📜 The Overrun Countries Series (1943–1944)

• Issued by the U.S. Post Office during World War II to honor nations that had been invaded and occupied by Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and their allies).

• The series consisted of 13 stamps: Poland, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Greece, Yugoslavia, Albania, Austria, Denmark, and Korea.

• Each stamp showed the occupied country’s flag in color, flanked by allegorical figures symbolizing strength and freedom.

• Denomination: 5 cents (higher than standard 3-cent postage) — the extra cost symbolically showed America’s support for these countries.

• They were sometimes called the “Nations Overrun” stamps.

🇷🇸 The Yugoslavia Stamp (Issued October 26, 1943)

• Depicted the Yugoslav tricolor flag: blue (top), white (middle), and red (bottom).

• At the time, Yugoslavia had been invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in April 1941.

• The monarchy was forced into exile, while inside the country, resistance fighters (notably the Partisans led by Josip Broz Tito) waged a long guerrilla struggle against the occupiers.

• The stamp represented American solidarity with the Yugoslav people fighting for their freedom.

✍️ Designer & Printing

• Designer: Charles A. Brooks

• Printed by: American Bank Note Company, known for its high-quality engraving and color printing.

• The printing process was unusually complex for U.S. stamps of the era — it required multicolor engraving to reproduce the flags accurately.

🎖️ Symbolism & Propaganda Value

• These stamps were more than postage — they were wartime propaganda, reminding Americans of the global struggle against fascism.

• Each issue carried the motto “LEST WE FORGET”, reinforcing the idea of shared sacrifice and the importance of Allied unity.

• For immigrant communities in the U.S., these stamps were also a source of pride and hope, showing that America remembered their homelands.

Here’s the complete list of the 13 “Overrun Countries” stamps issued by the U.S. during World War II, along with their issue dates:

📬 The Overrun Countries Series (1943–1944)

1. Poland – June 22, 1943

2. Czechoslovakia – July 12, 1943

3. Norway – July 27, 1943

4. Luxembourg – August 10, 1943

5. Netherlands – August 23, 1943

6. Belgium – September 14, 1943

7. France – September 28, 1943

8. Greece – October 12, 1943

9. Yugoslavia – October 26, 1943

10. Albania – November 9, 1943

11. Austria – November 23, 1943

12. Denmark – December 7, 1943

13. Korea – November 2, 1944

Notes:

• Each was a 5¢ commemorative stamp, showing the national flag in color with allegorical figures on either side.

• The series was printed by the American Bank Note Company (rather than the usual Bureau of Engraving and Printing) because of the advanced multicolor engraving needed for the flags.

• The last stamp, Korea (Nov 2, 1944), is unusual because Korea was not a European country, but was included as a nod to the U.S. opposition to Japanese occupation in Asia.