PK CAMERAMAN, is a unique in-depth photographic study of the German Wehrmacht (Armed Forces) during World War Two. Professionally photographed by German war correspondents of the Propaganda Kompanie (PK). The first edition to the series is Panzerjäger in The West 1944. February 1944, Eeklo, Belgium. Assembled on the cobblestones of the market square is a platoon of newly issued Marder IIIs of 1. Kompanie, Panzerjäger Abteilung 19 (L) of Luftwaffen Feld-Division 19. Freshly painted in ordinance tan and armed with the potent 7.5cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun, these small yet rugged fighting vehicles project a formidable image. A highly decorated German Army Hauptman conducts an inspection of the unit, conversing with the crews as they check their communication equipment and other gear. With their special field-gray Panzer uniforms adorned with an assortment of medals and badges, these veterans of the Eastern Front are the very picture of confidence and professionalism. When the commanding officer completes his review, 1. Kompanie proceeds out of Eeklo into the countryside en route to its next posting at the former Belgian Army barracks in Zedelgem where it joins-up with 2. and 3. Kompanie of Pz.Jg.Abt. 19 (L). These two units consist of Luftwaffe troops equipped with halftrack-towed 7.5cm Pak 40s and car-towed 2cm Flak 38s. Wearing a mixture of Luftwaffe blue-grey and camouflage uniforms, these troops lack the combat decorations and seasoned demeanor of the Marder III crewmen, but nevertheless manage to convey an impression of discipline and determination. The Abteilung s activities have been staged especially for the camera of Kriegsberichter (KB, war correspondent) Kurth of Propaganda Kompanie 698 who has been assigned to photograph the Atlantic Wall defenses. Accompanied by a newsreel cameraman, whose footage is destined to appear in a March 44 episode of Die Deutsche Wochenschau, Kurth s objective is to assure the German home front of the Wehrmacht s ability to repel the anticipated Allied invasion. Being masters of their trade, these professional propagandists are able to transform an unexceptional late-war formation into a superior fighting force through the art of composition, juxtaposition and the editorial process. Featuring several rolls of film shot by KB Bernhard Kurth, complimented by detailed captions and maps, this first installment of PK CAMERAMAN is a thorough photographic study of the Kriegsberichter s craft, as well as a rare and fascinating inside look at a German anti-tank battalion preparing to defend Fortress Europe.

PK Cameraman No. 1 Panzerjäger in the West 1944

Douglas E. Nash

Remy Spezzano

RZM Publishing

Kampfgruppe Mühlenkamp presents for the first time a sequential series of photos taken by Waffen-SS war correspondent Ernst Baumann in Eastern Poland during a two week period in July 1944. At this time the 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" was engaged in counter-attacks against Soviet armored and cavalry forces following their crushing defeat of Army Group Center in Belarus during the Red Army's "Operation Bagration" summer offensive. These stunning images of the Waffen-SS "Wiking" Division and "Germania" Regiment in action were scanned from the actual negatives and digitally enhanced and enlarged to bring out a previously unseen level of detail. Together with thoroughly researched text and captions as well as four military maps, the photos are shown in their proper sequence and matched with the dates and locations of the various engagements as they unfolded. The names of the officers appearing in the photos, and the troops, vehicles and weapons of the units under their command are documented in the accompanying narrative of the events which comprised the counterattacks at Kamieniec-Litevski and the relief of Grenadier-Bataillon z.b.V. 560 on 22 July 1944.

Kampfgruppe Mühlenkamp: 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", Eastern Poland, July 1944

RZM Imports,U.S.

UNTERNEHMEN ILSE (Operation Ilse) is a visual account of one of the most photographed but least known battles on the Eastern Front. Conducted by the 56th Panzer Corps on 27 April 1944 in the area west and southwest of the Polish city of Kovel, which had been encircled by two Soviet armies for nearly a month before a combined Army and Waffen-SS relief force fought its way through and liberated the garrison. However, after its relief, Kovel was connected to the outside world by only a narrow strip of land continually threatened by the surrounding forces of the Red Army. The purpose of Operation Ilse was to complete the relief of Kovel, destroy all Red Army forces west of the Turiya River and free up the north-south rail line connecting Army Group Center with Army Group North Ukraine. In addition to SS-Gruppenführer Gille's battered Wiking Division, a number of other German Army units took part as well, including three infantry divisions (the 131st, 342nd, and 253rd), the 1st Ski-Jäger Brigade, Battle Group Lippert, and an elite assault battalion, Sturm-Bataillon AOK 2. Adding to the considerable combat power assembled for this operation were several Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber squadrons from the Luftwaffe. Expected to last several days, the operation was carried out with such force and determination, aided in no small part by the 5. SS-Panzer Division "Wiking", that Operation Ilse was able to achieve its objectives by midnight that same day ahead of schedule including the destruction of five Soviet rifle divisions encircling Kovel. Through a fortuitous convergence of events, this offensive was recorded from start to finish by three photographers - two SS-Kriegsberichters (SS-KB, war correspondents) Ernst Kurbjuhn and Alois Jarolim acting in an official capacity and one acclaimed lensman Ernst Baumann.

Unternehmen Ilse: 5. SS-Panzer Division "Wiking" Eastern Front 27 April 1944

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Douglas E. Nash. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Douglas E. Nash

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Douglas E. Nash. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

PK Cameraman No. 1 Panzerjäger in the West 1944

Kampfgruppe Mühlenkamp: 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", Eastern Poland, July 1944

Unternehmen Ilse: 5. SS-Panzer Division "Wiking" Eastern Front 27 April 1944