Armored vehicle of the Hitlerjugend Division in the Ruins of Caen

A Sd.Kfz. 231 armored vehicle of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" photographed in the ruins of Caen, Normandy, France in July 1944. In the background the ruined Church of Saint-Pierre. The city of Caen was destroyed and reduced to rubble by the Allied bombing after they encountered difficulty in taking it (the bombing was futile as Germans positions were intact outside of the city, in the northern edge). The Allies flattened and wiped out cities and towns all across Normandy and Northern France in which tens of thousands civilians were killed outright.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/167393189682/a-sdkfz-231-armored-vehicle-of-the-12-ss-panzer

Radio Operator from HJ Division in Normandy

A radio operator from the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" performs his duties near the town of Caen in July 1944 following the D-Day invasion that took place the previous month

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/140935166312/a-radio-operator-from-the-12-ss-panzer-division

HJ Division Soldiers with MG 42 in Normandy

Two soldiers from the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" with a MG 42 machine gun position in the garden of a château in the Caen sector, Normandy, summer of 1944.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/140936898547/two-soldiers-from-the-12-ss-panzer-division

Sd.Kfz.251 of Hitlerjugend Division in Normandy

A Sd.Kfz.251 armored vehicle from the 12. SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend photographed in Normandy in the summer of 1944. On 11 July 1944, the Hitlerjugend Division turned over their positions in the Caen sector to Leibstandarte Division for a badly needed rest and perform much needed maintenance on their battered vehicles but during that time, they did not receive replacements in either men or equipment.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/140938132567/a-sdkfz-251-armored-vehicle-from-the-12-ss

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!