Home
 After World War II, Germany was divided into zones by the occupying powers: the United States. Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. Berlin was also divided into four zones. In May 1949, Germany's three western zones formed the Federal Republic of Germany (or West Germany) with its capital at Bonn. The Soviet zone became the German Democratic Republic (or East Germany). The city of Berlin was situated within the Soviet zone, or East Germany. The three western zones within the formed West Berlin, while the eastern section became East Berlin. This situation existed from 1949-1990. To prevent people from East Germany and East Berlin fleeing to West Berlin or West Germany, East German authorities, under the control of the Soviet Union, built the Berlin Wall to prevent unauthorized border crossings. Until the Berlin Wall fell 9 November 1989, 138 persons died in attempts to flee communist East Berlin. Germany was formally reunited on 3 October 1990.  In 2014, the Vatican Post Office issued 150,000 €0,85 stamps and 90,000 €3,60 souvenir sheets to celebrate the Fall of the Berlin Wall. The stamp has a photo of a Berliner using a chisel to dismantle the wall, an action that began on 9 November 1989. The stamp was issued in sheets of ten. The souvenir sheet lists the names of the 138 persons who died attempting to cross the Berlin Wall. Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1574 - 1575 Date Issued - 28 August 2014 Face Value - €0,85, €3,60 Perforations - 14.3 x 14.3 Printing Process - Offset Printer - Printex (Malta) Max Printed - 150,000 |
| (Source: Vatican Notes, Volume 62, Issue 362, pp. 4-6, 2014) |
