Luftwaffe Enigma Machine

Original caption: "Unsere Wehrmacht. Funkstation im offenen Gelände" (Our Armed Forces. Radio station in open terrain).

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/?q=wehrmacht&mode=gallery&view=horizontal

Wehrmacht Briefing

An officer of the Wehrmacht gives speech in front of his soldiers, who gathered in the mountain slope. No information about place or date.

Source :
Personal collection

Two Heer NCOs in 1935

 

Two NCOS of an infantry regiment in Königsbrück (a town in Bautzen, Saxony) in 1935. So many NCOs entrusted training the new soldiers were veterans that had joined the army with the commitrnent to stay at least one year.

Source :
https://books.google.co.id/books?id=Pe4TEAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=id#v=onepage&q&f=false

Regimentskommandeur Emmanuel von Kiliani in the Winter

Oberst Emmanuel von Kiliani (Kommandeur Artillerie-Regiment 193 / 93.Infanterie-Division) in Gostilizzy, winter of 1941/42. Starting from 8 September 1941, the regiment set up its command post in a manor in Gostilizzy, Leningrad Oblast, Russian Front. Kiliani would receive the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 2 January 1942 as a Regimentskommandeur in the same position.

Source :
https://www.ebay.de/itm/384289550473?hash=item5979713089:g:qn8AAOSwV6Bg5aUt

SS Artillery in Finland

German Waffen-SS artillery (Nord Infanterie Geschutz platoon.) at Kokkosalmi, Kiestinki, 4 August 1941. Looks like they're on the training session.

Source :
http://sa-kuva.fi/neo?tem=webneoeng

Skijäger Brigade at Pripet region

Skijäger aiming his brand new MP.43/1 (Stg.44) assault rifle, with his LW gravity knife dangling from his belt. Note the protective rubber cap on the muzzle. The Fallschirmjäger gravity knife is not a standard issue for Skijäger, but  it was issued in significant numbers to them. The picture itself was taken in January 1944 at Pripet (Bug) region.

1. Skijäger Brigade at Pripet region, January/ February 1944. The unit had top priority in the distribution of MP 43 (later Stg.44). In January 1,553 assault rifles out of 5,400 were issued to the brigade. Each company fielded a shock-platoon armed with 30 of these revolutionary weapons.
LW gravity knives (Jäger in the middle) were standard issue just like Fallschirmjäger gas masks canvas containers were.

Carrying a wounded comrade. Skijäger Brigade in the Pripet region, January/ February 1944. Note the white-washed MP.43 magazine pouch and the man carrying the wounded which probably wears a StuG-Jacke.. Given the casual face of the 'wounded' man it is possible that this is just all for posing to the PK-Man. Note the right most man seems to be carrying a camera box himself. He's also armed with a G43. None of them seem to be wearing Bergschuhe these troops often were issued with.

Taking casualties even when the reporters are there. Skijäger Brigade in the Pripet area,March 1944. This is not the same chap that was carried in a previous photo, even though it's from the same film roll and Kriegsberichter. Looks like here is something real going on. Two on them are wearing Windblusen. It is a very good piece of over clothing. Nowadays we would retrieve the hand grenades and remove the web gear before giving assistance!

1 Skijäger Birgade in the Pripet marshes, February 1944.

1. Skijäger-Brigade in the Bug area (Pripet), February-March 1944. The MP 43 assault rifle is really white and it does show how well it blends in with the snowy background. All is in white-washed camo, with only the rifle sling and the shoes have not been painted.

1. Skijäger-Brigade patrol armed with MP 43/1, led by an officer. Bug area (Pripet) February-March 1944. The leading Skijäger has his LW gravity knife dangling at its belt. These men were clever enough to adapt their camouflage to their surroundings (wearing a white top would have outlined them against the forest of dark tree trunks behind!). The men were well supplied with MP 43s. Which is an excellent weapon for that terrain. The sub machine gun look identical to the MP44 but there are a few slight differences, mainly the muzzle nut is longer then the one used on the MP44.

