It needs 50 years for Michel to describe the since 1946  in their catalogue includes "Alpenvorland - Adria" stamps as a "post-war fantasy product".

In our search for information, we could not have foreseen how intricate the trail of these stamps would be and how many different opinions there would be about authenticity or forgery.

We were unable to obtain information about these stamps from any of the usual sources and were forced to learn its history only through existing documents, especially through communication with several other collectors, knowledge of the topic and the problems.

It could already be predicted in the autumn of 1943 that the military situation for Italy and in the Italian-occupied areas would deteriorate so much that Italy would be forced to capitulate, such as in the Croatian areas that the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Pašić, had given them, all the way to Albania. The military incompetence of the Italians was more than obvious. After the Italian capitulation, German troops took over the Italian positions.

In 1945, the Vienna State Printing House printed 14,900 sets of panoramic images around Ljubljana in 16 denominations from 5 Cent to 30 Lira.

These stamps represent one of the most picturesque areas in Europe.

All of this was part of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, before it was divided by the Treaty of Versailles. That is how Adolf Hitler saw it, and therefore the province of Ljubljana was part of the Third Reich.

For many collectors, this series and the last two red SS and SA issues of the Reich seem to mark the end of the Third Reich's postal system. But was it really the end?

In F. W. Deakin's book "Brutal Friendship" ("Die brutale Freundschaft") there is a lot of information about Hitler's concept of "living space" for a single Greater German Reich. Although they were the Axis allies, there was an inevitable disagreement between the Third Reich and fascist Italy.

Although Hitler admired Mussolini, he also knew that their days as allies were limited. The Great German Reich extended south of the Alps to the Slovenian road to the Adriatic Sea, which originally belonged to the Austrian Empire.

Hitler saw the country on both sides of the Brenner Pass firmly under German control.

In an effort to avoid an unpleasant confrontation with Mussolini, Hitler secretly appointed two highly experienced Austrian officials to oversee the political administration of these two major territories, Hofer of Obertyrol and Rainer of Carinthia. Both believed they were fulfilling a historic mission to annex these regions to the Third Reich.

At the same time, the military failures of the Italian army on the right side of the Adriatic meant that many forces were cut off from supplies and support from their homeland.

The Wehrmacht realized that the Croats were better warriors than the Italians.

Faced with the heavy activity of communist bandits, the Italians had to accept the withdrawal of all their units from the right bank of the Adriatic. The Germans strongly suppressed the initial rise of the partisans, and then turned to the task of disarming more than 30 Italian divisions, which were considered unreliable and were sending most of them to Germany for work. German units took over Zadar, Rijeka, Split and Boka Kotorska. The Wehrmacht annexed the Italian provinces of Bolzano, Belluno and Trieste.

As envisaged in the plans for Greater Germany, the southern flank would extend from France in the west to the Independent State of Croatia in the south. To this end, several areas of application had to be created, primarily access to Lower Tyrol and the Adriatic. Slovenian Ljubljana became the Province of Ljubljana, for which the Vienna State Printing House issued a set of 16 stamps for civilian use. From all this it became clear that military and civilian orders for both areas were still separate. In fact, the army was served by mail through the official post office in the Alpine foothills ("Dienstpost Alpenvorland") and the official post office in the Adria ("Dienstpost Adria") as separate units.

In the spring of 1945, in these last, terrible days of the European conflict, a time of chaos and confusion came for the Wehrmacht forces and their volunteer legions who were retreating to the relative safety of Austria.

A package of stamps intended for civilian use in the combined Alpine area was almost destroyed in an Allied air raid on the Trieste station. Apparently, only a few thousand sets of these stamps were saved.

Yugoslav partisans confiscated the remaining sets, which were then exchanged for brandy and wine.

These are postage stamps in a series of 16 copies, a twin set of the province of Ljubljana. In both cases, 16 values ​?​?were between 5 cents and 30 Lira. The Ljubljana set contained 6 vertical and 10 horizontal stamps, while the "Alpenvorland-Adria" set had 8 vertical and 8 horizontal stamps.

