Scott No: 3446-47
Serial number: 2005-16
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: August 15, 2005
Denomination: 320 fen
Designer: Wujiang
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation: 13*12.5
Sheet composition: 8(2 sets)
Printing process: Offset
Size of S/S: 80*120 mm
Stamp of S/S: 30*50 mm
Printing process of souvenir: Gravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This commemorative stamp set, 60th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, was issued on August 15, 2005. It consists of four stamps with a total face value of 3.20 yuan, along with a souvenir sheet with a face value of 6 yuan, designed by Wu Jiang, with Zhao Lei serving as the responsible editor. The stamps are printed using offset printing, while the souvenir sheet is printed using the photogravure process, both by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. The four stamps are arranged in a grid format.

The year 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance. August 15 is the anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender. This prolonged war was both a national struggle for China's survival and an integral part of the global anti-fascist struggle. As the main Eastern battlefield of World War II, the Chinese theater saw millions of soldiers and civilians fighting with great sacrifice. The allied forces fought together to ultimately defeat fascism. This stamp set pays tribute to both China's War of Resistance and the major anti-fascist campaigns of the world, reflecting on the years of conflict, honoring the fallen, and affirming the historical truth that justice will prevail and peace must be preserved.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

National War of Resistance

A large red star forms the background, with silhouettes of soldiers, militiamen, and civilians layered together, symbolizing the united front of the entire nation against the aggressor. It captures the overwhelming collective strength of the Chinese people in their war of resistance.

Mainstay of the Nation

A bugler with foliage camouflage sounds the charge, with the silhouette of the Yan'an Pagoda Mountain in the background. This symbolizes the armed forces led by the Communist Party of China, who fought tenaciously behind enemy lines and became the mainstay of the national resistance.

Normandy Landings

Determined soldiers stand on the beach, with warships at sea and aircraft overhead, recreating the historic scene of the Allied landings in Normandy that opened the Western Front in Europe. This pivotal campaign turned the tide of the war in the West.

Fall of Berlin

Soldiers cheering and Berlin's landmark buildings form the scene, capturing the moment the Soviet Army captured the Nazi capital, marking the end of the war in Europe and the final victory of the anti-fascist struggle.

Souvenir Sheet – Peace and Justice

A white dove of peace breaks through entangled barbed wire. This simple and powerful image symbolizes that after the brutal fires of war, justice will eventually prevail, and the hard-won peace must be guarded by all of humanity.

Artistic and Design Features

The horizontal format uses a strong contrast of printmaking-style silhouettes, with powerful red, black, and blue tones creating a striking visual impact. The grid layout integrates scenes from both the Chinese and global theaters. The offset printing provides clean, sharp color blocks, while the souvenir sheet's photogravure printing offers soft and delicate tones. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, microtext, shaped perforations, and fluorescent spray codes. The overall design is solemn and profound, carrying deep historical commemorative significance.

This stamp set is a commemorative issue on the theme of World War II history, including a souvenir sheet, suitable for thematic collections on modern war history and peace commemoration.