Westkampfer! Das havt Ihr geschafft! [Western front soldier! This is what you have done!]
- Title:
- Westkampfer! Das havt Ihr geschafft! [Western front soldier! This is what you have done!]
- Alternate Title:
- Western front soldier! This is what you have done!
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Unknown
- Date:
- 1945
- Posted Date:
- 2017-04-14
- ID Number:
- 2158.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2158_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1940 - 1959
- Subject:
- World War II
Pictorial
Deception/Distortion - Measurement:
- 30 x 21 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- A German leaflet congratulating her troops on their victory in the Battle of the Bulge! A rough partial translation: "West fighter! This you have done! . . . The Americans and British wanted to go back for one last great blow to invade via Aachen-Koln to the Ruhr area, and via Strasburg to the south of Germany, and so to force decision. At this juncture our offensive met the enemy. The surprise was complete. The enemy armies had to swivel in order to secure themselves. So the danger was averted. You, West fighters have, done that! Despite all the difficulties of the terrain, the weather and the struggle, you have demonstrated that you're hard as the enemy. Leadership and homeland know that you will succeed going forward!"
The leaflet claims the "destruction" of the 28th and 106th Infantry Divisions and 9th Armored Division, along with "heavy injury" to the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 83rd Infantry Divisions, 3rd, 5th and 7th Armored Divisions, and 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. And it concludes that the planned "American air landing against the Ruhr and Cologne was impracticable according to the destruction of airborne divisions," and therefore "the danger of an enemy offensive in the West with the Bolshevik offensive in the east at the same time was dispelled."
For a very different perspective on the same events, issued at the same time, see the American leaflet Das Wer Der Plan [That Was the Plan], ID #1329.01.
For further information on the Collector’s Notes and a Feedback/Contact Link, see https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/about-collection-personal-statement and https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/feedback-and-contact - Repository:
- Private Collection of PJ Mode
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.