{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-book-prinz-eugen-in-the-first-battle-signed-1943-gift-from-kapitan-zur-see-wilhelm-beck","title":"Original German WWII Book \"Prinz Eugen in the First Battle\" - Signed 1943 Gift from Kapitän zur See Wilhelm Beck","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. Only One Available. Well this is something we haven't really seen before! This is a lovely hardcover copy of the book\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Prinze Eugen im ersten Gefecht\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (Prince Eugene in the First Battle), written by \u003cem\u003eKorvettenkapitän r. R. Fritz Otto Busch\u003c\/em\u003e, the 1943 version. Published by C. Bertelsmann of Gütersloh, the book is \u003cstrong\u003e324\u003c\/strong\u003e pages long, and measures about \u003cstrong\u003e5\" x 7 5\/8\"\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKriegsweihnacht\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1943\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMach Dich bereit!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGib Deine ganze Kraft\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eunſerem Schiff.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSieghafte Gefechte\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eſetzen eine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eeunzerbrechliche\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ekampfgemeinſschaft\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003evoraus!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBeck\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKapitän zur See\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eu. I. O.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe statement above the signature translates to:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWar Christmas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e1943\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eGet ready! Give all your strength to our ship. Victorious battles require an unbreakable fighting community!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA great piece of German WWII Militaria, ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41890071511109,"sku":"ONSV24CPS054","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV24CPS054__01.jpg?v=1726285821","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-book-prinz-eugen-in-the-first-battle-signed-1943-gift-from-kapitan-zur-see-wilhelm-beck","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}