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Very rare and large Navy Land (!) Transport Detachment pictorial book about the German WW2 campaign in the East in 1942 and 1943.
In wonderful rare photos and excellent captions the book traces the military campaign of the 4th M.Kw.A. from the departure in Wilhelmshaven (Germany) on its way to Russia and Ukraine; covering the camp in Mariupol on several pages, Bridge near Cherson, simpferopol, port in Taganrogg, arriving in Rostov-on-Don in Southern Russia, toward Caucasus, leaving Russia to Asia at Kuban River, refuelling at Petschanokopskoje and Woroschilowsk, good time during accomodation in small villages, funeral in Alexandrowskoje, Central point in Pjatigorsk, Party in Kisslowodsk, taking camp in Shelesnowodsk and finally in Kisslowodsk and Essentuki, special use of the 4th M.Kw.A. in a panzer corps in the south of the Caucasus Front at village Terek, Alexandrowskaja, sinking into the mud towards Alagir in valley between Stari Uruch and Tschikola, anti aircraft, war christmas 1942 in the Caucasus, preparing Countermarch in January 1943 Naltschik, dramatic incidents in the snowstorm, returning to Mariupol, leaving to Melitopol, crossing dam at Saporoshje, Nikopol, trying to reach destination Kriwoj Rog [Krywyj Rih] during thaw, waiting for transportation to Grace in Netherland.
The photos are very informative, showing images in many places they stopped under the direction of their Kommandeur Korvettenkapitän Illert. Great shots of lines of transport supply trucks, life on the road, village life, half-track vehicle, trucks stuck in mud and snow in the east, funerals, sport activities, Marine anti-aircraft guns, and SS field hospital, etc.
M.Kw.A stands for Marinekraftwagenabteilung or Navy Truck Transport Unit.
The commander of the 4th M.Kw.A was lieutenant commander Heinrich Illert. Formed on 10 December 1941 from the 6. Marinekraftfahrabteilung with its home base at Wilhelmshaven-Ebkeriege. It was called the 4. Marinekraftwagenabteilung until 20 August 1942 when it was redesignated 4. Marinekraftwageneinsatzabteilung. The Abteilung was subordinate to the Küstenbefehlshaber Deutsche Bucht for troop services. It was employed in the coastal areas of the Black Sea and Caucasus. |
