NEW from RZM Publishing - UNTERNEHMEN ILSE: 5. SS-Panzer Division "WIKING" 1944

[Remy Spezzano]

Over three years in the making!

RZM Publishing is proud to announce the release of their new coffee table photo history book UNTERNEHMEN ILSE. Pronounced Un-ter-neh-men, it's the German military term for "Operation Ilse".

Printed in tritone on high quality matte art paper in the 12 inch square format. This is a BIG book with 328 pages and weighing in at 6.5 lbs (3 kilos).

There will be a regular edition (2,800 copies) for sale and a special signed & numbered slip case edition (200 copies). The signed and numbered edition will only be available direct from RZM IMPORTS. A link to order the Ltd ed. will be posting soon on this thread.

Due to the extremely high cost to produce and print a book of this quality there will be no 2nd printing! Once this book sells out the price will increase significantly. RZM's last book Kampfgruppe Muhlenkamp released in early 2016 sold out in less then 5 months. Soon afterwards secondary booksellers began to double and triple the selling price. Now three years later copies are selling for $450 and higher on Amazon and Ebay. Don't miss out on this one!

AUTHORIZED RESELLERS for NORTH AMERICA:
RZM Imports, Inc. http://www.rzm.com/books/rzm/rzmbk018.cfm
Aberdeen Bookstore http://www.aberdeenbookstore.com
JJ Fedorowicz Publishing https://www.jjfpub.mb.ca

UNTERNEHMEN ILSE
5. SS-Panzer Division "WIKING"
Eastern Front 27 April 1944

Author: Douglas Nash & Remy Spezzano
Language: English text
Format: Hardcover, size 12" x 12"
Pages: 328
Photos: 256 wartime photos taken by Ernst Baumann, Alois Jarolim, and Ernst Kurbjuhn
Maps: Four military maps
Publisher: RZM Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9748389-9-1

[Remy Spezzano]

UNTERNEHMEN ILSE (Operation Ilse) is a visual account of one of the most photographed but least known battles on the Eastern Front. Conducted by the 56th Panzer Corps on 27 April 1944 in the area west and southwest of the Polish city of Kovel, which had been encircled by two Soviet armies for nearly a month before a combined Army and Waffen-SS relief force fought its way through and liberated the garrison. However, after its relief, Kovel was connected to the outside world by only a narrow strip of land continually threatened by the surrounding forces of the Red Army. The purpose of Operation Ilse was to complete the relief of Kovel, destroy all Red Army forces west of the Turiya River and free up the north-south rail line connecting Army Group Center with Army Group North Ukraine. In addition to SS-Gruppenführer Gille’s battered Wiking Division, a number of other German Army units took part as well, including three infantry divisions (the 131st, 342nd, and 253rd), the 1st Ski-Jäger Brigade, Battle Group Lippert, and an elite assault battalion, Sturm-Bataillon AOK 2. Adding to the considerable combat power assembled for this operation were several Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber squadrons from the Luftwaffe. Expected to last several days, the operation was carried out with such force and determination, aided in no small part by the 5. SS-Panzer Division "Wiking", that Operation Ilse was able to achieve its objectives by midnight that same day ahead of schedule including the destruction of five Soviet rifle divisions encircling Kovel.

Through a fortuitous convergence of events, this offensive was recorded from start to finish by three photographers – two SS-Kriegsberichters (SS-KB, war correspondents) Ernst Kurbjuhn and Alois Jarolim acting in an official capacity and one acclaimed lensman Ernst Baumann, a staff member of III Battailion, SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 9 "Germania". The powerful and poignant images shot by Baumann in his unofficial capacity reveal the eye of a truly talented artist, whereas those taken by his two SS-KB comrades demonstrate a skill level that is more indicative of their Propaganda Company photographic specialist training. Collectively, their pictures, present an intimate and dynamic visual chronicle of this military operation not seen before. Using the most advanced graphic arts software, RZM Publishing has enlarged and upgraded the original images to provide the reader with a “you are there” experience, which is further enhanced by a comprehensive fast-paced narrative and operational maps compiled from previously untapped sources.

Taken from a frontline perspective, the photos capture the danger and excitement of mechanized warfare at close range, with a particular emphasis on the mailed fist of Wiking’s panzer regiment, including a battalion of newly issued Panther tanks. Not to be out shone by these formidable fighting machines, the Division’s higher commanders – Knight’s Cross holders Herbert Gille, Johannes Mühlenkamp, Hans Dorr and Franz Hack – are the very picture of confidence and military professionalism. The wreckage, shattered landscape, casualties and prisoners of war are also depicted in this hard-hitting photo chronology, which represents a singular achievement in military history publishing in terms of its striking imagery, insightful essays and extensive captions. Unternehmen Ilse is a book of special interest to historians and enthusiasts of the Eastern Front and the Waffen-SS who appreciate the high production values and meticulous research for which RZM Publishing has been renowned for.

