Grecu Dan - Romanian Fieldpostcards

ROMANIAN FREE MILITARY POSTAL STATIONERY

(1941-1945).

A research material based on the article initially published in 'Romanian Postal History Bulletin' No. 13, June 1994.

There are two categories of Romanian postal stationery. The one where the rates for mailing were reduced for soldiers quartered in barracks during peacetime, and behind the lines in garrisons and other situations during the war. The other where the cards were free and used by soldiers in front line situations and war zones.

In this study only the free stationeries will be discussed as the others are discussed in the existing Romanian catalogues. It is important to appreciate that only about half the mail coming from war zones was written on free stationery items. The other half were written on regular full-postage civilian postcards or used full-postage letters.

Until definitive free military stationery (FMS) was issued in June - August of 1941 provisional stationery was used. These were the reduced rate postcards that were overprinted using a mechanical roll or hand impression which read "Gratuit" (Free).

P.1

Provisional GRATUIT stationery

The definitive FMS for the Romanian army consisted of free military postcards (FMPC) and Campaign / Field Letters (FL).

Free Military Postcards

These all have some common features:

a) the title "CARTĂ POSTALĂ MILITARĂ GRATUITĂ" ("FREE MILITARY POSTCARD").

b) the printed stamp without nominal value, type "King Michael" (with "Romania/Posta") or the Kings Arms type ("Romania" only and used only for Types 2.2 and 3.4).

c) the statement "Această carte postală se va utiliza numai de militari" (this postcard will be used only by military men).

d) the seal circle with text within which reads 'LOCUL SIGILIULUI CENZUREI MILITARE' ("PLACE FOR MILITARY CENSORS SEAL").

e) the arms of the Romanian kingdom and above "ROMANIA".

f) the two lined restrictions which read "ATENTIUNE: Nu se scrie nimic în legătură cu armata ! Nu se pune localitatea" ("ATTENTION: One shall not write anything relating to military service / One shall not indicate the place of writing").

g) the address "ADRESA TRIMITĂTORULUI: / Numele si pronumele.../ Regimentul... Compania... / Of.. postal militar nr...." ("SENDER'S ADDRESS: Name and first name...Regiment...Company...Military Post Office No....").

The ink for the text, illustrations and stamp is generally blue with many differences in the impression with respect to quality and fineness. Exceptions to this are brown, black and multicolored. The cardboard can be cream, bluish or white with variations in color for the first two.

Simple FMPC (without illustrations).

These have the following features: the printed stamps in the upper-right corner; the two lined title using capital letters in the upper-center; the arms in the upper-left corner; the vertical statement at the left border; the seal at the lower-left corner; and the four lines for the address with the last being double. On the back side there are the restrictions at the top and the address (vertically at the left border with inclined letters). Dimensions are 150 x 105 (+or-5 mm). One can define the following different types:

1.1

As previously described. Colors cream (with variations, from light cream to brownish). Issued 1941

1.2

Same as for 1.1 with the addition of a 40 x 16 mm vertical rectangle with the inscription "Noi luptăm / Voi să subscrieti la / împrumutul reîntregirii - 1941" ("We fight / You shall subscribe to the reunification loan") between the arms and the seal. The reunification tax was imposed by law 183 on March 9 1942. Color cream (with variations, from light cream to brownish).

1.3

Same as for 1.1 with the addition of a blue diagonal rectangular band. Issued June 1, 1942.

1.4

Same as for 1.2 with the addition of a blue diagonal rectangular band (some position varieties are possible) on the front. Colors are cream and white. Issued June 1, 1942.

1.5.

Same as for 1.2 with the addition of a red diagonal rectangular band (to be used by POWs only). Issued June 1, 1942.

1.6.

Same as for 1.1 but color bluish (nuance variations). Issued April 1943.

1.7.

Same as for 1.2 but color bluish (nuance variations). Issued April 1943.

1.8

Same as for 1.1 with the addition of a 20 mm diagonal blue band formed by 38 fine parallel lines. Issued and used from September, 1944. Color cream.

Semi-illustrated FMPC

Type 2.1 These have a photograph of a military subject on the left half of the front of the card. Below this is a dated quote from Marshall Antonescu's speeches, statements or communiques. The right half of the card shows a two line title (with carte being used instead of cartă), the stamp in the upper-right corner, the arms at the left of the title, the vertical statements and seal below. Across the four address lines there is a 77 x 15 mm blue rectangular diagonal band. The reverse side is similar to Type 1 but with upright characters. Used until August 23, 1944. Color is cream.

