WWII Adria-Alpenvorland
When Italy declared an armistice in September 1943, German military forces immediately took over control of Italian bases on the Adriatic coast (ADRIA), and in Belluno, South Tyrol and Trentino in the north of Italy (ALPENVORLAND). The German Dienstpost replaced Italian postal services in these areas until the end of WWII.
ALPENVORLAND
German troops took over parts of Italy lying on the southern slops of the Alps. However, Dienstpost offices were limited in number, and there was resistance from Italian-speaking partisans. At the end of 1944 forces retreated towards the Austrian border.
The Dienstpost offices will be provided shortly :
In theory the Dienstpost service was reserved for official and important mail but philatelic items are known, including covers addressed in bulk to the stamp dealer Karl Hennig in Hamburg. Further reading : "Deutsche Dienstpost 1939-45" by Dr Hermann Schultz in the Rhein-Donau series.
ADRIA POSTMARKS
Whilst the German troops occupied the few major cities on the northern part of the Adriatic coast, partisans controlled much of the countryside and Dienstpost offices were limited in number, with the headquarters based in Trieste. At the end of 1944 forces retreated towards the Austrian border, and an office at Tarvis was briefly opened but only one example of this town's postmark is recorded by Dr Schultz. The Dienstpost offices were as follows :
FIUME
GORZ
LAIBACH
POLA
TARVIS (rare)
TRIEST
UDINE.
In theory the Dienstpost service was reserved for official and important mail but philatelic items are known, including covers addressed in bulk to the stamp dealer Karl Hennig in Hamburg. Further reading : "Deutsche Dienstpost 1939-45" by Dr Hermann Schultz in the Rhein-Donau series.