THE REVOLT OF THE CROATIAN SOLDIERS IN VILLEFRANCHE-DE-ROUERGUE IN 1943

Motif: A composition of the three-colour Croatian and French flags and the silhouettes of the Croatian soldiers The 17 September this year marks the 50th anniversary of an uprising within the ranks of the Croatian army stationed in the French town Villefranche-de-Rouergue on the north of Toulouse. The revolt was led by the Croatian soldiers rocruited in the German troops. The intention of the Germans was to form a devision where Muslim soldiers from Bosnia and Herzegovina would prevail, and to obtain in such a way greater influence in the Muslim world. Following the formation of the troops and their brief training in Germany, the 13th Battalion was, to the surprise of the Croatian soldiers, sent in the French town Villefranche for further training instead to the battlegrounds of their homeland. That is where the first incidents soon started, caused by the cruel conduct of the German SS soldiers with the local population. The German soldiers and their officers, in particular, were equally cruel with the Croats who were the majority in the battalion. In the night between the 16 and 17 September 1943 the rebels imprisoned the German officers, captured the garrison and by morning had gained control over the whole town. The fightings which lasted for more than 20 hours ended in bloodshed. More than 150 Croatian soldiers were killed in Villefranche while some of them succeeded to flee, thanks to the help of the local patriots. The remaining soldiers were arrested and sent back to Germany with the whole division. The citizens of Villefranche highly appreciated the uprising of the Croats and their sacrifice and held a commemorative ceremony at their grave on the 1st anniversary of the revolt in 1944. At the occasion the local newspaper read: "Let us not allow the blood of the Croatian heroes and martyrs for our cause be shed in vain." The street leading to the place of death of the Croatian martyrs has been named "Avenue des Croates". The stamp was printed in sheets of 20. HPT issued a first day cover (FDC) and a commemorative sheet.