewed when all 20 fields had been stamped. Postal customers had to collect the issues within 7 days of the first day of issue. Due to a shortage of materials due to the war, it was not uncommon for makeshift forms for collectors' ID cards to be used. So far, based on the stamp date, the Volkssturm stamp from February 1945 is known to be the last issue collected. Collector's Card (Sammlerausweis) 1943 A postal document (ID for the purchase of postage stamps), usually subject to a fee, which entitles stamp collectors and other postal customers to continuously obtain a certain number of special postage stamps (special stamps , blocks and miniature sheets), but also official stamps, postal stationery and first day covers from a post office within a specified collection period. The cards instruction reads as follows: Conditions Special requests cannot be considered. New issues will only be issued on presentation of this card. They must be issued within one week of the 1st day of issue. Otherwise the date stamp (reverse) will be omitted. Allocation may be limited for smaller quantities of special stamps. After the 20th issue of special stamps, the application can be renewed against payment of a fee of RM 1. No compensation will be paid in the event of loss or misuse. Sammlerausweis with 1 Rm postage stamp cancelled Marburg 25th March 1943. Ref: 25.03.1943 Receipt dates in relation to issues being collected within 7 days (as per instruction): 26th March 1943, 16th March 1944, 27th March 1944, 22nd April 1943, 19th July 1944 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

22nd April 1943 22nd April 1943 Wirth Unskilled Labour Commercial postcard sent from Emil Wirth to a customer in Hessen-Nassau. Ref: 22.04.1943 A sign of the times? The hand stamp to the reverse reads: 'Berechnung und Lieterung sofurt nachpruften da ich Gewähr für Richtigkeit, wegen ungehügenden Arbeitskräften nicht übernehmen Kann' 'Please check calculation and delivery as soon as possible, as I cannot guarantee correctness due to unskilled labour.'

15th June 1943 Oflag XIII-B 15th June 1943 Oflag XIII-B Hammelburg Oflag XIII-B Hammelburg Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page

27th January 1943 Stalag 369 27th January 1943 Stalag 369 Stalag 369 See 19/75 Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page