[SEPTEMBER CAMPAIGN] 2 albums of original photographs - with description - of a German soldier showing preparations for war and his participation in the September Campaign and march through conquered Poland. UNIQUE !

TWO ALBUMS OF ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS taken by a German soldier who took an active part in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. Photographs pasted into an album, each with a description in German. Photographs cover the period from 20.VI.1939 to 12.X.1939. Photographs are mostly about 9 x 6cm in size.

The photographs show preparations for the march against Poland (drills, march towards the border, daily life), the first days of the September Campaign (war damage, population of conquered cities, Jews), march towards central Poland (Chojnice, Tuchola, Stargard, Gdansk, East Prussia, Elblag) and further towards Brest-Litovsk. The whole thing ends with photographs of the return to Germany for a "well-deserved" vacation. On the photos one can find military vehicles, sanitary services, civilians, Polish military prisoners, effects of warfare (destruction, abandoned possessions).

The whole in two albums, with gilt lettering on the spine "In Polen" I and II. Photos and descriptions in very good condition. UNIQUE !

All photos in the album are shown in the photos attached to this auction. A few (portrait) photos are loose.

The text under the photos is arranged in a colorful story, spun by a German soldier, entering the conquered country and without much resistance - together with the front - reaching through successive cities, towns and villages almost to the borders with the USSR:

ALBUM 1: "On 27.6.39 I was drafted into a 3-month exercise in Itzehoe. After about 6 weeks filled with exercises, classes, convoying, bivouacking, repairing and cleaning we were ready to march against Poland in the barracks courtyard on 20.8.39/ On the night of 21.8 the march began through Hamburg, Luneburg, Uelzen, Salzwedel, Stendal, Tangermunde, Genthin, Brandenburg, RAB-Berlin Sudring, Frankfrut on the Oder to the military training ground at Wandern. After a few days we moved on. As resting places, we usually chose the vicinity of lakes, such as here, Bolzigsee, to have the opportunity to swim. At night we camouflaged ourselves . The road led through Konigswalde, Landsberg, Arnswalde, Barwalde, Stremlau, Lancken to Schlochau where we arrive at night . 1.9.39 we begin to fight and march. Here the German armored train, which was stopped in Chojnice by the destruction of the bridge. Here we also saw the first effects of the war: the burnt house of a German, the first Poles, elements of a German plane shot down. After a few days, the German air force gained control of the airspace, so we no longer had to hide and often walked along the main road. We continued our march through the so-called: "Polish corridor" through Chojnice, Tuchel County, Starogard Gdanski to the vicinity of Gdansk and from there through East Prussia, Elblag, Landsberg, Treuburg (Olecko) towards central Poland. Sometimes it got romantic, as here, when we sat around a campfire in Masuria. In central Poland, the economy looked "typically Polish," and anxious people roamed the streets in the evenings, which even on closer acquaintance did not inspire confidence. After a closer look it turned out that they were Jews to whom it seemed they could continue their work. In Yevabne we played a concert, which the locals received without much enthusiasm. When we had a day off, we used it to do laundry. The most important car of the train is, of course, the "service car." At every opportunity we enriched our table with broth. Soon we had a small dog "Zughund", who liked to play with bigger dogs.

ALBUM 2: Now the road led us through Byelorussia towards Brest-Litovsk.Here we also met refugees, Byelorussians who sought refuge from the Poles. Destroyed Polish equipment remained on the streets: 1. Polish baggage car. 2. The interior of a destroyed Polish tank. The march continued along fords and bridges. Through burning cities (Zambrów) and villages and towns where only ruins remained after the fire as here in Czyzewo. First the city of Brest-Litovskfell, and then the heavily defended fortress/ citadel. A grenade funnel in the Citadel. Masses of prisoners/prisoners await further transport. Four Polish hospital trains (hospital transports) brought us a lot of work. They were brought here by Poles convinced that Brest-Litovsk was still in Polish hands. Soon the Byelorussians began preparations to greet the Russian troops, since according to the German-Russian agreement we were to evacuate the area. Returning German street tanks. Only the graves of the fallen would remain. Again our road led us through Masuria and East Prussia. Here the nice town of Reszel. We continued our way through Grudziadz, again the German "Polish corridor". In Grudziadz, the construction battalions built a large pontoon bridge because the retreating Poles had destroyed the bridge over the Vistula. Everywhere in the area they were already working on repairing railroads/railroad connections. Before we were loaded onto trains via Pila, we were housed for several days in mass quarters which was not very pleasant. On 12.10.39 we arrived in Hamburg where we were assigned quarters at the tennis club in Wandsbek. And in the evening I had my first vacation.