The Laibach edition was available for civilian use from March to April 1945, and 14,900 sets were issued.

More than 3,000 "Alpenvorland Adria" arrays are believed to have survived the chaos. Both series were printed at the Wiener Staatsdruckerei (Vienna State Printing Office), with the difference that in the case of the "Alpenvorland-Adria" edition, there were no paper traces or documents to prove it.

Both sets had linear perforations, 10 1/2: 11 1/2 with some inversions on the Ljubljana edition and 11 1/2 for "Alpenvorland-Adria". The paper had no watermark. It is obvious that there were no "Alpenvorland-Adria" stamps in the used condition.

Little was known about this "Alpenvorland-Adria" edition until 1955. State auditor Dr. Hermann Schultz stated in the "Michel-Rundschau" that the "Alpenvorland-Adria" is one of the most interesting German war issues and should not be missed in any serious German collection because of its historical significance.

His article explained the origin of that sequence, which he immediately offered.

In his handbook "Deutsche Dienstpost 1939-1945" Dr. Schultz writes on page 33 about "Deutsche Dienstpost Alpenvorland - Adria": "The issuance of a special series of postage stamps ... was planned for 1945, but due to the capitulation it was not realized."

At the same time, the well-known Austrian expert Dr. med. Ferdinand Wallner confirmed these sets as authentic by putting a small stamp on the gummed side instead of using his usual signature with a pencil. This would later lead to his expulsion from the Association of Austrian Experts.

In 1956, the Yugoslav expert Bar Julij was the first to speak about counterfeits.

In the meantime, the Düsseldorf wholesaler Wilhelm Bartels offered this set for 190 German Marks as "unissued" stamps with his personal guarantee of authenticity and attracted many collectors to buy it. Some collectors had their purchases inspected. The negative analysis was accepted by Michel's catalog, which declared the "Alpenvorland Adria" brand a fantasy product of the post-war period.

In their analysis of the "Alpenvorland-Adria" stamps, the examiners came to the following findings:

1. Paper quality was not available at this late stage of the war.

2. For these chaotic times, perforations seemed too perfect.

3. Each of these areas had separate systems of military service, as evidenced by the abundance of handwritten letters from both areas.

4. Former Gauleiter Anton Franz Hofer of Tyrol was Reich Commissioner for Defense and should have known and approved this release.

5. There was no evidence of such a plan, and the State Printing Office in Vienna had no such records of planning or printing.

6. The Allied air attack on Trieste did not take place, and the railway station was not bombed.

7. If the sets in the bombing were damaged, why didn't incomplete or damaged sets appear?

8. Why were the stamps issued as Cent/Lira and not as Pfennig/Reichsmark?

For this evidence, Dr. Schultz retracted his earlier statements of authenticity shortly thereafter.

Bartels tried to have the son of dr. Schultz on all 3,000 sheets, which were owned by the merchant Bartels and which dr. Ing. Schulz should have checked, he put a mark on them of his father, who died in the meantime.

Federal Auditor Emil Ludin wrote a carefully documented paper in the "Michel-Rundschau" document in December 1968 in which the string was labeled as a pure forgery.

Desperate measures were taken to counter Ludin's analysis of this obvious problem. A Lübeck dealer, Martin Peschel, sued Ludin in 1971 to force him to withdraw his negative findings and pay legal costs and damages for 16 sheets owned by Peschel.

Since Peschel could not present the promised proof of authenticity, the court in Karlsruhe ruled against him. The judge stated that they were not legally issued, were not included in any legal document, nor were the zip codes planned in the final days of the war. Peschel was ordered to pay court costs.

A merchant from Hamburg called Ludin and asked him to reconsider his findings and offered Ludin 5,000 DM for "further research". Ludina rejected this apparent bribe. The frustrated trader then turned to federal treasurer Werner Pickenpack, who also dismissed the same "further investigation." Dr. Damrau, the former head of the "Dienstpost Alpenvorland", received a bribe for some kind of "clarification".

