1941 - 1945 ORIGINAL ARCHIVE OF MANUSCRIPT DIARIES [5], BOOK OF POETRY AND PROSE [1] AND PHOTOGRAPHS [21] DETAILING ONE DECORATED GERMAN SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCES ON THE EASTERN FRONT LEADING TO HIS CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT

On offer is a significant archive of original manuscript diaries and photographs being the personal relics of World War II and the German Eastern Front Campaign being an archive of five [5] diaries and one [1] handwritten book of poetry and prose, all dated 1941 through 1945 handwritten by a decorated Wehrmacht soldier and later officer [?] named Gunter Stamer 13882. Stamer has provided historians, researchers and collectors with a very detailed record of his war experience with names, dates, times and places in both German and shorthand. In addition to the diaries are included twenty-one [21] original wartime photos and some ephemeral items all adding particular depth to this man's experiences fighting through the Russian front and then being captured and imprisoned by the Russians. From the photos we note that he wore the Iron Cross, which was awarded for bravery in battle or other notable contribution on the battlefield. His uniform also appears to have a Silver Infantry Assault badge and a few others including campaign ribbons. Here are some snippets and research notes: War Diary 1941 from 1. June 1941 until 7. August 1941: 1.6.41 We are lying in the ? camp. At last we're preparing for departure. Where to, no one knows. We all just hope that deployment is not far off. 5.6.41 Now the radio troops are finally being distributed. The Lieutenant wants me as communications person in his group - I don't want to though, would rather stay with the radio group in Hilkenbach. 7.6.41 Hurray! I am staying in Hilkenbach. My chief is Best. 9.6.41 Once again I was in Paderborn. Mentally I was saying farewell to this beautiful city. 11.6.41 Early, at 0500, we moved out from the barracks. Via Neuhaus, Paderborn, Warburg, Kassel, Autobahn, Hedemünden, Witzenhausen,Heiligenstadt….. (It looks like they headed south-east, then northeast) and everywhere we went we were met with enthusiasm and joy! It was a beautiful trip. We reached our destination at 21:45 (9:45pm.) Hans and I had fabulous (?) but nonetheless showed up to help wash the transport vehicles." A number of entries detailing movement through Germany, his division headed south-east, then north again, then south again and then to the north east, towards the Russian Front. He details activities like cleaning weapons, cleaning transport vehicles, sleeping in a barn (which he found too "stinky" so he slept in the vehicle. He talks of being briefed on the situation in Russia, being given Russian phrase books, and then: 21.6.41 The entry talks about being briefed by a lieutenant who had come from a meeting with the top brass, saying the situation had changed, there was now a need to deploy troops to occupy the region. "We will invade Russia to free them from the Bolsheviks. "Thanksgiving" Services from the population are to be promoted. Our division is to be the second wave, according to the General. For now we have "mail silence", Mom is going to worry about us…." 22.6.41 "While we were still en route, we encountered the first big drama of the invasion. Like swarms of mosquitos, German planes flew over us towards the Russian border." He mentions the broadcast from the German government, declaring war on Russia. His radio troop is not to listen - his Sergeant is livid about this. By 3:30 am the attack of the army had begun, they could hear artillery in the distance. 23.6.41 "At about 07:00 we were awakened by the command "Ready Yourselves" our division had received orders to march. In a half hour we were ready to go and the journey began. Breakfast was prepared and eating during the journey." Abruptly, the handwriting changes into shorthand. He mentions in German many place names: Luwalki, Tartak, Alexandrowsk, Grasnopol, Sejney, Birzniki, Klepocia, Glavantai, Seirijei, Merzniki, Liepalinges,Memel , Merkine, and then notes that Merkine is totally destroyed. 