1941 WW2 Nazi German Newspaper – Hitler Spain Article, Wehrmacht Combat, Convoy & Maps

Offered here is an original large-format, one-page, two-sided German newspaper sheet from the Brüsseler Zeitung, dated 19 March 1941 (19. März 1941), issue No. 78. This is a substantial foldout newspaper page printed on both sides and packed with wartime articles, photographs, maps and illustrations.

The Brüsseler Zeitung was a German-language newspaper published in occupied Brussels, Belgium. This surviving sheet is particularly interesting because it combines material concerning Adolf Hitler, Spain, German military life, overseas naval warfare, German troops in combat, Belgium, northern France and Flanders all on one large sheet.

Front Side – Major Hitler / Spain Feature

Dominating the front is the large headline:

“Der Matador bittet um ein Bild des Führers”

Translation:

“The Matador Asks for a Picture of the Führer.”

The subheading reads:

“Menschen und Meinungen aus Manzanares – Spaniens Jugendführer: Die deutsche Waffen- und Blutsbrüderschaft unvergessen”

Approximately:

“People and Opinions from Manzanares – Spain’s Youth Leader: The German Brotherhood-in-Arms and Blood Brotherhood Unforgotten.”

The lengthy article discusses Spain and Spanish attitudes toward Germany, with references to the Spanish Civil War, Spanish youth, José Antonio, the Falange and German-Spanish wartime connections. The headline’s direct reference to the Führer makes this an especially striking period newspaper display piece.

A large photograph accompanies the article and is captioned:

“Auf Kasernenwache” – “On Barracks Guard Duty.”

It shows uniformed armed personnel inside a military installation, with another armed guard visible outside.

“Zwei Paar Kolbenringe”

Another major front-side feature is:

“Zwei Paar Kolbenringe – Der ‘Spiess’ als Erzieher, Kamerad und Kämpfer”

roughly:

“Two Pairs of Piston Rings – The Company Sergeant Major as Educator, Comrade and Fighter.”

This lengthy military article discusses the role of the senior company NCO and follows his experiences from barracks life into wartime service.

A particularly good combat photograph shows a German infantry formation advancing through a devastated village or roadway. The caption reads:

“Rücksichtsloser Einsatz der eigenen Person kennzeichnet den Kämpfer der Schützenkompanie beim Angriff.”

Approximately:

“The rifle-company soldier in the attack is characterized by the uncompromising commitment of his own person.”

The photograph is credited to Pressebild-Zentrale.

“Auf Kreuzerfahrt” – Naval / Convoy Feature

The upper-right portion contains:

“Auf Kreuzerfahrt – Erlebnisbericht von einer Fahrt in Übersee”
“On a Cruiser Voyage – An Account of an Overseas Voyage”

by Jochen Brennecke.

This installment is marked II and includes the section “Der Entschluss des Kommandanten” – “The Commander’s Decision.”

The story describes naval operations at sea, including an approaching convoy, orders to stop wireless transmissions and the use of naval gunfire.

A period photograph at the bottom shows ships at sea and is captioned:

“Ein britischer Geleitzug, aufgenommen von einem der begleitenden britischen Zerstörer.”

Translation:

“A British convoy, photographed from one of the accompanying British destroyers.”

This makes the sheet especially interesting for Kriegsmarine, Battle of the Atlantic and naval-history collectors.

Reverse – “Altes germanisches Siedlungsland”

The reverse is dominated by a very large illustrated historical/geographical article:

“Altes germanisches Siedlungsland”

with the subtitle:

“Fundstätten und Ortsnamen in Belgien und Nordfrankreich”

Translation:

“Ancient Germanic Settlement Land – Archaeological Sites and Place Names in Belgium and Northern France.”

The article is credited to Prof. Adolf Helbok, Universität Leipzig.

Two large period maps are included. One concerns Germanic settlement during the 5th and 6th centuries in France, while another maps Germanic place names in France. The maps show numerous settlement locations and geographical concentrations throughout France and the Low Countries.

These maps are a particularly attractive part of the newspaper and provide an excellent example of the historical and racial-nationalist interpretations being presented to readers in German-occupied Belgium during 1941.

Flanders & Belgium Material

Additional reverse-side material includes:

“Flämische Gotik” – “Flemish Gothic”

with a large architectural photograph.

There is also the illustrated serialized feature:

“Der flandrische Fähnrich” – “The Flemish Ensign”

along with another military-themed illustration.

Other columns include cultural material, fiction, a crossword/puzzle section and additional news and feature articles, giving the sheet the appearance of a complete cross-section of German occupation-era newspaper publishing.

Historical Interest

This single sheet covers an unusually wide variety of subjects:

Adolf Hitler / Führer headline material, Spain and the Falange, German-Spanish relations, German infantry combat, military barracks life, British naval convoys, overseas naval warfare, Belgium, Flanders, northern France, Germanic settlement theories, wartime maps and occupation-era cultural material.

Because it was published in Brussels during the German occupation of Belgium in 1941, it is also an interesting piece of occupation-period press history rather than simply a newspaper produced inside Germany.

Condition

Original period newspaper sheet showing expected age and storage wear. There is toning, scattered foxing/staining, edge wear, small tears and creasing/fold wear, particularly along the original folds and margins. The newspaper remains remarkably displayable considering the fragile nature of wartime newsprint. Both sides retain strong printed detail, photographs and maps.

Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition. You will receive the exact newspaper shown.

An excellent large-format original piece for a collection of WWII German newspapers, occupied Belgium material, Third Reich press, Adolf Hitler newspaper material, Spanish Civil War/Falange history, Wehrmacht infantry, Kriegsmarine/naval history, British convoy material, Flanders or wartime cartography.

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