Poste Republique Francaise 25th Anniversary of Nazi Germany's Capitulation

POSTE REPUBLIC FRANCAISE on 8 May 1970 issued a First Day Cover stamp marking the 25th Anniversary of Nazi Germany's Capitulation in Berlin. Marshal de Lattre de Tassigny (1889-1952) represented France on the occasion. This grey-green and purple stamp was designed and engraved by Georges Betemps. It featured Marshal de Lattre and German capitulation in Berlin. An intaglio print method was used to issue 4,325,000 copies. Special postmark shows a profile of Marshal de Lattre, which originated from Paris.

The maxim card depicts the signing of the surrender in Berlin Karlshorst. Left at the table is Soviet Marshal Zhukov and at the head is German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel. Representatives of the Wehrmacht surrender in Reims, Karlshorst Lueneburg, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany (1933-1945) after WWII.

Marshal de Lattre held a staff commission early in World War II, becoming commander of an infantry division in May 1940. After France collapsed in June 1940, he was imprisoned by the Germans but escaped to North Africa in October 1943. He then commanded the French 1st Army in the Allied landing operations in southern France (16 August 1944) and the subsequent drive across France and into southern Germany and Austria. On May 8, 1945, he represented France at the signing of the German capitulation.