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Scott #281 [1942 15 øre Green Christian X] (VF) on 21 June 1945 airmail use of POSTAL CARD Ringstrom #100, Fabr # (Print #) 139a [1941 25 øre "Kæmpehøj" (giant burial mound or dolmen)] to Finland. The 40 øre total franking is correct: 25 øre post card surface rate to World (non-Nordic) countries [1940 July 1 thru 1950 May 31] plus the 15 øre air surcharge to European countries [1933 Nov 1 thru 31 Oct 1949]. While Finland is usually thought of as a Nordic rate country for covers from other Nordic countries, at least by 5 June 1945 if not earlier, Denmark classified Finland as a European rate country. This card is an excellent example of the correct component rate use in the period; the 25 øre card was specifically issued (i.e. with "Carte Postale" text) for international postal card use and the in-period use of the 15 øre stamp perfectly pays the airmail surcharge. Danish airmail to Finland is remarkably unusual in the early post-WWII years. In excellent quality, mailed from "KØBENHAVN 6", with neatly typed text on both sides, and with a clear post-war Danish censorship handstamp #248. Uses of this postal card are surprisingly scarce, especially via airmail, and especially in such nice quality. While 21 June 1945 is well after liberation day (5 May 1945), the date this card was mailed is still historically significant in Denmark. 1) On June 21, 1945, the Danish Division of the German Mine Sweeping Administration was officially formed [German sailors tasked for the dangerous job of clearing mines in Danish waters], with considerable controversy. On June 21, 1945, the Eksercergården refugee camp in Tønder was officially inaugurated, again with considerable controversy. 3) And, also on June 21, 1945, driven by the horrific conditions in those very refugee camps and the volatile public desire for revenge, 68 Danish clergymen issued a famous joint public statement via the Ritzaus Bureau, imploring Danish citizens to "Hold your heads cool, but your hearts warm." A very interesting, attractive, and scarce item during the immediate post-war aftermath.
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