If you follow the right blogs, or even if you follow postal news you have probably read this but I wanted to share for those who might not have seen it.
In 1945 we were still in the midst of World War II. The allies were close to winning the war, but were still using anti Nazi propaganda to win over the minds of German citizens. In January of 1945 the allies started an operation that would allow for them to "mail" this propaganda to German citizens without the postal service knowing about it.
First the allies bombed mail trains and then had planes drop bags of mail that was properly addressed complete with stamps. However, the stamps were actually forgeries. Some of the stamps looked much like the ones the German post office was using at the time, but there was one stamp that was interestingly redrawn.
Their plan worked and the German postal service delivered such propaganda to their own citizens without even being aware of it. That first drop, on January 5, 1945 saw 3,800 letters addressed and affixed with faux postage.
Interesting how fake stamps show up in history isn't it?
:) Great information! I wonder where these stamps are now...
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with this post, I apologize; but, can you access this link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=317030491689552&set=a.238712562854679.59256.229358820456720&type=1&theater
ReplyDeleteit is to a picture on Milk Gallery's facebook page. Our mail art pieces are up!
just fyi, in case your friend hadn't shown you yet (i'm kind of out of the blogging loop these days)
I have them all posted on my blog www.istillwrite.com was at the show
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of that before! That's interesting.
ReplyDeletehow funny that all seems, next to what cell phones and internet has done for Egypt and other middle east countries during civil revolts.
ReplyDeleteThat is really very interesting! I wonder what that faux postage would be worth today?
ReplyDeleteSharon