Exhibits

The purpose of this exhibit is to illustrate the progress of the internal camp post at Offizierlager ( Oflag ) IIC from its inception on April 5, 1942, to its final days in January, 1945, with a postscript on the evacuation march. 

It is a unique event in postal history, where prisoners of war, overcame the restrictions imposed on them by their captors and fences of barbed wire. Maintaining relationships both old and new, became virtually impossible. The internal post, which carried out all the duties of any post helped make life more bearable under the most difficult circumstances. 

Functions included:

• Setting postal rates. 
• Designing and issuing stamps.
• Selling stamps. 
• Provided drop off points for outgoing mail. 
• Providing upgraded services such as expedited delivery, registered service, etc. 

There has been some debate in philatelic circles as to whether the stamps produced at the camp are postage stamps or merely labels. The same arguments could then be made to the local posts of various cities. While not accepted outside the borders of the camp, the post performed as any local post. Postage was paid, the item was sent, and the article was delivered with utmost efficiency. It would have functioned in the same way if the distance had been fifty kilometers instead of fifty meters. Officers that had served as postmasters in civilian life assured that all protocols were observed.