Romania Stamps
1944
With the signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938 which ceeded most of Czechosolvakia to Germany, King Carol II, King of Romania realised that the western powers of Britain and France were not going to support him if he stood up against Hitler. Romania and Germany signed an economic agreement in 1939 but this agreement did not protect Romania from German agression.
The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact (August 23, 1939) between Germany and the Soviet union further undermined Romania's position as it secretly ceeded Romanian Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina to the Soviet Union as well as Northern Transylvania to Hungary and Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria all of which were symapthetic to the Nazi's. Following the loss of these territories King Carol II was forced to adbicate in favour of his 18 year old son, Michael I (25th Oct 1921 to 5th Dec 2017).
Although Michael I was the king, power lay in the hands of Ion Antonescu who went on to join the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan on 23rd Nov 1940. From early 1941 onwards Romania was a military dictatorship. When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 the Romanians joined the conflict alongside the Germans to fight the Soviets. The reward for their assistance was to regain control over Bessarabia and Northern Bucovina.
As the tide of the war turned in 1943 the Romanian resistance sought peace with the Allies and King Michael I went on to arrest Antonescu and form a new governemnt on 23rd Aug 1944. Romania had effectively switched sides with the Romanian Army now supporting the Red Army against Germany and Hungary.
Michel 791
"Centenary of Medical Education"
Issued 1st Mar 1944. This stamp is printed on watermarked 8 paper and is perf K14:14¼.
Michel 792
"30th Anniversary of Romanian Rugby Federation"
Issued 16th Mar 1944. This stamp is printed on watermarked 8 paper and is perf K14:14¼.
Michel 793 to 796
"City of Rădăşeni"
Issued 1944. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 8 paper and are perf K14:14¼.
Michel 797 to 816
"King Michael I"
Issued 1944/45. These stamps measure 21 x 26mm, were printed photogravure on watermarked 8 paper and are perf 13½. These stamps were previously issed in 1940 with watermark 7 as Michel 650 to 665.
Michel 817 to 820
"Postage and Railways"
Issued 1st Feb 1944. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 8 paper and are perf comb14¼:14.
Michel Block 22
"Postage and Railways"
Issued 1st Feb 1944. This minisheet measures 143 x 86mm and the stamps are imperforate.
Mi 821
Mi 822
Mi 823
Michel Block 23
"Postage and Railways"
Issued 1st Feb 1944. This minisheet measures 143 x 86mm and the stamps are imperforate.
Mi 824
Mi 825
Mi 826
Michel A817 to A820
"Postage and Railways"
Issued 28th Feb 1944. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 8 paper and are perf comb14¼:14. These stamps are the same as Michel 817 to 820 only now they have a '1744 1944' black overprint.
Michel Block 24
"Postage and Railways"
Issued 28th Feb 1944. This minisheet measures 143 x 86mm and the stamps are imperforate.
Mi A821
Mi A822
Mi A823
Michel Block 25
"Postage and Railways"
Issued 28th Feb 1944. This minisheet measures 143 x 86mm and the stamps are imperforate.
Mi A824
Mi A825
Mi A826