Czechoslovakia-German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and of Slovakia

Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia

1939 Scott 20 & 21 5h dark blue & 10h black brown

A German motif: "Linden Leaves and Closed Buds" 

Quick History
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Adolf Hitler in September,1938 and agreed to Hitler's demands of the annexation of the Sudetenland. The French did likewise. The rationale was that this "Appeasement" might satisfy the aggressive Nazi regime, and prevent further encroachment.

When Germany annexed the Sudetenland (see Map-the part surrounding the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia), the President of Czechoslovakia, Edvard Benes, fled the country in October,1938. Germany planned to occupy the remaining parts of Bohemia and Moravia, and at the time was not particularly interested in Slovakia. But, they wanted Slovakia to declare its independence from Czechoslovakia, to make their occupation easier. Meanwhile, Czech troops occupied Slovakia, and Jozef Tiso, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, lost his post. Hitler invited Tiso to Berlin and forced him to declare the Independence of Slovakia, under German "protection". Otherwise Germany would allow Hungary and Poland to absorb the remaining territory in Slovakia. On March 14, 1939 Slovakia declared its independence, and on March 15, Germany invaded the remaining Bohemia and Moravia lands. Tiso became the puppet leader of Slovakia. The remaining parts of Bohemia and Moravia, as the Sudetenland had been subtracted, was turned into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

The stamps issued then represent the remaining (non-German) portion of Bohemia and Moravia - The Protectorate. The stamps issued from the Slovak Republic are from the "puppet" Slovakian regime.

Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia

Note the surrounding Sudetenland that has been absorbed into Germany

Big Blue Picture
Bohemia and Moravia-German Protectorate
Big Blue '97, on two pages, has 36 stamp spaces for regular and postage due stamps.

The 2011Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 76 major stamp descriptions for regular, semi-postal, personal delivery, postage due, and newspaper stamps. Coverage by '97 Big Blue is 47%.

There is no coverage by the '69 and '97 editions of Newspaper and Personal delivery stamps; but the '47 and '41 editions have 10 newspaper and 2 personal delivery stamp offerings on their pages. Since expense is not a consideration for Bohemia and Moravia's stamp issues under the German Protectorate, adding some  more stamps should not be a burden. I found 36 additional stamps (24 if one factors out the '47/'41 edition offerings) for the Big Blue collector. It's not all one way however. The '69 and '97 editions offer 5 stamps (37,38,J8,J10,J11) that the '41 and '47 editions do not have.

What about the stamps themselves? Any evidence of (German) propaganda? Well yes, but certainly not a heavy nationalistic motherland style. The 1939-41 Scott 20-24 "Linden Leaves and closed buds" evokes the romantic Linden tree, a German fixture, much what the "maple leaf" symbol means to Canada. Many of the stamps show (romantic) castles. A 1940 issue Scott 26 4k slate has the very industrial "Iron Works at Moravska Ostrava", a frank illustration of power. Finally, the 1940 semi-postals (B1,B2) with a surtax for the German Red Cross, show "Nurse and Wounded Soldier". The soldier looks quite resolute.

Slovakia-German Protectorate
Big Blue '97, on three not very full pages, has 26 stamp spaces for regular, air post, and postage due.
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue, unlike Bohemia and Moravia,  has the Slovakia section detached from the Czechoslovakia section. Apparently, this is because Slovakia declared its independence from Czechoslovakia in 1939, but immediately fell into the waiting arms of Germany for "protection". The catalogue has 126 major stamp descriptions for regular,air post, postage due, semi-postal, personal delivery, and newspaper categories.. Coverage is 21%.

Clearly, Big Blue does not have as many stamp spaces for  Slovakia (26 vs 36) compared to Bohemia and Moravia, even though Slovakia issued more stamps ( 126 vs 76). Again in the '69 and '97 editions, there is no coverage of  newspaper stamps, although the '47/'41 editions do provide nine spaces. Altogether, I did find 66 inexpensive stamps (56 if one factors out the '47/'41 additional spaces)  that could be added by the Big Blue collector.

The Slovakian stamps featured Andrej Hinka, who died in 1938, but was considered a hero of the Slovakian independence movement from Czechoslovakia. Jozef Tiso, also featured on a regular and the semi-postal stamp, was the leader of the Slovak State, the puppet state of Nazi Germany between 1939-1945. He was hanged for his support of nazism and treason after WWII.

Additionals...
Bohemia and Moravia-German Protectorate

1939 Stamps of Czechoslovakia 1928-39, overprinted

6,8,9(<$1),11,12,14($1+),15,16,18,19,($2+ eN) 

eN= except noted

1939

39($1+)

1940

41,42,43,44,45,46,47,(<$1)

48($1+)

Postage due

1939

J12,J13,J14,($1+-$2+)

semi-postals

1940

B1,B2,(<$1)

Personal delivery

1939-40

EX1,EX2,($1+)

Note: in '47 and ''41 editions

Newspaper

1939

P1,P2,P3,P4,P5,P6,P7,P8,P9,(<$1)

Note: in '47 and ''41 editions

1940 overprint

J10(<$1)

Note: in '47 and ''41 editions

Slovakia-German Protectorate

1939 

2($1+),3,4,6,7,8,9,10,12,(<$1 eN)

13,14,15,16,17,18,($1+)

1939

32,33,(<$1)

Note: in '47 & '41 editions

1939

34($1+),35,36,37($1+),(<$1 eN)

1940-43

J45,J46,J47,J48,J49,(<$1)

1940-42

55,56,57($1+),(<$1 eN)

Semi-postal

1939

B1($2+)

Note: in the '47 and '41 editions.

