Postcard Ww 2, Melilla To Russian Front, Division Azul, With Charity Tax Stamp

I just acquired a very interesting postcard mailed from Melilla (Spanish city in Northern Morocco) mailed to the Russian front in March 1942.
I purchased it for my collection of Revenue and Cinderella stamps of
Spanish Morocco, Tanger , Melilla and Ceuta.
I like to make a write up for this card and I like any input/ advice you can give me please.



The backside of the cards reads I believe

Melilla marzo 3 de 1942. Querido amigo Javier: acabo de recibir la tuya (carta) y me pongo inmediatamente a escribirte. Como sabrás por los míos, sigo recuperándome (...) aunque me anima a pensar que pronto estaré en el frente con mis camaradas. El tiempo no termina de mejorar aquí pero siempre es mejor que el que tenéis en Rusia. Ayer estuve en el Hospital Militar y me dijeron que regrese para (...), lo cual me da una envidia que no te puedes ni imaginar. Saludos a los camaradas y un fuerte abrazo de tu amigo..Jesús Montilla. Arriba España

Google translation:
Melilla March 3, 1942. Dear friend Javier: I just received yours (letter) and I immediately start writing to you. As you will know from mine, I am still recovering (...) although it encourages me to think that soon I will be on the front lines with my comrades. The weather doesn't stop getting better here but it's always better than what you have in Russia. Yesterday I was in the Military Hospital and they told me to come back to (...), which makes me envious that you can't even imagine. Greetings to the comrades and a big hug from your friend... Jesus Montilla. Go Spain.

The front side reads I believe:
Javier Cluvet M????
...... Ruso
Feldpost 18125C

Part 2 The Division Azul, the blue division.
Although Francesco Franco tried to be neutral during WW 2 he several times halfheartedly offered to join the Axis, Germany and Italy.
But basically Spain was still recovering from the devastating Civil war just a few years earlier. This Civil war was won by the Nationalist Falange party with the material and financial help of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.
To partly pay of his debts to Germany, Franco offered Spanish volunteer troops under the condition that they only would fight on the Eastern front against Bolshevism (Russian Communists). These volunteers were trained in Germany before being send to the front. A total of some 45,000 Spanish volunteered on the Russian front and some 4,500 perished. These Spanish troops were instrumental in the siege of Leningrad.

On the card is written VIVA LA DIVISION, meaning long live the division (Azul division)
There are multiple sensor marks on the card.



The large blue rectangle is a Spanish military sensor mark stamped in Sevilla, southern Spain.
There are 2 German Wehrmacht (?) handstamps with the part of the Feldpost 25C readable. Feldpost= Field Post.
There are some other marks on the postcard not yet deciphered by me.

Part 3, the charity stamp of Melilla



The stamp shown is a 0.05 Peseta Charity tax stamp against unemployment.
It was issued 1937 during the Spanish civil war.
So the usage on a 1942 card was a late use

Flag of Spain under Franco
1945 - 1977
So the card of 1942? was a precursor?

Noted between the pillars of Hercules
The intracasies of the jewelled crown are muted, that is what happened to the design on my Farmacia 10c Label.

Plus Ultra = Further Beyond.

I've no information to add.
Just wanted to say what a great card. Historical interest, nice auxiliary marks, and in excellent condition.
Pat

J Cabanas appears to have been a prolific illustrator of Propaganda.
Jstor

(....) 1.- of my wounds
(....) 2.- latest
The military uprising (coup d'état) was on 07/18/36 and the shield was adopted by Decree of the Provincial Government of the rebels on 08/29/1936.
In Spain we use DD/MM/YYYY format

Things of the online translator; Provisional Government of the rebels
(....) 2 To return to the hospital at the end of the month "ÚLTIMOS"

That's 8 March, not 3 March, by the way.

Deleted

Roberto, thanks for help to complete the translation.
Others also thanks for your inputs.

The card is still in excellent condition. The "Feldpost 18125C" indicates that the card was delivered close to the front lines. However the excellent condition makes me think that the card did not see actual " fighting"

Rod, I think you are correct that the shield (escudo) of Spain became part of the flag design in 1945

This card must be quite rare. A rare origin in Melilla part of Spain in north Africa and destination the Russian front in 1942. This card forced me to do a lot of research and reading, one of the pleasures of philately.

The Coat of arms on the postcard is shown on the Flag of Spain 1938-1945. Note the raised beak of the eagle.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/...%931945).svg

Nicely solved !

The printer of the card, also printed "Film Heralds" 1936 - 1966
MARTI, MARI Y Co Barcelona

https://www.biblio.com/ephemera/doc...d/1461529851

I just mounted the WWII Melilla card mentioned in this thread.
Thanks a lot for all the input given to me. This forum is amazing

Both elements date to the reign of Charles I (Holy Roman German Emperor Charles V).
In Roman times there were sayings 'Nec plus ultra' and 'Non plus ultra' meaning 'nothing more further beyond.' This was based on the Greek legend of Hercules marking the end of the world by placing these pillars on the Straight of Gibraltar.

With Cristóbal Colón's (Columbus) journeys, the expansion of the Spanish Empire started. It expanded beyond the Straight of Gibraltar. The Spanish motto 'Further beyond' reflects this. In this way, it does not just mean Spain expanded beyond the Pillars of Hercules, but also was the motto for going beyond existing limits and expanding the empire.