Exhibits

Purpose and Scope
This single-frame exhibit presents the commemorative
stamps, postal stationery and other philatelic material
issued to commemorate the 1944 POW Olympic Games at
the Gross Born Officer’s camp. 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 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 Gross Born officer camp
(Oflag IID) 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.

Organization
The exhibit is broken down into 5 areas that showcases
the significance and philatelic publicity of this event.

• 10f, 20f and 50f issues (pages 2-6): The exhibit begins
  with the three stamps issued to commemorate the
  games. The design of the 10f and 20f stamps reflect
  the Olympic Rings and laurels, while the 50f stamp
  shows an ancient chariot racer and the Olympic Rings.
  Shown are color varieties of each issue, multiples and
  full sheets. Color varieties exist due to inconsistent
  availability of the inks used and multiple printings of
  each stamp.
• Souvenir Sheet (page 7) – Using the design of the 10f,
  20F, and 50f issue a souvenir sheet was issued on 14
  August 1944, the third day of the philatelic exhibition.
  The 20f and 50f issues differ as they are printed in olive
  green and brown, respectively.
• 10f Postal Stationery (pages 8-9) – A 10f postal card
  was issued in the same 10f design. Notably, this post
  card is printed on two distinct types of paper as noted
  by the color variation. Used and unused copies of
  each variety is presented.
• Philatelic cachet and usages (pages 10-12): During the
  duration of the Games from 30 July 1944 to 14 August
  1944, a commemorative cachet showing the Olympic
  rings and the dates of Games on a banner was applied
  to mail. A variety of usages including registered mail
  and special delivery services is presented.