[Varsity]

Can't wait to have it. Hope it will be available in Europe soon!

[Remy Spezzano]

Books will be available for sale in September for those of you living in the UK or EU. Please go to this link to add your name to the mailing list and you will be notified when you can place an order. https://www.panzerwrecks.com/product...vision-wiking/

[Remy Spezzano]

There are 256 photos in the new book shot by three photographers. More then 70% of them having been taken by legendary East Front photographer Ernst Baumann. Here is a sample of what to expect inside the pages of UNTERNEHEMEN ILSE.

These men are from the 5. SS-Panzer Division "Wiking", 9. Kompanie, which is the Pioniere zug or combat engineer platoon assigned to the Panther Battalion. Taking advantage of the protective cover offered by Hill 188.5 from Russian small arms fire, they are patiently awaiting the order to move forward to conduct their survey of the ground using the white-painted engineer stakes. One soldier looks curiously over his shoulder at Baumann taking photos.

[Remy Spezzano]

Baumann photographs SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Paetsch Abteilungskommandeur, II. Abteilung, SS-Panzer Regiment 5 as he provides a situation update to his regimental commander SS-Standartenführer Johannes Mühlenkamp, who is in the cupola of his tank. A short stepladder has been placed against the side of the vehicle to make it easier to board. Date: 27 April 1944 Location: South West of Kovel, Poland

[Remy Spezzano]

Here we see SS-Gruppenführer (lieutenant general) Otto Gille being briefed on the fire support mission by a young army Leutnant who is serving as the liason officer from 4. Panzer-Division’s artillery regiment, Panzer Artillerie Regiment 103.

[Remy Spezzano]

Looking like it just came off the assembly line, this brand-new Sd.Kfz. 251/7 Ausf. D halftrack is still in its factory-applied coat of Dunkelgelb (dark yellow, or ordnance tan) paint, and is devoid of any unit markings including a license plate number. Although 9. Kp./SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 was authorized eighteen of these vehicles, only one took part in the battle. Date: 27 April 1944 Location: South West of Kovel, Poland

[Remy Spezzano]

The 5. SS-Panzer Division "Wiking" was large enough to have it's own war correspondents platoon titled 5. SS-Kriegsberichter zug "Wiking". Two of the photographers SS-Rottenführer (Corporal) Ernst Kurbjuhn and SS-Sturmmann (Private First Class) Alois Jarolim were on hand to photograph UNTERNEHMEN ILSE over the course of the day starting from the early morning hours when the battle first kicked off.

Here are several photos taken by Ernst Kurbjuhn.

[Remy Spezzano]

During UNTERNEHMEN ILSE, SS-Kriegsberichter (SS-KB, war correspondent) Ernst Kurbjuhn photographed SS-Hauptsturmführer Alois Reicher’s 6. Kompanie throughout the day until the cessation of operations in the evening. Prior to moving to their forward assembly area in the early morning hours of 27 April 1944, the unit occupied a reserve position within the town of Kovel proper. You can see the photographer's head and shoulders entering the bottom of the frame. This was due to the early morning sunrise casting a long shadow. Historical records list the sunrise at 5:14 AM.

[Remy Spezzano]

SS-KB Kurbjuhn photographs Panther 613 mired nearly up to the top of its road wheels as it awaits recovery. A tow cable has already been attached to the left-rear towing pintle, as it awaits another tank to pull it out. At this time the panzer regiment only had two operational Bergepanther (recovery panther) vehicles based on the Panther chassis, and none of them are known to have been in operation with the attacking forces during UNTERNEHMEN ILSE.

[BenVK]

Hi Remy, congratulations on what I'm sure is a stunning and must have book!

[Remy Spezzano]

Hi Remy, congratulations on what I'm sure is a stunning and must have book!

Thanks! It was a lot of work to produce and I'm pleased with the final product.
The book will be arriving at the end of this week and then we will start processing and shipping all the pre-orders in time for the August 15th release date.

I will be posting some more teasers from the book soon.

[nshan]

Outstanding
Thank you
Hike

[Varsity]

Any news on European sales as I can not buy it from Amazon with my Dutch address.

Regards Jim