Hi everyone, picked this up today, your views welcome. Is it rare? what can you tell me about it, it is full of writing and i can make out a few words like "Infantry", "Plane" and "Tobruk". its a cracking little book, full of everything to help the soldier suvive in desert. Hate to think what that is on the back of the book....i am not joking is does look splattered Donnie
Yeh thanks for the replies, i have a german friend so i am going to take it round and see what he makes of it. The calender only cost me a tenner so i thought it was a good buy. A similar one in a little bit better condition is going for a few quid under 100. I also bought a mint "Hitler Im Polen" book with hitler youth stamp in the front. ( that cost a fair wack more) Donnie
Donnie Try this site. Free Translation and Professional Translation Services from SDL International I've been using quite abit lately.
Hi guys, Sorry to drag this old thread up but i now have a ruff translation on the writing.....anyone wanna see what it says'? Donnie
Well i thought i would tease you all a little first . you will have to wait for the weekend. then i will have a full translation. Edit: but what i will tell you is that Tobruk is in there....the first page is a poem thanking god for protecting him in battle......his daily experiences aswell as combat. Donnie
Hi guys, This is the poem that the author wrote to thank god for protecting him in battle. Hope you enjoy. Please thank Apwright (Adrain Wright) from the GWF for taking the time to translate all of this. In Not und Gefahren [illegible word] hat er mich bewahret im Kampfe bei sich und bei Recht. [In need and danger He kept me by Him and on the side of Justice in battle.] ---------- Oft sah man das Leben als sei es vergebens nur hängen in seiner [inserted: allmächtigen] Hand. [Life seemed to hang vainly in His almighty hand.] ---------- Die Feinde sie tobten ich konnte mir loben den Gott, der bewahret mich hat. [While the enemy raged, I praised God for preserving me.] ---------- Die gingen Minuten und Stunden vorbei auch immer blieb er mir ganz treu denn sein treues Erlösungsblut, das [crossed out: schützt] behütete mich vor feindlicher Wut. [Though minutes and hours passed, He always remained wholly true to me, as His true redeeming blood guarded me against the enemy's wrath.] ---------- Nun kann ich mir loben und danken dafür daß er nicht allein gelassen auch hier die Wahrheit das Wortes erfuhr ich aufs neu Sieh, Kind, ich bin immer dir treu. [Now I give praise and thanks that he never left [me] alone even here, and I experienced again the Truth of the Word: Behold, my child, I am always true to you.] Donnie
right then...here is a rough translation of the diary entry.... Page 2, Tuesday 16 June (the text here doesn't really follow the printed dates, all this page refers to June 16.) Pursued the enemy beyond position "Gazelle", with the author's company in the vanguard. Tank broke down (I think it says that it got stuck in the off-road gear), but they had enough food and water to survive until repaired (?June 17) Page 3 Thursday 18: Drove a winding road for 8 hours, another tank having to pull them round the corners (?due to knackered gears?). Totally exhausted by nightfall. Friday 19: Attacked the outer ring of Tobruk. Had to build a bridge for their own tanks over the anti-tank trenches. Tank damaged by rifle and MG fire. Saturday 20: Consolidated position in front of Tobruk. Gathered in prisoners. Page 4 Monday 22: Depart Tobruk. Bombed by aircraft at 11pm. Set off into the desert. Tuesday 23: Drove all day from early morning and all the next night. Wednesday 24: Continued through the desert towards Sidi-Burami(?) Page 5 Thursday 25: Remained at depot all day. Bombed and strafed but OK. Drove into position in the evening. Friday 26: Attacked by enemy tanks in the morning. Author's tank fired 60 rounds. Counter-attacked, drove back enemy and took some prisoners. Moved on in the evening. Donnie