Page 75 - Russo-Persian Postal Relations

n. 1914 - 1s Russian occupation of Kurdistan Turkey occupying
WWI. Entente against parts of north western
Central Powers Persia
First the Turks, then Russian occupation, then Turkish again, finally a re-occupation of Hamadan
Russians occupied Hamadan area twice between late 1915 and 1917. During both occupations the military authorities were
using a bilingual rectangular military censor mark in black (common) or blue/violet (5 recorded)
First Occupation: 14 December 1915 until 10th of August 1916

Bi-lingual
censor
Violet (two Yia RUSSIA.
recorded)
Persian letter "'\" ~~-
from ... ~ .. ,_
Hamadan -· _, ,.,.. 'J
6April 1916
:· ..: ltJ{f
via Baku , .
transited
25 April
(Julian)
at reverse
and with Baku
violet square
censor mark,
to Manchester
in UK.
Rate: 12 chahi
foreign rate
and 12ch for
registration fee

Bi-lingual
censor
blue (a few _/
recorded)
Local Persian c:.\'{)
letter from
Hamadan Bazar
6 IV 16 to
via Senneh
to Kermanshah
arriving
12 IV 1916
Double rate
9 chahi

·::.! ...

Special note: The Persian Government was weak and with little power in the provinces where the hatred for the Russians had made the
•Democrats•and the •Nationalists•, that were in opposition to the Government, and influenced by Wassmuss, to lean over for Germany (and
Turkey). Thus the Government needed strong support from the Allies to survive.
Due to the threat by the German supporters Russians troops under General Baratoff in December 1915 left for Hamadan where German
supporters were in power and were expected at any time to attack the Allies consulates and the Banks. Thus the Russian troops had to crush the
local forces before the Turkish troops were able to join them. The Russians occupied Hamadan 14 December and Qum 20 December 1915.