By Flint Whitlock

It’s called Mein Skizzenbuch (My Sketchbook)—a 72-page booklet of pencil drawings and watercolors by noted German war artist Ernst Eigener, a soldier with Propaganda Co. 637, created during the conquest of France in 1940 and published in 1941.

PK 637 was formed in 1939 in Breslau and was attached to the German 6th Army that fought in Belgium and France before turning east and documenting war scenes during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.

Many of the pieces in Mein Skizzenbuch were undoubtedly preliminary studies done in the field for larger paintings that Eigener probably hoped to finish later in a studio.

Little is known about Eigener, but his work exhibits professional training and an outstanding, vigorous talent that has often been compared to that of another German war artist, Hans Liska, and the American combat artists Howard Brodie and Kerr Eby.

On November 20, 1942, the 37-year-old Ernst Eigener, a soldier with a sketchbook instead of a rifle, died during a Soviet assault near Kalach on the Don River.

Using watercolors, Eigener portrayed the detritus of a battle: wrecked vehicles, a disabled artilley piece, barren trees, the shell of a building, even a piece of furniture.
Using watercolors, Eigener portrayed the detritus of a battle: wrecked vehicles, a disabled artilley piece, barren trees, the shell of a building, even a piece of furniture.
Eigener’s watercolor of a mortar crew firing their weapon.
Eigener’s watercolor of a mortar crew firing their weapon.
Eigener sketched a motorcyclist with a few quick, deft strokes of his pencil, yet captured consierable detail.
Eigener sketched a motorcyclist with a few quick, deft strokes of his pencil, yet captured consierable detail.
A soldier carrying an ammunition box and a weapon leaps into a postion occupied by two of his comrades. By showing the men from the back, almost as silhouettes, Eigener obscures their humanity and reduces them to anonymous cogs in the Third Reich’s war machine.
A soldier carrying an ammunition box and a weapon leaps into a postion occupied by two of his comrades. By showing the men from the back, almost as silhouettes, Eigener obscures their humanity and reduces them to anonymous cogs in the Third Reich’s war machine.
Members of a 305mm gun crew were pictured loading their weapon in this watercolor dated May 19, 1940. The location where this action took place was not indicated by Eigener, but was probably in Belgium.
Members of a 305mm gun crew were pictured loading their weapon in this watercolor dated May 19, 1940. The location where this action took place was not indicated by Eigener, but was probably in Belgium.
Two camouflaged soldiers in their protective holes behind a wire fence keep watch for the enemy.
Two camouflaged soldiers in their protective holes behind a wire fence keep watch for the enemy.
A portrait of a Landser. With his fine eye for detail, Eigener has added a pair of binoculars, entrenching tool, and a grenade tucked into the soldier’s boot.
A portrait of a Landser. With his fine eye for detail, Eigener has added a pair of binoculars, entrenching tool, and a grenade tucked into the soldier’s boot.
Getting close to the action, the artist captured two soldiers tossing grenades at the enemy. Unfortunately, Eigener did not always note when and where the scenes were that he depicted.
Getting close to the action, the artist captured two soldiers tossing grenades at the enemy. Unfortunately, Eigener did not always note when and where the scenes were that he depicted.
A captured British soldier. Apparently, Eigener’s subjects were willing to allow themselves to be drawn or painted.
A captured British soldier. Apparently, Eigener’s subjects were willing to allow themselves to be drawn or painted.

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