This web page, published by the Military Postal History Society, contains the text from all of the The American Occupation of the Rhineland 1918-1923 exhibit pages created by Jerry Miller. This exhibit was created by, and is the property of Mr. Miller, and is being supplied as a courtesy to the Military Postal History Society.
The American
Occupation of the Rhineland
1918-1923
By Jerry H. Miller
WATCH ON THE RHINE ...
AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF THE RHINELAND: 1918-1923
ra \ 4°
~~ Ipp +
youse 3 : Mons ate BRITISH
\ a, . ,
148 Longuyon’.,
Montfaucon\ | eReims e
Verdun Ye a
‘ — tos
St. Mihicl\, Pont:
Ca Mousson \y.
Ligny-en-Barrois, ‘ . ia Nancy. Wien. Strasbourg (y
—xxxx— Boundary of Zone of Advance ie, Bridgehead 18 Mite Radius
oe a international Boundary SR Neutral Zone 6 Miles Wide
Armed conflict of World War | ceased with an armisiice
between Germany and the Allies on 11 November 1918.
As part of that agreement, German Forces on the Western Front returned to Germany, east of the Rhine River, with Allied Forces subsequently occupying the area of the ‘Rhineland’ with Allied
Bridgeheads located at the cities of Mayence (French), Coblenz (American) & Cologne (British).
WATCH ON THE RHINE ...
AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF THE RHINELAND: 1918-1923
EXHIBIT Commencing with the Armistice of 11 November 1918, this
dispiay-class exhibit shows the evoiuiion of ihe American
Occupation of the Rhineland, German civilian & commercial censored mail during the period ending with ihe
American evacuation of the Rhineland in February 1923.
TEXT COLOR-CODING
BLACK: General historical, geographical &
postal rate/route/marking information.
BLUE: Chapter-Start-Page Heading & Important annotative information.
Blue-matted examples indicate
particular importance & scarcity.
MAROON: Postal Rate Information
EXHIBIT OVERVIEW
I. Map & Background
Exhibit Overview
li. Armistice & Peace Conference Mail
li. |§ American Forces Mail
A. Advance fo the Rhine
B. Principal Bases
C. Soldier & Officer Mail Censorship
D. Military - Affiliated-Civilian Mail
E. Military Unit & Types of Soldiers’ Maii
F. Welfare Organizations
IV. Civilian German & Commercial Mail
A. Restricted Mail
B. Civilian & Commercial Censored Mail
Vil. American Evacuation of the Rhineland
GERMAN ARMISTICE COMMISSION Armistice Discussions
By September 1918, German defenses on the Western Front had collapsed, whereupon
THE GERMAN MILITARY REQUESTED ARMISTICE DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE ALLIES ON 5 OCTOBER 1918, culminating in an armistice agreement to be signed on
11 November 1918.
Geschartspapier Biugchreibes ae
Secu oraielintces A AAAS POLE So AWARE - t- '
Aja dem 3 4 ae
Kom im ieel
11 MAY 1919
Registered correspondence cover, postmarked at the German Commission's Post Office at Spa, Belgium,
sent to the Mayor's Office at Posen, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Posen, 13 May 1919”
35 Pfennig.. 10 Pig + 5 Pig War Tax = 15 Pfg..
Single-weight (20 grams) domestic letter-rate
+ 20 Pfg.. Registration fee
One of less than five known registered business mail covers.
Spa .. Belgium GERMAN ARMISTICE COMMISSION
The ‘GERMAN ARMISTICE COMMISSION’
HEADQUARTERS WAS LOCATED in the former residence of
Emperor Wilhelm Il .. rf, “Le Neubois", located gat 13? wonand
AT SPA, BELGIUM. ey So gens i.
Branch Offices of the Commission were : —_— ae en ee sa located in the Cities of Disseldort, cpt pre sree
Frankfurt/Main & Posen. we —_ 4 I» ee Fra re ‘
Subsequent to agreement between Germany et) ee * g Mh ti Se “ee § =
& the Allies concerning armistice, the former Emperor's residence was used for diplomatic
conferences involving Peace Treaty, Reparations, etc.
9 JULY 1920
View-card of
Kaiser Wilhelm’s former residence at
Spa, Belgium, with Commemorative Postmark..
“Spa.. Diplomatic Conference”
ARMISTICE 11 November 1918
AT 11:00 HOURS ON 11 NOVEMBER 1918 AN ARMISTICE BETWEEN THE FORCES OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE AND THE
ALLIES TOOK EFFECT RESULTING IN CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES OF WORLD WAR I.
As a result of the armistice and subsequent required return of German soldiers to Germany east of the Rhine
_ River, as part of that agreement, German ‘Fieldpost’ Mail was interrupted or had delayed delivery.
11 NOVEMBER 1918
German newspaper wrapper, postmarked at Berlin,
sent to a driver with a military transportation column on the Western Front,
returned to sender marked... “Lurick..
Beférderung eingesfellf (Return to Sender ..
Delivery Suspended”)
”
Free-frank when mail endorsed
“Feldpostbrief”
“ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT!”
With the signing of the armistice, German soldiers soon commenced return to Germany in accordance with the terms of the agreement, most
of whom were discharged from service.
Postcards having the theme “PEACE” were available for sale, many of which were purchased and mailed by Allied Occupation Forces who
moved into heretofore German tenitory.
“Home Again!”
“Hope..
GERMAN PEACE DELEGATION Post Office Mail
A GERMAN PEACE DELEGATION OFFICE & POST OFFICE WERE ESTABLISHED AT
VERSAILLES, FRANCE
fo negotiate a peace agreement.
A special postmark was applied belween 16 May — 16 June 1919 “Deutsche Friedensdelegation”
with all Delegation Mail being free-frank.
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Delegation mail was taken by courier to the Berlin Post Office “C2”
for distribution through the Reichsposf.
GERMAN PEACE DELEGATION Courier Mail
THE GERMAN PEACE
DELEGATION’S
OPERATION CONTINUE
WELL AFTER THE SIGNING
OF THE
‘TREATY OF VERSAILLES
ON 28 June 1919
in order to define and
administer that
agreement.
Any mail from the Peace Delegation had to be
applied with the delegation’s cachet
mark in order for it to be valid for
free-franking handling by the Reichspost
or for delivery by the post office courier service.
Delegation mail was taken by courier from Versailles to Berlin where it
entered the Reichspost system for delivery or by the post office courier service
located at the “Berlin W&" Post Office.
AMERICAN PEACE DELEGATION APO 975 .. Paris
THE AMERICAN PEACE DELEGATION OFFICES WERE LOCATED AT PARIS, FRANCE, WITH ALL MAIL ROUTED THROUGH THE
‘AMERICAN EXPRESS SERVICE APO 975’.
Official or related mail was free-frank while mail sent by civilians affiliated with the delegation required postage equivalent
at the American domestic rate.
AMERICAN COMMISSION PEACEDELEGATION = #$=TO NEGOTIATE ‘PEACE
AFFILIATED ee ee
CIVILIAN MAIL lh i
28 MAY 1919 eo | Mrs Charlton M Lewis
Cover, military ee ) ee censored, a 425 St Ronan St
ostmarked atthe | sae Je Gene ee eas PAPO 975' Post a New Haven, Conn
Office, es | : sent to New Haven, j primer ae
Connecticut 7 eas eek ’ U.S.A
3 Cents.. . oe tom Domestic USA a fag SSE > oP single-weight Bi ime se
letter-rate ; Sees (2 November 1917 - 30 June 1919)
PEACE DELEGATION FREE-FRANK
MILITARY PERSONNEL MAIL
29 MARCH 1919
Cover, military-base censored,
postmarked at ‘APO 975’, written by
a soldier (military return address
“APO 702”)
ofthe Peace Delegation Guard, sent to
Audubon, lowa.
PEACE TREATY OF VERSAILLES Postmarks of the Peace Conference
Three amendments to the Armistice Agreement of 11 November 1918 were approved prior to signing of a peace treaty officially ending World War |. Negotiations between the Allies & the German Government took place at the Palace of Versailles, France.
SIGNING OF A PEACE TREATY TOOK PLACE ON 28 JUNE 1919 in a railway car on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles with the official
proclamation taking place in the “Hall of Mirrors” at the palace, where 48 years earlier King Wilhelm | of Prussia proclaimed the ‘Second German Empire’.
Dire ore
Postmark: Soe
“Versailles .. 6 Vee
Congres de la Paix” Le eae
(“Versailles .. Peace
Congress”) i,
31 MAY 1919
Cover, postmarked at asa
the Versailles PN a og, ea = DA OO ee Pe es
Peace Conference, SNe Vive get SB ro COR ce aan me a Pee ee ee ar oe sent toa nae ey Ss a a, eer han / BXpéatt tons es | Pee aoe
freight forwarder at i Rae a CH eet ee as pe | a ER
Peas. Wine ORE I as Ss TARDINT HE ge pee
seal: batliearsnes te a a, ee ey 6 rme. ay Pont Mens
Le eae adore ae
Postmark: “Versailles Chateau -
Congres de la Paix” (“Versailles Palace -
Peace Conference”)
28 JUNE 1919
e c o n
P r
e e e e e e e
e i
if oe
; re i
ie
i “Hall of Mirrors ..
Vesailles Palace”
Local printed-matter view-card mail, postmarked at ‘3 PM’ = 15 hrs,
time of signing of the treaty.
hates bel ik
9 5 e x ’ i2 ra 3 ' ij
Ou fut fondé l'Einpire Allemand le 48 Janvier 1871, En 1919 les Alliés y proclament s: 8a decheancs par Ja Conference de la Paw
Palace of VFRSAILLES — Miror’s Galery ~- 245 ft. long 35 ft. wile. ; JOSICC There was founded the German Empire on the 18th January 187i. In 1919 the Ailies proclaim its fall by the Conférence of the Peace
Al AME
AA
EFRICAN FORCES Advance to Germany APO 745 .. 5 Division (VI Corps)
Postmark Usage: 26 November 1918-3 July 1919
c¢
SOON AFTER SIGNING THE ARMISTICE, AMERICAN & OTHER ALLIED FORCES COMMENCED MOVEMENT TO GERMANY TO TAKE UP THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS IN
THE GERMAN RHINELAND.
9
The American 5" Division (6" Infantry), heretofore in France, took up its position at Esch, Luxembourg, near Trier, Germany, with its mission to control traffic circulation
at the Luxembourg-German Border.
26 DECEMBER 1918
‘U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *745*”"
Free-frank officer-censored
view-card, sent to
Fort Worth, Texas.
Pr eandict 4g SIS,
Sy
“D EM
*7 “Z
HO pU OW -p eg
‘J ay r2 eW NY IS
“NY O} 04 p/ a- 4 A
\ FO
r p s o d p r o y * d n e y o s s s e
7 APRIL 1919
cite
Postal Eecress Se ro) rv ice
4g
* j No. 745
Free-frank
officer-censored cover, sentto
New York City.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance to Germany APO 750 .. 33rd Division (VI Corps)
Postmark Usage: 30 November 1918 - 25 April 1919
The American 33rd Division (VI Corps) ... known as THE “PRAIRIE DIVISION” FROM ILLINOIS ... SPEARHEADED THE OCCUPATION
OF LUXEMBOURG (20 November 1918)
& SAARBURG, GERMANY (on 7 December 1918).
30 NOVEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office MPES *750*”
Free-frank officer-censored
cover, sent to
Chicago, Illinois.
8 DECEMBER 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *750*”
Free-frank officer-censored
cover, sent to
Harvard, Illinois.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance to Germany APO 750 .. 33rd Division (VI Corps)
Postmark Usage: 30 November 1918 — 25 April 1919
SOON AFTER ITS OCCUPATION OF SAARBURG, GERMANY, ON 7 DECEMBER 1918, THE “PRAIRIE DIVISION” WAS RECALLED TO LUXEMBOURG
to participate in control of the Luxembourg-German Border, having its headquarters at Diekirch, Luxembourg,
remaining there until its return to the United States in April 1919.
11 MARCH 1919
“U.S. Military Postal Express Service *
No. 750”
Free-frank military-censored
‘Knights of Columbus’ Cover, sent to
Chicago, Illinois.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance to Germany APO 777 .. 6th Division (IV Corps)
Postmark Usage: 20 November 1918 - 28 May 191?
IN APRIL 1919, THE AMERICAN ‘6" DIVISION’ (IV CORPS) MOVED INTO GERMANY
AS PART OF THE ‘ARMY OF OCCUPATION’, STATIONED AT BAD BERTRICH
between 28 April - 19 May 1919, whereupon it was redeployed to Brest, France,
and returned to the United States.
17 APRIL 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *777*”
Free-frank,
officer-censored (red-purple ink) cover,
sent to
Springfield, Illinois.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance to Germany APO 951 .. VI Corps (II Army)
Postmark Usage: 20 May 1919-18 July 1919
‘VI CORPS’ WAS STATIONED IN LUXEMBOURG & PORTIONS OF BELGIUM
between 19 December 1918 — 11 April 1919, whereupon its units were transferred to ‘VII Corps’ in Germany
or redeployed to the United States.
‘APO 951’ WAS ORIGINALLY LOCATED AT LUXEMBOURG CITY.
19 JUNE 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office MPES *951*”
Free-frank, officer-censored (black ink) cover,
sent to Chicago, Illinois.
