Soldatenfuhrer durch Warschau [German soldier guide to Warsaw]

A (second edition) German soldier’s guide to Warsaw during World War II.

This antagonistic guidebook to German-occupied Warsaw was compiled by Rudolf Meier and published in 1942 by Oberfeldkommandantur Warschau. According to a stamp on the front cover, it was sold by a local German-language bookstore, Deutsche Buchhandlung Warschau. This particular example was annotated by a previous owner, who wrote (in German) that he “was there from December 14, 1942 to June 24, 1944” – the Warsaw Uprising would outbreak two months later.

The volumes’ contents offer an obviously biased overview, with the opening lines translating approximately to “Warsaw is not a particularly interesting city in the usual sense”, excepting wherever German influence can be found. Despite the apparent lack of attractions, photographs and accompanying text describe various locations of interest like cathedrals, historic sites, and visitor amenities. Scenes of leisure and recreation contrast sharply with those of destruction from the conflict. A fold-out map in the back labels the Warsaw Ghetto, “The Jewish Residential Area – Entry Prohibited!”