May 10, 1940 - Detained Mail

Airmail Letter Awaiting Dispatch on May 10, 1940
1.75 F UPU 20 g letter rate + 1.75 F registry fee + 3.50 F airmail surcharge/5 g

The Germany Army overran Luxembourg in the early morning hours of Friday, May 10, 1940, less than two days after this letter had been posted late Wednesday afternoon at Luxembourg-Gare. In the course of the occupiers seizing control of the Grand Ducal postal system, this four-gram registered airmail letter was opened, censored and detained for nearly a half year. Routed "Via Lisbourne" [Lisbon, Portugal], it arrived in New York on November 8, 1940, and at its destination, Chicago, Illinois, November 9, 1940, some 185 days later.


From an exhibit-in-progress entitled Luxembourg Postal History During the World War II German Occupation -- May 10, 1940 - September 10, 1944.