F05_P06: Invasion and Conquest of Poland Polish Navy in Exile, Ship Censor
1943 September 24, Front side - Letter from Polish Navy sailor censored aboard ship.
Tan letter with typed text in English using black ink. An adhesive sticker at the left side from the Examiners office indicating the letter was opened. Across the document is one vertical and horizontal blue line in pencil. It meets at the center. One purple overprint stamps appear in English, and one purple rectangular stamp in Polish. At the top right corner is a blue 1-zloty stamp depicting a few airplanes. The stamp was issued by the Polish Government in Exile. Overtop is a cancellation dated September 24, 1943 within a rectangular stamp depicting a ship with steam blowing out from the bow.
Name/Title
F05_P06: Invasion and Conquest of Poland Polish Navy in Exile, Ship CensorEntry/Object ID
2007.5.6.aScope and Content
1943 September 24, letter from Polish Navy sailor censored aboard ship.Context
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, and the Polish Army surrendered four weeks later, on September 28. The northern and western provinces, including the free city of Danzig, were annexed to the German Reich, while the remaining nominally independent portion, called the General Government, was ruled by a German governor and occupation force. Captured Polish officers were imprisoned in Offizierlager camps, called Oflags, and enlisted men in Mannschaftsstammlager camps, called Stalags. Three of the Polish Navy's four destroyers, and one submarine, escaped to Great Britain, and remained in the war on the side of the Allies. A September 26,1940, prisoner-of- war formular lettersheet from Oflag IIA at Prenzlau, Germany, to Kutno, Poland. An official Polish Navy registered letter, September 24, 1943, censored aboard ship and again in Great Britain. The 1-zloty stamp was issued by the Polish Government in Exile, headquartered in Great Britain, for letters posted from Polish merchant ships and warships.Collection
Nazi Scourge I: Primary ExhibitionCategory
Lettersheet
Philatelic Material