Different photos and texts distinguish the sub-types:

2.1.1

King Mihai I and Marshall Antonescu during a visit on the frontlines.

Text:

În aceste vremi de sbucium şi frământare, inimile noastre se liniştesc unite în nădejdea pe care un neam o pune în noua Domnie.

Mareşalul ANTONESCU, 9 Septembrie 1940.

2.1.2.

Two frontier guards on Black Sea's cliff / sea wall.

Text:

Hotarele unui neam sunt mărginite de strălucirea concepţiei lui. Apărarea lor e ceasul cel mai greu şi sfânt din vieaţa unei ţări.

Mareşal ANTONESCU, 29 Septemvrie 1940.

2.1.3.

A Romanian officer decorating a German soldier; nearby is a swastika flag.

Text:

Declaraţie făcută ziarului 'V.B' 13 Octombrie 1940. Poporul român a admirat întotdeauna în mod sincer civilizaţia germană. Pe de altă parte, disciplina, seriozitatea, perfecţiunea administraţiei şi însuşirile tehnice ale poporului german, sunt elemente pe care Poporul Român va trebui să-şi clădească de mâine viaţa.

2.1.4

Two soldiers with mortar.

Text:

Poporul Român este prezent în această nouă croire de destine

Mareşalul ANTONESCU, 24 Octombrie 1940.

2.1.5

Hitler and Antonescu shaking hands in a railway station.

Text:

Pot să vă asigur astăzi, că mă întorc cu încrederea Fuehrerului şi a poporului german.

Mareşalul ANTONESCU, Noiembrie 1940

2.1.6

Marshall Antonescu inspecting a mountain corp subunit. In the background are German soldiers.

Text:

Azi mai mult ca niciodată, gândul meu şi grija mea de frate şi prieten, de părinte şi de şef, se îdreaptă în primul rând spre tine, drag ostaş de toate gradele.

Mareşalul ANTONESCU, 1 ianuarie 1941.

2.1.7

An observation post.

Text:

Către Armată 1 Ianuarie 1940. Crucea şi Stindardul, Ogorul şi Patria, Onoarea şi Virtutea, Înfrăţirea şi Iubirea, Legea şi Omenia - să fie, Ostaşi, ţelul nostru de acum înainte, fiidcă el a fost de veac, este şi va rămâne crezul adevăraţilor Români.

2.1.8

Soldier on anti-aircraft gun.

Text:

Către Români 26 Ianuarie 1941. Daţi Patriei tot ce este mai bun în voi... findcă astăzi se toarce sub ochii voştri soarta de veacuri a lumii. Şi la împlinirea ei fiecare trebuie să vă simţiţi chemarea. Regele şi Statul aşteaptă dela toţi împlinirea datoriei.

2.1.9

Two infantrymen fighting behind a wall.

Text:

Cuvântare 25 Martie 1941.... Acei ce mor la datorie, sunt şi rămân alături de icoanele noastre sfinte, icoanele luminoase ale Patriei.

2.1.10

Hitler and Antonescu examining maps.

Text:

Ordinea nouă, ce se va creia în Europa, găseşte în poporul nostru nu adeziunea politică formală, ci propriile lui credinţe, în marea credinţă europeană în devenire.

Mareşalul ANTONESCU, în 'Berliner Boersenzeitung' 26 Apr. 1941

Type 2.2 Used after September 1944. The photograph depicts King Michael in military uniform and with the legend. "H.M. Michael the 1st, Romania's King." The right half of the card is a little different from Type 2.1 as there is a new printed stamp (Kingdom's Arms), two lined vertical statements, different seals, 5 address lines. The reverse side is identical to Type 2.1. Colors are white or light cream with blue or brown printing.

2.2 Blue
2.2 Brown

Illustrated FMPC

The entire reverse side has a drawing while the front is divided into two halves with all the features mentioned above.


3.1 Romanian soldier watching the boundaries of Greater Romania with Bucharest and the fortresses of Deva, Hotin, and Cetatea-Albă all indicated. Both the card and the ink are blue.


3.2 Antonescu and Hitler. The text is Antonescu's declaration to the Romanians on Feb.6, 1941

3.3 In addition to the features of Type 3.1 this card has on the right half of the front an 89 x 15 mm blue rectangular band over the address lines. The black drawing show two children singing Christmas carols on a snow-bound village street. Above this there are two protecting soldiers, one Romanian and one German. Below the text reads, "Romania and Germany, comrades for today and for ever" The color of the card is light cream or dirty white.