AMERICAN FORCES
ON 1 DECEMBER 1918 FORCES OF THE AMERICAN ‘THIRD ARMY’ CROSSED THE GERMAN
BORDER advancing fo fulfill their initial
missions of taking up their
designated positions of occupation
in the Rhineland.
Advance into Germany
German Border Crossing: 1 December 1918
American and Allied Advance to the Rhine November 17 -December 14, 1918
vy f y 7 Ges
Sat OFT MOLL AN DD} i PRS aaa eet
oo + d «
re . o oP @
Ho? Es # Rix;
KeGiay la-Chapelle Ss met
FRCoblenz2Z »
oReims
St. Mihiel\, Pont No a-Mousson \y.
Ze Signs Ny Nene —XxxxX= Boundary of Zone of Advance fat Bridgehead 18 Mite Radius
= International Boundary XZZz Neutral Zone 6 Miles Wide
Ligny-en-Barrois,
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Ha yi ng en
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1 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army
Post Office MPES
*No. 746” (4" Division, IV Corps)
Free-frank, military-censored soldier's mail, sent to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,
postmarked on recorded day of crossing into Germany.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany Rhineland Occupation Locations
BY 21 DECEMBER 1918, Zone of American Army of Occupation, December 21, 1918
THE AMERICAN THIRD ARMY HAD REACHED ITS ADVANCE-MISSION Qn J0 20,30 40 SO Miles
OBJECTIVES AND ESTABLISHED -
UNIT HEADQUARTERS IN THE
GERMAN RHINELAND:
Third Army Advance.. Trier Permanent.. Coblenz
% ay Bertrich
il Corps Neuwied ae *§ s “Bemeaste
IV Corps Cochen = \ Me eT "a 2
Vil Corps Wittlich oN me o. Sas oF . 1+ Division | Montabaur : “f fe 2°¢ Division Heddesdorf = i .
3 Division §Andernach Z 4h Division Bad Bertrich
329 Division Rengsdorf 42"4 Division Ahrweiler 89" Division Kyllburg _ olen
90" Division Bermcastel Ge, Neutralcone, =, -Bridnehead
-»xxxx- Boundary of American Zone
Verdun, ‘i —xxxx— Boundary between American Armies
ial i a eataataatad Division Boundary
aN * Headquarters Third Army
2D DIVISION
481 DIVISION — QOTH DIVISION.
22 DIVISION V - QZB DIVISION »
Each unit of the American Third Army had its own Insignia, occasionally illustrated on subsequent military or soldier correspondence.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance General Headquarters in Germany APO 930 .. Third Army
Postmark Usage: 25 January 1919 - 10 August 1919
a IS oS
Advance General Headquarters 4 American Expeditionary Forces, Government Building, S@ Treves, Germany, — GENERAL OPERATION
HEADQUARTERS during the advance
was initially located at
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, and RELOCATED TO THE
GERMAN CITY OF TRIER
AS THE ADVANCE COMMENCED & UNTIL
ALL UNITS WERE SITUATED IN THEIR
RESPECTIVE RHINELAND MISSION LOCATIONS.
25 JANUARY 1919
“Postal Express Service No 930”
{Earliest known usage.)
Free-frank officer-censored cover,
written by an airman affiliated with the ‘166™ Army Air Squadron’, sent to Dayton, Ohio.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance General Headquarters in Germany APO 930 .. Third Army
Postmark Usage: 25 January 1919-10 August 1919
‘GENERAL OPERATION HEADQUARTERS’ AT TRIER REMAINED UNTIL RELOCATED TO THE CITY OF COBLENZ (Rhine River Bridgehead) BY 1 JUNE 1919.
With the dissolution of the ‘Third Army’ in July 1919, the Trier District
was evacuated and replaced by French Forces (38" Division) by September 1919.
; ee THE
12 MARCH 1919 oe
“Postal Express Service oN lepe of Washington | look down
No 930 ¥ \\ Upon this ancient German town
(Inverted postmark date tra. And see the flag you loved fly free insertion in postmark.) ee Upon the spire of Monarchy.
ae Porta Nias olden gate es Bete till stands in sombre ruinous state,
Free-frank censored, Steg The officers of the U.S.A. : Patriotic View-Card, ‘ Go briskly to and fro each day.
sent to And soldiers, thousand eee ols Ns srvi Be These ancient streets and try to ta ae
Port Jarvis, New York. é - The German language with a”Oui’ Bae ---Exponents of Democracy.
So far From home.Great Spirit guide Our every step, that we with pride May go back soon with laurels won,
ye é a hear our loved ones say’Well Done’
.ax"igy Dor helt ce atin ee
21 MARCH 1919
“Third Army .
APO 930” (Very early use of
German-
manufactured
postmark-stamp)
Free-frank officer-
censored cover,
written by an
airman affiliated with
the
‘166 Army Air Squadron’, “Army of
Occupation”, sent to Dayton,
Ohio.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance to Germany Unit & Rear Base Censorship
DURING THE ADVANCE TO GERMANY, MAIL CENSORSHIP BY A UNIT-OFFICER WAS REQUIRED WITH OCCASIONAL REAR BASE
CENSORSHIP TAKING PLACE DURING THE EARLY PERIOD.
Until the ‘Treaty of Versailles’ had been signed by German authorities (28 June 1919), all American soldier mail during the occupation period was fo be censored by a unit-officer or by the rear-base postal unif.
Z AY ) ‘ Bud UNIT & pee ag
REAR-BASE DUAL Dy LAYUVRAA, LAN CENSORSHIP A os 2 |
16 DECEMBER 1918 ae ?
“U.S. Army Post Office |, | ) \ MPES *746*” y . ) | ;
ATTA Be Free-frank, AN
officer & rear-base fe Vay WW XC NAA #2) (‘International’ Machine v RA a \ & %
Postmark) é x red (hy yd A PLE)
censored view-card,
sent to bes
Lanark, Illinois.
Raine Niirberg 700 m mit Hotel zum Grafen von Hochstaden o Tel. 28
Bes.: WILH. FRINGS zugleich Besitzer des Boas
Hetel zum wilden Schwein, Adenau o © Tei. 27
REAR-BASE SINGLE CENSORSHIP
17 JANUARY 1919
“U.S. Military Postal
Express Service * No 746" Re
bs
%
Free-frank,
rear-base-censored (‘International’ Machine
Postmark)
view-card, sent to
Green Bay, Wisconsin.
r R
AMERICAN FORCES Advance to Germany .. Coblenz Bridgehead APO 927 .. Third Army
Postmark Usage: 19 December 1918 — 2 July 1919
ONE OF THE EARLY MISSION OBJECTIVES OF THE ‘THIRD ARMY’ WAS TO REACH
& SECURE THE ‘COBLENZ BRIDGEHEAD’, strategic location of the convergence of both the Mosel & Rhine Rivers.
By 7 December 1918, American Forces had reached the area around
Coblenz with occupation by 12 December 1918.
19 DECEMBER 1918
“Postal Express Service
No 927”
Earliest Known Usage
Free-frank,
officer-censored, {red-purple ink)
view-card,
sent to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
fo
ps ai g “ q u
yg
‘0 D
F [2
Tu a1
g \
Ge ez
e
:
12 FEBRUARY 1919
“Postal Express
Service
APO 927”
Free-frank, officer-censored
(black-ink)
cover,
written by a
member of the
Pioneer Infantry
of the “Army of
Occupation”, sent to
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance to Germany .. Coblenz Bridgehead APO 927 .. Third Army
Postmark Usage: 19 December 1918 — 2 July 1919
AMERICAN FORCES FIRST CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY (1918)
BY 24 DECEMBER 1918, AMERICAN FORCES HAD ARRIVED AT THEIR
DESIGNATED BASE LOCATIONS IN THE RHINELAND,
leaving a six-mile neutral zone between the occupation zone
and un-occupied Germany.
24 DECEMBER 1918
ENVIRONMENT
“Dear Mother, T'was the night before
Christmas, And ail over camp,
The rain fell in torrents,
O’ Lord it was damp...” 24 DECEMBER 1918
PRIDE & HONOR
“My dear Dad, Christmas Greefings
from your son,
now in a large city
in Germany, now occupied by the
U.S. Army of Occupation,
to which | belong and
proud of the honor...”
Reverse
AMERICAN FORCES Advance to Germany .. Coblenz Bridgehead Third Army Headquarters
EARLY OCCUPATION MILITARY LIFE
To alleviate forces’ boredom & melancholy,
‘THIRD ARMY’ HEADQUARTERS PERMITTED EDUCATIONAL DAY-TRIPS to sightsee & visit other German cities in the American, British
or French Occupation Zones.
DUTY, BOREDOM, LIFE & LIBERTY...
ae a Kod as Rr : 2
DO. well:
Reverse be | pet ae : Pei ! ene free Sa : that comes anit Liber ES. i
b = eat Bes 35 aa ts aa Last Kaisa dae satin adl ine Biliens ealille alia Dine eer”
Pass No. foe pee Dake. ee
Date iseuea aro eee.
“By Direction: Malin Craig, Bee. -Genl.. G58:
/~Ghiefr of Staff.
ONE-DAY MILITARY TRAVEL PASS Af esse! hed Cs ay oe — —
6 MARCH 1919 hh, be CZ
‘Provost Marshall Third Army Headquarters’ Z : Mek, U7 fy 9) validity hand-stamp on fe ae
‘One-Day Travel Pass’ for two officers to travel LB, 3) ge
from Coblenz (American Zone) to Cologne (British Zone). WV. y
Reverse
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany APO 710.. 2nd Division (Ill Corps)
Postmark Usage: 26 December 1918 - 13 July 1919
DURING NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 1918, THE ‘2"° DIVISION’
ADVANCED INTO GERMANY FROM VIRTON, BELGIUM, AND ARLON
& BROUCH, LUXEMBOURG.
Between 7-13 December, it had reached its initial occupation
locations near the City of Coblenz.
26 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office MPES *710*”
(French-Manvufactured
Hand-Stamp..
Earliest Known Usage Date
in Germany)
63 71 G S D
sui s
OL AS ER ,
LEL eZI
S. 2a
Free-frank
officer-censored (red ink)
Marine's Mail (6 Regiment),
sent to
Chicago, Illinois.
(ge Ran
U.S. pane AB: Fi ee Pei
a Ae bt E ef 1 ;
27 FEBRUARY 1919
“U.S. Military Postal
Express Service
No 745" (American-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank
officer-censored | {green ink)
cover, sentto Portland, Oregon.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany
APO 715 .. 42nd Division (IV Corps)
Postmark Usage: 10 December 1918 - 2 April 1919
THE 42° DIVISION ADVANCED INTO GERMANY FROM BELGIUM & LUXEMBOURG AND ESTABLISHED HEADQUARTERS AT AHRWEILER
(Ahr Valley) BY 14 DECEMBER 1918.
Their mission was to train and to maintain a state of readiness
until being re-deployed to the United States on 6 April 1919.
10 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *715*" | (French-Manvfactured beige
Hand-Stamp.. es mee Earliest Known Usage Date a
in Germany) 5 karte. * \
Free-frank, bee ; officer-censored pus
(red-purple ink) Foxe
view-card, is : sent to
Lancaster, Ohio. | oy
t cote aaa
> Poskkarte
: Ape ee
NV EABG21 — vepechiare kunstoauckensi€n METZ & LAUTZ G.M B.¥. DARMSTADT,
12 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *715*” (French-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, officer-censored
(green ink}
cover, sentto
Davenport, lowa.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany APO 729 .. 1st Division (Ill Corps)
Postmark Usage: 7 December 1918-3 August 1919
THE ‘157 DIVISION’ AVANCED FROM AUDON-LE-TISCHE, FRANCE, &
HESPERANCE, LUXEMBOURG, ARRIVING AT COBLENZ ON
12 DECEMBER 1918.
Its initial mission was to occupy and secure the Coblenz
Bridgehead as well as maintain readiness.
7 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *729*" (French-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp..
Earliest Known Usage Date
in Germany)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (red ink)
cover, sent to
Phenix, Rhode Island.
/
\ Based on the Christmas ! Greetings Card
mae ao aos of this cover, the “4 : yy A ‘15% Division’ arrived at
i. | } Berncastel, Germany on
oe: 7 December 1918.
’ , XY “ j LAN ~~ 2 pn — << . -
—_—————_____
14 DECEMBER 1918 Buds, § Ki a. AS AF “U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *729*" (French-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
cover, sentto
Oakland, California.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany APO 734 .. 32nd Division (Ill Corps)
Postmark Usage: 10 December 1918 —- 10 April 1919
THE ‘32° DIVISION’ ADVANCED INTO GERMANY AND SETTLED NEAR THE TOWNS OF
reacting to American public pressure, the U.S. Military ordered a reduction of
DIERDORF & RENGSDORF
having as its mission to maintain readiness and guard
the Coblenz Bridgehead.
In anticipation of German signing of a peace treaty and
occupation forces, resulting in the ‘32"4 Division’ being redeployed
to the United States in April 1919.
10 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army
Post Office
MPES *734*” (French-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Earliest Known
Usage Date
in Germany
Free-frank,
officer-censored (green ink)
‘American Red
Cross’
cover, sent to
Lake Mills,
Wisconsin.
a e
I
T E
RE
ee e O d
a r a
16 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *734*" (French-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, officer-censored
{purple ink)
view-card,
sent to
Plymouth,
Wisconsin.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany APO 734 .. 32nd Division (Ill Corps)
Postmark Usage: 10 December 1918 - 10 April 1919
SOLDIER’S MAIL
18 JANUARY 1919
ne ye
, N e u w i e d a. Rh
ei n.
ae
)
“U.S. Army Post Office MPES *734*” (American-
Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored {purple ink)
view-card,
sent to
Wainola, Michigan.
