ALBUM – view my Ghadames, French Occupation album
TRANSITION CHART – Libya Area
Fast Facts
Region: North Africa
Group: Libya Area
Classification: Military Occupation (France)
Prior Regime: Fezzan-Ghadames, French Occupation
Key Dates:
1943, Jan 18 – French assume control in Fezzan-Ghadames and establish Military Authority
1943, Feb – Axies forces driven out of Libya
1949 – Fezzan-Ghadames separated into occupied territories
1949, Nov 21 – UN General Assembly resolution passed for Libya’s independence.
1951, Dec 24 – United Kingdom of Libya formed, and Ghadames became a part of the new kingdom
Prior Regime: Kingdom of Libya
Scott Catalogue: (Libya, Occupation Stamps, Ghadames) #3N1-3N9, 3NC1-3NC2
Pick Catalogue: (Libya) #M9-M11
History
For centuries, Libya was under the nominal control of the Ottoman Empire, and were historically separated into three major regions: Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan. As the Ottoman Empire begin to collapse, European powers begin to compete for the various territories. For Libya, Turkish forces were driven out of the area during the Italo-Turkish War fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from 29 Sept, 1911 – 18 Oct, 1912. Being such a far outpost, the Italians didn’t arrive in Ghadames until 1914, where they were met with strong resistance. It was not until 1924 where they finally assumed control.
Initially the territory was known as Italian North Africa, but in 1922 it was split into two colonies, Italian Cyrenaica and Italian Tripolitania, run by Italian governors. On 1 Jan, 1934, the colonies of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica along with the Military Territory of Fezzan were combined to form the single Italian Colony of Libya.
With the outbreak of World War 2, North Africa was a major theater of operations. Italian forces were defeated rather early in the war in a failed attempt to invade Egypt. they surrendered to the British in Feb 1941, creating some 150,000 prisoners of war. However, in March, 1941, German Afrika Korps commanded by Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel, launched an offensive into Cyrenaica essentially cutting off British troops at Tobruk. For the next two years, the battle for North Africa seesawed back in forth, until Jan 1943, when the Eighth Army, under the command of General Bernard Montgomery, broke through the Axis lines causing German and Italian forces to retreat. By February, Axis troops had been driven out of Libya entirely.
Libya was broken into three separate sections, with Cyrenaica and Tripolitania being administered by the British, and Fezzan and the town of Ghadames to be administered by the French.
Free French troops occupied Murzuk, a chief town of Fezzan, on 16 Jan 1943, but decided to administer Fezzan with a staff stationed in Sabha. But French administration was largely exercised through Fezzan notables of the family of Sayf an Nasr. This obviously caused issues with some of the other tribes in the area. (as a note Muammar Gaddafi was of the Sayf an Nasr tribe). At the lower echelons, French troop commanders acted in both military and civil capacities according to customary French practice in the Algerian Sahara. In 1949, Fezzan and Ghadames seemed to be separated administratively by the French, (although I cannot find clear documentation), and separate postage stamps were issued.
On 21 Nov 1949, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent before 1 Jan 1952. Idris represented Libya in the subsequent UN negotiations. On 24 Dec 1951, Libya declared its independence as the United Kingdom of Libya, a constitutional and hereditary monarchy was formed under King Idris, Libya’s only monarch. Under strong pressure, the French surrendered Ghadames to join the newly formed United Kingdom of Libya and the last of the French troops left Gadames in 1955.
Stamps
ALBUM
Beginning in 1946, stamps were produced for Fezzan-Ghadames by the French, but beginning in 1949, separate issues were created for the Territories. A single set of 9 definitive stamps and 2 airmail stamps were issued for Ghadames. The set, were inscribed “GHADAMES, TERRITOIRE MILITAIRE” or The Military Territory of Ghadames in English. The colorful stamps, were engraved with a symbol which is described as the “Croix d’Agadem”, which in reality should have been “Croix d’Agadez”, or the Agadez Cross. It is possible that the stamp designer was confusing Agadez with Agadem, which is a city in Niger at the crossroads of an important trade route. The Agazez Cross, also known as the Tuareg Cross, is a distinct design which is unique to the nomadic Tuareg people who populate the area. It is often found on Tuareg jewelry and is believed to offer protection from “evil spirits”. These beautiful stamps were used until Ghadames joined with the newly formed United Kingdom of Libya, on 24 Dec. 1951.
Banknotes
In French occupied Libya, occupational forces overprinted 5fr, 25fr and 100fr Banque De l’Afrique Occidentale banknotes with “R.F. FEZZAN.” These bills were used from 1943 – 1951.
