200th birthday of Simon de Bolivar - Germany / German Democratic Republic 1983 - 35 Pfennig

200th Birthday Simón Bolivar On the occasion of the 200th birthday of Simón Bolivar, the most important figure in the Latin American War of Independence from 1820 to 1825, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the German Democratic Republic issues a multicolored postage stamp. Special cancellation from 19 July to 18 September 1983 Simón Bolivar Bolivar was born on 24 July 1783 in Caracas as the fourth child of the Spanish nobleman Don Juan Vincente Bolivar y Ponte. After his parents' death, his mother's brother took him to his house (1792). The progressive education and personal experience of the effects of the French Revolution in Paris in 1801 make him a fervent supporter of the ideas of the French Enlightenment Voltaire, Rousseau and Mirabeau. During his trips through Europe, Bolivar met Alexander von Humboldt. During their meetings in Paris in 1804 and in Italy in 1805, they discussed passionately the fate of Latin America - Humboldt from the experience of his expeditions through South America from 1799 to 1804 - and became firm friends in this way. At the beginning of the 19th century, Bolivar joined patriotic forces in Caracas. Under the impression of the occupation of a considerable part of Spain by Napoleonic troops it comes to elevations in Caracas and with substantial participation Bolivars on 5 July 1811 the independence of Venezuela was proclaimed. However, the First Republic could not assert itself. In 1813, following an offensive by the Liberation Army led by Bolivar against Caracas, the Second Republic was proclaimed and Simón Bolivar awarded the honorary title of "EI Libertador" (the Liberator). After the renewed crushing of the troops of the insurgents by the Spanish colonial power, Bolivar fled Jamaica and Haiti. In the ensuing multiyear break, he had time to reconsider the situation in South America. In "The Letter from Jamaica" Bolivar dedicated itself to the goals of the upcoming battles: freedom of man, abolition of slavery, flourishing economy and trade; and the base that must carry the military actions: "it is the people that wants, the people that works, the people that can do everything.". Renewed landing in Venezuela in 1816, calling of the Third Republic in Angostura in 1819 (now Ciudad Bolivar), the legendary march of Bolivar over the Andes and the destruction of the Spanish main army of Neugranada at the bridge of Boyacá on August 7, 1819 until the Battle of Carabobo, which ended with the attainment of Venezuela's independence on July 24, 1821, were important achievements for the Latin American patriots. Simón Bolivar became president of Greater Colombia (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). However, it was not until 9 December 1824, before Ayacucho (Peru), that the Liberation Army achieved the final victory that put an end to Spain's colonial rule on the continent. In the years that followed, Bolivar's efforts focused on uniting all the areas he had liberated into a republic. As a champion of democracy and civil human rights in his time, he was the symbol of the revolution for the people. But he was equally hated by the aristocrats, who now, building on the old economic foundations, asserted their ambitions of political power. Bolivar's warning that Latin America would be at risk of new dependency was ignored. Great Colombia fell apart before Bolivar became impoverished and died on 17 December 1830 in San Alejandrino after a long illness. His words: "The United States is destined to plunge South America into misery, camouflaging itself with freedom." soon found their fulfillment and have lost none of their topicality to this day. The appreciation of this important Latin American personality in the GDR is therefore associated with the recognition of the political, military and theoretical genius, whose example offers the peoples of this continent an anti-imperialist struggle for complete national independence, legacy and impetus.