War and Philately

Third, this is not a conventional war, in that non-conventional (guerilla) methods are being used to enhance the power of the weakest side, and to take advantages of weaknesses in the opposing side's power base. It is a diabolical war of terror - aimed at keeping people from responding, hopefully so they, themselves, will not be the next victim. Lack of response only emboldens these criminals to expand their reach, just as appeasement emboldened Hitler to attack Poland after the Putsch in Czechoslovakia.

The big question is, how will this war affect philately? It's hard to say at this point. We do know there was a huge surge in American patriotism, and in a sudden sense of community between the United States and most Western nations. Will this result in stamp issues specifically discussing the World Trade Center disaster, or other terrorist incidents? We can only wait and see, and look back at how war has affected stamp issues over the past 160 years.

It's difficult to pinpoint the first stamp issued strictly as the result of war. The earliest Occupation issues I can find reference to are the Chilean occupation issues of Peru, in 1884, and the related provisional issues. Another good candidate is the "Mafeking Besieged" issues of Cape of Good Hope, in 1900. These two examples also illustrate two ways war affects philately: the issuance of Occupation stamps by an occupying army, and the printing and issuing of provisional issues when areas are cut off from official sources of supply. Here are a few examples of how war affects philately, with some examples of each:

• Occupation Stamps: Occupation stamps are issued by one nation for use in the territory or portions of the territory of another nation that is under military or political control of the occupying power. As we mentioned, the occupation stamps issued by Chile for use in areas under its occupation during a war with Peru are perhaps the first such issue. There are literally hundreds of other examples, however. Both World War I and World War II resulted in hundreds of occupation issues for Europe. Austria issued occupation stamps for Romania and Italy, for instance. After Germany's surrender in 1918, Belgium issued stamps for use in Eupen and Malmedy, following a plebiscite that ceded these territories to it. During World War II, both Germany and Japan issued occupation stamps for more than 20

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