24.6.41 "In the night" and then reverts to short-hand. 25.6.41 All shorthand, one word looks like it could be "Estl." (Estland or Estonia) More place names: Wersoka, Ejszyski, Bastung, Werenow, Dziewieniyzi, ? Traby, Bendonow, Wisnicw, Sokowska, Wolozyn, Bastung. Then at the top of the next page: Feuertaufe or Fire-baptism. 2.7.41 There is a name: Bodavia and above it is penciled "Postavi". 3.7.41 Dzisna. 4.7.41 18. Inf. Mot. Div. The next diary is called "Kleines russisches Tagebuch" (Little Russian Journal) and then, "from 8.8.1941 to 26.10. 1941. Gesr. (written by). The entries, except for the numeric dates, are all in shorthand, until under 38.8.1941 there is a name: Schmonewa. 23. Sept. 1941 Kamjenka. Under 30. Sept. 1941 "Smolensk" Under 1. Okt. 1941 Witebsk. 9. Okt. 1941 Barssuki. 19. Okr. 1941 Malojaroslawez; Wjasma, Brjansk. 20. Okt. 1941 - Bjelousowa. 22. Okt. 1941 Ißtja (Isstja). 23. Okt. 1941 Isi-Sawod. 25. Okt. 1941 "Narwa-Übergang" (crossing of the Narva River, which is the border between Russia and Estonia. Third book "War Journal": 27.10.1941 to 31.12.1941 8. Nov. 1941 Belloussowa, Kissoljewa. 11 - 18. Nov. 1941 A list of names: Lubach (or Luback), Pengel, Goldmeister, Mohr, Friedrich, Theo Müller; then more shorthand, and the following: 2 K.V.K. ~ G. Otto, H. Zander (I Hamann-Himmerichs)", then "H. W. Friedrich". 19. Nov 1941 - 23. Nov. 1941 "Kissoljewa." 24. Nov. 1941 "Belkino" and "G. Barnick" 25. Nov - 2. Dez. 1941 "G. Barnick" again. 3 and 4 Dec. 1941 "Tschoubarowa" (Tchoobarova), "Mageren" and "Becker","Young" and "Lindner" 5. - 7. Dec. 1941 "Bolkino" 9. Dec. 1941 "Booth" 10. Dec. 1941 "Belkino" 15. Dec. 1941 G. H. Krause 17. Dec. 1941 "Tschubarowa" 20 Dec. 1941 "Belkino keine 6". Fourth Book "War Journal" 01.01. 1942 - 13.04.1942 City: Lübtheen, Meckl. (Mecklenburg?) Bahnhofstr. 15/b Telephone exchange: Lübtheen, Number 136, Passport #A0008/21. In the calendar he's noted (on Jan 1 and Jan 2) "Sslobodka" Jan 3: "Küchen vor." (Kitchen AM) and "Protze" and "Werkstatt" (Workshop). Jan 4 Transferred to Kaschirina [nearMoscow]. Then a number of days with "Kostinski" and notations of day-to-day activities and occurrences (it snowed, he snow-plowed; there's a shortage of fuel, offloaded at transport truck" and one day (27. February) "Nothing special". March 25. "Journey forward". March 26. "Back to mid-station". March 28 - "As of today we're doing foot-service twice weekly". Monday April 13 - "Service beginning as of today". Fifth Book "War Journal, 17.06.1942 - 30.01.1943" on the outside. On the inside it's labeled "Little Russian Journal 1942 - The first entry (June 17, 1942) is in shorthand except for "Herold" and "Weihe". Names encountered are "Besputnaja" (26.6.42,) "Dorogobusch" (4.7.42) "Marahrens" (10. Nov. 1942) and "Briansk" is repeated in almost every entry. "Rosslawl" also appears frequently. Dec. 31. 1942 he mentions "Warschaw" (German spelling for Warsaw). The Sixth Book: "Collected Works - Card Magic - Journal of the end of the War from 17.05. 1944 to 14.09.1945". On the inside of the front cover is written "Collected Works" and then his name, G. Stamer, Lübtheen (Meckl.) Mecklenburg, Bahnhofstr. 15/b. The first page is titled "What is the Kiss?", the second page is titled "The little something", the third page is "France!", the fourth piece is entitled "The Garter", the fifth piece is titled "Life", the next one is "The Cactus". There's a train ticket from Dresden, dated 06/11/1945, and it's stamped "Kriegsgefangener" (War prisoner). We note that while five of the diaries are solid in terms of binding, the book of poetry has much wear with the cover split from the book and some pages being loose. 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