Description
Illustrierter Beobachter
Donnerstag, 26. September 1940 • 15. Jahrgang • Folge 39
Verlag Franz Eher Nachf. G.m.b.H., München 22
32 pages scanned
Cover Page
Caption: „Downingstreet Nr. 10 – Kellergeschoß.“ (“Downing Street No. 10 – Basement floor”)
Subject: Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister) seated in a basement shelter wearing a tin helmet, posed for propaganda effect.
Photo credit: Associated Press
Major Headlines & Content
„Molotow-Cocktail!“ (“Molotov Cocktail!”) — Photo spread mocking British home-guard anti-tank defence using improvised incendiary bottles against a car disguised as a tank. Captions note the makeshift “tank” was put out of action using Molotov cocktails and infantry fire in the presence of the King of England.
„So wollte England es haben!“ (“This is what England wanted!”) — Photo feature showing bomb-damaged streets of London alongside images of Londoners apparently going about daily life calmly. Presented as German retaliation for British aggression. Photos transmitted to the USA. Photo credit: Associated Press.
„Hamburg nach 70 Angriffen!“ (“Hamburg after 70 Attacks!”) — Multi-page feature on Hamburg under British air attack, asserting the city is unshaken. Photographs show civil defence personnel, a maternity clinic continuing deliveries, the Botanical Garden („Blühender Garten“), a volunteer female factory worker, and a soldier spotting a waxwork of Chamberlain at the Panoptikum. Photo credit: von dem Busche-Krause.
„Hamburg nach 70 Angriffen!“ (cultural spread) (continued) — Cultural pages highlighting Hamburg’s resilience: a Wehrmacht art exhibition at the Ruhmeshalle, a performance of Franz Lehár’s operetta Die lustige Witwe at the Hamburger Staatsoper, conductor Eugen Jochum, and actress Maria Wimmer in the title role of Maria Stuart at the Staatliches Schauspielhaus, shown with Generalintendant Staatsrat Wüstenhagen.
„Jedes deutsche Mädel arbeitet mit!“ (“Every German girl pitches in!”) — Two-page photo feature on the conscription of the 1922 birth cohort of young women into the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD). Shows call-up notices, muster-day medical examinations, X-ray checks, and clothing issue. Named individuals: Adelinde Eisenlohr (seamstress, RAD war-work exempt) and Annemarie Greger (mid caption). Photo credit: Inge Mantler.
„Kriegsschauplatz Afrika“ (“African Theatre of War”) — Major double-page map feature covering the four Italian offensive fronts in Africa. Covers the Sudan front (capture of Kassala; Italian Northwest Army pressing toward Khartoum; villages of Gallabat, Kurmuk, and Daga on the Blue Nile seized) and the British Somaliland front (captured in 17 days by three Italian columns advancing on Zeila, Hargeisa–Dagabur, and Ual Ual–Bohotleh–Burao; Fort Buna occupied). Map illustrations by H. und B. v. Römer.
„Kriegsschauplatz Afrika“ (continued — Libya/Egypt and Kenya fronts) — Maps show Italian positions in Cyrenaika (Barka region), the Libya–Egypt front threatening Alexandria, Port Sudan, and the Suez Canal, and the Kenya front. Occupation of the British strongpoints of Moyale and Buna noted; Fort Buna-Kenya shown (still flying British flag at time of photo). Map illustration by Tilsner.
„Gegen Malta“ / „Kenya – England muss sich auch hier zurückziehen“ (“Against Malta” / “Kenya – England Must Withdraw Here Too”) — Aerial photograph of a recent Italian bombing raid on Malta showing La Valetta and the Grand Harbour with bomb impacts. Photo credit: Loce-Wolter (2). Accompanying photo shows Italian bomber crew returning from a Malta sortie. Lower image shows Fort Buna-Kenya occupied by Italian forces.
Kenya / Ostafrika photo spread — Field photographs from the East African campaign: Italian troops operating in waterless terrain; three young Turkana women from the northern Kenya province evacuated by the British; Italian soldier with Abyssinian Askari (caption notes Askaris fought loyally); road-building with corrugated iron pipe in wet season; Italian destroyer flotilla at Massaua (Rotes Meer) preparing to sail. Photo credit: Weltbild.
„Bulgarien jübelt“ (“Bulgaria Rejoices”) — Photo feature on Bulgarian popular celebrations following the return of southern Dobruja to Bulgaria under Axis auspices. Bulgarian Army led by War Minister General Daskaloff marches past the German legation in gratitude. Caption notes Bulgaria’s gratitude toward Germany and Italy. Photo credit: Weltbild.
„Mädchen der deutschen Wehrmacht besuchen die Insel Marken“ (“Girls of the German Wehrmacht visit the Island of Marken”) — Photo feature on German Wehrmacht auxiliaries visiting the Dutch island of Marken, showing traditional fisherwoman dress and handmade caps. Photo credit: Fr. Fr. Bauer.
„Der Wein ist reif!“ (“The wine is ripe!”) — Photo feature on the autumn grape harvest in the Roman hills around Olevano. Shows harvest queen and grape-treading. Photo credit: H. Körte (Mauritius).
Other Content
Fiction serial — Tigerhai: Die Geschichte eines modernen Piraten by Clemens Laar (8th instalment). Adventure serial set in the Pacific, Sulu and Celebes seas, and the Paranaka Shoals. Characters include Felipe Lastro (Filipino pirate), Diana Buster, Dick and Steen Delhoeft, Adam König, and Joachim König. Continues across multiple pages.
Fiction serial — Der Auswanderer by Luis Trenker. Reflective story set in the Monte Pelmo area and Colle di Santa Luzia in the Dolomites. Characters include the elderly farmer Anselmo Masarell and his son Peter.
Humour column — Humor — Short jokes and anecdotes. Cartoon drawing by Kossatz.
Cartoon spread — Gold — Six-panel cartoon spread by Emerich Huber satirising American gold hoarding. Quote attributed to Reichsminister Dr. Funk.
Short prose — Langhofe by Max Heim, Berlin. Memoir account of a Scottish POW named “Langhofe” in a German camp during 1919. Set near Calais.
Short humour — Wahres Geschichtchen and Erkundigung — Brief anecdotes. Authors: D. v. S.
Puzzles — Wabenrätsel, Silbeneinschalträtsel, Silbenkreuz, Besuchskartenrätsel, Auszählrätsel, Zerlegung, Rösselsprung, Treppenrätsel. Solutions to Folge 38 puzzles also printed.
Advertisements — Reemtsma (R6M cigarettes), Atikah, 4. Deutsche Reichslotterie, Auxol (F. Wolff & Sohn, Karlsruhe), Kathreiner, Peri Erzeugnisse (Dr. Korthaus, Frankfurt a.M.), Underberg, Reichert’s Sonnenbraun, Neunzehn Dragées, Capama, Ellocar, Zeiss Ikon Contax, Kaliklora, Solidox, Eukutol, Artus Füllhalter, Diaderma (M.E.G. Gottlieb, Heidelberg), Darmol, Tückmar Weltruf, Siemens, Dralle Birkenwasser, Dextro Energen, Vauen (pipes), Herbin-Stodin, Nivea Zahnpasta, Auxol, Milde Sorte (Austria Zigaretten), Dr. Korthaus Khasana Kosmetik, Kaweco.