OFFICER’S MAIL
28 FEBRUARY 1919
“U.S. Army Post.
Office MPES *734*”
(American-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-written &
self-censored (black ink)
view-card,
sent to
West Salem,
Wisconsin.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany APO 740 .. 3rd Division (IV Corps)
Postmark Usage: 30 December 1918 — 23 July 1919
THE ‘3rd DIVISION’ ADVANCED FROM LUXEMBOURG AND ARRIVED AT THE
GERMAN TOWN OF MAYEN IN MID-DECEMBER having as its mission to train & to maintain readiness.
30 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Postal Service
No. 740” (French-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp.. Earliest Known Usage
Date in Germany)
Free-frank, officer-censored
{purple ink)
view-card,
sent to
Manistee, Michigan.
7 JANUARY 1919
“U.S. Army
Postal Service
No. 740” (French-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank officer-censored
(purple ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover, sent to
Paxtang-
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany APO 746 .. 4th Division (IV Corps)
Postmark Usage: 1 December 1918 — 10 July 1919
THE ‘4th DIVISION’ ADVANCED FROM THE TOWNS OF BRIEY, HAYANCE & REMICH IN LUXEMBOURG INTO GERMANY AND SETTLED NEAR
THE TOWNS OF COCHEM & ADENAU, having as its initial mission to train and to maintain readiness.
16 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *746*” (American-
Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, officer-censored
{purple ink)
view-card,
sent to
Thorntown, Indiana.
22 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *746*” (American-
Manufactured Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (black ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover,
sent to
Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany APO 761 .. 89th Division (VII Corps)
Postmark Usage: 17 December 1918 - 8 May 1919
THE ‘89™ DIVISION’ ADVANCED INTO GERMANY FROM
BELGIUM & LUXEMBOURG TO THE BORDER AT TRIER, LOCATION OF THE ‘AMERICAN THIRD ARMY ADVANCE HEADQUARTERS’.
19 DECEMBER 1918
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES 761” (American-
manufactured Duplex
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, officer-censored
{purple ink)
cover, sent to
Farmington, Missouri.
20 JANUARY 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES 761” (American-
manufactured Duplex
Hand-Stamp)
Enclosure:
Acknowledgement of receipt with thanks for a gift
parcel.
Free-frank,
officer-censored {red ink)
cover, sent to
Indianapolis,
Indiana.
AMERICAN FORCES Advance into Germany
APO 770.. 90th Division (VII Corps)
Postmark Usage: 26 December 1918 - 26 May 1919
THE ‘90th DIVISION’ ADVANCED INTO GERMANY AND WAS
LOCATED NEAR THE CITY OF TRIER IN THE TOWNS OF BERNCASTEL, DAUN & WITTLICH,
with its initial mission to guard the railway network.
1 FEBRUARY 1919
“U.S. Army
Post Office
MPES *770*” (Duplex
American-
Manufactured
Hand-Stamp
with “770” in
Obliterator)
Free-frank, officer-
censored (black ink)
cover,
sent to Chicago,
IHlinois.
27 FEBRUARY 1919
“U.S. Army Postal Service
No 770” (Duplex
American-
Manufactured
Hand-Stamp without “770" in Obliterator)
Free-frank, officer-
censored (purple ink)
cover, sentto
Portland, Oregon.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Heddesdorf (..heim) APO 710 .. 2nd Division (Ill Corps)
Postmark Usage: 26 December 1918 — 13 July 1919
THE ‘2% DIVISION’ OCCUPIED AREAS NEAR THE COBLENZ BRIDGEHEAD WITH HEADQUARTERS LOCATED AT HEDDESDORF (Heddesheim).
Unit’s mission involved training and readiness to advance into Germany
if the German Government's representatives did not sign
the ‘Treaty of Versailles’.
APO MAILTO AN AMERICAN CIVILIAN
IN PARIS & RE-DIRECTED TO CANNES, FRANCE
9 FEBRUARY 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office MPES *710*”
(French-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, officer-censored mail
(green ink),
sent to Paris & re-directed to
Cannes, France.
MILITARY -AFFILIATED
CIVILIAN MAIL POSTMARKED ‘APO 710’
26 MAY 1919
“Third Army APO 710"
(German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Block of Twelve of ‘Washington’
One Cent Stamp used fo frank
military- affiliated civilian non-free-frank mail.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Heddesdorf APO 710 .. 2nd Division (Ill Corps)
Postmark Usage: 26 December 1918 — 13 July 1919
SOMETIME IN MARCH 1919, AMERICAN UNITS OF OCCUPATION RECEIVED GERMAN-MANUFACTURED POSTMARKING HAND-STAMPS
INDICATING “THIRD ARMY”.
————————————— ae
30 MARCH 1919
“Third Army
APO 710” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored mail (maroon ink},
sent to Wilkes Barre,
Pennsylvania.
2"¢ Division Insignia: ‘indian with Headdress
Within a Star’
embossed on reverse of ‘APO 710’ Cover
20 APRIL 1919
“Third Army APO 710”
(German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored mail {black ink) sent to
Louisville, Ohio.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Ahrweiler APO 715 .. 42nd Division (IV Corps)
Postmark Usage: 10 December 1918 — 2 April 1919
AOE . ie i Rae
yf? 20 =2y
Postkayte
20 FEBRUARY 1919 | X Q Sry &
“U.S. Army A, NA Post Office ; xe
MPES *715*” | K “
| Ng Free-frank,
officer-censored q (purple ink)
view-card, °
sent to Athens, Ohio.
{rere ten eee le Fs sD
I
i py ee is BM Dae fh { y Wee as 3 Z O04 4 pg RM: en
28 MARCH 1919
“U.S. Army Post
Office MPES *715*”
Free-frank,
officer-censored
view-card,
sent to
Delaware, Ohio.
2 APRIL 1919 AOS » Easter Greetin
>» ii ; AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FO “U.S. Army Post ca : Y Soe . ARMY OF OCCUPATION 2
Office Ve ; : Hy : ; . = aS
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MPES *715*” >
(latest known usage date) }
SOLDIERS —
Free-frank, officer-censored
(black ink)
Knights of Columbus’ Easter
Greetings Card, sent to
indianapolis,
Indiana.
LAG PAF S LUPUD PP OEE Pees D PR ebASeRRSny ae ereastenrne dese
eed eee eae NR hee enum etna PRES Renae wane ebeNn nee esenasiunsaben
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Montabaur APO 729.. 1st Division (Ill Corps)
Postmark Usage: 7 December 1918 - 3 August 1919
THE ‘157 DIVISION’ ESTABLISHED ITS HEADQUARTERS AT MONTABAUR.
On 18 June 1919, the Division was ordered to prepare to advance
into the German heartland in the event that German authorities
Upon signing on 28 June, the Division occupied ( by 19 July) the territory
vacated by the American ‘29 Division’, having been deployed
would not sign the Treaty of Versailles.
to the United States.
12 MARCH 1919..
{The “8” of the"1918” year
slug was hand-altered to
“9” for year date “19”)
“U.S. Army Post Office MPES *729*”
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
view-card, sent to
Greensburg,
Pennsylvania.
De ut sc he
Bu rg en
un d
Sc hl és se r.
D i e M o s e l .
Ma l
Gg .
R o t h g e b
o e
er, a “ mi - : i
} oy 2 x | 0 Pttaretrtccresesseeeeeeeee ;
i 1. Kobern, Altenbuors | | 4 “\f 2. Schloss y. d. Leyen *
| | ie (Oberburg, Gondorf) : | 4 ™ °° +8. Burg Thurant i
bie 4 +“ ae “4 bure :
j 3e32) 4 i OV te % oq
} 4% te Ae occ eso ae at ae ‘7. Burg Beilstein ‘
we eR he r vt
t a iF O h
e n
Or L U N
a ra s
K u n s t y e r l a g
L u d w i g
K l e m e n t ,
F r a n k f u r t
a M,
Ns
cy
Grifinburg bei Trarbach, Mitte des 14, Jahrhunderts erbaut von der Grdfin Lau- Yetta v. Siarkenburg oder deren Sohn, Graf Johann II]. 1743 von den Franzosen zerstért. Herrlicher Moselblick. No, 10.
13 JULY 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *729*”"
Free-frank.
uncensored
view-card, (effective 2 July 1919
censorship
of military mail ceased)
sent to
Ada, Michigan.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Rengsdorf APO 734 .. 32nd Division (Ill Corps)
Postmark Usage: 10 December 1918 — 10 April 1919
Btry. A, S23rd Fe As American Ee F.
ere
Soldiers Mail
SOLDIER’S MAIL Te te T r e
31 MARCH 1919
“Third Army
APO 734” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, officer-censored ges Miss Agnes Murray,
(red ink) POPs AON . cover, sent to : We \ LO’
Parkers Landing, : Pennsylvania.
Parkers Landing, Pennae,
Box 284 We Se Ae
te ; 5 rg or id ¢ pi A
Gat i 3aV POA, herr. Af-C, JOY
OFFICER’S MAIL
4 APRIL 1919
“Third Army
APO 734” (German-Manvufactured Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank officer-written & self-censored cover {red-purple ink),
sent to Cincinnati, Ohio.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Andernach
APO 740 .. 3rd Division (IV Corps)
Postmark Usage: 30 December 1918 — 23 July 1919
Similar to the 2"4 g 4 Divisions between 19-27 June 1919,
THE ‘3rd DIVISION’ WAS ORDERED TO PREPARE TO ADVANCE INTO GERMANY’S HEARTLAND IN THE EVENT GERMAN AUTHORITIES DID NOT SIGN
THE PEACE TREATY AT VERSAILLES. Upon German signing on 28 June, the division stood down and was on
4 August 1919 redeployed to the United States.
29 MARCH 1919
“Third Army
APO 740” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover,
sent to
Canfield, Ohio.
29 APRIL 1919
“Third Army
APO 740” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, officer-censored
(purple ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover,
sent to
Spearfish, South Dakota.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Bad Bertrich APO 746 .. 4th Division (IV Corps)
Postmark Usage: 1 December 1918 - 10 July 1919
Between 20 May — 5 June, the mission of the ‘4" Division’ was to guard area
railheads & supply depots with subsequent similarity to the
2°4 & 3rd Divisions’ missions between 19-27 June 1919, THE ‘4th DIVISION’ WAS ORDERED TO PREPARE TO ADVANCE INTO GERMANY’S
HEARTLAND IN THE EVENT GERMAN AUTHORITIES DID NOT SIGN THE PEACE TREATY AT VERSAILLES.
Upon German signing on 28 June, the division stood down and was on
15 July 1919 redeployed to the United States.
19 APRIL 1919
“Third Army
APO 746” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (black ink)
view-card,
sent to Montclair, New Jersey.
6 MAY 1919
“Third Army
APO 746" (German-
Manufactured Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, officer-
censored {purple ink)
‘YMCA’
~ Cover, sent to
Fredonia,
New York.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base — Bad Bertrich APO 746 .. 4th Division (IV Corps)
Postmark Usage: 1 December 1918 - 10 July 1919
During its occupation of the Rhineland, APO 746 APPLIED FIVE DIFFERENT POSTMARK STYLES or types: American, French and German manufactured.
fact wench See wee enna wee seenes
y b, NI DI NO
"W
‘VY LU NS HN VY S
(PQQ PF
NI ST
IW
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base —- Neuwied
APO 754 .. Headquarters Ill Corps
Postmark Usage: 18 March - 9 July 1919
aN ICORPS' a AS ORDERED ITS DIV ISIONS BETWEEN JULY-AUG
HE PEACE TREATY AT
TO COMMENCE REDEP LO
‘ERS Al
SUST 1919 TO THE UNIT
12 APRIL 1919
‘Third Army fal A) O 7! 54”
(Ganiiea- -Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
view-card,
sent to Brooklyn,
New York.
9 JULY 1919
“Third Army
APO 754” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Bal BW tare Latest Known
usage date.
Ef sig 2 Jub
ensoring of
military mail
Free-frank,
censor-free
‘YMCA’ Cover, sent to
West Milton, Ohio.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Kyllburg APO 761 .. 89th Division (VII Corps)
Postmark Usage: 17 December 1918 - 8 May 1919
THE ‘89"™ DIVISION’S’ INITIAL MISSION WAS TO TRAIN, TO MAINTAIN READINESS, TO GUARD THE FRONTIER & RAILWAY NETWORK UNTIL BEING
REDEPLOYED WITH THE ENTIRE ‘Vil CORPS’ IN MAY 1919 TO THE UNITED STATES.
29 MARCH 1919
“Third Army
APO 761” (German-manvufactured
hand-stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
‘Knights of a ; I, cee Columbus’ | ee ¢ WU rere eri ,
Cover, sent to
Wyaconda,
Missouri.
naandts, a : ae a 1 MAY 1919
by x e ma “Third Army
Cede “7 Neca APO 761” v ; (German-
manufactured hand-stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover (Sender: Military
Police Battalion),
sent to
Lupton,
Colorado.
3 Dope Sheet of this First Battalion. Bb4. Ent. Army ot Occupation, A. IK. mE.
2
No.
