Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" was one of Germany's most celebrated military formations of the Second World War. Formed in 1942 by the expansion of Infantry Regiment (motorized) "Grossdeutschland," the new division quickly earned its reputation on the Eastern Front of being the elite of the German Army. Twice the size of most other divisions, it was an immensely powerful and hard-hitting mechanized formation that cut a large swath through the Red Army, whether in the attack or on the defense. Its carefully selected officer and non-commissioned officer corps ensured that no matter what the odds, the division would always give a good account of itself in battle and would possess an esprit de corps enjoyed by few other comparable divisions, including those of the Waffen-SS. The thousands of volunteers from every land and province in Germany who fought and died while serving in the ranks of Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" represented a cross-section of German society, a radical departure from the manner in which most German divisions of the era were created. Now for the first time, the faces of these men, at rest and in battle, can be seen through the images gleaned from hundreds of photographs taken by the division's war correspondents or Kriegsberichter. This outstanding selection of photographs, which until recently remained unseen for decades in a European archive, have been recovered and painstakingly researched by authors Remy Spezzano and Thomas McGuirl. Together with the assistance of the division's Veterans' association, they identified hundreds of men, living and dead, as well as dozens of combat vehicles, items of equipment, and specific engagements the division took part in from April 1942 to September 1944. Accompanied by a detailed narrative that ties each of the photos within the context of the war on the Eastern Front, "God, Honor, Fatherland" represents a milestone in the study of the war in the East and shows the face of the German soldier as he has never been shown before.

GOD, HONOR, FATHERLAND: A Photo History of Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" on the Eastern Front 1942-1944

History

Remy Spezzano

Thomas McGuirl

Europe

Casemate Publishers

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

RZM Publishing

PK CAMERAMAN is a unique in-depth study of the German Wehrmacht (Armed Forces) photographed by Kriegsberichter (war correspondents) of the Propaganda Kompanie (PK). Presented in an extra-large 12 x 12 format with full-page and double-page spreads, this photo book series offers the enthusiast an up-close view of the German soldier, his weapons and equipment. SS-KB Wilfried Woscidlo and KB Bernhard Kurth are the featured photographers. Three rolls of film are presented which depict the 12. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division Hitlerjugend during training in November 1943 in Beverloo, Belgium, and undergoing inspection and evaluation by Generalfeldmarshall von Rundstedt in March 1944. Complimented by detailed captions and maps, this second installment of PK CAMERAMANis a thorough photographic study of the Kriegsberichter's craft, as well as a rare and fascinating inside look at a newly formed Waffen-SS division preparing to meet the Allied invasion of Fortress Europe.

PK Cameraman No. 2 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend", Training in Belgium, Jan. - Mar. 1944

Tom Cockle

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