This special section is dedicated to the battles of Libyan People against the Italian occupying forces in the period 1911-1940.

This period of the history of Libya has been commemorated years later (period '80s/'90s) by the Postal Administration of the Libyan Jamahiriya, with several stamps issues dedicated to the "Battles of Libya" (see below for complete list), "Deported Libyans to Italy" (see below for complete list) and commemorative issues dedicated to Omar Muktar, national hero, and Martyrs Day.

As an historical documentation, we include some images taken from Italian postcards of the same period.

Click on thumbnails for larger images.

1911, October 11 - Landing of Italian troops in Tripoli

1911 - Battle of El Hani / Sciat

(issue n.06 of 44 - 23.10.1980)

Battle of Sciara Sciat (23.10.1911)

(left) Italian trenches

(right) Italian "bersaglieri" back from the battle

1912 - Battle of Dernah

(issue n.09 of 44 - 17.01.1981)

Italian military camp in Dernah

1912 - Battle of Sirt

(issue n.08 of 44 - 30.12.1980)

1913 - Battle of Shogab / Shahat

(issue n.02 of 44 - 25.05.1980)

1915 - Battle of Sidi El-Khemri / Gusbat

(issue n.14 of 44 - 04.06.1981)

Italian artillery emplacement

1915 - Battle of Gardabia

(issue n.01 of 44 - 28.04.1980)

1915 - Battle of Yefren

(issue n.04 of 44 - 16.07.1980)

1917 - Battle of El-Habela

(issue n.24 of 44 - 24.04.1982)

1917 - Battle of El-Meshiashta / Zanzur

(issue n.41 of 44 - 09.09.1983)

1922 - Battle of Fundugh Al-Shibani / Garian

(issue n.03 of 44 - 01.06.1980)

Italian artillery emplacement

1923 - Battle of Tawargha

(issue n.11 of 44 - 20.03.1981)

Tripolitania - Italian artillery unit

1924 - Battle of Ain Zara / Tripoli

(issue n.20 of 44 - 04.12.1981)

Italian trenches in Ain Zara

1924 - Battle of Bir Ikshadia / Werfella

(issue n.19 of 44 - 19.11.1981)

1925 - Battle of Rughbat El-Naga / Benina

(issue n.17 of 44 - 16.09.1981)

1928 - Battle of Bir Tagreft

(issue n.10 of 44 - 25.02.1981)

Italian mountain artillery emplacement in Bir-Tobras

1929 - Battle of Ghira / Brak

(issue n.05 of 44 - 15.08.1980)

1940 - Battle of Abunjeim

(issue n.32 of 44 - 13.12.1982)

1931 - Martyrdom of Omar Muktar

(issue 16.09.1980 : 2 stamps + 1 s/s)

Martyrs Day

(issue 09.09.2000 : 6 stamps in bloc + 1 s/s)

In the Memory of the Deported Libyans to Italy

(issue 15.12.1993 : 16 stamps in bloc)

(right) detail showing Omar Muktar's capture, trial and execution by hanging

In the Memory of the Deported Libyans to Italy

(issue 26.10.1994 : 16 stamps in bloc)

In the Memory of the Deported Libyans to Italy

(issue 26.10.1995 : 16 stamps in bloc)

Battles of Libya - complete list of issues (two stamps in pair each)

(01) 1980 - Apr 28 : Gardabia 1915

(02) 1980 - May 25 : Shoghab / Shahat 1913

(03) 1980 - Jun 1 : Fundugh Al-Shibani / Garian 1922

(04) 1980 - Jul 16 : Yefren 1915

(05) 1980 - Aug 15 : Ghira / Brak 1929

(06) 1980 - Oct 23 : El Hani / Shiat 1911

(07) 1980 - Nov 27 : Sebha 1914

(08) 1980 - Dec 30 : Sirt 1912

(09) 1981 - Jan 17 : Dernah 1912

(10) 1981 - Feb 25 : Bir Tagreft 1928

(11) 1981 - Mar 20 : Tawargha 1923

(12) 1981 - Apr 13 : Zuara 1912

(13) 1981 - May 26 : Funduk El-Jamel / Misurata 1915

(14) 1981 - Jun 4 : Sidi El-Khemri / Gusbat 1915

(15) 1981 - Jul 27 : El-Khoms 1913

(16) 1981 - Aug 15 : Roghdalin / Menshia 1912

(17) 1981 - Sep 16 : Rughbat El-Naga / Benina 1925

(18) 1981 - Oct 27 : Tobruk 1911

(19) 1981 - Nov 19 : Bir Ikshadia / Werfella 1924

(20) 1981 - Dec 4 : Ain Zara / Tripoli 1924

(21) 1982 - Jan 26 : Hun / Gioffra 1915

(22) 1982 - Mar 8 : Gedabia 1914

(23) 1982 - Mar 23 : El-Asaba / Gianduba 1913

(24) 1982 - Apr 24 : El-Habela 1917

(25) 1982 - May 15 : Suk El-Ahad / Tarhuna 1915

(26) 1982 - Jun 19 : El-Tangi 1913

(27) 1982 - Jul 23 : Sokna 1913

(28) 1982 - Aug 11 : Wadi Smalus / Jabel El Akdar 1925

(29) 1982 - Sep 4 : Sidi Abuagela / Agelat 1917

(30) 1982 - Oct 14 : Sidi Surur / Zeliten 1914

(31) 1982 - Nov 28 : Kuefia 1911

(32) 1982 - Dec 13 : Abunjeim 1940

(33) 1983 - Jan 26 : Ghaser Ahmed 1922

(34) 1983 - Feb 2 : Sidi Abuarghub 1923

(35) 1983 - Mar 26 : Ghar Yunes 1913

(36) 1983 - Apr 9 : Bir Otman / Ghadames 1926

(37) 1983 - May 12 : Sidi Sajeh 1922

(38) 1983 - Jun 24 : Ras El-Hamam 1915

(39) 1983 - Jul 13 : Zawiet Ishghefa 1913

(40) 1983 - Aug 8 : Wadi Essania 1930

(41) 1983 - Sep 9 : El-Meshiashta / Zanzur 1917

(42) 1983 - Oct 22 : Gharara / Mezda 1925

(43) 1983 - Nov 7 : Abughelan 1922

(44) 1983 - Dec 24 : Mahruka 1913

In the Memory of the Deported Libyans to Italy - complete list of issues

1989 - Oct 26 : 5 stamps + 1 souvenir-sheet

1991 - Oct 26 : 2 stamps + 1 souvenir-sheet

1992 - Oct 26 : 2 stamps

1993 - Dec 15 : 16 stamps in bloc

1994 - Oct 26 : 16 stamps in bloc

1995 - Oct 26 : 16 stamps in bloc

1996 - Oct 26 : 16 stamps in bloc IMAGE

1997 - Oct 26 : 16 stamps in bloc IMAGE

1998 - Oct 26 : 16 stamps in bloc IMAGE