SS-Untersturmführer Hans Zarges from LSSAH

SS-Untersturmführer Hans Zarges (3 November 1923 - 20 April 1945) from Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Note the “Adolf Hitler” cuff title, the wound badge in black, panzer assault badge and the ribbon for the iron cross second class

Source:
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/ss-named-portrait-of-an-ss-leibstandarte-adolf-hitler-officer

SS Soldier Inspects U.S. M45 Quadmount

A soldier from the Stabskompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" next to a M45 Quadmount "meat chopper" found at the US supply dump at Honsfeld on the 17th of December 1944 (photo by SS PK-Berichter Büschel). Members of the Stabskompanie - particularly from its Panzerspähzug (armoured recce platoon) and the Fahrradzug (bicycle platoon) which hitched a ride at the enginedecks of the armoured cars - were pictured at the abandoned American supply dump and later near Born.

Source :
Timo R. Worst collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10219546730164692&set=gm.442666669869864&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Bio of Hitler's Adjutant Otto Günsche

 SS-Hauptsturmführer Otto Günsche was born on 24 September 1917 in Jena. He was an early volunteer in the “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler”, joining the regiment in 1934 at the age of 17. By 1936 he was serving in the Führer’s personal escort commando in which he would stay until the war started. He would then participate in all of the military campaigns of the “LSSAH” until 1942 when he was sent to a war time officer’s training class at the SS-Junkerschule “Tölz”. After becoming an SS-Untersturmführer, Günsche was posted to Adolf Hitler’s personal adjutant staff in January 1943, taking over the position of an adjutant who had fallen ill. He held that position for a few weeks before he was reassigned to the “Liebstandarte” and returned to front line service. After receiving, among other decorations, the Iron Cross, Ist Class, thus proving his “military” capabilities and courage, he returned to the Führer’s personal staff in February 1944. He would now remain Hitler’s personal adjutant until the end of the war. Günsche became probably most noted for having to cremate the bodies of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun during the battle of Berlin. The now SS-Hauptsturmführer Günsche was captured by the Soviets in early May 1945 while trying to breakout of Berlin. He became a “prime” captive of the Reds and spent a number of years in the NKVD/KGB Lubiyanka Prison in Moscow undergoing numerous rounds of torture and interrogation. In 1956 he was released from Soviet captivity and turned over to the tender mercies of the East German communists who promptly jailed him again. After much effort and some diplomacy, he was finally allowed to immigrate to West Germany. Despite his horrible travails, Günsche was able to build a successful new life for himself. He remained active in Waffen-SS veteran’s affairs and due to his unique position as an “eyewitness to history” was constantly sought after by historians and history buffs, whom he graciously accomodated for the rest of his life. Otto Günsche passed away on 2 October 2003 at around 90 years of age.

Source :
'Siegrunen 80' by Richard Landwehr

Great Display of Firepower by LSSAH

Great display of firepower from the soldiers of Leibstandarte Division along fenced area of a Ukrainian farmhouse during Operation Barbarossa in 1941. If the sniper fire is not adequate, a few bursts from the MG 34 machine gun will suppress any enemy activity.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/147862177882/great-display-of-firepower-from-the-soldiers-of

War Crime of Soviet NKVD

A member of the Leibstandarte Division photographed with a distraught crowd of women after seeing the piles of corpses of murdered people by NKVD in Lviv, late June 1941. From 22 June 1941 to 28 June 1941 before the German advance arrived, the Soviet NKVD brutally massacred over 4,000 of Ukrainian and Polish civilians and political prisoners in the city of Lviv. The NKVD committed many massacres in Eastern Europe, primarily Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic states, Bessarabia and other parts of the Soviet Union from which the Red Army was retreating in 1941.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/147866015232/a-member-of-the-leibstandarte-division

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

SS-Sturmbannführer Jonas Lie Photographed in 1943

SS-Sturmbannführer Jonas Lie photographed in 1943 in Waffen-SS officer uniform. Lie had served with the Leibstandarte Division in 1941 and had received the Iron Cross Second Class. A tough, ambitious man (and best-selling mystery writer in his spare time!), he was second-in-command of the Den Norske Legion in 1942-1943 during the fighting on Leningrad Front.

Joachim Peiper Decorates a Soldier of the SS Leibstandarte Division at the Battle of Kursk

SS-Sturmbannführer Joachim "Jochen" Peiper (right) decorates a soldier of the Leibstandarte Division with the Iron Cross Second Class during Operation Zitadelle in July 1943. Behind is his adjutant SS-Untersturmführer Werner Wolff, awarded the Knight’s Cross shortly afterwards.