3.4 Childrens with 'Steaua' singing Christmas carols in a Romanian village (Maramures area). Backside similar to 3.3.

3.5. This card provides a dramatic historical reversal to that of 3.3 above. It was issued after September 1944 and has a different front. It has the Kingdoms' arms, printed stamp, title and seal without other features. The multicolored drawing showing Romanian and Russian soldiers stepping across the northern Transylvanian border and attacking a German soldier. The text reads "Long live Romanian-Soviet brotherhood in arms" and "The Romanian army together with the glorious Red army fight to annihilate the invading Hitlerites"

Field Lettercards (FL)

Issued on October 1, 1943, these consist of 200 x 140 (+ or - 1) mm sheets of light-cream paper with one side printed in blue. The other side had its edges gummed so that after censoring it could be folded and mailed as a sealed letter. If one considers the folded letter there are then four sides. Side 2 & 3 are free for correspondence. Side one shows the title (Scrisoare de Campanie - "Campaign Letter"), over four address lines there is an 88 x 16 mm blue diagonal rectangular band. Below the statement "This letter will be glued after censoring" and the order number "C 0082." Side four has a photo and text. A number of types as follows have been identified. Date is that associated with the text.

FL 1.

Two infantrymen in corn field.

Text:

Adunarea foştilor luptători, 8 Decemvrie 1940.

Retrăind o clipă botezul sfânt al morţii pentru Patrie, veţi simţi mai puternic decât oricând sufletul dăruirii pentru Neam.

FL 2.

Four gunners on an artillery gun.

Text:

Ostaşi ! Pe umerii voştri apasă răspunderea asigurării prin luptă a drepturilor acestui neam.

Mareşalul Antonescu, Decemvrie 1940.

FL 3.

Observers in trench.

Text:

...Şi, veşnic, am rămas hotar şi temelie de civilizaţie în contra tuturor frământărilor şi a tuturor cotropirilor.

Mareşalul Antonescu, Decemvrie 1940

FL 4.

Navigator in a bomber.

Text:

Către Români, 1 Ianuarie 1941.

Cine nu-şi roade viaţa în lupta de ridicare a Ţării, nu este Român. Fiţi creştini, fiţi oameni, fiţi adevăraţi cetăţeni şi Români întregi.

FL 5.

Four gunners on an antiaircraft gun

Text:

Către Armată, 1 Ianuarie 1941.

Mă sbat, dragi ostaşi, să vă dau şi vouă viaţă nouă, să croiesc şi pentru voi drumuri drepte şi căi eterne de lumină şi de mândrie, de înfrăţire şi de tărie.

FL 6.

One German and one Romanian soldier in a trench.

Text:

Către Români, 26 Februarie 1941.

Azi, România nu mai e singură. Graniţele noastre, insituţiile sociale şi viitorul românesc se reazămă pe acordul cu aceste mari puteri europene şi al Japoniei, temeliile lumii viitoare.

FL 7.

Troops hailed by population in Bessarabia.

Text:

Proclamaţie, 11 Martie 1941.

Aţi dovedit, Români, că Neamul Românesc nu piere şi nu va putea pieri. Că azi, bate mai temeinic decât oricând, în toate vieţile româneşti o singură inimă; că toate braţele se ridică într'o singură închinare cucernică la un singur altar şi se pleacă vânjoase, gata de luptă şi de muncă pentru un singur ţel:Patria.

FL 8.

Troops on parade.

Text:

Proclamaţie, 11 Martie 1941.

Acum, vă cer mai mult. Vă cer să daţi totul, Patriei: conştiinţa, voinţa, munca şi jertfa voastră. Patriei, pentru care veac de veac şi generaţie de generaţie s'au trudit şi au murit ctitorii, martirii şi eroii Neamului. Patriei, pentru care s'a înzeuat Mihai Bravul; Patriei, pentru care a troznit pe roata osândei jertfa lui Horia şi Cloşca; Patriei, pentru care a strigat Şaguna: 'Români uniţi-vă', Patriei cântată de Bălcescu şi Eminescu; Patriei zidită de Voevozi, Regi şi Dregători; Patriei visată de tineretul curat al Neamului, de luptătorii şi cărturarii ui

FL 9.

Antonescu and Hitler examining a military map. In the background German high officials.

Text:

Strânsa frăţie de arme germano-română, călită pe câmpurile de luptă din Est, şi-a dat astfel roadele, cu care ne vom mândri totdeauna.

Mareşal Antonescu, 7 iunie 1942.

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