Salvage
“Some of the street car companies at | home would pull that old stunt of turning green with envy if they ould see the umber of German children, men, women and U.S. soldiers that can be. put into one little billet room.
surprised | in the |
each |
Wouldn’t the parents be if they knew you were usually house and in bed by seven o'clock évening.
As one way to make the Kaiser pay we suggest a lone walk with a full pack.
Our idea of a useless calling i is. that of a real estate man in Vanebach oe in| Hurope for that matter.
fhe folks at home no doubt made sacrifices during the war but they have | nothing on us who dwell in Pronsfeldand | Ldtinebach when ib comes to lightless nights.
Did you ever think that the time would come when you would go wild over a half of a half-pound box of hard dandy?
At home money halls.
i& also remarks. In: Genns ny
Cheer up, this isn’t so bad What ! if you were trying to dig in in frozen ground right now?
Did you know that, so far as is known, this is the first regular -publicat- gon of its kind to be put out by members of the A. K. F. on German soil?
Pat Something in the Box
In the K” of C. room there is a little box nailed upon the wall waiting to re- eeive good jokes for The First Call. If. you know ore on some comrade . write it | out and drop.it in the box, marking | @ach contribution for the proper Company. The more stuff the better, so don’t hesi- that to fill up the box. - |
Liinebach, Germany,
| the Regiment are to go to Treves. | quota for the First Battalion
\isoldiers are to go.
time men of this
Vol. 1 January 26, 1919. 5
‘ Leaves
ieee coming in winter may sound somewhat strange, but that, fortunately, is just what is happening in the area of the 354 Infantry. And believe the boys when they say these leaves are some re- lief (no pun intended), for they are fur- nishing a change of scenery long enough at least to break the monotony of dwell- ing in a single village as a member of the Army of Occupation.
Each thirty-six hours forty men from The
is . twel¥e ‘men. The trip is to be made by train _and only men who show themselves good
Billets will be furnish- ed through the Red Cross.
With the exception of a few leaves granted at Cesse, France, this is the first
Regiment have had a chance to relax a bit from regular duties «
| or fighting since arriving in France. Short | though the play
| something to be | not to be lost by thoughtless acts of those -who are to go first.
time is +0 appreciated;
Cit aw something
The Divisional Commander proved the passes to Treves following notation: —
- “Jt will be explained i all concern- . ed that any failure to comply both in
has ap-
with the
Jetter and spirit with established rules aa to conduct and appearance of men in Treves will inevitably result in withdrawal
| of further privileges to. make the trip.” From this it is readily seen. that
| whether or not all the men of the Bat- talion eventually get to enjoy the trip is entirely dependent upon the conduct of each man in ‘Teves’
—1—
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Berncastel APO 770... 90th Division (VII Corps)
Postmark Usage: 26 December 1918 — 26 May 1919
AS PART OF THE ‘Vil CORPS’, THE ‘90th DIVISION’ WAS REDEPLOYED TO THE UNITED STATES IN MAY 1919.
16 APRIL 1919 Eu. e ee
“Third Army i APO 770” } (German-
Manufactured Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored
cover, sentto
Wheeling,
West Virginia.
PT. LEDOER AMERICAN |
C00, 35>" INF ee SOLDIER'S A
9 MAY 1919
“Third Army
APO 770” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (blue ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover,
t sent to Rochester,
Minnesota.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Cochem APO 775 .. Headquarters IV Corps
Postmark Usage: 8 February — 15 April 1919
THE DIVISONS OF ‘Ill CORPS’ ADVANCED INTO GERMANY THROUGH LUXEMBOURG ALONG WITH ‘Il CORPS’ ABREAST AND
ESTABLISHED ITS HEADQUARTERS AT COCHEM, with its initial mission to supervise the training of troops. pees eae Nea
Bs
Chi LM fobtson ne pet. GR Div,
ARO. 740, her
8 FEBRUARY 1919 pS
“U.S. Army Post Office ~
MPES *775*" : (Duplex
American-
Manufactured
Hand-Stamp
with “775” in
Obliterator)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
cover, sent to so Nay Ottawa, Kansas. yee) ert oe
-
(iene oe ee PS
~ 21 MARCH 1919
“U.S. Army
Postal Service
No 775" (Duplex
American-
Manufactured
Hand-Stamp with eTTS"
in Obliterator)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
view-card, sent to
Johnstown,
New York.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Wittlich APO 792 .. Headquarters Vil Corps
Postmark Usage: 24 December 1918 — 10 May 1919
THE DIVISONS OF ‘VII CORPS’ ADVANCED INTO GERMANY TO THE REAR OF THE ‘Ill & IV CORPS’ THROUGH LUXEMBOURG AND
ESTABLISHED ITS HEADQUARTERS AT WITTLICH, with its initial mission to guard railroads, bridges, & ferries and exercise
general control of the area of the Luxembourg-German frontier.
On 11 May, the corps organization was discontinued with its headquarters and troops being transferred to other corps of the Third Army.
: 7 39740 2B
24 DECEMBER
1918
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES *792*” (Duplex
American-
Manufactured
Hand-Stamp with “792” in Obliterator)
Earliest known usage date
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
cover, sent to
San Francisco,
California.
25 JANUARY 1919
“U.S. Army Postal Service No 792” (Duplex
American-
Manufactured Hand-Stamp with “792”
in Obliterator)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
view-card, sent to
Johnstown,
New York.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Coblenz APO 927 .. Headquarters Third Army
Postmark Usage: 19 December 1918 — 2 July 1919
UPON GERMAN SIGNING OF THE PEACE TREATY AT VERSAILLES ON
28 JUNE 1919, THE ‘THIRD ARMY’ DESIGNATION DISCONTINUED ON 2 JULY
WITH ALL PERSONNEL & UNITS THEREAFTER DESIGNATED
“AMERICAN FORCES IN GERMANY”
31 MAY1919
“Third Army
APO 927” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (black ink)
cover, sent to
Detroit, Michigan.
28 JUNE 1919
“Third Army
APO 927” (German-
Manufactured Hand-
Stamp)
Date of Signing of the Peace Treaty
of Versailles.
Free-frank,
Officer-censored {purple ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover,
sent to
Alliance, Ohio.
AMERICAN FORCES Postal Address Notification Card “Army of Occupation”
Upon deployment, ‘POSTAL ADDRESS NOTIFICATION CARDS’ COULD BE SENT TO FAMILY OR FRIENDS
advising them of a soldier's new mailing address.
Address all mail to me as follows:
‘Wm.A.Koller,OrdsSgt,- 4 Bn. 6th Field arty,
coblentzs-Lutgel, Germany. valteP.0s 927. ce i
14 NOVEMBER 1919
“Third Army APO 927" (Coblenz)
Free-frank, address notification card,
sent to
Douglas, Arizona.
AMERICAN FORCES Civilian Permission to Travel “A.E.F. 3° Army Provost Marshal”
Prior to signing the ‘Treaty of Versailles’,
‘AMERICAN-OCCUPIED RHINELAND’ WAS UNDER MARSHAL LAW REQUIRING CIVILANS TO APPLY FOR PERMISSION FROM THE CITY MAYOR & AMERICAN MILITARY
PROVOST MARSHAL’S OFFICE TO TRAVEL to localities in non-occupied Germany
< SS eee
31 JANUARY 1919
“Third Army U.S. Provost Marshal Authorization”
Travel document permitting a student living near Trier to travel ‘via Coblenz’ to Freiburg to continue his university studies.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Coblenz ‘Machine Postmarks’ APO 927 .. Headquarters Third Army
Type | Type | Markings: 25 January — 9 September 1920
A MODEL ‘D’ ‘UNIVERSAL’ POSTMARKING MACHINE, operating at the Central A.E.F. Post Office at Bourges, France,
until 18 December 1919,
WAS TRANSFERRED TO ‘APO 927’ AT COBLENZ IN EARLY 1920.
Postmark Type I:
20mm dater dial & six wavy-line obliterator
an = we in ein ee MEAL POSE Sie eet SE =e T
Sgt. MB MeCoy. . Postal Express Service., Soldiers Mail, U. 8. Army, A.P.0.# 927. ghY A, Se Amer, Forces In Germany. Sun. go ee
5 1 PM oo ee SOLDIER'S MAIL D 990 2 . Se | Be) eee
10 JUNE 1920 oF
“U.S. Army Mr. Loyal J. Cooper,
M.P.E.S 927 5 A 6 aes
cee REE CENA, ? ; Norwalk, Conn, U.S.A. sent to
Norwalk, Connecticut
CARTE PRS TALE
CORRESPONDANCE
OFFICER’S MAIL
— —
fn
A
uw a y
14 JUNE 1920
“U.S. Army M.P.E.S. 927”
Free-frank, View-card,
sent to
Missoula,
Montana.
IM P.
PH OT O.
D. A.
LO NG
UE T,
25 0,
FA UB
OU HE
® SA IN T- MA RT IN
— PA R
o e
>
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Coblenz
‘Machine Postmarks’ APO 927 .. Headquarters Third Army Type Il Type Il Markings: 15 November 1920 — 26 April 1921
Postmark Type II:
20mm dater dial & slogan obliterator “Enlist Today Germany
Army of Occupation”.
‘YMCA’ CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE MAIL
29 NOVEMBER 1920
“U.S. Army 2
M.P.E.S 927” —~.
AE ECS Sci Q Pa) SK C f a i ;
CARTE € ee a 3 PM ( “IR
29999
By te site erst
Postage-franked ‘YMCA’ view-card,
— .
Po st ca rd
No ,
10 00
K I N G
& Q U E E N .
sent to ZAMERICAN A. P. O. 927
Minneapolis, COBLENZ ° GERM
Minnesota. al
Military service organization civilian
—— | tcl y ee ee ee ba Ihe Hastings
« )I
LE TT
E”
military post office
but required to frank mail based on U.S. domestic rates. { ( g A
1 Cent..
U.S. Domestic
Postcard Rate {Valid between
1 July 1919 —2 April 1925)
( hnedpo bs i
MNinen-.
Gat he. ales. Cis fla SOLDIER'S MAIL... A(A0:92 9, : a ee ~CCASSIGNEDTO f | : = ——_—‘INTER-ALLIED
_— RHINELAND HIGH —— COMMISSION’
LALRH:C)
Cay GERMANY (A) ARBY OF
7 OCCUPATION
: _ 26 JANUARY 1921
“U.S. Army M.P.E.S. 927”
Free-frank,
4 cover, sent to
2 Brantford, North Dakota.
Principal Base —- Coblenz AMERICAN FORCES ‘Machine Postmarks’ APO 927 .. Headquarters Third Army
Type Ill Type Ill Markings: 30 April 1921 — 9 May 1922
Postmark Type III:
20mm dater dial & slogan obliterator
“Address Mail Legibly and Correcily”.
OFFICER'S MAIL.. % di 7 j ADDRESS MAilL [7 ‘A.F.G. th § 24 = IEG i =
HEADQUARTERS’ a, 4, Ve. 71 é \( (A) LEGIBLY bb os
; ¢ CORRECTLY [¢ 5 JULY 1921
“U.S. Army M.P.E.S. 927”
Free-frank, : |
cover, sent to | /
Easthampton, | La : / ‘
Massachusetts. // AA
Eh,
Tiara ek eerane Lene
a PAY ND © ae Sp eal gE (AN ¢ SO Rat hee eo
OTE oe Ns ts OFFICER’S MAIL
‘A.F.G.’
ARMY-AIR SERVICE
20 DECEMBER 1921
fp /#- Henri | “U.S. Army M.P.E.S 927”
Free-frank, cover, sent to
Easton, Lasten — i aryland.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Coblenz ‘Machine Postmarks’ APO 927 .. Headquarters Third Army
Type Ill Type Ill Markings: 30 April 1921 — 9 May 1922
Postmark Type I!: 20mm dater dial & slogan obliterator “Address Mail Legibly and Correcfly”.
American Forces in Germany
Christmas 1921
ae oS | ADLRESS MAHESL———
= 2pm Ci LL SIBL i Ae GHBESIMAS KP ee SS |” CORREGHLY
GREETINGS MAIL ee ays 2 FROM THE 2 ren a ‘MOTOR | ees
TRANSPORTATION <=
SERVICE’
OF THE AMERICAN
FORCES GERMANY
8 DECEMBER 1921
“U.S. Army M.P.E.S. 927”
Free-frank,
cover, sentio
Cortland, Ohio.
og er se Ss
my fg Sosa at eres BO a SHieiat Criansiicliaiiom C/ stecwe
REA ae ot KF in &
Reverse
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Coblenz “Silesian Brigade” APO 927A .. Headquarters Third Army
“927-A” Indication on Mail: 10 April -— 21 June 1920
For overseeing the plebiscites in Upper Silesia & other parts of Germany, mandated by the ‘Peace Treaty of Versailles’, American Forces in Germany (AFG) were
temporarily increased with the 5" & 50" infantry Regiments from the United States in November 1919 for deployment to those areas.
The United States Senate never ratified the ‘Peace Treaty of Versailles’,
resulting in those units never being deployed to Silesia but remaining in the
Andernach area, with later integration into the ‘2rd Brigade’ of the ‘AFG’.
ALTHOUGH THE UNIT POSTAL ADDRESS FOR THE “SILESIAN BRIGADE” WAS “927-A”, HAVING NO DEDICATED POST OFFICE, MAIL WAS ROUTED OVER ‘APO 927’ IN COBLENZ.
