Polish Stamps
Commemoratives of 1944-1945
The issue of Polish stamps resumed in late 1944, during the liberation of Poland by the armies of the USSR.
Poland would again become a sovereign republic, but the new
Soviet-style socialist People's Republic would be very different from
the democratic parliamentary republic that existed there before the end of 1939.
After the end of World War II, Poland's borders were returned to what they were in 1939, with one
notable exception. The Polish states that were annexed by the USSR at
the time of the German invasion of 1939 were NOT RETURNED to the new
Polish People's Republic.
The three portrait commemorative Polish stamps shown above were issued on September 7, 1944 to honor Polish freedom fighters.
The three designs feature portraits of famous Polish freedom fighters, as follows:
- Romauld Traugutt (1826-1864).
- Tadeusz Kosciuszko (1746-1817).
- Jan Henryk Dabrowski (1755-1818).
The two propaganda-type Polish stamps shown above (Sc. #344-345) were issued on September 13, 1944 to promote the historical symbols of Polish sovereignty and independence.
The designs are as follows:
- Polish Heraldic Eagle.
- Grunwald Monument. The monument, located in Krakow, commemorates the battle fought in 1410 during the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War. The Polish and Lithuanian victory marked the rise of the Polish-Lithuanian union as the dominant political and military power in the region.
The three 25 G. denomination overprinted propaganda-type Polish stamps shown above (Sc. #345A-345C) were issued during 1944 and 1945 to publicize recently created Polish government agencies.
The English translation of the agencies honored on each of the overprinted stamps are as follows:
- K.R.N. - Polish National Council.
- P.K.W.N. - Polish National Liberation Committee.
- R.T.R.P. - Temporary Administration of the Polish Republic.
The ten 25 G. denomination overprinted propaganda-type Polish stamps shown above (Sc. #347-356) were issued on February 12, 1945 to celebrate the Liberation of Poland.
The overprint on each of the stamps features the name and liberation date of Polish cities, as follows.
- Warszawa - 17.1.1945
- Czestochawa - 17.1.1945
- Krakow - 19.1.1945
- Lodz - 19.1.1945
- Radom - 16.1.1945
- Kielce - 15.1.1945
- Gniezno - 22.1.1945
- Bydgoszcz - 23.1.1945
- Kalisz - 24.1.1945
- Zakopane - 29.1.1945
From the dates on this table, it looks like the Soviet Army liberated Poland in about 14 days. About three months later they would overrun Berlin, along with the American and British Armies approaching from the West, and World War II would finally come to an end!
The five pictorial commemorative Polish stamps shown above (Sc. #357-361) were issued on April 10, 1945 to celebrate the Liberation of Krakow in January.
The designs feature attractions in Krakow, as follows:
- 50 G. - Grunwald Monument.
- 01 Z. - Kosciuszko Statue.
- 02 Z. - Cloth Hall.
- 03 Z. - Copernicus Monument.
- 05 Z. - Wawel Castle.
The two overprinted Polish stamps shown above (Sc. #362-363) were issued during 1945 to commemorate Polish popular uprisings that involved Romuald Traugutt and Tadeusz Kosciuszko.
The three commemorative Polish stamps shown above (Sc. #365-367) were issued on March 9, 1945 to celebrate the Liberation of Lodz and Warsaw.
The designs are as follows:
- 01 Z. - Lodz Skyline.
- 03 Z. - Kosciuszko Monument in Lodz.
- 05 Z. - Flag Bearer carrying a Wounded Comrade.
The three commemorative Polish stamps shown above (Sc. #370-372) were issued on September 15, 1945 to celebrate the Liberation of Gdansk (Danzig).
The designs feature attractions in Gdansk, as follows:
- 01 Z. - Crane Tower.
- 02 Z. - Stock Tower.
- 03 Z. - Ancient High Gate.
The six pictorial commemorative Polish stamps shown above (Sc. #374-379) were issued during 1945 to publicize the Devastation that occurred in Warsaw, as the result of World War II.
Each of the stamps shows views of Warsaw in 1939 and in 1945, as follows:
- 01.50 Z. - Warsaw Castle.
- 03.00 Z. - Cathedral of St. John.
- 03.50 Z. - City Hall.
- 06.00 Z. - Post Office.
- 08.00 Z. - Army General Staff Headquarters.
- 10.00 Z. - Holy Cross Church.
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Return to Stamps of Poland from
Polish Stamps - Commemoratives of 1944-1945
The overprinted and re-valued
propaganda-type Polish stamp shown above (Sc. #346) was issued on September 1, 1945.
The overprinted and re-valued
propaganda-type Polish stamp shown above (Sc. #364) was issued on September 10, 1945.
The 5 Z. denomination Polish stamp shown above (Sc. #368) was issued on July 16, 1945 to commemorate the Battle of Grunwald on July 15, 1410.
The Polish and Lithuanian victory marked
the rise of the Polish-Lithuanian union as the dominant political and
military power of Eastern Europe.
The 3 Z. denomination stamp shown above (Sc. #369) was issued on July 22, 1945 to celebrate the First Anniversary of the Liberation of Poland.
The design features an eagle breaking fetters and a manifesto of freedom.
The 10 Z. denomination stamp shown above (Sc. #373) was issued on November 29, 1945 to commemorate the 115th Anniversary of the November Uprising against the Russian Empire.
The design features a rebellion scene.