The philatelic issue entitled 'The End of World War II', introduced into circulation by Romfilatelia,on Friday, May 9th this year, is dedicated to the anniversary of the moment which, 80 years ago, put an end, with the unconditional surrender of Germany, to the longest war in the history of mankind, in which more than 30 countries and more than 100 million people were directly involved. The warring parties were divided into two alliance systems: the Allies (Great Britain, the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the Axis (Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Japan).
World War II began on September 1st, 1939, when Germany attacked Poland. In the aftermath, England declares war on Germany, engaging in a fierce battle with an aggressor that had conquered major European territories, including France, in a 'lightning war'.
With the invasion of the Soviet Union ordered by Hitler (June 1941) and the entry of the United States into the war, along with England and the Soviet Union, the war became a global war.
Until 1944, Romania found itself side by side with Germany, the Romanian troops suffering the most catastrophic defeat with Hitler's troops at Stalingrad (February 1943). Romanian losses in the Eastern campaign amounted to more than 700 thousand dead and wounded to which were added more than 300 thousand prisoners.
By the courageous act of August 23rd, 1944, when King Michael I decided Romania's exit from the Axis and switching to the Allies side, the war was shortened by at least 6 months. The 1st Army and the 4th Army of the Romanians fought heavy battles in North-Western Transylvania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Austria, ending the war three days after the German surrender on May 11th, 1944, in the battles to liquidate the last remaining Hitlerite resistance and liberate Prague. Romanian losses in the Western campaign amounted to over 100 thousand dead and wounded and over 55 thousand prisoners.
The philatelic issue is composed of a postage stamp, a perforated souvenir sheet, a First day Cover and a special album produced in a limited edition.
The postage stamp with the face value of RON 25 highlights a moment when Romanian soldiers are greeted with flowers in a liberated village in Transylvania.
The souvenir sheet, whose postage stamp has the face value of RON 30, reproduces the great popular demonstration of May 10th, 1945, in the Royal Palace Square, where King Michael I was joined by members of the government of that time.
The First Day Cover depicts the image of an important moment of the same popular gathering on May 10th, 1945, during a military parade in which the protagonists are the soldiers of a unit of the Mounted Guards Regiment.
On the First Day Cover, there is also illustrated the image of the 'Mihai Viteazul' Military Order, 1stClass with Swords, 1944 model, the highest Romanian military distinction that is awarded at war.
The postcard from the album presents the image of a parade ceremony in 1945, organized at the Arch of Triumph in Bucharest.
Romfilatelia thanks the specialists of the 'King Ferdinand I' National Military Museum, the 'Queen Marie' National Association of the Cult of Heroes and the National Press Agency AGERPRES for the documentary support and specialized consultancy offered for the realization of this issue of postage stamps.
