WORLD WAR II POW OFFICER CAMP:
WOLDENBERG
THE POLISH OFFICERS CAPTURED IN 1939 WERE KEPT FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR IN P.O.W. CAMPS IN GERMANY. THE IDEA OF AN INTERNAL MAIL SERVICE ORIGINATED IN WOLDENBERG (OFLAG IIC), WHICH CONTAINED 6 000 OFFICERS AND 1,000 ENLISTED MEN. AT EASTER TIME 1942 A SERVICE TO FACILITATE THE MAILING OF EASTER WISHES AMONG THE PRISONERS WAS INITIATED. THE PROJECT WAS OFFICIALLY APPROVED BY THE HIGHEST RANKING OFFICER IN THE CAMP, COL. WACKAW SZALEWICZ ON MARCH 18, 1942 AND PROFESSIONAL POSTMASTERS, ARTISTS AND OF COURSE STAMP COLLECTORS AMONG THE PRISONERS WENT TO WORK. THIS TEMPORARY SERVICE WAS A GREAT SUCCESS AND DEMONSTRATED THE NEED FOR A PERMANENT POSTAL SERVICE IN THE CAMP WHICH WAS ALSO APPROVED AND THE SERVICE BEGAN ON MAY 7, 1942. SERVICES LASTED UNTIL JANUARY 25, 1945, WHEN THE CAMP WAS CLOSED AND THE PRISONERS DRIVEN FURTHER WEST.
