Description

Luftflotte West – Nummer 9, 3. März 1944

Scanned pages: 16

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Historical German Luftwaffe magazine, digitized.

Cover

Two smiling Luftwaffe soldiers, one wrapped in ammunition belts; headline “Das hat hingehauen! 21 Viermotorige in 5 Tagen schoss ihre Flakabteilung ab.” War correspondent: Kriegsberichter Bankhardt.

Main Articles

“London brennt!”

First-person account of a German night bomber crew’s raid over London, describing flak, searchlights, and the return home; written by Kriegsberichter Dr. Wilh. Müller (photos by Kriegsberichter Böger and Siedel).

“21 Viermotorige in 5 Tagen” / “5 Tagen vom Himmel geholt”

Report on a Flak (anti-aircraft) unit shooting down 21 four-engine bombers in five days along the Atlantic coast, praised by the Luftflotte commander; written by Uffz. Dr. Martin Schulz (photos by Göllner and Kriegsberichter Bankhardt).

“Franz Hahne”

Profile of tank-model builder Obermeister Franz Hahne, Germany’s leading Panzer-model specialist, awarded the War Merit Cross by Hitler; photo by Kriegsberichter Reichelt (originally published in “Das Reich”).

“Tagesabschussrekord eines deutschen Jägers”

Feature on Ritterkreuzträger Oberfeldwebel Glunz, a fighter pilot ace who shot down 17–18 four-engine bombers, 6 twin-engine bombers, and 36 fighters; describes his record day (22 February) shooting down four four-engine bombers plus probable kills; written by Kriegsberichter Gerhard Kirsch (photo by Kriegsberichter Grave).

Pilot named: Oberfeldwebel Glunz.

“Ich trage die Fahne” / “Die Fahne”

Two-part historical essay on the history and symbolism of military flags/standards from Roman times through the Wehrmacht; author signed “M-d.”

“Was der Soldat wissen muss”

Informational column: wartime pay/allowances during separation (by F. W. Schulze), protecting the German language from foreign loanwords, and studying to become a doctor.

“Ein Trödler sieht den Tod”

Short story (Erzählung) by Ludwig Tügel, a folk tale of an old peddler who tells death-omen stories in a village inn; illustrations by Kriegsberichter Escher.

“Die Erstbesteigung”

Short story (Erzählung) by Luis Trenker, recounting a first ascent of the Hexenturm’s south wall in the Dolomites with the Aberhauser brothers.

“Zum Zeitvertreib”

Puzzle page: syllable riddles, crossword, word puzzles, Dürer’s magic square, and a chess problem (Weltmeister Dr. Aljechin vs. Meister Eduard Hahn).

“Das Geschehen der letzten Woche”

Weekly war news roundup (Eastern Front, Southern Front/Anzio-Nettuno, Western Front air war) plus a printed Tagesbefehl (order of the day) by Reichsmarschall Göring for Luftwaffe Day, 1 March 1944, listing Knight’s Cross recipients.

“Aus der Heimat”

Closing photo page of children playing in snow (skiing, sledding); photos by Hase and Weltbild.

Artists Mentioned

• Hans Burgkmair (woodcut, “Prunkfahnen aus der Zeit Maximilians I.”)
• Urs Graf (engraving, “Deutsche Landsknechte,” c. 1515)

War Correspondents (Kriegsberichter) Named

Bankhardt, Böger, Siedel, Reichelt, Grave, Escher, Koch, and Dr. Wilh. Müller.