1939 - 1947 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF A GERMAN SAILOR FROM EARLY ON IN THE WAR TO A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP WITHIN MONTHS

On offer is a superb, unique, beautifully kept World War II German naval relic of Kriegsmarine, the German Navy. The writer is a sailor named Eugen Noss. He uses a "Merkblatt", a memo book to record his service and over 43 pages he does so with inordinate pride written in a precise legible script with ink. Though it is a diary the large book format gives it a scrapbook esthetic. Eugen has added depth to his service diary with a number of drawings and pictures. Historians and collectors of the era and the topic will recognize the absolute uniqueness of this manuscript. Here is from, Eugen's own hand, an introduction: "My name is Eugen Noss and I was born on 8 May 1915 as son of (?) and his wife (?), née Ludwig, in Dortmund - ? In 1928 we moved to Baden? This is where my father died from complications of a war injury. He was baptized in the evangelical (Lutheran) tradition. From my 6th year I went to the Volkschule (Primary school) and was matriculated in 1932 from the 8th grade. From April 1933 until April 1934 I went to a private trade-school in Paderborn. On October 1, 1934 he began an apprenticeship (can't make out exactly what - something with machines, though a later document states his profession as "smith" i.e., black smith. After this time, he wrote his journeyman's exam, which he passed with a good (like a 'B'). After my apprenticeship I stayed until February with my mother. In February I began work as a machine-worker in the company "Fritz: in (??)". I worked there until August, then I was drafted to go to (?), In September 1937 I signed up for the navy (war navy). After my work, I was called up to the Navy on 1 April 1939. So Now I am in the 10.S.M.A. Signed Eugen Noss." The next heading is Introduction to the 1st company, and it appears to be a list of personnel and officers, and then fellow soldiers or sailors. The journal entries begin on 1. April 1939. Most entries, not always daily, detail his duties, training, being brought for field exercises, about ships he is assigned to and much, much more. Interestingly dates of entries written on Sunday are underlined in red. There is mention about the Führer's birthday on April 20, 1939, and apparently they listened to a radio broadcast in honor of this occasion by Goebbels. Here is an interesting personal snippet: 28. April 1939: "The Führer, Adolf Hitler, held a big speech for the whole world, which was in answer to a telegram from the American President, Roosevelt (spelled Rosewelt) The Führer answered each question the President asked, and made it clear that the German folk is not to be joked with, and that the German folk is not afraid of anything, not even Mister Roosevelt." On April 29th, there is a note that it's the last time he wore civilian clothing. Surprisingly the entry of August 18, 1939 notes he was taken prisoner, and spent several years in an allied POW camp. Included are a number of ephemeral pieces: There are report cards from a secondary school, but they appear to be the sailor's father's report cards, because the dates are 4. January 1895, Easter 1902; 5 August 1903, Easter 1905 (this appears to be a transfer into a different secondary school) and there is a blank one. There is an estimate (equivalence) of House-wifely Work and a certificate of a job, or career, competition from 1939. Also at the back is a letter (presumably from the sailor's dad, written from Champagne (but in German). In this letter is a need of the writer (Eugen's dad) to apologize for and offer an explanation of something. Then there are envelopes, one from Aalborg, Denmark to a relative with the same last name, postmarked October 5, 1940, with a piece of paper that it was checked by the High command of the Wehrmacht.. Another envelope addressed to E. Noss, via "Field post" - so to the front (?) with a postmark that is either 18.04 - but the year is illegible, and it's stamped by the naval news officer. Another envelope addressed to Eugen Noss, postmarked 02.6.44 again sent to "Fieldpost" stamped with a seal. A letter of the same date from comrade. Then there's a French typewritten document - looks like it's a notice of liberation, dated 1.8.47, and a document itemizing PX rations issued in At "Headquarters, War Crimes Enclosure, PW Reception and Discharge Centre, APO 407 (Dachau) US Army" to Eugen Noss on 19 August 1947, and lastly a temporary registration card, for Eugen, who at this point was 29 years old. Lastly there is a photo, a bow - view of a speed boat. Size 22 x 27cm/8.5 x 10.5 in. 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