Description

Unser Alpenkorps – Number 12, Dezember 1941

Scanned pages: 16 | Instant PDF download

Historical German Alpenkorps (Wehrmacht mountain troops) magazine, digitized.

Cover

A soldier raises the Reich war flag over the city of Stalino (Stalins), captured by mountain troops (Gebirgsjäger) on 19 October. Photo credit: Aufn. Kempter.

Main Articles

“Weihnachten”

A Christmas-themed illustration of angels decorating a tree above a sleeping town, paired with a Christmas poem.

Poem author: Joseph v. Eichendorff. Illustration by Ludwig Richter (see Artists Mentioned).

“Napoleons Marsch auf Moskau”

A lengthy historical essay on Napoleon’s 1812 campaign into Russia, drawing parallels and contrasts with the Wehrmacht’s ongoing eastern campaign.

Author: Hauptmann Popelka. Photo/illustration credits: Aufnahmen (3) Scherl-Bilderdienst; Aufnahme Scherl-Archiv (painting by A. Adam); an uncredited 19th-century Russian steel engraving (“Russischer Stahlstich”); PK-Aufnahmen: Kriegsberichter Schäfer (2), (PBZ) Groß-Talmon (1).

“Neue Ritterkreuzträger unseres Korps”

Profiles of two newly decorated Knight’s Cross recipients from the corps: Oberst Maximilian Jais, honored for leadership during the Greece campaign (Thermopylae, Crete), and Major Dr. Egon Treeck, honored for breaking through the Metaxas Line and fighting on Crete.

No author credited. Photo credits: Aufnahme Archiv XVIII. A. K. (Oberst Jais); Aufnahme privat (Major Dr. Treeck).

Officers named: Oberst Maximilian Jais; Major Dr. Egon Treeck.

“Der Kessel am Mogila Totmak”

A first-person account of a division’s advance across the steppe and the encirclement (“Kessel”) battle near the Mogila Totmak hill, fought alongside Romanian troops.

Author: Gefr. K. N. Kempter. Photo credit: Aufnahme Kempter.

“Der glorreiche Tag”

A continuation account describing a full day of fierce combat against a fortified Soviet position, culminating in the position’s capture.

Author: Gefr. Karl N. Kempter. No separate photo credits given.

“Minensuche”

An account of a mine-clearing detachment sweeping a coastal strip near Stalino for Soviet mines to secure it for the advancing troops.

Author: Ernst Weißer. Photo credit: Aufnahme (2) Kempter.

“Weihnachten zu Hause!”

A nostalgic personal recollection of childhood Christmas Eve traditions at home.

Author: Hermann Claudius. No photo credits given.

“An einen unbekannten Frontsoldaten”

A reprinted exchange of letters between a soldier at the front and an unknown pen-pal girl from home who wrote to him via the field post.

No named author (correspondence signed only with initials). No photo credits given.

“Etwas Humor!”

A short collection of humorous military anecdotes.

No author credited. No photo credits given.

“Jägertreue!” (Vertonung)

A musical setting (sheet music, march tempo) of the earlier-published poem “Jägertreue,” honoring Alpine riflemen.

Poem by Oberjäger Brückner; musical setting by Uffz. Toni Plattner. No photo credits.

Artists Mentioned

• Ludwig Richter — illustration accompanying the poem “Weihnachten,” depicting angels decorating a Christmas tree.
• Adam — painting “Rückzug der Franzosen aus Rußland 1812” (Retreat of the French from Russia, 1812), reproduced via Scherl-Archiv.
• Unnamed 19th-century engraver — Russian steel engraving (“Russischer Stahlstich”) depicting Napoleon leaving the burning Kremlin.

War Correspondents (Kriegsberichter) Named

• Kempter (Gefr.)
• Schäfer (PBZ)
• Groß-Talmon (PBZ)