Civil Censorship Germany Cancel
I'm looking for information on this cover from Bermuda - looks like 1947 BUT unclear postmark. Cover is addressed to the USA Zone in Germany with a circular CIVIL CENSORSHIP PASSED 20870 GERMANY handstamp. Any information on the USA Zone, how long it operated for and also the censor tape which was applied in Germany would be appreciated.
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Nigel - I agree the year looks like 1947. Also the last letter in the month looks like a G which means it would be August (AUG).
The cover was censored in Germany - the censor mark is U.S. CIVIL CENSORSHIP / GERMANY with in the centre below the Eagle PASSED / 20870.
The OPENED BY label looks like one used in Germany but it would be useful to have a scan of the back of the envelope to see the other side of the label - this could read:
MIL. CEN.-CIVIL MAILS.
I’ve got this information from “POSTWAR YEARS OF GERMANY 1945-48 Postal History” by Dr H.F. Stich and W Stich, published by them in 1994. It does not state when censorship of civil mails ended in Germany but does indicate that there was a phased closure in parts of the US Zone between March and April 1947. Of course, mail from overseas could have been subject to a longer censorship period.