10 APRIL 1920
“U.S. Army M.P.E.S. 927” “Enlist Today
Germany Army of
Occupation” (Universal
Posimarking
Machine Slogan
Cancel)
Earliest Known
“APO 927A” Endorsement
Free-frank ‘YMCA’ Cover, sent to
21 JUNE 1920
“U.S. Army
Post Office M.P.E.S. 927"
Address Endorsement:
“5th infantry, APO 927A"
Latest known usage for
“927-A” Unit mail.
Free-frank cover,
sent to Harriston, Virginia.
AMERICAN FORCES “Silesian Brigade”
21 JUNE 1920
“U.S. Army Post Office
M.P.E.S. 927”
Address Marking:
“5th Infantry, 24 Brigade,
A.F.G. APO 927A”
Latest known usage’
for “927-A” Unit mail.
Free-frank, cover, sent to
Harriston,
Virginia.
Principal Base — Coblenz
APO 927A .. Headquarters Third Army Address Markings: 10 April —- 15 November 1920
“5th” g. “50th” INFANTRY ADDRESS MARKINGS
15 NOVEMBER 1920
“U.S. Army M.P.E.S. 927”
“Enlist Today Germany Army of
Occupation” (Universal Postmarking
Machine Slogan
Cancel)
Address Marking: “50* Infantry, 2"4 Brigade”
Earliest Known “Enlist’..” Slogan Marking Use
Free-frank,
“AEG.” Cover, sent to
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
AMERICAN FORCES Principal Base - Coblenz ‘Services of Supply’ Command APO 934 .. Headquarters Third Army
Postmark Usage: 23 March - 11 August 1919
In anticipation of German signing of a peace treaty & reacting to American public pressure, the U.S. Military ordered a reduction of occupation forces commencing in May 1919.
TO SUPPORT THE EVACUATION TO THE UNITED STATES OF SELECTED DIVISIONS, ‘SERVICES OF SUPPLY’ (SOS) COMMAND (Neufchateau /Vosges, France),
TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED SPECIALIST OFFICERS & SUPPORT STAFF TO ‘THIRD ARMY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS’ AT COBLENZ TO COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS.
THEIR DEDICATED APO-NUMBER AT COBLENZ WAS ‘APO 934’.
SOLDIER’S MAIL
7 MAY 1919
“Third Army
APO 934” (German-Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Earliest known Usage date.
Free-frank
officer-censored (purple ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover,
sent to
LeRoy, Illinois.
OFFICER’S MAIL
8 JUNE 1919
“Third Army APO 934"
(German-Manvufactured Hand-Stamp)
Latest known usage date.
Free-frank
officer-censored {purple ink)
French view-card,
sent to
Two of six examples known. Boston, Massachusetts.
AMERICAN FORCES Services of Supply - Antwerp U.S. Naval Supply Port
Postal Express Service A.P.O. 944
Usage: 13 May 1919- June 1920
ON 8 APRIL 1919, A BASE WAS ESTABLISHED AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM, THROUGH WHICH ALL SUPPLIES FOR THE
‘AMERICAN FORCES IN GERMANY’ WERE NOW BEING ROUTED, having ‘APO 944’ with mail prior to 2 July 1919
censored by the U.S. Naval Port Office.
U.S. NAVAL CENSORED
MAIL a
13 MAY 1919 >
“Postal
Express
Service No. 944”
(American- Manufactured
Hand-Stamp)
Free-frank, naval-port- censored (black ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover, sentto |
Lemon
Grove, California.
Only known ‘APO 944’ U.S. Naval
Port- POSTAGE DUE MAIL censored
cover. 6 OCTOBER 1919
APRE Sb ee i “Postal Express Service Mg NO" No. 944” : nea ?
ic “5a cr: OS (American-Manufactured Tesse pay is THe) My E Hand-Stamp)
aaa) Ge Hey . ae es ‘ ie ~ o-! ¢
yee 2: Free-frank, postage-due, we ce ae . _-un-censored view-card,
S , cin ‘ Q LK Yler2 Pe sent to SAC s { ; Wi ach. tJ412~W— ? Soriniield, Ohio.
: Since this mail had been routed CHa B23 le on de Oe ; to the United States through the
‘ > Belgian Post Office, free-
©
5 .
Er n.
Th il
l,
B
franking was not valid but postage due was applicable.
Postage Due:
) 4 Cents..
> 2Cents .. UPU International Postcard-Rate + 2 Cents Penalty
v
AMERICAN FORCES Services of Supply - Antwerp U.S. Naval Supply Port
“Third Army A.P.O. 944”
American Supply Port at Antwerp, Belgium, discontinued operation in June 1922. Its postmark “Third Army A.P.O. 944”
is known to have been used only between 13 June 1920 - 25 December 1921, with
LATE-DATE MAIL ROUTED THROUGH THE BELGIAN POST OFFICE.
) Sen Qo... 4h"
‘ARMY ~_ be NURSE CORP’
22 NOVEMBER
“ AR Uy “Third Army A.P.O. 944” (German- e : ’ z
Manufactured — wy Qo es Hand-Stamp)
eee ;
. ue NO Free-frank ;
visiting-nurse’s Q) oad f Y oa ae =<) ’ as s
mail,
sent to
Albany, . \) >
New York. Aes
LATE DATE MAIL
25 DECEMBER 1921
“Third Army A. P. O. 944 e
(German-Manutactured
Hand-Stamp)
Belgian-franked soldier's cover, postmarked at
Mrs. ‘A.P.O. 944’,
; sent to
= — ; tech Hoboken, New
128 River Street. Jersey.
Postage Due:
* e J e 50 Centime.
ioe ¢ UPU Single-Weight
international
Letter-Rate.
Only known ee mail through
~~ Belgian-franked Mail.
ee ic oan et : Soa ees ee Si See 2 eas = =~ SE 7s ESA cS TSE SE at OO PMR! PEN aE 1S Ee
AMERICA N FORCES Military Censorship Soldiers’ Mail & Auxiliary Markings
Censorship Period: 1 December 1918 - 2 July 1919
AS LONG TERMS O
AS A PEACE TREATY HAD NOT BEEN SIGNED BY THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES, F THE ARMISTICE WERE STILL VALID, AND ALL MILITARY MAIL REQUIRED THE SENDER’S NAME, UNIT & RANK FOR CENSORING BY AN OFFICER
OFTEN USING AUXILLIARY HANDSTAMPS.
10 APRIL 1919
“Third Army APO 927”
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
bya
“Captain, Sanitary Corps”
Ca OA Afr fy :
|
ie j Ke
i ¥ ity
Sell
aR bas }
a / teat Ka G ey ; v
2.
20 JANUARY 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office
MPES 746”
Free-frank
officer-censored (black ink) by a
“2d Lieutenant
U.S. Army” rr
, ADetdtx wa herk. Ay (U
fang f . Ch th 4 4 SM renee bof,
fe bene te: - (££, “7, A3 5 i
eS 23 MAY 1919 says : :
Name er A i) ae <> Ap
“Third Army 7 } Ve. A Cer (4. / f ALLO. APO 927"
Free-frank, : As a 2. f WS 7 ae dt
officer-censored i" ‘es (purple ink) grad. h A fe
“Captain 53 O; a
U.S.Army, A.E.F." \ / y / °, VAA. |
“1.4. a,
AMERICAN FORCES Military Censorship
Officers’ Mail
Censorship Period: 1 December 1918 - 2 July 1919
‘OFFICERS’ MAIL WAS SELF-CENSORED.
5 eee erreeeeee se = neg ne a ee
FF, Vine
11 JANUARY 1919
“Postal Express Service No. 927”
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
by a lieutenant in the
“Air Service”,
sent to
Scotia, New York.
Df ke PFE OTN LO? (Pe ICE
JPR BRE API BF
Nyyss SW KeTLE SFR GE
| LO SIIIE S $7.
Score
WeEu Fores
ee wo
x
Cel Rebert Davis
241 st FA. Res eee wa ao — c NR oO ee
by ee,
30 APRIL 1919 The Unien Bank Note Ce
Mr Lee Crabbs
Colonel FA USA. .
“Third Army Kansas City APO 761” Me. USA
Free-frank,
officer-censored
(red-purple ink}
by a colonel in the
“3415! Field
Artillery”.
Shia sare sent to <7 Kansas City,
Missouri. De ee
AMERICAN FORCES Military Censorship
Honor Envelopes
Censorship Period: 1 December 1918 - 2 July 1919
“BLUE HONOR ENVELOPES" (USED BY SOLDIERS FOR FORWARDING PERSONAL OR FAMILY MAIL
WITHOUT HAVING SUCH BEING READ BY OFFICERS KNOWN TO THEM) WERE AVAILABLE TO A.E.F. MEMBERS IN FRANCE AND
COULD LATER BE USED BY FORCES IN GERMANY. Such envelopes were not subject to unit censorship,
but subject to possible rear-base censorship.
Similar ‘Green Honor Envelopes’ were used by the British Expeditionary Forces
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES -SOLDIER’S LETTER Blue Envelope Authorized by | a al
Paragraph 10, G. 0. No. 13
Must not be used for money or valu- ables. Cannot be registered. Not to be censored regimentally but liable to censorship at the Base.
I certify that the enclosed letter or letters refer to persOnaltor family mat- ters only, and-that?-they contain no reference to military.or ‘other matters forbidden by.censorship_ regulations.
f ry
NS
~
More than oaetléttep tray be sent in this envelope. |
this case, it-seyld be addressed, ‘‘ Base Censor.” fs Ag SY ae \F9 4 e ™ hs, &
ir a a Rie 4
ee a.
~
my : 491g x Sg : ~™ Addres Do ic ea = sett ae
if
WS Lb. fds FE PODN AAI GE
Re 4 oN K/ / a ;
(Name) Ae nO Moat Or}, TE E y j Fs
Rank (,/ are 3 oe Countersigned : ies X
Rank ~~ CPE se -
gad. Lieat. Ratt a
4 JANUARY 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office MPES 7—”
Free-frank,
rear-base-censored ‘Honor Envelope’ {red ink)
sent to
Puyallup, Washington
AMERICAN FORCES Repeal of Military Censorship Officers’ Mail
Effective: 2 July 1919
Upon German signing of the ‘Peace Treaty at Versailles’ on 28 June, the designations ‘Third Army’ & “Army of Occupation" were renamed ..
“American Forces in Germany”, ALONG WITH REPEAL OF CENSORSHIP FOR ALL SOLDIERS’ & OFFICERS’ MAIL.
American Censorship of German civilian and commercial mail continued until
10 January 1920, when the ‘Treaty of Versailles’ took effect.
MARINE’S MAIL
11 JULY 1919
“Third Army APO 710”
Free-frank,
un-censored ‘Knights of
Columbus’ Cover, sent to
Stulville,
Missouri.
OFFICER'S MAIL
5 AUGUST 1919
“Third Army APO 927”
Free-frank,
un-censored ‘YMCA’ Cover,
sent to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
AMERICAN FORCES American Civilian Employee Mail
Covers
4 JUNE 1919
“Third Army APO 927”
Franked,
officer-censored (black ink)
‘YMCA’ Cover, sent to
“Brentano's” (Book Store),
Paris, France.
3 Cents.. U.S. domestic single-weight
letter-rate (2 November 1917 -
30 June 1919)
27 OCTOBER 1919
“Third Army Fe APO 927” cast
Franked cover, uncensored,
sent to Clemson College, South Carolina.
R T O S .
NY S
e r s 2 Cents..
US-domestic Ee single-weight, my
letter-rate B (1 July 1919 - F 5 July 1932)
AMERICAN FORCES American Civilian Employee Mail
Postcards
28 MAY 1919
“Third Army
APO 927”
Franked, officer-censored
(black ink)
view-card , sent to
Los Angeles,
California.
ye tu ny s
5
“w ep sa g “H g
m9 0 D
F
2 Cents..
U.S. domestic postcard-rate
(2 November 1917 —-
30 June 1919)
6 DECEMBER 1919
“Third Army
APO 927”
Franked,
view-card, uncensored,
sent to Chicago, Illinois.
1 Cent.. US-domestic postcard-rate
(1 July 1919 - 2 April 1925)
AMERICAN FORCES American Civilian Employee Mail
‘Victory’ Stamp Franked Cover
3 APRIL 1919
“Third Army APO 734” (Rengsdorf)
‘Victory’ Stamp-franked American civilian employee cover, officer-censored (purple ink), American ‘YMCA’ stationery ,
sent to Detroit, Michigan.
3 Cents.. U.S. domestic single-weight
letter-rate (2 November 1917 -
30 June 1919)
Only known ‘Vicfory’ Stamp usage on APO-Mail from Germany.
AMERICAN FORCES Military Unit Insignia
APO 710 .. U.S. Marines
THE ‘4™ MARINE BRIGADE’ (2"° DIVISION, Ill CORPS ... APO 710)
‘INDIAN WITH HEADDRESS’ IN A CIRCLE, applied to out-going marines’ mail.
after 2 July, ‘American Forces in Germany'
its permanent Marine Base established in 1918.
WAS THE ONLY UNIT WHICH PRINTED THEIR OWN INSIGNIA LABELS ..
The unit was a unit of the ‘Army of Occupation’...
until re-deployment to Quantico, Virginia, on 8 August 1919,
2 APRIL 1919
“Third Army
APO 710”
Free-frank, officer-censored
(blue ink), cover, sent to
La Grande, Oregon.
