Exhibits

Purpose and Scope

This single-frame exhibit presents the commemorative stamp, usages and other philatelic material issued to commemorate the 1944 POW Olympic Games at the Woldenberg Officer’s camp. (Oflag IIC). Organized under the Geneva Convention, the postal services at this camp, played important day-to-day role by delivering intra-camp mail and served as a social outlet for prisoners to pass the time of imprisonment. The philatelic centerpiece of this event was the issuance of a single stamp depicting a runner breaking the finishing tape. The 10 fen issue was printed in red and prominently displayed the Olympic Rings. The other items presented, which include scarce internal usages, demonstrate both the functional importance and social role that the camp postal service played.

Historical Background:

During World War II the Olympic spirit was kept alive at prisoner of war camps which were constructed in eastern Germany after Poland’s defeat by the Third Reich. Amazingly, Polish prisoners at the Woldenberg camp (were granted permission to hold a version of the “Olympic Games” in the summer of 1944. Though not officially sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, these games had many of the trappings of the modern day games, including athletic and cultural events, and the awarding of “medals”