During the Second World War, the Gorski Kotar region was a stronghold for the National Liberation Movement, with Italian and Ustaše garrisons facing constant insurgent attacks. On December 17, 1942, the 6th and 14th Brigades of the 5th Operational Zone of the Partisan Army liberated Ravna Gora, maintaining control for nearly a month. As was common in liberated territories, the Partisans sought to promote the national liberation struggle by establishing an administrative presence—using tools like the postal service to signal their authority and legitimacy.
Commercial postcard sent from Ogulin (January 8, 1943) to Zagreb, franked with a 3 Kn definitive stamp and featuring the cachets of three different Partisan units. The message was written by a sawmill owner from Ravna Gora, who informs his business partner in Zagreb that he is unable to fulfil an order because "the entire area is occupied by Partisans and my warehouse is blocked." This postcard probably never reached its destination; the Ustaše regime would never have permitted the delivery of mail that documented Partisan presence or served as unintended propaganda.
