Happy German Soldiers in Yugoslavia

German soldiers, confident of success shortly before the end of combats, in Yugoslavia during Operation Marita, 14 April 1941. The Axis victory was swift. As early as 14 April the Yugoslav high command had decided to seek an armistice and authorised the army and army group commanders to negotiate local ceasefires. That day the commanders of the 2nd and 5th Armies asked the Germans for terms, but were rejected. Only unconditional surrender could form the basis for negotiations they were told. That evening, the high command sent an emissary to the headquarters of the Panzergruppe 1 to ask for armistice, and in response General Ewald von Kleist sent the commander of the 2nd Army, Maximilian von Weichs, to Belgrade to negotiate terms. He arrived on the afternoon of 15 April and drew up an armistice based on unconditional surrender. This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Artur Grimm and first published in SIGNAL magazine.

 
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Yugoslavia
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/352969689554597002/

Jagdkommando Interrogating Female Partisan

Private picture of  a Jagdkommando while interrogating a female partisan, dated August 1943. Possibly in Yugoslavia. German Jagdkommando unit were very small and lightly armed, meant to mop up the last of partisan resistance after major sweeps. Perhaps that even included sympathizers and partisans trying to hide amongst the civilians. Some books call it the first or one of the first modern responses and attempts to cope with the insurgency problem. In the form of a guerrila type unit that fought the partisans at their own game, setting up traps, ambushes and taking prisoners.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=163546
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/private-picture-jagdkommando

Officer of Jäger-Regiment 54 in an Anti-Partisan Operation

ECPAD Archives (PK690 F1330 L22)

Anti-Partisan operation : An Oberleutnant and DKiGträger (holder of Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) from Jäger-Regiment 54 / 100.Jäger-Division discussing over a map with his trusted Oberfeldwebel during "Operation Paula" in the hills of Papuk, Slavonia, July 1943. The division participate in the anti-Partisan operation at the Papuk Mountains in slavonia, Croatia. At this time, members of the division still not wearing the Eichenblatt insignia on their uniforms. Since the division was in the process of re-creation in the summer of 1943, they did not yet receives some of the items for their unit's insignia, including ärmelabzeichen der Jägertruppen as above. But it could also be as a measurement of camouflage since Partisans should not let be aware of theit exact opponents.

Source :
ECPAD Archives

German Soldier Humiliating Yugoslav Soldier

 

German soldier humiliating a Royal Yugoslav soldier by breaking his rifle and refusing to shake his surrendering handshake. April 1941, during the Invasion of Yugoslavia.

Source :
https://www.instagram.com/p/COs1km0B2q3/

Mounted SS Skanderberg Medical Officer during Operation Daredevil

 

SS-Obersturmbannführer Robert Schrader, IVb (Ärzte / Sanitätsdienst) of 21. SS Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS "Skanderbeg" (albanische Nr. 1), in the area of operation of the combat groups SS-Freiwilligen-Gebrigsjäger-Regiment 14 "Skanderbeg" east of Andrijevica (Sučeska), Balkan. The picture was taken during Unternehmen "Draufgänger" (Operation Daredevil), 22 July 1944.

Source :
ECPAD Archives
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2980188468934265&set=gm.1031226890705404

Germans Crossing Sabotaged Bridge in Yugoslavia

 

Gebirgsjäger in Yugoslavia: With a captured Italian AB.41 armoured car, the German forces crossing a sabotaged bridge under the watchful protection of an MG 42 crew. Notice the MG-Truppe: They seem to be wearing all Windblusen. As a schwere MG crew two have also been issued with the Koppeltragestell that is not often seen with the Gebirgsjäger. Both are the webbing variant but the right hand side is made of British material.

 

 

Source :

ECPAD Archive, courtesy of Blanluet Christophe

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158877659343308&set=gm.2708289516104943

German Personnel of SS Handschar

German personnel of SS-Flak-Abteilung 13 / 13.Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS "Handschar" (kroatische Nr. 1), pictured in Bosnia, 1944. From left to right: SS-Unterscharführer Hannes Riesen (Spieß), SS-Untersturmführer Vitatins Sackl (Führer 1.Zug), and SS-Obersturmführer Rolf Rein (Führer 2.Zug)

Source :
"Himmler's Bosnian Division" by George Lepre
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=77027&p=2281790#p2281790
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/index.php?cPath=26_60

Handschar Division Award Ceremony

War time photo picturing Waffen-SS Soldiers from the Handschar division, most probably an Award ceremony. Hand written to the reverse: "Zug 1.SS Flak Abt. 13, vierte von links mein K1 Calie Nasif für tapferkeit EKII". The picture was removed from a photoalbum.

Source :
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/index.php?cPath=26_60

Handschar Soldiers at Bijelina

Early post war photo, most probably from early 60's. Picturing SS Soldiers from SS Handschar division. Date and location hand written to the reverse: "Bijelina mai 1944"

Source :
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_60&products_id=7370