The second court case was initiated by a dealer from Düsseldorf, Armin König. He filed a lawsuit against Jürgen Ehrlich, the president of a German postage stamp retailer. The complaint alleges that Ehrlich estimated the value of a set of "Alpenvorland - Adria" stamps at 250 DM in his "Philex" catalog. This case was resolved in favor of the plaintiff. The court decided again, and the "Philex" catalog was discredited.

( Read more : http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-42698383.html )

Dr. Schultz could have changed his mind before his death. The Austrian expert Dr. med. Ferdinand Wallner was shamefully expelled from the Association of Austrian Experts. The merchant Bartels was completely discredited, as was the merchant Peschel. Even Ehrlich got into trouble for his reputation. But still, the legend lives on.

The Italians, however, see things somewhat differently. In the catalog "Enciclopedico Italiano" from 1999 to 2000, the series is listed as an unpublished series that was prepared for distribution in Vienna, when the double region was included in the Third Reich. The perforated value is listed at 850,000 Lire, and the imperforate at 500,000 Lire.

A well-known Milanese dealer stated that there are actually four perforated and imperforate types on two colors of paper. He believes that the story of partisan confiscation is correct.

The opinions of other Italian authorities are different. In 1962, Enzo Diena declared this set "of no philatelic interest". Since Venezia Giulia was to become part of the "Alpenvorland Adria", this set was illustrated by Franco Filanci in his 1995 book published by the Italian Post.

Filanci believes that this set was printed in Vienna due to the massive German withdrawal from the region. He states that these sets must have come from the state printing house in Vienna, as they were printed in intaglio.

There were no longer any printers in Italy who had the machinery and skills to produce stamps of this quality. He also believes that the price of 16 values ​?​?for intaglio would have been very expensive, assuming that such printing was even possible.

In his opinion, no counterfeiter would finance such stamps, as a much cheaper series would be more profitable. He concludes that these sets were stolen in Vienna and that it is obvious that no one would be burdened by admitting to the theft. Filanc's version of events is based solely on the assumption that they were printed in Vienna shortly before the end of the war.

The GPS bulletin of July 1984 mentions Dr. Bohne, that Gauleiter Hofer as representative of the Reich Defense had never heard of the set or approved it. Dr. Bohne then wrote the following: "Further research has shown that the "Alpenvorland Adria" counterfeits had nothing to do with their alleged country of origin. They were printed long after the war in Milan (Italy). They are the product of the Croat Dr. Kosis who died in Switzerland in the sixties."

The design and printing of 16 stamps is quite a task. While most counterfeiters would have resorted to a fake overprint, this man chose picturesque views that were representative of one of the most attractive areas in Europe, which suited the design, values, and color tones of the set in the Ljubljana province. They may have been printed on a printing press provided by the Marshall Plan.

This man managed to sell this set to a number of supposedly honorable and experienced stamp dealers. Given this level of talent and determination, this man could have been successful as a politician, lawyer, broker, stockbroker, insurance agent, or stamp dealer.

In the GPS newsletter from July 1973, Dr. Bohne also discovers a similar case in Croatian philately, of a 500 Kuna stamp, as an allegedly completely fake issue.

Attached is a picture along with his opinion that this and the "Alpenvorland Adria" series were not worth the paper they were printed on.

Dr. Bohne apparently forgot that there was an emigration government in the Croatian emigration after 1945, which issued postage stamps in emigration. Since the Independent State of Croatia never capitulated, but was dismembered by the Jugo-Serbian communist occupier and occupied the government of the Independent State of Croatia had the right to issue its stamps in emigration. Some kind of government III. The Reich did not become in emigration. That is why Croatian emigration stamps cannot be compared with "Alpenvorland Adria" stamps!

