An original 1941 edition of “Die Wehrmacht”, officially published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW – German High Command) and issued by Verlag Die Wehrmacht, Berlin.
This wartime volume, subtitled “Um die Freiheit Europas” (“For the Freedom of Europe”), documents Germany’s military campaigns during 1941 through the official publications of the German High Command. Richly illustrated with period photographs, it covers the expanding conflict including the Battle of the Atlantic, Kriegsmarine operations, Fallschirmjäger airborne assaults, the Balkan Campaign, the North African theater, and the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union.
The volume includes numerous photographs of German military leaders, including Großadmiral Erich Raeder, airborne troops, U-Boats, Luftwaffe aircraft, armored formations, and combat operations across Europe and the Eastern Front.
An especially attractive feature of this example is the period handwritten presentation inscription, dated Christmas 1942, offering an additional piece of wartime provenance and making this copy more desirable than standard examples.
An excellent original reference book and an increasingly sought-after wartime publication for collectors of Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, Fallschirmjäger, Eastern Front, and WWII German militaria.
Condition
Very good original condition.
The original cloth hardcover remains complete and structurally sound with moderate shelf wear, scattered staining, and light corner wear consistent with age. The binding remains tight and the pages are clean overall with light age toning. The interior retains its original photographic illustrations and includes a contemporary handwritten Christmas 1942 presentation inscription.
Specifications
Period: Third Reich (1933–1945)
Country: Germany
Title: Die Wehrmacht – Um die Freiheit Europas
Year: 1941
Publisher: Verlag Die Wehrmacht, Berlin
Issued by: Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW)
Language: German
Binding: Original cloth hardcover
Illustrations: Numerous period photographs and color frontispiece
Presentation Inscription: Handwritten Christmas 1942 dedication
Originality: Original wartime publication
Historical Note
The 1941 edition of Die Wehrmacht reflects one of the most significant years of the Second World War. Issued by the German High Command, it documents the dramatic expansion of the conflict into the Balkans, North Africa, the Atlantic, and the Soviet Union. Combining official reports with extensive wartime photography, these annual volumes provide valuable primary-source insight into how the Wehrmacht presented its military campaigns during the war.
