CHRISTMAS FOR OUR SOLDIERS – To provide Christmas gifts for Hungarian soldiers serving in the Second World War, the postal administration issued a five-denomination stamp set on 1 December 1941 with a total surcharge of 1.60 pengő.
During the second half of 1941, Hungary’s fate became increasingly intertwined with the policies and military objectives of Nazi Germany. In June, Hungary entered the war against the Soviet Union after Germany launched Operation Barbarossa. Although the Hungarian leadership had initially been cautious, the bombing of Kassa provided the pretext for a declaration of war, formally drawing Hungary into the Eastern Front. Hungarian forces participated with smaller units, particularly in the Carpathian region. Despite initial successes, it soon became clear that the war would be long and exhausting. The equipment and training of Hungarian troops sent to the front lagged behind German standards, contributing to serious losses. Following Prime Minister Pál Teleki’s suicide in April 1941, László Bárdossy took over the government and pursued a substantially more pro-German policy. Political decisions increasingly conformed to Berlin’s expectations, while tension and uncertainty grew within Hungarian society.
To provide Christmas gifts for Hungarian soldiers serving in the Second World War, the postal administration issued a five-denomination stamp set on 1 December 1941 with a total surcharge of 1.60 pengő. Because of the substantial surcharge, the stamps were purchased mainly by collectors and saw less postal use, although used examples and stamps on postal covers are not rare.
MBK 712Tny
