OFLAG XB POW lettercard reply half (German/French text with printed officers camp designation; Nienburg/Weser) from Greek army officer housed in the camp to Greece. Stamped in red with "04", indicating the month the complete (2-part) lettercard was initially distributed to prisoner in the camp.
The message written by relative is dated 10.05.1944, and the item is postmarked for despatch with ‘ΚΑΣΤΟΡΙΑ 11?.V.44’ [Kastoria (Macedonia), 11? May 1944] date stamp, applied on missing flap; postmarked ‘ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ 18.V.44’ [Thessaloniki, 18.5.44] in transit to Germany.
Dispatched to Vienna, where it was inspected by the international letter inspection military service “g”, authorized to examine correspondence mainly to and from the Balkan States; pencil examiner’s number “6072/V” endorsed on front. The “Oberkommando der Wehrmacht / geprüft” 7-line red machine stamp was applied for release.
Arrived in the camp in Nienburg/Weser area, where the red "23.Mai 1944" camp handstamp was applied on arrival.
Prisoner's manuscript endorsement "ελήφθη 15/6/44" [received / 15 June 1944] on the day the lettercard was delivered to him.
Interesting rare item not only because Greek officers are very rarely found in German POW camps but also for the fact that incoming mail to camps very seldom survived, escaping sentries’ repeated checks. Considering the conditions, under which the prisoner tried to hide and preserve old correspondence till his repatriation after the end of the war, one may understand the difficulties for this.
Item condition: Some wear and general signs of handling, mostly due to paper’s poor quality. Flap is missing, probably cut off during the prisoner’s presence for one more year till Germany’s capitulation. See scans.