Description
Unser Alpenkorps – Number 9, September 1940
Scanned pages: 16 | Instant PDF download
Historical German Wehrmacht newsletter of the XVIII Army Corps (Alpenkorps), digitized.
Cover
A mountain soldier playing a harmonica on the march, captioned “Singend in den Kampf!”. Photo: Kempter. No war correspondent credited.
Main Articles
“Abschied von General der Infanterie Beyer”
A photo report on the state funeral in Salzburg on 29 July 1940 for the late corps commander, with a eulogy by Generalfeldmarschall List and a wreath laid by Generalfeldmarschall Keitel on behalf of Hitler.
No author credited. Photo: Krieger (Salzburg).
“Ein Jahr deutscher Waffensiege”
A review of the first year of the war, from the Polish campaign through Norway to the defeat of France.
Author: “Von einem Offizier der Wehrmacht” (unnamed).
“Eine Generation schreibt Weltgeschichte”
A propaganda essay (subtitled “Großdeutschland ein Jahr im Krieg”) on Germany’s first year at war and the “new Europe”.
No author credited.
“Alpenländische Soldaten im ersten Kriegsjahr – Polen: Die Feuertaufe der 8. Kompanie bei Osabie”
An account of an Alpine company’s first combat alongside Slovak troops on the heights above the Dunajec valley in Poland.
Author: Adolf Bataitz, Feldw. Photo: Major v. Poncet.
“Nordfront: Von den Kämpfen um Narvik”
A retrospective account of the two-month defence of Narvik by mountain troops and naval personnel under General Dietl.
No author credited. Photos: Archiv XVIII. A.K.
“Steirer auf Seefahrt”
A humorous account of Styrian mountain troops’ seasick voyage by destroyer to Drontheim, including the sinking of an English destroyer.
Author: Oberjäger Hermann Stein. Photo: Archiv XVIII. A.K.
“Westen: Der General”
A portrait of a divisional commander watching his mountain troops march past on the ninth day of the offensive in France.
Author: Jäger C. N. Kempter. Photos (2): Gefr. Kempter. Includes the poem “Der Gebirgsjäger” by Obj. H. Stein, Admont.
“Die Südwand des Sulitjelma-Gipfels in Nordnorwegen von Gebirgsjägern bezwungen”
An account of mountain troops climbing the Sulitjelma massif and making a first descent of its south face on 29–30 June 1940.
Author: Gefr. Hammerbacher (Gjemgam, 5 July 1940). Climbers named include Oberjäger Weißbacher, Oberjäger Schweinester and comrades Schubert, Schroetter and Knaller.
“Hilfsbereite Truppe”
A photo report on soldiers helping a Styrian village after a cloudburst flood destroyed a sawmill.
Photos (2): Ernst Weber.
“„Hurra, es geht an die Front …!“”
A soldier describes the excitement, farewell party and send-off of a draft posted to front-line units on 10 July 1940.
Author: Oberfunker Zangerl, Salzburg.
“Aus der Heeresverwaltung”
A tribute to Generalintendant Dr. Loosch, first corps intendant of the XVIII Army Corps, on his reassignment on 1 August 1940.
No author credited. Photo: Ellinger.
“Führerschule Andelsbuch”
A piece on the Hitler Youth leadership school at Andelsbuch in Tyrol-Vorarlberg and its wartime pre-military training.
Author: Edward Wehner.
“Unsere Liederecke – Stolz trag’ ich mein Edelweiß”
A song page with sheet music and lyrics for a Styrian mountain infantry song.
Words and melody by Hptm. Frz. Trattnig.
Artists Mentioned
- Kamerad Knaller – drawing added to the Sulitjelma summit book (mentioned in “Die Südwand des Sulitjelma-Gipfels”; not reproduced).
War Correspondents (Kriegsberichter) Named
- No Kriegsberichter are credited in this issue; contributions are by corps members and soldiers.