Sane | Al SA, JS4 7
Pit Atty A feel”
| ae Ait’ ng CE“ Ot,
/ ‘ A Aw
HABE wee t ie
Wi eed, ee Moy = | pees 2 * (fF? ; ST
Li Uae 20 TEES ee We Spe Oe oe a ee et “
DALAT A CLADRT WS Pr
3 MAY 1919
“Third Army APO 710”
Free-frank,
officer-censored
view-card,
sent to
Shelbyville, Illinois.
AMERICAN FORCES Military Unit Insignia
APO 740.. 4 Infantry
THE ‘4™ INFANTRY BRIGADE’ (3®© DIVISION, Ili CORPS ... APO 740)
HAD LOCALLY -PRINTED ATTRACTIVE STATIONERY.
Between 5-31 August 1919, the unit was redeployed to
the United States & demobilized.
V/, A™. INF. 3®° DIV. © Ad ARMY OF OCCUPATION
G2.
Koma AF. AFSL EF
aad saan <2 ee Zi
CERT TEZ. Aik dt. Ee “
Uf
Zw LG KRt ss
oo y az Ce aa TOR
22 MAY 1919
“Third Army
APO 740”
Free-frank officer-censored (purple ink)
decorative cover & stationery. sent to
Audubon, lowa.
AMERICAN FORCES Military Unit Insignia
APO 761 .. 3415 Field Artillery
APO 927 .. 164th Field Artillery
APO 927..
164" FIELD ARTILLERY (Grenzhausen)
6 APRIL 1919
“Third Army A.P.O. 927”
Free-frank
officer-censored (black ink)
cover, re-directed to
Prescott,
Washington.
APO 761.. 314th FIELD ARTILLERY
OFFICER’S MAIL
16 MARCH 1919
“Third Army
A.P.O. 761”
Free-frank officer
self-censored (blue-green ink)
cover,
sent to New York City.
AMERICAN FORCES | Army Air Service An independent air force did not exist during World War I,
but “air squadrons” were part of the “ARMY AIR SERVICE”
OFFICER’S MAIL
7 MAY 1919
“Third Army APO 927” (Coblenz)
Free-frank, officer
(Capt. R.S. Ripley,
2% Aero ’ Squadron)
self-censored cover, sent to
New York City
10 APRIL 1919
Free-frank, officer (Lt. Beymer, 12" Aero Squadron)
self-censored cover,
sent to
Scotia, New York
SOLDIER'S MAIL
25 MAY 1919 |
‘YMCA’ Cover, officer-censored
(F. Cavender,
463'9 Aero Squadron),
sent to |
Free-frank,
Silverton, Oregon. | |
AMERICAN FORCES Bugler's Mail Company “C”, 39" Infantry
With their rank and unit identification necessary to obtain free-franking validity for mail,
soldiers having a
SPECIALTY FUNCTION in the American Forces, would indicate
such in their return-address.
14 MAY 1919
“Third Army APO 746” (Bad Bertrich)
Free-frank,
officer-censored {purple ink)
cover, sent to
East Paris, Maine.
AMERICAN FORCES Chaplain’s Mail
8 MARCH
1919
“U.S. Army
Postal
Service {APO) 710” (Heddesdorf)
Free-frank, officer self- censored (black ink)
‘Knights of
Columbus’ Cover sent to
“Right Rev. R.
J. Hayes” New York, New York.
©. = Ls »
ag. AE Cat Tory
£, ya. Veep — . h 0.947 Am by fF
8 JULY 1919
“Third Army APO 927” (Coblenz)
Free-frank,
; officer (manuscript) 7. self-censored
fe (Cee George f feng te cover,
nr sent to JADE Onde “Rev. George J.
Waring”
Cy ne? , i.
AMERICAN FORCES Cook’s Mail
x gota, 19 APRIL 1919 ‘ me Ina ed |
dee : ae | “Third Army ze : é
APO 740” x Jeet ane (Andernach) i R
Free-frank,
officer-
censored
Cover,
sent to:
Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania
. =) pear : = wii tes mae Ig a Sor et een paca eg ee at i pene iB ag ee See peewee ag “i ye pot Oh — Bon ot wie ORS.
31 MARCH 1919
“Third Army APO 740” (Andernach)
Free-frank, officer-censored (purple ink) cover,
sent to St. Joseph, Missouri.
AMERICAN FORCES Journalist Corps
JOURNALISTS were not independent/segregated from the forces In World War |, but WERE PART OF THE MILITARY.
All war and occupation news releases were communicated & monitored by military ‘Journalist Corps’ personnel.
-
B e
F
| cB
a os ce Se ere a ag ae see ox Spee
JOURNALIST MAIL TO THE ‘LOS ANGELES EXAMINER’ NEWSPAPER
18 JUNE 1919
“Third Army
APO 927” (Coblenz)
Free-frank,
officer (Colonel H.C. Nutt)
self-censored cover,
sent to
Los Angeles, California.
AMERICAN FORCES Marines’ Mail
Marines of the ‘4"" Marine Brigade’ (2"4 Division, Ill Corps, APO 710)
INDICATED “MARINES MAIL” ON THEIR OUT-GOING MAIL
with or without unit insignia labels ..
(‘INDIAN WITH HEADDRESS’ IN A CIRCLE).
22 APRIL 1919
“Third Army
APO 710”
Free-frank
officer-censored (purple ink)
view-card,
sent to
Helena, Oklahoma.
censored {purple ink)
sent to
Gualala,
California
Reverse
AMERICAN FORCES Medical Corps Mail
OFFICER’S MAIL
30 March 1919
“Third Army
APO 740” (Andernach)
Free-frank,
officer
self-censored (purple ink)
Cover,
sent to
Anderson, Indiana.
SOLDIER’S MAIL
3 APRIL 1919
“Third Army APO 740” (Andernach)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (black ink)
cover,
sent to
York, Pennsylvania
AMERICAN FORCES Medical Corps Hospital Facilities
OFFICER’S MAIL ‘STATION HOSPITAL’
15 APRIL 1921
“U.S. Army M.P.E.S. (APO) 927”
(Coblenz)
“Enlist Today
Germany Army of Occupation” _
Free-frank, view-card,
sent to
Chicago, Illinois. NURSE’S MAIL TO FRANCE
28 AUGUST 1919
“Third Army APO 927” (Coblenz)
Free-frank, view-card
sent to
Paris, France.
AMERICAN FORCES
OFFICER’S MAIL “FIELD HOSPITAL 127”
23 JANUARY 1919
“U.S. Army Post Office | M.P.E.S.
(APO) 734” (Rengsdorf)
Free-frank, officer self-censored |
(Capt. H.M. Carter,
Marine Corps)
cover, sent to
Oberlin, Ohio.
Medical Corps
Hospital Facilities
HOSPITAL PATIENT'S MAIL
SENT HOME TO ‘MOM’.
29 MARCH 1919
“Third Army APO 746" (Bad Bertrich)
“Dear Mother, Just a line fo let you know |
am in the Hospital with mumps..”
Free-frank, ‘American Red Cross’
Card, sent to
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
AMERICAN FORCES Medical Corps
“EVACUATION HOSPITAL NO. 12”
18 FEBRUARY 1919
“Postal Express
Service No. 930”
(Trier)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (blue ink)
view-card,
sent to
Portland, Oregon.
“EVACUATION HOSPITAL NO. 6”
19 FEBRUARY 1919
“Postal Express
Service
No. 927" (Coblenz)
Free-frank,
Officer-censored {purple ink),
‘American YMCA’
Cover, sent to
Albany, New York.
Evacuation Hospitals
SOLDIERS BEING REDEPLOYED WERE SENT TO “EVACUATION HOSPITALS”
for physical examinations (etc.) before being transferred home.
“EVACUATION HOSPITAL No. 30”
(Mayen)
JUNE 1919
“Call fo Colors”
View Card
AMERICAN FORCES Musicians Mail
“MUSICIAN U.S. INFANTRY”
21 DECEMBER 1918
“Postal Express Service No. 927” (Coblenz)
Free-frank,
officer-censored
view-card, sent to
Springfield, Ohio
“360 INFANTRY
BAND”
25 MARCH 1919
“Third Army
APO 770” (Berncastel)
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink),
cover,
sent to
New Braunfels,
Texas.
_ eA , re e .
‘gion postale universelle. —- Weltpostverein.
We
Buché de Luxembourg. — Grossherzogtum Luxemburgg,
_2¢Carte postale. — Postkarte. BE mee Oe S ie ae (
¥
25 f - .
‘BAND CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL CENTER’
8 FEBRUARY 1919 “U.S. Army Post Office M.P.E.S. 715”
Inter-unit view-card mail,
APO 715 (Ahmeiler) to
APO 909 (Céte-d’On),
officer-censored (black ink).
Use of German Postage on Soldier-Mail AMERICAN FORCES
Use of German postage on Soldier Mail was not required, since military mail
through the APO System was free-frank.
FOR SOUVENIR REASONS, GERMAN POSTAGE MAY HAVE BEEN OBTAINED & USED ON SOLDIER'S MAIL SENT
THROUGH THE MILITARY POST OFFICE.
TR
A f
20 DECEMBER 1922
ae rererererererer or ot.
rien Jubilaums-Couvert From cre re rere
German-franked, Lt. Carl H. Hackert
souvenir Corps of Interpreters private-printed Ad. G@ He Q.. A BF. stationery cover, AM, P. 0. # 930
officer self- Treves Germany censored (purple ink),
sent to New York City.
Ver lag
v .Fe
rd Red
wit z,
Stu tty
art
lirs Caroline 8, Hacker’. y393-19)3. # 1 West 85th. ST.
S
Boro of Manhattan ae
OMY, City, Ne ete
yd
MILITARY POLICE SOLDIER'S MAIL
10 APRIL 1919
940 m6 i
APO | F “Postal Express A. E. F Service
No. 918”
7 German-franked,
aW.- CK. C (Remade, Se ‘American Red Cross’ Cover,
os ON a officer-censored ) : ~ CO OF (purple ink},
postmarked at
| ey. APO 918 Sass (2"¢ Army
Headquarters),
NV A a : sent to East Orange, New
Jersey.
AMERICAN FORCES
OFFICER’S MAIL
7 DECEMBER 1918
(blue ink)
“U.S. Army Postal Service
M.P.E.§. APO 927” (Trier)
Free-frank,
officer self-censored (purple ink)
view-card,
sent to
“Captain W.L. Tower (Marine Corps)
Evacuation Hospifal
A. E. F. *
(APO 747 = Mail Transfer Center)
WAR DEPAXYEMENT. se
FE st SG fasborr) ad
Lerma BAAN, te
censored cover,
postmarked at
‘APO 740’, sentto —
“Captain U.P. Scobey 2"¢ Division ..,
(APO 710)
Heddersdoff ,
Germany”
}
Inter-Unit Mail
INTER-UNIT MAIL WAS SENT THROUGH THE
MILITARY POSTAL EXPRESS SERVICE
ee =| lg ; 3 Ng /Vitr, ‘Lon ta oo l Gee base.
be Cc; vt 7%: Lik. b
ee y ' bey Year f hes. We Wa, . u7
& Lenn: Kies Lind “wo. ij
ef, Maw) ET aT, ge.
“ole Baty : Aibeis ict fas s A Che. fi ae ee 7204, -
LAA eet hells Co 2 J Ht Cr.
he og Cea SAG | ha FU, : (ta Cur tetedr. Arye 83 |
wy eee C4 AOS, eR :
gt
, i Finis a. 197621
OFFICER’S MAIL
6 JULY 1919
“Third Army
APO 740” : ae : : (Andernach)
Oy x ZO 4 ae a a : Free-frank,
‘4 e. ae ae é ata, nesmreript:
AMERICAN FORCES
OUT-BOUND MAILTO FRANCE
21 MARCH 1919
“U.S. Army Post
office M.P.E.S. APO 729”
(Montabaur)}
Free-frank,
reply cover, sent from
“18 Infantry” (cachet hand-stamp)
censored (purple ink),
sent to
“The Farmers’ Loan
Soldiers’ Mail to Foreign Destinations
France & Italy
OUT-BOUND MAIL
TO ITALY
28 JULY 1919
“Third Army
APO 927" (Cobienz)
Free-frank,
‘YMCA’ Cover,
postmarked at
APO 927 (military police),
seni to Trieste, ltaly,
with Italian military
censorship
upon arrival.
AMERICAN FORCES
> Zyl
Reena Re ace IO RG UN t6 cited acti Rak ase”
‘CEN Ob Gul
Re-Directed & Forwarded Mail
APO 727 Coblenz (Germany) to
25. MARCH 1919
28. MARCH 1919
2. APRIL 1919
11. APRIL 1919
23. JULY 1919
American E
APO 727 to APO 742..MILITARY POLICE/FRANCE
"NO RECORD OF RECIPIENT" AT APO 742
APO 742 REDIRECTS LETTER TO APO 910... QUARTERMASTER - POSTAL SECTION
APO 910 INDICATES RECIPIENT 15 "UNASSIGNED/NO RECORD"
APO 910 APPLIES "NO RECORD" DATE STAMP & |
POSTMARK... “ADDRESSEE RETURNED TO U.S.A."
mS
Knights of Columbus © OVERSEAS SERVICE 3
Poe 5 :
APO 742 82"9 Division (France)
. epg TREN RI a TR. DOI ecg te ere kines te ay er at
pt gyre! :
OTRO er ~ ee = en YX eer ay m ay) Ha : LEGAL EIR B
L
|
| |
= ney rin tks ee cc eae Seed Se at Siecle ence ae ed eI Or i Rae ae nes aay: 3 et eee)
Seg eo As ays Se
xpeditionary Forces. 6 Nie * iow
ORI VP aes
Qe PR fd at (209 252. r Se re ' a 4 {Ni
Bs Roy).
ee
aii wD
-
[di SPEER
Sn 2
ae
dof.
a I 4 if
3a (
Nic a } fi Go
Bi if zs
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1
WO ey (5
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s
AMERICAN FORCES Registered Official Mail Covers
Official registered mail was free of franking
except for the registration service fee.
