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MILITÄR WOCHENBLATT (WEEKLY MILITARY MAGAZINE) 19 RARE JULY - NOVEMBER 1938 ISSUES WITH BINDER

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Militär-Wochenblatt (Military Weekly Magazine) was the “Independent Magazine for the German Armed Forces” and during the Third Reich it was considered the official magazine of the leadership of the Wehrmacht. General der Infanterie Georg Wetzell was the Editor in Chief and the heavily illustrated magazine was published by Mittler & Sohn in Berlin, the same famous publishing company responsible for the well-known Reibert military manuals, Luftwacht-Luftwissen magazines, and many other books and magazines for the Wehrmacht.

This is a rare lot of NINETEEN consecutive well-illustrated issues of Militär-Wochenblatt. The first issue is dated 1 July 1938, the last issue is for 4 November 1938, 1274 pages total! The 85 year old magazines are each loose in an original Militär-Wochenblatt Einbanddecken or custom binder also produced by E.S. Mittler in Berlin. The lot of them weigh 4 pounds 5 ounces!

There are many articles on military subjects all written by members of the Wehrmacht, retired World War I officers, and there are even some articles about motorized troops, armored car traffic as well as anti-aircraft defense written by well-known engineer, SS-Hauptsturmführer Dr. Ing. Wilhelm Brandt.

There is also very historic news regarding the negotiations about the fate of the Sudetenland, the British Runciman Mission to Czechoslovakia, SPD leader Konrad Henlein’s visit to Hitler at the Obersalzberg, the Chamberlain-Hitler meeting at the Berghof on 15 September, French Prime Minister Daladier’s subsequent visit to London, the fall of the government of Czechoslovakia, Hitler and Neville Chamberlain’s meeting at Bad Godesberg, Hitler’s speech at the Berlin Sportpalast on 26 September, and the meeting of Hitler, Chamberlain, Mussolini and Daladier at the Führerbau in Munich which led to the “separation” of the Sudeten-German areas of Czechoslovakia. Konrad Henlein was appointed Reichskommissar für die Sudetendeutsche Gebieten, and on 1 October 1938 German Wehrmacht troops entered the Sudetenland under the command of Generaloberst Ritter von Leeb. According to the 7 October 1938 edition of Militär-Wochenblatt, President Roosevelt, in name of 130 million Americans, congratulated Adolf Hitler for the peaceful solution of the Sudeten German Question and expressed his agreement with the Munich Agreement. The 14 and 21 October editions of Militär-Wochenblatt, have lots of updates about the progress of German Wehrmacht troops in Sudetendeutschland.

Every 8-¼ x 11-¾ inch issues starts with a section called Wehrpolitische Rundschau (military political review) with news about ongoing negotiations regarding Sudetenland between foreign ministers of Germany, Italy and England, the Civil War in Spain, the Japanese-Chinese conflict in the Far East, European diplomatic meetings, political instability in Palestine, royal state visits, German World War I frontline soldier visits to English WW I veterans, military treaties, Belgian army maneuvers in the Ardennes, Italo Balbo’s visit to Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Admiral Horthy’s state visit to Germany, new laws pertaining to Jews living in Italy announced by Benito Mussolini, Nazi Party Day Großdeutschland, and more.

Above, a few images in these 1938 magazines of Wehrmacht troops in action in Sudetenland and right, the announcement of the accidental death a doctor while serving in Sudetendeutschland.

Above, illustrations of the new Russian military sharpshooter medals

Military article subjects include the benefits of pre-military shooting training, new regulations by the Russian Army leadership, important military resources for Italy in Albania, infantry strategy, the length of obligatory military service, enemy breakthrough prevention strategy, re-arming and modernizing the German Navy and Air Force, lessons from World War I battle experiences (river crossings, tank attacks, Infantry and more), airplanes of the United States Air Force, RAF and Belgian Air Force, marching band formations, the appeal of becoming a Wehrmacht officer, modern military vehicles, Wehrmacht bicycle units, Infantry Engineers, five Ju-52 planes ordered by Argentina, Generaloberst Freiherr von Fritsch takes over command of the 12th Artillery Regiment, mountain artillery, proper nutrition for soldiers, British battlecruiser HMS Hood (“the largest war ship in the world” - sunk by the Germans on 24 May 1941), Italian Army maneuvers in Abruzzo, the border conflict in the Far East, French mountain troops training in the Alps, Infantry Communication Troop training, the balance of power between the Italian Army and Air Force, French and English airplane orders in the USA, etc.

Above, an article in the Militär-Wochenblatt of 14 October 1938 about the Short Brothers British component flying boat Mercury atop the launch aircraft Maia.

Above, the announcement of the accidental death of three Rheinmetall-Borsig AG directors in the Militär-Wochenblatt of 21 October 1938 (they died on a flight to Berlin when the Sabena Savoia Marchetti SM.73 crashed). Rheinmetall-Borsig was a producer of sophisticated rockets, guided missiles, etc.

There is military news from the United States, France, England, Soviet Union, Japan, Poland, personal announcements, news about military promotions (some by Der Führer und Reichskanzler) and change of command, deaths of military officers (including Generalleutnant Eugen Hahn, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division), the 10th anniversary of Admiral Raeder’s leadership of the German Navy, and more.

There are several maps accompanying articles on the Spanish Civil War, the Trans-Iranian Railway, the Middle East, Manchuko and Korea, Kuweit and Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, etc.

Because these 1938 German military magazines were kept in the customer binder, they are in very nice used condition. Each magazine has three small punched holes along the left edge, and the spine of the 1 July and 28 October issues have been scotch taped. The magazines have no odor, no writing, and have nothing cut out.

There are articles commemorating the 125th anniversary of the death of General von Scharnhorst, the 100th birthday of Graf Zeppelin, the 40th anniversary of the death of General Bismarck, and the 250th birthday of King Friedrich Wilhelm I.

Every issue of Militär-Wochenblatt also has wonderful photos, reviews of new military books, and great advertising: many advertisements for uniform manufacturers and tailors in cities all over Germany (some with addresses on Adolf Hitler Strasse in various cities). There are also ads for boots, ammunition, medal makers, canteen producers, hotels for military officers, moving companies, rubber boat manufacturers, manufacturers of display cases for military hats, even bunker doors produced by Mauser (below). We only show a few of the photos and a small portion of the great advertising in these 19 issues.