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DANZIG REPORT

Editor: John H. Bloecher Jr., 1743 Little Creek Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21207

Oct- Nov- Dec 1993

The “Stamp War” between the Republic of Poland ani the Free City of Danzig, 1938 - 39
by Hans Vogels


Throughout the years, stamps have been used many times as a small but widespread political document. New countries issue stamps, often even before their official recogn ition by other countries or international organizations, to make the existence of the new state known to the world. Recent events in eastern Europe can be seen as an example of this. Stamps can be used also to show a certain political idea or an historical view to the world. The Polish issue commemorating the 20-year existence of the Republic of Poland in 1938, and the following issue for the “Tag der Briefinarke” of the post of the Free City of Danzig in 1939, can be classified in this second category.

In the past, much has been written on the “stamp war” between the Republic of Poland and the Free City of Danzig. The political color of the writers resulted in the stories gett ing further removed from the original events, and inaccuracies set in. The writer of this article has neither the illusion nor the pretention to write the ultimate truth, completely without prejudice. He attempts to write the history somewhat more accurately and to undo it from fabrications, by using the official correspondence between the two nations that can be found in the archives in Poland and Germany.

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 81 - October - November - December - 1993, Page 1.