German Soldiers Enjoying Music through Gramophone

Similar to the scene in the movie "Saving Private Ryan", this photo - which was taken by Kriegsberichter Geller from PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 694 - shows German soldiers from the panzer and infantry units enjoying the music from a gramophone, amidst the ruins of war-damaged buildings on the Eastern Front. There is no exact information which unit they came from, but most likely they were part of 1. Panzerarmee / Heeresgruppe A whom are celebrating the fall of Rostov to the Germans on July 23, 1942. Obviously this photo was not taken in Stalingrad as some sources claim. - including Bundesarchiv - because in July the German troops had not yet arrived in the "City of Hell".

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-218-0524-32
http://wehrmachtss.blogspot.com/2021/10/prajurit-jerman-menikmati-musik-dari.html

Ernst-August Köstring with a Traditional Guitar

General der Kavallerie Ernst-August Köstring holding a traditional Eastern people's guitar. It looks likes a Georgian Panduri. Most likely he was visiting a Georgian-manned unit, in his capacity as "General Officer attached to Army Group A for Caucasian Questions" (from 1942 on).

 

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=254527&p=2312393#p2312393

Fun at Wilhelmshaven Naval Barracks

The Reichsmarine barracks in Wilhelmshaven around the time when Hitler came to power.‘Lord Muck’, lounging on the chair and being serenaded, claimed he was too hard worked to clean his locker properly prior to an inspection, so his mates are giving him a hand to make sure that the offending piece of furniture is spotless. Some punishment was called for and coping with a wet wooden locker was not terribly congenial because the offender could not lock his clothes away until it had dried out again. Consequently he was confined to barracks for a brief period while the rest of the ‘charmen’ had a run in town.

Source :
Book "Wolfpacks At War: The U-Boat Experience In WWII" by Jak Mallmann Showell

Impromptu Piano Concert in Kharkov

Three Leibstandarte troopers halt their vehicles to celebrate their entry into Kharkov with an impromptu piano concert, March 1943. They wear (from left to right) the winter insulated suit, camouflage smock, and the black panzer uniform. Note the German national flag fastened over the hood of the Kübelwagen, for ground-to-air recognition.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/145023823622/three-leibstandarte-troopers-halt-their-vehicles

Gebirgsjäger Relaxed

Mountain soldiers can be seen in a relaxed setting, probably during a pause in operations. An accordion is being played whilst the soldiers smile and enjoy the moment before resuming their march.