Barbed Wire

An elderly postcard (wall and barbed wire through Berlin) and an aerial view of the celebration lights.

Another tribute to Amnesty International. Only at second glance does one recognize that the simple kite is an envelope tethered with barbed wire (in coils!). "Sriv för Liv" = write for life (write letters of protest in order to save lives). Denmark, 2001.

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting prisoners of war fenced in by barbed wire, printed by lithography, and issued by Hungary on March 10, 1920 as one of a set of three stamps benefiting Hungarian POWs being held in Siberia, Scott No. B70.

- nethryk

During World War 2 the Patriarchal Cross was called the Cross of Lorraine and represented the Free French Resistance Army. deGaulle put it on the medal of honor for resistance fighters. 1974, 30 years after the liberation of France and concentration camps located there. Design, C. Haley. (Hi Nethryk, That Hungarian stamp is amazing, I hadn't seen it before.)

The first World War came to an end in November 1918. Soldiers could go home. The stamps on this cover show a conglomerate of flags representing the countries as well as peace doves but no barbed wire, but I think that the short bits of it that can no longer stop the soldier, carry a clear message. France, 11th of November, 1998. In St Avold (see cancellation) there is a vast cemetery for American soldiers who served in the 2nd World War.

The Star of David is revealed when barbed wire no longer attaches the Jewish badge or yellow badge to cover it. 2003

I love that stamp with the yellow "Jewish" badge being removed to show the Star of David...I hadn't seen that one before. Very poetic!

Thank you for your comment, Ikkoller. The joint issue of the stamp commemorating 40 years of diplomatic relationships between Israel and Germany was issued in 2005. The barbed wire between the two is severed and the stamp has both languages. Design S. Klein and O. Neumann.

It's only a few days ago that the end of the first World War was remembered. A traditional symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers in many English-speaking countries is the red poppy (look up "In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow..."). The red poppy was introduced as a symbol by Moina Micheal. This year a vast sea of scarlet poppies spread around the Tower of London, almost 900,000 of them. Each was hand-crafted in porcelain and represented a soldier fallen in the Great War. By and by they are being removed and the proceeds go to support of veterans. Installation created by Paul Cummis and Tom Piper. There are many versions of the poppy stamps, they are worth looking up.

Kris Rascher - Glad you liked the Hungary stamp.

Here is an image of a stamp honoring former Austrian Chancellor Leopold Figl (1902-1965), designed by Adalbert Pilch, engraved by Alfred Nefe, and issued by Austria April 27, 1970 as one of two stamps in a set commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Second Republic, Scott No. 860. Bonus: Flag.

- nethryk

The old fortress at Terezin in Bohemia was used as a concentration camp by the Nazis from 1940 to 1945. Prisoners of all age groups and from many nations stayed for varying periods of time (if they managed to survive), most were passed through to extermination camps. In the early spring of 1942 Czech citizens were expelled from their town to accommodate more prisoners. (Theresienstadt, if you want more information.)



Hi Nethryk, I was just getting ready to post, when I discovered your post. Your stamp is again one I haven't been able to get. Great addition. Figl managed to survive both Dachau and Mauthausen!

Here's a scarlet robin from Australia. The barbed wire in this case is from farmland. There is also a 2/6 pre-decimal version of the same stamp. Stephen

Hello Stephen, Your scarlet robin is a welcome interruption in our endless miles of barbed wire directed against human beings, but many animals have been fatally injured in such fences as well. Welcome to the group.
The city of Gerardmer was liberated just over 70 years ago. The cancel shows daffodils growing between strands of barbed wire. The Cross of Lorraine, symbol of the resistance, is in the tab. Unfortunately I don't know the name of the artist.