1941 France Internment Camp Vernet Ariege Cover Commandant Red Cro

Item Specifics

Country

France

Condition

Cover (Postal History)

Stamp Format

Single

Item Description

Grade: Ungraded
Up for auction is a beautiful cover from the internment concentration detention camp in Vernet, Arieges France from the commandant's office to the International Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. In excellent condition. Priced to sell. Postmarked October 17, 1941. Shipping will be a flat $2.00 within the continental U.S. for USPS mail. Overseas airmail shipping is $14.00. Questions? Please contact me at: azteccollectables at hotmail.com. Check out my other online auctions of rare and vintage stamps. My e bay store, Aztec Collectables, has a fine and growing selection of unique covers, stamps and postcards. Please make pay arrangements within 72 hours of winning the auction. I will combine shipping on multiple wins, if you want combined shipping wait until I invoice you. About the camp, per Wikipedia:Le Vernet Internment Camp, or Camp Vernet, was a concentration camp[1] in Le Vernet, Ariège, near Pamiers, in the French Pyrenees. It was originally built in June 1918 to house French colonial troops serving in World War I but when hostilities ceased it was used to hold German and Austrian prisoners of war.[2]Between the wars, it served as a military depot.[2] Towards the end of the Spanish Civil War, in February 1939, it was put to a new use. It became a reception camp for Republicans fleeing from Francisco Franco's armies after the collapse of the Second Spanish Republic. At this time, it held mainly former soldiers from the Republican Durruti Division.[1]With the outbreak of World War II, the role of the camp was expanded. It was used to house "undesirable" foreigners, in particular, anti-fascist intellectuals and former members of the International Brigades.[1] After the Fall of France on 25 June 1940, it was taken over by the pro-Nazi Vichy France authorities, to house "all foreigners considered suspect or dangerous to the public order".[1]From 1942, Le Vernet was used as a holding centre for Jewish families awaiting deportation to labour and extermination camps[1]. The final transport took place in June 1944 and took the remaining prisoners to Dachau concentration camp.[1] One source says that "about 40,000 persons of 58 nationalities were interned in the camp".[1]

Seller Information

Seller

AztecCollectables (3507)

Registered Since

11/23/2011

Feedback

99.7%

Store

Aztec Collectables

Item Location

Florida, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No