Description
Illustrierter Beobachter
Donnerstag, 10. Oktober 1940 • 15. Jahrgang • Folge 41
Zentralverlag der NSDAP, Franz Eher Nachf. GmbH, München 22
32 pages scanned
Cover Page
Caption: „Pioniere unserer Wehrmacht.“ (“Pioneers/engineers of our Wehrmacht.”)
Subject: Two grinning Wehrmacht pioneer (combat engineer) soldiers, wearing field caps, climbing on ropes and timber scaffolding during construction or bridging work.
Location: Not stated.
Photo credit: Aufnahme: A. Modi.
Der Krieg der Londoner Feuerwehr (The War of the London Fire Brigade) — Photo essay on the Blitz showing burning warehouses at the docks, firemen battling blazes day and night, and bomb-damaged buildings. Includes a photo of König Georg VI. (King George VI) touring damage with his Luftmarschall Sir Cyril Newall. Locations: London, Themse. Photo credits: Associated Press; PK Dietrich-Heinr. Hoffmann; Heinr. Hoffmann.
Serrano Suñer auf einer Fahrt im Westen (Serrano Suñer on a Trip in the West) — Spanish Innenminister (Interior Minister) Serrano Suñer, a confidant of General Franco, tours the former Western battlefront, inspects a German Schnellboot (E-boat), and visits the harbour. Locations: Dünkirchen, Kanalküste, Hafen von Ostende. Photo credit: Hr. Hoffmann.
Tönende Feldpost – Kuß durchs Mikrophon (Sound Field-Post – A Kiss Through the Microphone) — Feature on wounded soldiers recording spoken letters (Schallplatten) home to their families from hospital, including an affectionate kiss recorded for loved ones; a Red Cross nurse forwards the recordings at once. Photo credit: Herbert Aarens.
Besuch in Domremy, dem Geburtsort der Jungfrau von Orleans (Visit to Domremy, Birthplace of the Maid of Orléans – “the Inconvenient Maiden”) — Report from Domremy-la-Pucelle, birthplace of Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc), covering the Jeanne-d’Arc Museum, a memorial statue, and donation signs for the basilica. The Bürgermeister (mayor) of Domremy-la-Pucelle is interviewed, and a visitor-book entry from 18 June 1940 records the arrival of German troops; the article also notes a remark proposing the national monument be moved to a synagogue. Photo credit: SS-PK Roth.
Deutsches Land im Westen – I. Elsaß und Luxemburg (German Land in the West – I. Alsace and Luxembourg) — Report on German civil administration under Gauleiter Robert Wagner, Chef der Zivilverwaltung im Elsaß, shown at new Rheinbrücke works near Kehl and Straßburg with badischer Ministerpräsident Köhler, SA-Standartenführer Frank, and Leutnant Gaebede. Also covers Gauleiter Staatsrat Simon, Chef der Zivilverwaltung in Luxemburg, his deputy Regierungspräsident Dr. Siekmeier, and an inspection tour of Luxemburg city with Kreisleiter Müller, Baurat Vogel, Polizeipräsident Wetter and Oberbürgermeister Dr. Hengst. Photo credit: Fritz Boegner.
Schmiede der Luftwaffe / Stukas – Kampfflugzeuge (Forge of the Luftwaffe / Stukas – Combat Aircraft) — Factory report on Junkers aircraft production featuring Dipl.-Ing. Ernst Zindel, chief designer at Junkers and creator of the Ju 52, Ju 90 and Ju 88, alongside images of a Ju 88 being test-flown and Stuka dive-bomber assembly. Photo credit: Karl Krüger.
Other Content
Fiction serial — „Das Girl vom Schatzamt Washington“ by Friedrich Elarth (instalment). American story centred on the U.S. Treasury Department, following Oberst Graham and clerk Mary Howard amid the so-called „Treasury Girls.“ Location: Washington.
Fiction serial — „Tigerhai“ by Clemens Laar (concluding instalment). Pirate adventure following Lastro, Diana Buster, König and Commander Kenworth aboard the ships „Hai“ and „Firefly“ near the Pomotu islands.
Science/history article — „Francis Drake, der Vater der englischen Seeräuberei“ by Rudolf von Elmayer-Vestenbrugg — account of the Elizabethan privateer’s career and raids on Spanish colonial shipping.
Cartoon spread — „Pferden lernen deutsch!“, a Bilderbogen by Emerich Huber — humorous strip about captured enemy horses being taught to obey German commands.
Short story — „Anno dazumal“ — brief historical anecdote about a captain and his drummer.
Photo feature — „Adolf Wagner 50 Jahre alt“ — birthday celebrations for Gauleiter Adolf Wagner, attended by Generalgouverneur Dr. Hans Frank and Oberbürgermeister Reichsleiter Fiehler. Photo credit: Inge Mantler.
Advertisements — Reemtsma, Peri, Nivea, Auxol, Solidox, Dralle, Raxon, Cutex, Kosmos Khedive, Atikah, Zeiss Ikon Contax, Vauen, Matador, Ellocar, Eukutol, Vasenol, 4. Deutsche Reichslotterie, Kaliklora, Kraft’s Velveta, Schirdewan.