This is a very nice example of the rare 7-1/2 x 10-1/4 inch, 166 page very heavily illustrated hard cover unit history of one of the strangest units in the Wehrmacht! A kind of "wackiest ship in the army." It is Mit der 1. MKWA in Südostraum by Lt. Fritz Becker as published by Grafische Werkstätte in Offenbach am Main, probably in 1942.

In German military abbreviations MKWA stands for Marinekraftwagenabteilung or Navy Truck Transport Unit and the "Südostraum" mentioned in the title is the area of the Soviet Union southeast from Kiev.

In wonderful rare photos and excellent captions the book traces the military campaign of the 1st MKWA from the loading of its strange assortment of German military vehicles on a train in Germany, to its eventual headquarters in Odessa. The officers of each unit are shown in gray-green navy field uniforms with naval badges on their pockets. The Kriegsmarine uniforms and visor caps look completely out of place in the field!

The odd trucks of the unit are shown in many photos as are the Panzerspähwagen (armored reconnaissance cars), specialty vehicles, weapons, shops, etc. An entire chapter is devoted to the lousy Russian roads. The outfit is shown in convoy, on ferries, in its encampments, etc.

There are photos taken in Odessa, Krasnodar, Rostow, Mariopole, etc. There are pretty girls with German soldiers, armed Russian volunteers, battle damage in Krim, etc., etc.

An outstanding book for someone interested in naval units serving with and like the German Army. Very good condition.