Original Völkischer Beobachter Berlin Newspaper – 20 October 1941

Description

PERIODICO 5 is an original Völkischer Beobachter newspaper, Berlin edition, dated Monday, 20 October 1941. This issue is a striking example of an original IIWW / WWII German newspaper from the autumn of 1941, during one of the most intense phases of the war in the East. The front page presents the bold headline “Schlotternde englische Angst vor den deutschen Schlägen,” accompanied by red typographic emphasis lines and the subtitle “London versucht wieder das alte Termingeschäft.” The page also includes military and political content connected with Britain, Moscow, the Eastern Front and the wider propaganda narrative of wartime Germany.

The Völkischer Beobachter was one of the most recognisable German newspapers of the Third Reich period, and original surviving issues are collected today as historical press material, not for ideology but for documentation, research and preservation. This Berlin edition carries the full masthead “Völkischer Beobachter,” the eagle emblem and the printed identification as a political newspaper of the period. For collectors of WWII German newspapers, IIWW documents, wartime propaganda press and original historical ephemera, this issue offers strong visual and documentary value.

One of the most important elements visible on the front page is the reference to Taganrog on the Sea of Azov: “Taganrog am Asowschen Meer durch die Waffen-SS genommen.” This places the issue directly within the context of the German advance in southern Russia during 1941. The reference to Waffen-SS operations gives the newspaper particular interest for collectors focused on Eastern Front reporting, German wartime press, military campaign narratives and printed material connected to the early phase of Operation Barbarossa. The article reflects how battlefield events were presented to the German public through official wartime language and propaganda framing.

The front page also includes the article “Oberfeldwebel Hoffmann erhielt das Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz,” with an accompanying photograph. Ritterkreuz and Eichenlaub references are highly searched by militaria collectors because they connect printed press material with decorated soldiers, official recognition and wartime military reporting. This does not make the newspaper a decoration or award document, but it adds important collector appeal for anyone studying how German newspapers reported military honours and publicised individual soldiers during the IIWW period.

The visible interior pages add further interest. Photographic sections show naval imagery, military vessels, North Africa references, portraits of decorated soldiers, and scenes connected with wartime reporting. One page includes the heading “Gefechts­pause in Nordafrika,” showing troops in a desert environment, which gives the item additional appeal for collectors interested in the North African theatre, German wartime photography and newspaper documentation of campaign propaganda. Other visible sections include cultural articles, sports reporting, theatre listings, classified advertisements, employment notices and commercial announcements, giving a broader view of daily life and public communication in wartime Germany.

It is important to note that the photographs appear to show pages with different printed dates, including at least one visible page dated 14 February 1942. For that reason, unless the buyer verifies the full pagination, this item should be described carefully as the newspaper/pages shown in the photographs rather than guaranteed as a complete single issue. This is especially important for serious collectors, as completeness, matching date consistency and page count can affect historical and market value.

Condition is consistent with original wartime newspaper material from the 1940s. The paper shows age toning, fold lines, creases, handling wear, edge wear and natural signs of storage. These characteristics are typical of period newspapers, especially large-format wartime issues printed on fragile paper. The photographs form an essential part of the description and should be reviewed carefully to assess visible condition, page layout, folds, margins, printed content and completeness.

This Völkischer Beobachter Berlin edition is suitable for collectors of WWII German newspapers, IIWW press material, Third Reich printed ephemera, Eastern Front documentation, Waffen-SS references, Ritterkreuz-related press content, North Africa campaign material, wartime propaganda studies and original historical documents. It is offered strictly as a historical collectible for research, documentation and preservation. Any symbols, terminology or imagery visible in the newspaper are part of the original historical object and are presented only for accuracy and transparency. No political, ideological or extremist affiliation is expressed or implied.