WWII Red Cross Message Scheme

There were several ways of evading the World War II suspension of mail services between the Axis Controlled and the Allied Controlled nations. However, on the Allied side there were only 2 organizations that were permitted to handle general communications, Thomas Cook and Son, and the International Red Cross. The Red Cross had two major drawbacks; firstly the service was slow, and secondly messages were restricted to 20, later 25 words.

Following are 2 examples of Red Cross Message Forms used in the Channel islands during their occupation by Germany from late 1940 until their liberation in May 1945. These forms were the only way the Channel Islanders could communicate with their families in Great Britain, and vice versa; this service commenced during October 1940. From the spring of 1941 each family was permitted to send one message per month. The forms supplied to the residents of the Channel Islands were supplied by the German Red Cross, and were printed in both French and German; those supplied in Great Britain, for transmission to the Channel islands, were supplied by the British Red Cross, and were printed in both English and French.

These Message Forms were routed through Geneva, Switzerland, while traveling to or from GB, as well as to or from the Channel Islands. The name and address of the sender is on the front of the form,followed by the name and address of the recipient, and then folio wed by the message from the sender. On the reverse is the reply in 25 words or less, During transit these forms collected a variety of cachets and handstamps.