The offices of DDP "Alpenvorland Adria" stopped their service by surrendering in northern Italy on April 30, 1945.

Sandžak :

The Sandžak was from the April, 29th, 1941 for 6 months part of the Independent State of Croatia. At this date a stamp set, limited to 99 copies, was issued and given to the some members of the croatian customs members and Ustaša (all croatian muslims).

To honour this annexion, local patriots from the Sandžak who haven´t forgot this event have issued a set of 24 stamps with landscape-motives from the Sandžak at April, 29th, 2024.

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

Veterans Association Handschar :

The german Veterans Association Handschar have issued in 1955 two overprinted stamp-sets and between 1989-1994 80 stamp sets to help Croatians in emigration and in the 1990´s to collect money for croatian defense against the serbian aggression against Croatia.

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

The “Omoti”-sets :

In 1993 32 music-cover sets were issued from the emigration of the Independent State of Croatia. Every set contains 16 stamps.

8 sets are dedicated bands :
- 3 sets of Depeche Mode.
- 1 set of Kraftwerk.
- 1 set of Front 242.
- 1 set of Nitzer Ebb.
- 1 set of Front Line Assembly.
- 1 set of Skinny Puppy.

24 sets are dedicated to music styles :
- 8 sets of 70s/80s/90s Synthie Pop, Darkwave, Dark Electro, Italo Disco, Neofolk, ... .
- 2 sets of Electronic Body Music.
- 2 sets of Neue Deutsche Welle.
- 2 sets of House, Dance, ... .
- 3 sets of Hip Hop, Miami Bass, Freestyle, ... .
- 3 sets of Heavy Metal, Rock, Hard Rock, ... .
- 1 sets of Punk, Oi, ... .
- 3 sets of Italo Disco, Euro Disco, Hi NRG, ... .

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

In 1994 four music-cover sets were issued from the emigration of the Independent State of Croatia :

- 1 set of Erasure
- 1 set of Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
- 1 set of Pet Shop Boys
- 1 set of The Cure

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

In 2022 three more music-cover sets were issued from the emigration of the Independent State of Croatia :

- 3 sets of Neofolk, Industrial ...

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

In 2024 three band-sets of the band Rammstein were issued from the emigration of the Independent State of Croatia :

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

In 2024 nine music-cover sets were issued from the emigration of the Independent State of Croatia :

- 1 set of Adele
- 1 set of Ariana Grande
- 1 set of Beyoncé
- 1 set of Christina Aguilera
- 1 set of Lady Gaga
- 1 set of Miley Cyrus
- 1 set of Pink
- 1 set of Rihanna
- 1 set of Taylor Swift

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

Counties “Raša” and “Dubrava” :

After the italian capitulation in the year 1943 the croatian territories, occupied by fascistic Italy, returns to the Independent State of Croatia.

Overprints at italian stamps were issued from the Great County of Dubrava for the planed return of the Bay of Kotor and the planned foundation of the Great County of Raša (today known as Istria).

Read more about the [ Great County of Raša ] and the [ Great County of Dubrava ].

[ BUY HERE ]

Prince Eugen Gau :

Before the war III. Reich against the in theeses days existing Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Germans threatened the Hungarians that if they did not participate in that war, the Volksdeutsche would declare a German state at the territory of Bačka, Banat and eastern Syrmia all the way to Belgrade. That German state was supposed to be connected with a corridor that would go partly around the Danube river to the territory of III. Reich, that is, to the Slovenian Prekomurje, which was then part of III. Reich.

After the proclamation of the Independent State of Croatia April 10, 1941 this plans didn´t stop and the Volksdeutsche planed the proclamation of that state at the birthday of Adolf Hitler
April 20, 1941. They had prepared 3 stamps with overprints on hungarian stamps, but the III. Reich didn´t support this plans, because they don´t want to have problems with the new state, the Independent State of Croatia and also not with Hungary.

