Gallery

 

between Divisions. Thus, as the Grande Armee advanced deeper and deeper into Prussian territory in 1806/7, the various operational, front-line, itinerant and reserve, Corps and Divisions each had a number. For example the 10th Corps, 1a Division used No. 46 whereas the reserve army units from the early occupation period were allotted Nos. 32 & 34, the Field Post numbers allotted to units from which the reserve was formed. Similarly, as the French communication chain lengthened, the garrisons left behind, occupying the main towns and cities, were each allotted a Bureau Sàdentaire number e.g. No.59 for Danzig. According to a table reproduced in an article from the Arge Deutsche Ostgebiete journal, No, 58 was also allotted to Danzig, but the writer has not seen any examples of letters bearing this number, It is interesting to note that the GRANDE ARMEE handstamps on letters originating from Danzig were in effect the first postal handstamps to be used on mail from that city.

The Grande Armée was broken up in October 1808, with troops redeployed to other theatres of war. Maróchal Davout was given command of the smaller Armée dii Rhin left in control of Germany. Thus for a period letters with Grande Armëe divisional handstamps arc not found from Danzig. The author has not seen any examples of mail from the troops occupying Danzig during this “interim” period. A second Grwrde Armée was formed in the Spring of 1812, however, as Napoleon gathered his forces for the attack on Russia. The various divisions deployed were generally allotted the same Field Post Office handstamps as were previously used by the first Grande Armée. Danzig was an important concentration point for troops assembling for the invasion and a point of retreat and stronghold as the at-my fell back from Moscow.

The known Grande Armée Field Post handstamps found on mail from troops involved in the Danzig campaign phases (siege, occupation, onward operations from Danzig, assembly, retreat and defence) are as follows

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 112 - July - August - September - 2001, Page 10.