A fascinating account of the mail challenges faced by Germans living in Samoa following the Kiwi invasion:

POSTAL SERVICE WITH SAMOA AND POSTAL CIRCUMSTANCES 1914 - 1919

by Wolfgang Hermann & Klaus Detering.

A4 size, 32 pages, includes colour plates and numerous illustrations.

The Occupation of Samoa was the takeover of the Pacific colony of German Samoa by NZ during World War I. It started in late August 1914 with landings by the Samoa Expeditionary Force from NZ. The landings were unopposed and the Kiwis took possession of Samoa for the NZ Government on behalf of King George V. The Samoa Expeditionary Force remained in the country until 1915, while its commander, Colonel Robert Logan, continued to administer Samoa on behalf of the NZ Government until 1919. The takeover of Samoa was NZ's first military action in World War I.

• After the conquest, the Kiwis gathered up all the German Samoa stamps from Post Offices around the Samoan islands, and overprinted them with the initials of the British king, George the fifth, plus the value in NZ currency. These "G.R.I." stamps are now highly sought after, & very small quantities are extant, though the ½d, 2½d, & 6d are often seen.
• The German cruisers Scharnhorst & Gneisenau hastened to Samoa after Admiral von Spee learned of the occupation. He arrived off Apia on 14 September, three days after the departure of the last of the Allied cruisers & transports. The approach of the German ships was observed & the Kiwis promptly manned their defences while many civilians, fearing exchanges of gunfire, made for the hills. By this stage artillery had been set up on the beach but there was no exchange of gunfire. Historians feel that this was likely due to von Spee's fears of damage to German property should he open fire. Instead, von Spee steamed off and landed a small party further down the coast and learned from a German resident there the apparent strength of the occupation.

Add this item to your watchlist.