10 APRIL 1919
“A.E.F Postal Express Service No 930
Registered”
Franked
official cover,
officer-censored (black ink),
sent to “The Chief Disbursing
Officer, Air Service,
Paris, France”
10 Cents..
US-domestic registration fee
AMERICAN FORCES Registered Non- Official Mail
In- & Out-Bound
OUT-BOUND
REGISTERED MAIL aia acme er ; Pe seasons
16 JUNE 1919 Bibert VW. Morrison, ‘ Ist. Lieut. ).M.C.
ifieekeseaped) Graves Registration vervice. Postal Express Hdars. Srd. Army, O.Ceijeile
Service A.P.0.4927. American EP y Registered
APO 927” 1 \y a Gy 3 / : aes
(Coblenz) | : ia
\\ ‘ | |
Franked er Re non-official, S MRS ELBERT es We MORE ISON : a
officer self-censored aS ea : (black ink) hs: uy AT hse ie TAREE 7
cover, sent to I Fn pede * BO Anke : Mahomet/re- : Champaign VO.
directed to a
Sadorus, Illinois. a Was ILLINOIS.
o CA C/ 13 Cents.. 2oAS oF : :
3 Cents.. Single- Ist. Ligat. 9. Uetete Weight |
US-Domestic Letter Rate ;
+ eos
10 Cents.. Registry fee
IN-BOUND REGISTERED RETURNED-TO-SENDER
— ene MAIL
ger og a zs | 4 NOVEMBER 191
VPs = ge 170 : fe) ‘ 2 ‘i } (Back-Stamped)
‘q. : Ps: ty, Y uh ; “Postal Express Service ‘ Registered
APO 746” (Bad Bertrich)
Franked, in-bound
non-official,
uncensored cover, postmarked at
Erie, Pennsylvania, sent to
“Walter L. Young
AEF 77" Field Artillery”, unknown upon arrival, re-directed & finally returned to sender on
20 April 1919.
13 Cents.. 3 Cents.. Singie-Weight
US-Domestic Letter- Rate
ote
10 Cents.. Registry fee
AMERICAN FORCES U.S. Military Mission Official Mail ‘Rhineland’ Interpreter Corps Presence Berlin
Prior to re-deployment home of American Forces in the Rhineland, selected officers, such as interpreters, were
ASSIGNED TEMPORARY DUTY AT THE US MILITARY MISSION IN BERLIN,
as “Lieutenant Hackert” (below), previously assigned to ‘Third Army Advance-Headquarters’ at Trier.
PENALTY FOR P pre Use
10 OCTOBER 1921
“Berlin *10*
10 October 1921
6-7 AM”
American Military Mission Berlin “War Department” Official Cover,
sent to
“Lieutenant Carl H. Hackert”
temporarily residing in Berlin
“by Frohlich"
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Berlin NW *6* ..10 August 1921, 8 AM -12”
300 Pfg... 60 Pfg .. triple-weight
(100-250 grams)
city- local-mail letter-rate +
240 Pig .. convenience over-franking {1 July1921-1 October 1921)
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations
Masonic Club
TO SUPPORT AMERICAN FORCES, A NUMBER OF WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS, STAFFED BY CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, ESTABLISHED
BRANCHES IN FRANCE & GERMANY DURING WORLD WAR I & THE OCCUPATION PERIORD,
offering the troops writing stationery, use of library facilities, and other conveniences gratis.
pee ES SE oe
3 oldiers Mail.
&. gg
Miese Helen M Ripley
North Chelmsford, lass.
‘MASONIC CLUB’ OF APO 740 (3 Division Headquarters)
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
ARMY OF OCCUPATION
4 JULY 1919
“Third Army
APO 740”
Free-frank
officer's self-censored (red-purple ink) cover,
sent to
North Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations
Knights of Columbus
In addition to the gratis conveniences offered by welfare organizations,
THE ‘KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS’ FURNISHED SOLDIERS WITH HOLIDAY
GREETING CARDS FOR MAILING HOME ALONG WITH AN ‘OFFICERS CLUB’ for commissioned officers.
‘KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS’
CHRISTMAS 1918 GREETINGS CARD
29 DECEMBER 1918
“Army Post Office MPES 746”
Despite the card’s indication
“Somewhere in
France”, card written & sent
through ‘APO 746’ in Germany.
Text:
“Bingen on the
Rhine”
Free-frank,
rear-base
censored,
postcard
sent to Oakland,
California.
we Cet a Do ¥ WS i ier's Mail
= WS... be ONOMAN
Up. PScunsioep 4. €%. Pan
‘OFFICER’S CLUB’ .. “KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS’ STATIONERY
22 MAY 1919
“Third Army
APO 740”
Free-frank
officer’s self-censored {purple ink)
cover,
sent to Albany, New York.
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations
Knights of Columbus
‘KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS’ ‘EASTER GREETINGS’ CARDS FOR SOLDIERS
28 MARCH 1919
“Third Army APO 746”
Free-frank, | officer-censored
(red-purple ink)
postcard, sent to
Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
-EasterGreetings | AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES _ |
| i ARMY OF OCCUPATION
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, ; 29 MARCH 1919
“Third Army APO 930”
Free-frank officer-censored
(purple ink)
postcard. sent to —
Erie, Pennsylvania.
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations
Knights of Columbus
‘KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS’ ‘ARMY OF OCCUPATION’ STATIONERY
15 MARCH 1919
“Third Army APO 927”
“Evacuation
Hospital No. 22” (Coblenz)
Free-frank,
officer-
censored (purple ink)
cover,
sent to.
East Liverpool,
Ohio. |
14 JUNE 1919
“Third Army APO 930”
“39 Pioneer Infantry”
(Trier)
Free-frank officer-censored
(purple ink)
cover, sent to
Schenectady, New York.
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations American Red Cross
‘AMERICAN RED CROSS’ ‘AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE’ STATIONERY
OFFICERS MAIL
ON ACTIVE SERVICE AMERICAN RED CROSS WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
6 APRIL 1919
sekMeR AR, C. “Third Army NAME ..< 7&2 eo £ S oF VIER
APO 927" /2 CV AE¢o VPLM,
“12! Aero AIMER. £. ee 8 - > Squadron” ee Scat No Achaea . an fi. 4. &
QE RIMM AL F
Free-frank, officer
self-censored (black ink)
Cover,
sent to
Scotia,
New York.
10 MAY 1919
“Third Army
APO 930”
, / “175%
Engineers”
V AN . : ¥ : Free-frank, ( am
ie self-censored : A (| (black ink),
L f g : Cover, sent to
Santa Monica, California.
Py a / Ah Ss
t eifbP WY PS vy
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations The Salvation Army
10 JANUARY 1919
Free-frank, officer -censored
{red-purple ink)
cover, sent to
Bayme City, Michigan.
21 MARCH 1919
“Third Army
APO 740”
Free-frank officer
self-censored (purple ink)
cover, sent to
Anderson, Indiana.
ENUIST TOOAYT re 15 FEBRUARY GERMANY
1921
“[ 7) 1S. Ar Ar
AA ¢ MPES.
my a 0
5 3
N m o a
“Enlist Today ..
Germany ..
Army of
Occupation”
Free-frank : . a9 | uncensored : >
cover, sent to
Boston
Massachusetts. | : Cle, ‘ oe? Dg Ge
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations American YWCA & Exchange Office
AMERICAN ‘YWCA’ HOSTESS HOUSE (TRIER'SCHER HOF HOTEL IN COBLENZ)
WELFARE-ORGANIZATION CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE MAIL WAS SUBJECT TO FRANKING AND
HAD TO BE OFFICER-CENSORED WHEN MAILED THROUGH THE MILITARY POSTAL SERVICE.
American Exchange
5 Pfg Coin Unit (Stamp encapsulated)
on Reverse)
23 APRIL 1919
“Third Army APO 927"
Free-frank, | officer-
censored (purple ink)
view-card of
“YWCA Hostess
: House” in 5 Coblenz,
: sent to
APO 706
‘AEF Band Master School’,
France
SMAY1919 mal
“Third Army APO 927" AMERICAN Y. W.C. A. HOSTESS HOUSE
TRIER’SCHER HOF 3
COBLENZ.
Franked,
civilian welfare-
organization employee
‘YWCA' Cover,
officer- censored (black ink),
sent to— Holyoke,
Massachusetts.
3 Cents..
Single-weight US-domestic letter-rate
{2 November 1917
- 30 June 19719)
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations
American YMCA
‘AMERICAN YMCA’ ‘ARMY OF OCCUPATION’ STATIONERY
26 FEBRUARY 1919
“Postal Express Service No. 927”
Free-frank,
officer-
censored (black ink)
cover,
sent to Akron, Ohio.
7 MARCH 1919
“Postal Express Service
APO 927”
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink}
cover,
sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
AMERICAN FORCES Welfare Organizations American YMCA
“MOTHER’S DAY’ STATIONERY
11 MAY 1919
“Third Army, A.P.O. 754”
(Ill Corps,
Neuwied)
Free-frank,
officer-
censored (black ink)
cover,
sent to.
Denver,
Colorado.
13 MAY 1919
“Third Army, A.P.O. 770” (90'" Division, Berncastel)
Free-frank
officer-
censored (black ink)
cover,
- sent to
Fredell,
Texas.
AMERICAN FORCES
‘CHRISTMAS CARDS’ .. AMERICAN FORCES’ FIRST CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY 1918
re pee - —_ ote
Pvt.Waldo E.Mayer, - ‘APO#O27. AEF, .
Mrs. Leo I, Mayer, |
$50 W. 29th Place,
Chisago,
Free-frank,
officer-censored (purple ink)
view-card, sent to
Chicago, Illinois.
from Trance, where we hight for Peace
lo America, where our loved ones dwell in Peace
We soldiers of the AEF.
Send home our loving greetings, on ; 7+
Hrist's great Day of Leace.
ar YMCA Devambez Paris
Sea
‘Soldier's ——.
Welfare Organizations
American YMCA
22 DECEMBER 1918
“Postal Express Service No 927”
is |
CR RYE RISTZAASS
Miss Mae M. Schaer,
2943 S. Wallace St.,
Chicago, Tll.
vU~, S. Ay
GERMAN MAIL 1918 Military Censorship (American Zone)
Prior to establishment of formal American censorship units
having their own hand-stamps, MILITARY CENSORS APPLIED THEIR HERETOFORE OFFICERS’ CENSORSHIP HAND-STAMP “A.E.F. Passed as Censored”
TO OUTGOING AMERICAN-ZONE ‘GERMAN MAIL’.
MAILTO BRITISH-OCCUPIED RHINELAND ZONE
24 DECEMBER 1918
y Military-censored postal stationery card,
postmarked at Trier,
sent to
Monchen-Gladbach.
Ay ‘i
10 Pfg.. Domestic long-distance
posicard-rate.
| MAILTO FRENCH-OCCUPIED & RE-ANNEXED ALSACE
27 DECEMBER 1918
Military-censored
y | go: | New Year's
; Greeting Card,
i | 4 postmarked at Trier,
aS
po sh
a
a
Wo
2p
sent to Strassburg in | French re-annexed
Lz Zen19 az Alsace Province.
Ce : 5 Pfennig...
CR C7 973. % a | Printed-matter
| posicard-rate
2 Bae Pop Sages 7A | (less than ten words of text)
GERMAN MaAIL 1919 Military Censorship - Trier (American Zone)
EARLY AMERICAN CENSORSHIP OF GERMAN INBOUND MAIL TO
ALL AMERICAN-ZONE DESTINATIONS TOOK PLACE AT TRIER
REGISTERED INBOUND MAIL
FROM BELGIAN- OCCUPIED
CITY OF NEUSS
6 MAY 1919
Inbound, registered, military-censored cover, postmarked at Neuss
(Belgian occupied)
sent to Trier (American occupied)
having the War Invalid Semi-Postal stamps as
franking (1 May .. First Day).
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Trier *le, 8 May 1919”
35 Pfennig.. 15 Pfg.. Domestic
single-weight (20 grams) long-distance letter-rate +
20 Pfg.. Registration fee. (1 August 1916 — 1 October 1919)
GERMAN MAIL 1919 Military Censorship - Trier (American Zone)
ALL OUTBOUND LETTER-MAIL HAD TO BE SUBMITTED ‘UNSEALED’ FOR INSPECTION, CENSORSHIP &
SUBSEQUENT FORWARDING.
OUTBOUND REGISTERED MAIL TO UNOCCUPIED BAVARIA
OUTBOUND REGISTERED MAIL
TO BAVARIA
6 MARCH 1919
Military-censored cover,
postmarked at Trier, sent to Deisenhofen (unoccupied Bavaria)
35 Pfennig.. 15 Pfg.. Domestic single-weight
(20 grams)
long-distance letter-rate + 20 Pfg.. Registration fee.
