RHINELAND - BELGIAN OCCUPATION

The Allied occupation of the Rhineland took place following the armistice that brought the fighting of World War I to a close on 11 November 1918. The occupying armies consisted of American, Belgian, British and French forces. The Belgian forces consisted of five divisions with its headquarters at Aachen, and with its troops stationed in Krefeld. On 20 September 1919 overprinted stamps "Allemagne" and "Duitschland" were issued for use in the Rhineland. In 1920 stamps of Belgium were overprinted with "Eupen" or "Malmédy". These stamps remained valid until 1931.