Original Third Reich Book “Division Sintzenich: Erlebnisberichte aus dem Feldzuge in Frankreich 1940”-
This is an original 1940–41 wartime publication titled Division Sintzenich: Erlebnisberichte aus dem Feldzuge in Frankreich 1940 (“Division Sintzenich: Experience Reports from the Campaign in France 1940”), published by Hauserpresse – Hans Schäfer, Frankfurt am Main.
The book documents the combat experiences and campaign history of the Wehrmacht division commanded by Generalmajor Rudolf Sintzenich, who led the 33. Infanterie-Division during the invasion of France in May–June 1940. It provides firsthand narratives, maps, and photographs chronicling the unit’s actions during the Western Campaign — from the crossing of the Maas River to the advance toward Paris.
Book Details:
Title: Division Sintzenich – Erlebnisberichte aus dem Feldzuge in Frankreich 1940
Publisher: Hauserpresse, Hans Schäfer, Frankfurt a.M.
Year: ca. 1941
Language: German
Pages: Approximately 180 pages, illustrated with numerous black-and-white combat photographs and art sketches printed in sepia tones
Format: Hardcover (cloth-backed paper boards), 9" x 12" (approx. 23 x 30 cm)
Content Overview:
Command portrait of Generalmajor Rudolf Sintzenich, Division Commander
Soldier accounts and operational reports written by participants in the 1940 campaign
Depictions of major actions including the crossing of the Maas at Monthermé, fighting through northern France, and the advance “Vor Paris!” (Before Paris)
Period photographs showing officers, artillery positions, tanks, and destroyed French vehicles
Artistic sketches of French towns and battle landscapes by division soldiers
Condition:
Original binding showing age and service wear. The spine is partially detached with edge chipping along the top and bottom, but the binding remains largely intact. Light discoloration and minor staining present on the covers. The interior pages are complete, clean, and well preserved with vivid photographic plates.
Historical Significance:
This book was printed in limited numbers for divisional distribution and serves as a semi-official record of the German 1940 Western Campaign from the perspective of an individual field division. Such divisional histories were produced in small wartime runs and are now considered scarce primary sources for military historians and collectors of Wehrmacht campaign material.941
Condition:
Original wartime binding showing honest age and handling wear. The front cover displays light stains and small areas of edge chipping along the spine. The pages remain clean and legible throughout, with all maps present and in good condition. The binding remains solid overall.
Historical Significance:
This book served both as a historical and propagandistic record of the early-war German victories in Southeastern Europe and North Africa. It provides an invaluable primary reference for historians and collectors of Wehrmacht campaign material, documenting the Balkan Campaign, Battle of Crete, and Afrika Korps operations in detail.
Collector’s Note:
Wartime publications of this type were printed in limited quantities and distributed only to military offices, war correspondents, and official libraries. Complete, intact examples are increasingly difficult to find today, especially with all maps present.