(1 August 1916 — 1 October 1919}
GERMAN MAIL 1919 Military Censorship (American Zone)
Inbound closed letter mail from unoccupied Germany into the American Zone was permitted, albeit
MAIL WAS OPENED, CENSORED AND RESEALED BY THE AMERICAN MILITARY CENSOR
INBOUND BAVARIAN-ORIGIN MAIL TO THE AMERICAN ZONE
ee
: TA RY C
EN SO R
BY
U. S. M
IL IT AR
a B
INBOUND OPENED, CENSORED & RESEALED MAIL
FROM UNOCCUPIED GERMANY
6 MARCH 1919
Military-censored cover, postmarked at Nurnberg (unoccupied Bavaria)
sent to Coblenz (American occupied)
15 Pfennig..
Domestic single-weight (20 grams)
long-distance letter-rate. {1 August 17916 -— 1 October 19719)
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919
VERTICAL ‘371’ CENSOR MARKING
(Red-Purple Ink)
27 JANUARY 1919
Censored commercial cover,
postmarked at Trier,
sent to
Saarbriicken.
Since this mail was
not submitted unsealed, it was censor-opened &
resealed.
15 Pfg..
Domestic long-
distance single-
weight (20 grams)
Letter-Rate. (1 August 1916 -
1 October 1919)
(‘U.S. 371’ Trier)
Early censorship, using military officers’ hand-stampers, took place
at the American Advance-Headquarters at Trier. UPON RECEIPT OF NEW FORMAL CENSOR MARKERS, THE FORMER
MILITARY HAND-STAMPS WERE NO LONGER USED.
Ve rl ag
Ca rl
Po ye r,
Bi tb
ur g
—
Albacher Wasserfali bei Bitburg
Feth TNE ee SINNENE he oy te a rhe, Wis es * ee ities
t Sub ree zp be: ee ay EPpy Hse
HORIZONTAL ‘371’ CENSOR MARKING
(Red-Purple Ink)
27 JANUARY 1919
Censored .
viewcard,
postmarked at Bitburg
(American occupied),
sent to Berlin (unoccupied).
10 Pfennig...
Domestic long-distance
posicard-rate (1 October 1918 -
1 October 1719)
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919 (‘U.S. 371’ Trier)
COMMERCIAL PRINTED-MATTER EXPRESS MAIL TRANSITING THE AMERICAN ZONE TO UNOCCUPIED GERMANY
oO
f ©
&
Be 23
OF 3a
ae = 6 a
VERTICAL ‘371’ CENSOR MARKING
4 APRIL 1919
Express commercial printed-matier, sent to a Hamburg City address, found incorrect upon arrival,
and re-directed locally to an amended address.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Hamburg, 15 April 1919”
30 Pfennig .. 5 Pfg.. Domestic Printed Matter fo 50 grams
+ 25 Pfg.. Express Mail to City Locations (Validity Period: 1 Oct. 1918 -— 1 Oct. 1919)
Only known commercial express printed-matter mail transiting American Zone to unoccupied Germany.
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919 (U.S. 371’ Trier)
INBOUND REGISTERED GERMAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL MAIL
Berlin 10-0 fF
igh =
HORIZONTAL ‘371’ CENSOR MARKING
9 MAY 1919
Free-frank, inbound registered German Government Mail,
postmarked at Berlin, censored ait Trier,
sent to the Mayor of Prim, Eifel Mountains, (American Zone).
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Prim,
15 May 1919”
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919 (‘U.S. 371’ Trier)
COMMERCIAL FOREIGN PARCEL POST TRANSITING THE AMERICAN ZONE FOR UNOCCUPIED GERMANY
=e
Dg tremens UES . Ci-join
Mnibet
Valeur assurée | Wertangabe
’ Rembourserpe ered ;
Expéditeus MUbjfender :
© Lien de destination... Lf GF C# ; Beftimmaungsort 2
: ties (rue el nninéro) 2 Wobhnung (Strafe u. Xv.
HORIZONTAL ‘371’ CENSOR MARKING
20 MAY 1919
Inbound insured foreign parcel post form-card, postmarked at Luxembourg Train Station,
American-censored with Customs duty assessed at Trier, ultimate destination Pforzheim (unoccupied Germany).
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Trier,
21 May 1919”
136 Centimes.. Parcel rate for a foreign-bound 2100 gram parcel,
insured for Marks 900.
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919 (‘U.S. 372’ Coblenz)
CENSOR MARK ‘372’ WAS DEDICATED TO CENSORS LOCATED AT ‘COBLEN7Z’, HEADQUARTERS OF THE
AMERICAN OCCUPATION FORCES.
HORIZONTAL ‘372’ CENSOR MARKING
(Red Purple Ink)
28 MARCH 1919
Censored mourning cover, unsealed printed- matter, postmarked at
Coblenz, sent to Berlin (unoccupied).
5 Pfg.. Domestic
printed-matter rate for mail fo 50 grams.
{1 October 19718 —
1 October 1919}
LPL PDL OO YO Uwe ee ee ee ee ee POPP FSO ae
he
VERTICAL ‘372’
CENSOR MARKING (Red-Purple Ink) Rudolf Even
Daun (Eitel) Postkart Fernsprecher Nr. 19 19 JANUARY 1919
Censored
commercial postcard,
postmarked at
Daun (Eifel) (American occupied),
sent to Lahr/Baden (unoccupied).
10 Pfennig...
Domestic long-disiance postcard-rate {1 October 1918 -
1 October 1919)
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919 (‘U.S. 372’ Coblenz)
HORIZONTAL ‘372’ CENSOR MARKING
(Black Ink)
14 MAY 1919
Censored cover,
postmarked
at Buchholz (unoccupied Westerwald),
sent to Coblenz.
15 Pfg..
Domestic long-
distance letter-rate. (1 August 1916 - 1 October 1919)
HORIZONTAL ‘372’ CENSOR MARKING
(Red-Purple Ink)
10 JUNE 1919
Censored commercial postcard,
postmarked at Kelberg (Eifel)
(American occupied), sent to Berlin (unoccupied).
10 Pfennig... Domestic
long-distance
postcard-rate (1 October 1718 —
1 October 1919)
GERMAN MaAIL American Censorship 1919 (‘U.S. 372’ Coblenz)
OUT-BOUND FOREIGN DESTINATION MAIL .. LATE AMERICAN MAIL CENSORSHIP
MISSIONARY MAIL TO CHINA
13 AUGUST 1919
Censored postal
stationery card,
postmarked
at Coblenz, endorsed..
“Via America” (“Via Siberia” Route
blocked because of the
Russian Revolution),
sent to a mission in
Shantung (Shandong)
Province,
near Tientsin City,
China.
10 Pfg..
UPU International
Postcard-Rate. (1 July 1875 -
1 October 1919) Only known
occupation-mail
example to China.
MAILTO AUSTRIA
13 AUGUST 1919
Censored view-card,
postmarked at Coblenz
(American occupied),
sent to Vienna, Austria.
10 Pfg..
UPU International
Postcard-Rate. (1 July 1875 -
1 October 1919)
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919 (‘U.S. 373’ Trier)
DESPITE ‘U.S. 371’ (31 x 17mm) BEING THE MOST USED CENSOR MARK APPLIED AT TRIER,,
‘U.$.373’ (28 x 17mm)
HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE ALSO BEEN USED.
(10. 16) HORIZONTAL ‘373’ CENSOR MARKING
(RED-PURPLE INK)
15 JANUARY 1919
Censored commercial postcard, postmarked at Quint (American occupied),
sent to Berlin (unoccupied).
10 Pfennig...
Domestic long-distance postcard-rate (i October 1718 -— 1 October 1919)
Only known example.
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919 (U.S. 3 2’ Coblenz)
Although censorship of mail was to cease upon implementation of the terms of the Peace Treaty of Versailles (10 January 1920),
Allied censorship went beyond that date. Since the United States did not sign the “Versailles” Treaty,
LAST AMERICAN CENSORSHIP OF MAIL IN ITS ZONE TOOK PLACE BETWEEN JULY-AUGUST 1919.
HORIZONTAL ‘U.S. 3 2’ CENSOR MARKING
(Purple ink)
11 JULY 1919
American-censored (at Coblenz),
commercial printed-matter cover, postmarked at Nurnberg
(unoccupied Bavaria),
sent to Trier (American occupied)
5 Pfennig... Domestic printed-matter rate for mail weighing to 50 grams
(1 October 1918 - 1 October 1919)
GERMAN MAIL American Censorship 1919 (‘U.S.3 _ 2’ Coblenz)
Official ‘German Ministry of
Economics’
(Berlin) Mail Into the
American Zone of
Occupation
HORIZONTAL ‘U.S. 3_ 2’
CENSOR MARKING (Purple Ink)
25 JUNE 1919
American-censored (at Coblenz),
official German
Government free-frank cover,
postmarked at
Berlin (unoccupied),
sent to Trier (American occupied).
AMERICAN EVACUATION Closing of ‘APO 927’ Post Office Re-Deployment of Last Americans
With the re-deployment home of the remaining American Forces in Germany in 1922 and with closing of the ‘APO 927’ Postal Station,
LAST AMERICAN MAIL TO THE UNITED STATES HAD TO BE SENT
THROUGH THE GERMAN POSTAL SYSTEM, requiring requisitioning of postage from the Reichspost.
20DECEMBER = Jerry Baker 1922
Headguarteys DeT | “Coblenz*lo” :
APG. 93). German-
franked
cover, sent to
Stockton, California.
80 Marks.. Meg?
UPU t = international
Single-Weight (20 grams)
Letier-Rate (15 December
1922 - 15 Janvary 1923) z -
aoe Ns. :
; 27 DECEMBER
AMERICAN ie 1922
aun MAIL “Coblenz, *lo”
Rss V : “American
ee YMCA” Cover, ae sent to
‘ s Stockton, California.
377 Marks... 360 Marks.. Domestic
fifth-level-
weight (180 grams)
letter-rate +
17 Marks
over-franking {15 December
1922—
15 January 1923)
Reverse
AMERICAN FORCES Last Mail ‘American Forces Germany’ 1923 Official Courier Mail to
_ “American Embassy’ Berlin
HEADQUARTERS OF
‘AMERICAN FORCES GERMANY’
OFFICIALLY
CLOSED ON 24 JANUARY 1923
with
‘Colonel W.W.Harts’, in command to
finalize any remaining matters
regarding transfer of the Rhineland Zone
to French Occupation Forces.
HEADMARTERS AMERICAN FORCES EX GERMANY. ©
CCBLENZ Yee
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te ' ae (\GnN
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” Byenes 21 FEBRUARY 1923
“U.S. Army Postal Service
APO 927.. 1923 A.F.G.”
Official “Headquarters —- American Forces in "92 Feb. wx Germany” Cover, sent by :
“Colonel W.W. Harts”, Commanding Officer, peverse via British Army Courier Services, Cologne, During World War I, ‘Colonel Harts’ (sender) served
to the American Embassy in Berlin. as AEF Mission Chief to the British Expeditionary Forces. ‘Major Koenig’ (mail recipient) was
Transit Postmarks: commander of U.S. Forces at the (Reverse) Port of Antwerp from
“(British) Army Post Office 4 February to 30 June 1922.
$.40 (Cologne) One of three ‘1923’ Covers known: 21 & 22 February 1923” 19 & 21 February & 8 March 1923.
AMERICAN FORCES Last Mail ‘American Forces Germany’ 1923 Official Courier Mail to
‘American Embassy’ Berlin
AMERICAN FORCES OFFICE OF THE
IN CHIEF OF STAPF
GERMANY COBLENZ
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Letter Document from one of three ‘A.F.G. 1923’ Covers known:
19 & 21 February & 8 March 1923.
INTERALLIED GAMES Epilogue
In an effort fo keep the Allied Forces in Europe active in 1919, the
AMERICAN YMCA CONCEIVED THE ‘INTERALLIED GAMES’, patterned after the ‘Olympic Games’, held befween
22 June — 6 July 1919 at Paris, France,
at Pershing Stadium, financed and built by American Army Engineers and later given as a gift to France.
FACTS ABOUT INTER-ALLIED GAMES
Formal Opening ; 22 fai.
Closing ceremanics : 6 faly.
Placa : Perchine Stadium, ue outskists of Paris, in Bois de Vinceunes near Joinvilie-le- Pont.
Fhe Stadium : Ercecfed especially fr the Games by the WMG. As and presented to the ALELF.; seating sapacliz > 5,000} concrete structure completed by US. treeps; felt Eraded end tack laid Ly French engincers. To be presented
+ to France on compic tion of Gaiies.
Competitians ir the Stadium : Bascbail, wskeibail, boxing, cricket, cigss country rece, lexcing, savcer, Rugby fosthall,
hand grenade throwing, horse-riding, track and feid sports, oe tug-Giewer, wrestling.
* Canipetitions rot in the Stadium : fennis, swimming, rifle ~ and pistol shovting, rawing, aired soit,
Nations Participating : Asrerica, Australia, Belzinm, Bracil, Ganads, Chins, Geecte-Siovakia, France, CGuatemmia,
Hediaz, Italy, New Zealand, Portues}, Reumaria, Serbia. ‘Civilians and Scidiérs of oi Aliied countries invited 5 a0
charge for tickcis. fofermation burcaus will be operated at all prominent points in Parts boiore and during Gainer.
N, PPUROT. BRAM EF SECLEVU!
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