RARE UNAUTHORIZED 1944 NAZI PRISON CAMP POSTCARD

Normally, sending mail internally by POW's to other camp inmates or to outside camps was strictly forbidden by the Nazi Captors. The Commandant of Offizierlager II-C - Woldenberg had a different view to this restriction than his Nazi superiors. Consisting of mainly Polish officers who held Civil positions before the War, they were allowed to form their own Postal Service, but had to supply their own stamps and covers without any help from the Germans. Postage stamps were printed using hand carved wooden blocks and were colored with vegetable dyes or recycled inks. Covers and Postcards were made from any scrap paper or card available. This new Postal Service ran quite well. So well that the Commandant allowed the POW's the use of the official KL Postal Cancel handstamp.

Internal Polish Camp home made post card from Oflag IIC, Woldenberg,

This 'Overdue Book Reminder post card was sent from the camp's English Circulating Library. (mailed without postage, there is a 10f  postage due stamp on the face). Red pencil notation "pobrac" means for the bearer to collect postage due.

This postal item from Oflag IIC, Wodenberg is similar to one found in the collection of Roman A. Sobus of the Polonus Philatelic Society.  His exhibit entitled "Internal Camp Post between 1942-1945 at Offizierlager IIC - Woldenberg" was shown at the 2007 CHICAGOPEX stamp show in Chicago and received a Gold Medal.