Air post

1939

C7,C8,C9,($1+-$2+)

Personal delivery

EX1,EX2,($1+)

Postage due

1939

J6,J7,(<$1)

J9,J10,($2+)

1940-41

J13,J14,J15,J17,J18,J19(<$1)

J20,J22,J23,($1+-$2+)

Newspaper

1939 (Newspaper stamps of Czechoslovakia 1937 overprinted)

P1,P2,P3,P4,P5,P6,P7,(<$1)

P8($2+)

1939

P10,P11,P12,P13,(<$1)

P14,P15(<$1),P16,P17,P18,($1+ eN)

Note: in the '47 and '41 editions.

1940-41

P20*,P23*,P25*,P28,

Note: wmk 263, and I excluded '41 issues for consideration.

*Note: These are in the '41 and '47 editions as alternative choices to the 1939 issue above.

Slovakia

1939 Scott 31 1k dark carmine rose

"Andrej Hinka ", Hero of the Independence movement

Big Blue Checklist

Bohemia and Moravia-German Protectorate
1939 Stamps of Czechoslovakia 1928-39, overprinted
1,2,3,4,5,(<$1)
Two blank spaces: suggest 7 & 10 (<$1)

1939 Linden Trees, Castles

27,20,21,22,23,24*,28,(<$1)

29,31,32,33,34,30,(<$1)

*Note 24 is 30h deep plum; 24A golden brown '41 not eligible

1939-40

35,36,40,37*,(<$1)

Blank space: suggest 38*(<$1)

*Note: not in '47 and '41 editions

Postage due

1939

J1,J2,J3,J4,J5,J6,(<$1)

J7,J9,J11,(<$1)

Two blank spaces: suggest J8 & J10(<$1)

Slovakia-German Protectorate

1939 Andrej Hinka (mostly)

41($1+),24,25,40,42,(<$1)

26,27,28,29,30,31,(<$1)

1939

43,38,39,43A*

*Note 43A is 70h dark red brown "Dr Josef Tiso", and a '42 issue! Not in the '41 or '47 editions.

Air post

1939

C1,C2,C3,C4,C5($1+),C6($1+), (<$1 eN)

Postage due

1939

J1,J2,J3,J4($1+), (<$1 eN)

Blank space: suggest J5(<$1)

Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia

1939-40 Scott 37 5k dark green

"Iron Works at Moravska Ostrava"

Kinds of Blue

Bohemia and Moravia-German Protectorate

The '69 and '97 editions are identical in content.

The '69 and "97 editions have for 1939-40, Scott 37 & blank space-38. These stamps are NOT in the '47 and '41 editions.

The '69 and '97 editions have for Postage due J11 & Two blank spaces-J8,J10. These stamps are NOT in the '47 and '41 editions.

The '47 and '41 editions ADD coverage of personal delivery and newspaper stamps

Specifically...

Personal delivery ('41 & '47 editions)

1939

EX1,EX2,($1+)

Newspaper ('41 & '47 editions)

1939

P1,P2,P3,P4,P5,P6,P7,(<$1)

P8,P9,P10*,(<$1)

*Note: P10 is '40 issue overprinted "GD-OT"

Slovakia-German Protectorate

The '69 and '97 editions are identical in content.

The '69 and '97 editions have the for 1939, 43A ( a '42 issue) that is NOT in the '41 and '47 editions.

The '41 and '47 editions have the following ADDITIONAL stamps

1939

32,33,(<$1)

1939

34,35,36,37,($1+)

Semi-postal

1939

B1($2+)

Newspaper

1939

P10, P11 or P20, P12,P13,(<$1)

P14($1+) or P23, P15,P16($1+) or P25,P17($1+),P18($1+), (<$1 eN)

Note: alternative choices P20,P23,P25 are wmk 263 and '40 issues. Since BB specifies "1939", you decide if choices are eligible.

.

Slovakia

1939 Scott 43 50h slate green

"Dr. Josef Tiso"

Hanged for his support of nazism and treason after WWII

Big Blue Bottom Line
Very interesting (brutal) history.

The Big Blue collector may want to add a more generous selection of both Bohemia and Moravia, and of  Slovakia.

Note: Maps  appear to be in the public domain.

If you enjoyed this post, or have some information to share, or have some constructive criticism, please share your thoughts and reactions in the "comment" section.  Thanks!

Note: You will need to consult a Scott catalogue for specific pricing. I only give a very "ball park" price, and never the actual catalogue value.
<$1= less than a Dollar
$1+= more than a Dollar
$2+= more than two Dollars
$5+= more than five Dollars
$10+= more than ten Dollars
$20+..and so on.

Map of Czechoslovakia prior to breakup