Description

1944 (Nov 19) Stampless Kriegsgefangenenpost letter sheet to Pietermaritzburg, Natal from 247611 Walter Haygarth Mutton in M.-Stammlager IV B located Muhlberg cancelled Egypt 104 Postage (11 Mar 45) transit cds used by South African forces in Egypt that overlays another cds dated 23 Nov 1944, a lengthy transit given it has a framed red Mit Luftpost / Par Avion / Taxe Percue pre paid 0.10 RM marking & violet 6 / Gepruft / Stalag IV repaid B Camp censor………..Although no delivery date is displayed September 1943 saw the first of the South African POW’s arrive after Italy had capitulated & the Germans quickly moved captured allied soldiers. Mutton could not have been at Stalag IV B barely a month before the Russians liberated the Camp on 24 April 1945…..A total of only 14000 South Africans were held in various German POW camps during WW2 an interesting item caught up during the final months of the war