Bidspirit auction | A booklet documenting the crimes

A booklet documenting the crimes of the German Air Force in the deliberate bombings of civilian populations in European countries - Totaler Krieg – ”Total War” - A photo booklet documenting the crimes of the German Air Force – the Luftwaffe – in the deliberate bombings of civilian populations across European countries. Published by the Allied forces in the German language and intended for distribution among the German population, with the goal of exposing the crimes of the Nazi leadership during the height of World War II. [Britain, C. 1943]. Extremely rare. A booklet with harsh photos documenting the aftermath of German Air Force artillery bombings on civilian populations across European countries, presented in stark contrast to the promises made by the leaders of the Third Reich that innocent civilians would not be harmed. The booklet opens with a quote from Hermann Göring, Commander of the German Air Force, from a speech he gave in 1938, revealing his true intentions: ”The Luftwaffe was not created as an instrument for a peace parade… in this new German era, but as the most powerful weapon of war we were capable of developing… I swear to the people that nothing will deter us from ruthless audacity. An unrestrained fighting spirit fuels our weapons!” A booklet featuring harsh photos documenting several cities heavily bombed by the German Air Force, which led to the deaths of thousands. Included are images of the aerial bombing of Warsaw and 72 Polish towns and villages in September 1939, locations that had no military targets of any kind. Photographs of the wounded and the dead from these bombings appear alongside a false quote from the German press at the time stating: “The German Air Force bombed only military targets.” Also featured is an image of Rotterdam in ruins following the massive airstrike by German fighter planes in May 1940; a photograph of the devastation caused by hundreds of German bombers over Paris skies, alongside a picture of Hitler declaring in a speech: “We will wipe out all their cities.” Other images include the destruction of life and property in London after German air raids; the bombing of 13,895 synagogues and 600 hospitals during air attacks in Britain; “Entire streets turned into a desert in Liverpool, ” and victims being pulled from the wreckage, next to a quote from Field Marshal Milch, dated May 19, 1941: ”Germany will never suffer the destruction that England has endured there, or the destruction of other countries that declared war on us. Germany will march to final victory under the Führer's command, without the heavy loss of precious human life and without damage to goods and industries vital to the war effort.”  The booklet's cover page displays front pages from German newspapers, featuring false reports claiming that the German Air Force avoided harming civilians and targeted only military objectives. The final pages of the booklet highlight the superiority of the Royal Air Force over the German Luftwaffe, showing that despite Germany’s brutality, the Allies would ultimately achieve final victory: ”Even if all German fighter planes from all fronts were united in a single assault, they would still be unable to carry the payload dropped by the Royal Air Force on Berlin in just 38 minutes during a routine night raid, ” it reads. Extremely rare. Not listed in the WorldCat global library catalog. 24 pages. Very good condition.