While WWII was still raging, AM Post stamps were issued (starting on March 19, 1945) in the occupied parts. The first ones were produced as “American print”. As of August 20, 1945, stamps with face values 6, 8 and 12 (Reichs)Pfennig were sold in the American and British sectors of Berlin. This triggered aggravation on the Soviet side, since the Western Allies had agreed in the first Allied Control Council session that all Soviet regulations established in their two months initial rule of Berlin would continue to be accepted.

This meant that the issued “Berlin Bear” stamps only would be sold in Berlin. Thus the AM Post stamps were withdrawn from postal counters in Berlin on September 17, 1945. However the stamps continued to be valid for franking in the American and British sectors. FromDecember 8, 1945, to October 31, 1946 all 35 AM Post stamps were valid for franking in all three West Berlin sectors.

Left: Stamps not sold in Berlin
Middle: Stamps sold and withdrawn in Berlin
Right: Stamps not sold in Berlin