The Bodleian Library reprinted Instructions for British Servicemen in Germany, 1944 a couple of xears ago (there are others, and if you buy it from there don’t forget to look at their bookish Christmas cards). I missed this, and also the bilingual version now doing so well in Germany, which itself appeared over two years ago:
Christian Kracht und Helge Malchow (Hrsgs.): “Leitfaden für britische Soldaten in Deutschland 1944” (Kiepenheuer und Witsch) (via Denis Scheck, Druckfrisch).
The result is a remarkable booklet, often unintentionally humorous and sometimes crudely stereotypical, it reads by turns like a travel guide (advising on the excellence of German sausages and beer – ‘one of the pleasantest in Europe’) and a crash course in psychological warfare. It is very much a document of the period, revealing as much about British wartime attitudes towards Germany as it does about British hopes and fears.
‘If you have to give orders to German civilians, give them in a firm, military manner. The German civilian is used to it and expects it.’
There seem to be a whole series of hese books, including one on German invasion plans for the British Isles.
There’s even a German Wikipedia page, and the bilingual version is available for Kindle.
It looks as if the translator was Helge Malchow.
very cool! even this mexican would like to read that book. i will try on kindle as surely it’s not available here in guadalajara, mx.
There’s a bilingual version in Kindle, I see.