*German, WWII, 21 April 1943, Feldzeitung von der Maas bis an die Memel No. 754 – Riga Published Front-Line Newspaper – Hitler Birthday Issue – Göring Order of the Day – Katyń & Eastern Front Propaganda*
An original World War II German Feldzeitung (field newspaper) titled Feldzeitung von der Maas bis an die Memel, Issue No. 754, published in Riga on Wednesday, 21 April 1943. Produced as a Deutsche Soldatenzeitung for German military personnel serving on the Eastern Front and occupied Baltic territories, this newspaper was issued by a Wehrmacht propaganda company and formed part of the extensive front-line information and morale apparatus distributed directly to soldiers.
The subtitle "von der Maas bis an die Memel" references the well-known geographical phrase from the first stanza of Das Lied der Deutschen, invoking a broader concept of historical German lands stretching from the River Maas to the Memel. Newspapers of this type were printed on low-grade wartime paper for immediate reading and disposal, making surviving examples increasingly difficult to locate.
The front page is dominated by the large headline "Der Führer Abbild des deutschen Volkes" ("The Führer, Image of the German People"), issued in conjunction with Adolf Hitler's birthday of 20 April. The accompanying article "Die Wünsche der Nation zum Geburtstag Adolf Hitlers – Dr. Goebbels als Dolmetscher unserer Gefühle" presents propagandist messaging intended to portray Hitler as the embodiment of the German nation, accompanied by commentary from Joseph Goebbels.
Immediately below appears an official Tagesbefehl des Reichsmarschalls (Order of the Day of the Reich Marshal), issued by Hermann Göring to the Soldaten der Wehrmacht. This message calls upon soldiers to reaffirm loyalty and continue military struggle in the fourth year of the war.
Several other front-page articles provide a fascinating snapshot of wartime propaganda themes in spring 1943:
- "Wütende Schimpfkanonade in Moskau" ("Furious Tirades in Moscow") addresses international reactions to the Katyń Massacre revelations. This reflects one of the most politically significant propaganda battles of the war, as Germany attempted to exploit the discovery of mass graves of Polish officers near Smolensk.
- "In vier Tagen 178 Sowjetflugzeuge" claims the destruction of 178 Soviet aircraft in four days, presenting heavily amplified battlefield reports intended to reinforce confidence on the Eastern Front.
- "Neue Ritterkreuzträger" lists newly decorated recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
- The article "Ulrich von Huttens Tat" commemorates the 455th anniversary of Ulrich von Hutten's birth, tying historical German nationalism and Reformation-era imagery into contemporary ideological messaging.
The reverse side contains additional ideological and wartime material including "Die Treue der Tat" ("The Loyalty of Action"), "Japans Jugend grüßt den Führer" ("Japan's Youth Greets the Führer"), articles concerning conditions on the home front, and further anti-Allied propaganda pieces including criticism of the United States.
Approx. Measurements – 54 cm x 39 cm.
History Note:
Field newspapers such as this were designed specifically for front-line troops and represented a major component of wartime psychological and propaganda operations. Printed in occupied territories such as Riga and distributed among military formations, they attempted to sustain morale, frame current events, and reinforce ideological narratives. Because they were intended as disposable publications and often exposed to severe field conditions, complete surviving issues are increasingly scarce.
*Condition*
Single double-sided sheet. Displays a pronounced vertical split through the centre fold extending through much of the page, with age-related browning, fold wear, scattered foxing and minor edge wear consistent with wartime field use. Print remains clear and fully readable throughout. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMAEXBE_9683241940
