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General Ernst-Eberhard Hell World War II Diary FRANCE July 1940 to June 25, 1941 with many photos

General Ernst-Eberhard Hell World War II Diary FRANCE July 1940 to June 25, 1941 with many photos

General Ernst-Eberhard Hell World War II Diary FRANCE July 1940 to June 25, 1941 with many photos Hard cover - 1940

by HELL, General Ernst-Eberhard (1887-1973)

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  • Fine
  • Hardback
Used - Fine

Description

1940. 1st Edition. Hard Cover. Fine. 16cm x 18cm, hard cover album, 18pp of manuscript with 10 B&W photos (7.5cm x 4.5cm) affixed inside diary book and 16 B&W photos (10cm x 7cm) mounted to paper outside diary - 26 photos in all. FRANCE diary with photos of General Ernst-Eberhard Hell factually written about his World War II military posting. This album features maps and photographs with accompanying captions and texts and is devoted to a period spent in Burgundy, France in 1940-41. From the vocabulary and tone of these materials they are intended as personal records or mementos rather than official military memoirs. However, what makes these diaries of greater interest is the combination of the written personal reflections combined with the personal photos visually telling his war memoirs. Insightful personal memoirs and eye-witness accounts from his perspective, later written (we believe the diaries were written and put together by General Hell after he returned from Russian captivity of10 years, as he lived for almost 20 years after his release) of a highly decorated German General. The text is very neat and tidy as are the pasted-in photos which are unusual and appealing. Written in German with English translations for the two diaries available. Fine condition. Ernst-Eberhard Hell was a German general who held several divisional commands and was later elevated to Corps level during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Ernst-Eberhard Hell was captured by Soviet troops in August 1944 during the Jassy-Kishinev Offensive (August 1944) and was held until 1955. Awards and decorations, Iron Cross (1914), 2nd Class (11 September 1914), 1st Class (14 August 1916), Eiserner Halbmond, Cross of Honor in 1934, Iron Cross (1939), 2nd Class (12 May 1940), 1st Class (17 May 1940), Eastern Front Medal, German Cross in Gold (14 June 1942), Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Knight's Cross on 1 February 1943 as General der Artillerie and commander of VII. Armeekorps, 400th Oak Leaves on 4 June 1944 as General der Artillerie and commander of VII. Armeekorps, Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (12 March 1944) quoted from Wikipedia FRANCE DIARY & PHOTOS SUMMARY: The French album is titled: "With the Fifteenth Infantry Division in the Field. Reserve Period in Burgundy from July 1940 to June 25, 1941." It consists of photographs with headings and captions, a map of the sectors occupied by different German Divisions in Burgundy, and a list of officers and staff members in General Hell's Division. General Hell's Division apparently stayed for a significant period in the town of Commarin, where officers were headquartered in a chateau, which is shown in several photos (3644_26 to 30_LR). The building was organized with areas for leisure and socializing as well as offices, and was the scene of outdoor meals (see 3644_26_LR) and an outdoor marksmen's competition (3644_27_LR). One section of the album is devoted to photographs of training and other exercises (e.g. bridge construction and drills in river crossing) in which General Hell's soldiers were involved during this reserve period (3644_16_LR through 3644_19_LR). Monuments to German war dead are a recurring theme: German soldiers are seen erecting a memorial to the dead of the Franco-Prussian War in two pictures (3644_25_LR), while others show graves of earlier and recent German casualties (3644_21_LR, 3644_12_LR). Many of the photographs are a military tourist's souvenir photos from visits to Paris and to towns in Burgundy such as Beaune and Saulieu, as well as pictures of scenic landscape features (the Burgundy Canal, spring flowers, an overgrown forest). Other locations mentioned are Chateau Neuf (3644_24, 25 and 26_LR) , Chatillon sur Seine (3644_12_LR), and Alise (3644_10_LR) . In addition to a list of General Hell's subordinate officers (3644_01_LR) , officers from other units are mentioned on a few pages and appear in photos. These include Generals Wäger and Vlaskowitz (3644_18_LR) and Division Commander and Colonel Pavel [3644_20_LR]. It is clear from the sentimental title of one album section ("Special Memories") and the caption to one photograph ("We take along these pictures of Commarin in our memories" - [3644_30_LR]) that General Hell enjoyed this time in Burgundy. It appears he may have returned to the area at a later time: File (3644_35_LR) shows a card reading "bon Friedenstein Sommer 1960" and includes colour snapshots depicting the same scenes as the black and white photos mounted in the album.
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Details

  • Title General Ernst-Eberhard Hell World War II Diary FRANCE July 1940 to June 25, 1941 with many photos
  • Author HELL, General Ernst-Eberhard (1887-1973)
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition 1st Edition
  • Condition Used - Fine
  • Publication date 1940
  • Bookseller's Inventory # 3630
  • Quantity available 1

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