Pow Card "Recovered In Germany"

This image is of a POW card from Stalag Luft 3 dated January 1945
There is a red cachet RECOVERED IN GERMANY but no other postal markings.



I assume that this was found by advancing allied forces later in the war but there is no indication how it and presumably others like it were processed. A guess is that they were sent onward in an "ambulance envelope" of some sort and perhaps delivered to the addressee in one but it is only a guess. Does anyone have any definitive information ?

Wow! The first thought is that things didn't end well for F/O James McClure. Hope he made it home safe long before the postcard showed up.

I have been wondering about that as well but so far have not been able to find out anything on the web

AQ

He made it...

Great research to locate that newspaper article.

I have a similar card, which also did not received any postal markings. But it was censored by the US Censor for POW in New York.

Most German cards from US POW back to home I thought would have been postmarked at some stage. Do we have someone who can explain this procedure and how they avoiding postmarking.

The boxed "GEPRUFT / 52" translates to "Checked" and the 52 is an examiner identifier.

Stamps 101

Thank you very much I assume that you have access to one of those newspaper subscription services. If not could you share how you found that article. It could be very useful in future. Also what was that newspaper The Winnipeg ?" I would like to reference it in my write up. I guess there was not a picture in that article.

Your info lead me to this web page

https://rcafassociation.ca/wp-conte...ril-2019.pdf

and the following




Hopefully I will be able to fins some more info.

mml1942
Did you see my original suggestion about these being delivered in an "ambulance cover"? That would explain the lack of postal markings.

AQ

Anthraquinone:

I saw your suggestion about being returned under cover. I have seen many of the POW and Internee postcards and letter sheets (International Commission of Red Cross, or ICRC Form 61 and equivalents) that were sent from the ICRC in their envelopes to their destination, but even those generally have some form of ICRC markings and often that of the originating country.

For your example, I can see a possibility with the "RECOVERED IN GERMANY", although I wonder what that really means. The card was dated early 1945, BUT where and when was it recovered?

If we assume it was written and mailed at the camp shortly after being written, could it have been delayed until after May when the war ended, and then found by Allied Forces during the clean up and recovery? They could have forward it onward as a courtesy, and it is likely the writer had been liberated and was heading home. They might not know if he was still alive or dead. I have no idea.

During normal times during the war, were these type of cards batched and sent in bulk to the ICRC in Geneva, and then forwarded to their destination? Perhaps, but most cards I see going via ICRC have some form of ICRC marking or date stamp.

I think my card might be slightly different. It at least made it to NY during what might be considered the normal channels and while the war was still going on. Hence the US POW censor review andmarking.

My knowledge of WW II censorship is limited. I just hope someone with more experience than me can come forward and help both of us.

Mike

Anthraquinone,

The Winnipeg Tribune:

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39570567/


No subscription on my end...just some google tricks on search criteria mostly. I have to do a lot of P.I. style work at my dayjob lol so search engine manipulation is key! I often use archived newspaper articles from various places for a lot of info I need.

Cheers!

Stalag Luft 3 was the famous "Great Escape" POW camp.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_Luft_III
Neat historical connection.

Robert

mml1942

I have also asked in a study group I am a member of. If that turns up anything I will let you know

stamps101
Thanks - I thought I knew my way round Google I can see I will have to improve my technique.

AQ