12 heller Corn postal

Austria, 1919 - 1920

Page sheet from what is known as the ¿Madrid Defence Series¿, issued to commemorate the struggle by the Republican Army and the civil population to defend Madrid against the attacks by the Nationalist faction that commenced in November 1936; the sheet was overprinted for airmail. After weeks of fighting, the front became entrenched on the south-west edge of the city, which was under the control of the Republicans until nearly the end of the Civil War, when the Nationalist troops managed to breach the front and bring down the Republican government. This series was also issued to raise funds to cover the costs of defending the besieged city