The Hungarians were afraid of a possible realisation of such a exteritorial german territory and annexed first the Bačka at the April 11, 1941 and some days later Međimurije of the Independent State of Croatia at the April 16, 1941 so that a corridor between a possible "Prince Eugen Gau" and the III. Reich couldn´t be realized without a war between the Allies Hungary and the III. Reich.

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

HOS :

At April 10, 1993, the Croatian Defense Forces (Hrvatske Obrambene Snage = HOS) issued 2 different stamp sets and at April 10, 2024 the third HOS stamp set.

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

OZAK :

The "Operation Zone Adriatisches Küstenland" ("Operations Zone Adriatisches Küstenland" or "OZAK") existed from September 10, 1943, and consisted of the Croatian and Slovenian territories occupied by the Kingdom of Italy, as well as the territories in northern Italy, which from October 8, 1943 fell under the control of the German III. Reich, which had the meaning as an operational zone of the German Wehrmacht, means exclusively military.

After the capitulation of Italy on September 8, 1943, the Great County of Raša were established by the Independent State of Croatia from the Croatian areas of Istria, the Kvarer Islands, the city of Rijeka, which was donated to the Kingdom of Italy by Serbian Minister Pasić of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia under the Treaty of Rapala in 1920, the city of Trieste and the present-day Slovenian coast.

The Independent State of Croatia could only formally establish the Great County of Raša, because since the capitulation of Italy on the territory that the Kingdom of Italy got from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia the III. Reich took control since October 1, 1943 over the entire Istrian peninsula, the cities of Rijeka, Sušak, Bakar, Kastav, Čabra and the island of Krk. Those Croatian territories were included in the "Operational Zone of the Adriatic Coast" ("OZAK") together with the Italian provinces of Friuli, Trieste and Gorica, and until the capitulation of Italy to the occupied Slovenian province of Ljubljana from the Italians.

From some German activities, such as the ban of the teaching of the Italian language in schools and the introduction of the Croatian language, it can be concluded that the III. Reich planned the reintegration of the "Operational Zone of the Adriatic Coast" into the Velika župa Raša (Great County of Raša) of the Independent State of Croatia.

The course of the war prevented that return, as well as the return of Sandžak and the Bay of  Kotor from the III. Reich (which controled both areas) to the Independent State of Croatia.

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

Prince Eugen Division :

The Volksdeutsche from the Independent State of Croatia issued overprints on German stamps of the “Day of Wehmacht” in 1943 and 1944, which was given to the new members of the division "Prince Eugen".

[ READ MORE ] [ BUY HERE ]

Other stamp-series :

The emigration of the Independent State of Croatia has issues also in the year 1999 stamp series of Pope John Paul II.

In 2024 four Independent State of Croatia / Ukraine stamp-series were isued :
Slava Ukraini / Putler

In 2024 the Independent State of Croatia issued seven stamp-series :
- 2 stamp-series of landscapes of the Independent State of Croatia.
- 2 stamp-series with croatian food-motives.
- 3 stamp-series with croatian football fans

Other stamp series :

- Beware of Yugoslavs
- Communist bandit Josip Broz Tito
- Croatian coat of arms
- Croatian Kingdom
- Croatian Muslims
- Erich von Däniken
- Fazlagića kula
- History of the Croats
- King and Queen of the Independent State of Croatia
- Mother
- Sandžak 2024 in two sizes.
- Ustasha
- Velika Smradija (Velika Srbija/Great Serbia)
- Zvonimir Boban

Pocket watch :

Absolute rarity : we can offer you a Zenith Pocket watch with Rubins with coat of arms of the Independent State of Croatia and “Za dom spremni!” of the watchmaker Jozo Mazuric from Mostar. [ Read more ]

Coins :

We offer you very hard to find coins of the Independent State of Croatia and the 2nd exile.
[ Read more ]

Silver ring :

The german veteran-association “Handschar” issued in 1955 three different silver rings. One of them is that one with the coat of arms of the Independent State of Croatia. [ Read more ]