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Item:
ONSV24CPS054

Original German WWII Book "Prinz Eugen in the First Battle" - Signed 1943 Gift from Kapitän zur See Wilhelm Beck

Item Description

Original Item. Only One Available. Well this is something we haven't really seen before! This is a lovely hardcover copy of the book Prinze Eugen im ersten Gefecht (Prince Eugene in the First Battle), written by Korvettenkapitän r. R. Fritz Otto Busch, the 1943 version. Published by C. Bertelsmann of Gütersloh, the book is 324 pages long, and measures about 5" x 7 5/8". It has some prints but is mostly text, detailing the first major battle engagement of the Prinz Eugen, a Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser. This was known as Operation Rheinübung, and was the start of most legendary naval engagement of the war in the Atlantic. It resulted in the explosion and sinking of the British Battlecruiser HMS Hood, and subsequent massive chase to "Sink the Bismarck", which was successfully accomplished.

This book looks to have been presented as a 1943 Christmas Gift, possibly one of many, possibly given to fellow officers by Kapitän zur See Wilhelm Beck, who was actually commander of the Prinz Eugen from 1 August 1942 to 8 October 1942, and looks to have served on multiple voyages in various functions. There is a small notecard included in the book that has a summarized history of his service. The first page on the inside of the cover has a dedication glued in place, signed by Beck, which reads:

Kriegsweihnacht
1943

Mach Dich bereit!
Gib Deine ganze Kraft
unſerem Schiff.
Sieghafte Gefechte
ſetzen eine
eunzerbrechliche
kampfgemeinſschaft
voraus!

Beck
Kapitän zur See
u. I. O.

The statement above the signature translates to:

War Christmas
1943

Get ready! Give all your strength to our ship. Victorious battles require an unbreakable fighting community!

This would definitely be a typical gift given to junior officers for a "War Christmas", as he undoubtedly wanted them all to know the history of the first battle the ship saw. Overall condition is very good, showing light wear, with some tearing around the edges as would be expected from age and use.

A great piece of German WWII Militaria, ready to research and display!

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