SS-Untersturmführer Werner Wolff Photographed in 1943

SS-Untersturmführer Werner Wolff photographed with the Knight’s Cross in 1943. Wolff, the battle-tested adjutant to Joachim Peiper (III./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"), took over a leaderless company, following the wounding of its commander, and stopped a massive enemy tank attack in which thirty Soviet tanks were destroyed in close combat during Operation Zitadelle in July 1943. Wolff destroyed one tank with hand held explosives and refused to give ground to the Soviet attack. For this he was decorated with the Knight’s Cross on 7 August 1943. Wolff fell in March 1945 near Inota, Hungary, as commander of the 7./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 “LAH".

Panzer IV Tanks of the Leibstandarte Division on Parade in the Streets of Milan

A pair of brand new Panzer IV Ausf. H tanks of the Leibstandarte Division on parade in the streets of Milan in September 1943. The Leibstandarte was sent to Italy to reinforce German forces there, following the collapse of Mussolini’s government, but saw no action other than disarming Italians troops. The main accomplishment was to pressure, by its presence, a skittish Italian government, and re-equip itself with new armor.

Tank Commanders and Platoon Leaders of the SS Leibstandarte Division

Tank commanders and platoon leaders of the Leibstandarte Division’s 13./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 proudly pose in front of their newly painted Tigers in Italy in the autumn of 1943 (from left to right): SS-Oberscharführer Otto Augst, SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann, SS-Unterscharführer Ewald Mölly and SS-Oberscharführer Jürgen Brandt.

SS-Untersturmführer Havvo Lübbe of the Leibstandarte Division in 1942

Portrait of SS-Untersturmführer Havvo Lübbe of the Leibstandarte Division, circa 1942. He would later served in 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend". From this studio portrait we can identify his decorations: Ribbon of Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (Iron Cross 1st Class); ribbon of Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille); Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Wound's Badge in Black); Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze (Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze); and Deutsches Sportabzeichen (German Sports Badge). Note the Heeres adler in his visor cap and sleeve!

Sepp Dietrich Visiting Hitlerjugend Shooting Match

The notorious SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef “Sepp” Dietrich is seen here at Innsbruck in October 1943 at a visit to a shooting match organized by the Hitlerjugend. Around his neck the famous Waffen-SS commander wears the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords).

Soldiers of the Kampfgruppe Peiper in the Belgian Town of Honsfeld

Soldiers from the Kampfgruppe Peiper (Leibstandarte Division) in the Belgian town of Honsfeld on 17 December 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive. Peiper reported that the Americans were still sleeping when he entered Honsfeld with the main body of the kampfgruppe at about 06:00 and continued in the direction of Büllingen.

Königstiger Passes a Column of Captured American Soldiers

During the Ardennes Offensive, Kampfgruppe Peiper was boosted by the King Tiger tanks of the schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 for its drive westwards in an attempt to reach the Meuse River. Here, one of its tank, passes a column of captured soldiers from the US 99th Infantry Division on 17 December 1944. The village of Merlscheid lies in the background and the King Tiger is on its way towards Lanzerath.

Königstiger with Fallschirmjäger at the Ardennes Offensive

King Tiger ‘222’ commanded by SS-Untersturmführer Kurt Sova from schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 was part of Kampfgruppe Peiper and was photographed at Kaiserbaracke on 18 December 1944 with a load of paratroopers from Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9 of the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division.

SS Soldiers in the Ardennes Offensive

On 18 December 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive, very early in the morning, the American 14th Cavalry Group had gotten in an ambush of the Kampfgruppe Hansen (Leibstandarte Division) on the road between Poteau and Recht and was destroyed. These are photographs taken after the action along the wreckage on the road.

SS Soldiers Take a Cigarette Break during Ardennes Offensive

Soldiers from Kampfgruppe Hansen (Leibstandarte Division) take a cigarette break. Such a state was the norm during combat operations. This photograph was taken after the action with American 14th Cavalry Group on the road between Poteau and Recht during the Ardennes Offensive, 18 December 1944.

Famous Photo of SS Soldier in the Ardennes Offensive

Among the most famous of the photos taken by German military cameramen during the Ardennes Offensive, is this shot of a soldier from Kampfgruppe Hansen (Leibstandarte Division) posing for the camera, after the action with American 14th Cavalry Group on the road between Poteau and Recht, 18 December 1944.

American Prisoners and SS Sroops during Ardennes Offensive

Two German motorcyclists armed with MP 40s follow a King Tiger as American POWs from the 99th Infantry Division march along a road towards the rear on 17 December 1944. The King Tiger belongs to the schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 and was part of Kampfgruppe Peiper and was photographed on the way to Lanzerath.