Source :
ECPAD Archives, courtesy of Blanluet Christophe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2360048380929060/

1. Skijäger-Brigade Patrol

 

1. Skijäger-Brigade patrol armed with MP 43/1, led by an officer. Bug area (Pripet) February-March 1944. The leading Skijäger has his LW gravity knife dangling at its belt. These men were clever enough to adapt their camouflage to their surroundings (wearing a white top would have outlined them against the forest of dark tree trunks behind!). The men were well supplied with MP 43s. Which is an excellent weapon for that terrain. The sub machine gun look identical to the MP44 but there are a few slight differences, mainly the muzzle nut is longer then the one used on the MP44.

Source :
ECPAD Archives, courtesy of Blanluet Christophe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2360048380929060/permalink/2740822902851604/?__cft__[0]=AZWuNFyXPGqbnTji8wcpcT7RyNUsAwMnU8qEFBc0ptTZpYietWzLFlxotJ_jGZ8kwaaYwYHv9c1_vRXv_G1MdNMxZtKq3bsS8-OoIw93gltw2QDdIWfCPm0x7b2m5iGy9JsFtGeF1COK79SuXN2qCq6I&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Gebirgsjäger Ski Patrol

This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Finke, with the original caption: "Auf dem wege zur Front" (On the way to the front). It shows a Gebirgsjäger ski troopers in a patrol through the forest and snow. The NCO at front wearing Narvik Shield in his arm.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_skiing

German Sniper at Kandalaksha Front

German scharfschütze (sniper) at Kandalaksha Front. He is wearing his ski as a bipod for his Kar 98k Mauser rifle. He is also wearing a white smock for winter camouflage. This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Strassl. In July 1941, during World War II, the town was the primary target of an unsuccessful German-Finnish offensive which attempted to cut the strategic Murman Railway.

Source :
'Mauser Military Rifles' by Neil Grant

Russian Sniper Captured by the SS

Soviet Union, 1942: Waffen-SS soldiers captured a Russian sniper and dragged him from his hole (one of them smashes his rifle). There is little chance that this sniper would come out alive, because any sniper never fares very well when captured by the enemy, but captured by the SS? It's the worst scenario! BTW, The SS soldier on the left wears a Soviet padded Telogreika/Vatnik, a warm cotton wool-padded jacket.

Source :
https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/4a3wy4/waffenss_captured_a_russian_sniper_one_of_them/

A Pack-Mule Unit Takes a Much Needed Respite

The arduous terrain in which the German Gebirgsjäger (mountain troops) advanced into Poland in September 1939 can well be imagined and, as a consequence, sapped the strength from many of the men participating in the long march. In this photograph, a pack-mule unit takes a much needed respite.

Source :
"Images of War: Hitler's Mountain Troops 1939-1945" by Ian Baxter

Luftwaffe Officers at Feldkommandostelle "Steinbruch"

1942-1943: One side of a stereograph of Luftwaffe officials at a German Air Force headquarters location in Vinnitsa, Ukraine. Original caption in German reads: "Im fahrbaren und somit schnell beweglichen Hauptquartier der Luftwaffe werden die Operationen der Luftverbände geleitet" (In the mobile and thus rapidly moving headquarters of the Air Force, the operations of the combined Luftwaffe staffs are conducted). Hermann Göring's Feldkommandostelle "Steinbruch" was built during the same time when the "Werwolf" complex was built. It was blown up in 1944 by retreating German forces. Parts of the large bunker that stood here can be found in the forest north of the village of Hulivtsi (near Kordeliwka and close to the Luftwaffe airfield in Kalinowka – Google Earth: 49°29'51.85"N – 28°35'51.54"E). The complex was once attacked by a group of partisans, led by general Naumova, in February 1943.

Source :
https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/pa1180077
https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/64587/Remains-Headquarters-Hermann-G%F6ring-Steinbruch.htm

Corduroy Road in the Frontline

A completed corduroy road made by the German pioniertruppen was often settled in by running a tank or other heavy vehicle down it before the 'ribbon-cutting ceremony'. The guide rails on the edges were a standard fixture. Beneath the surface logs are at least five stringer logs running the length of the road surface. Depending on the depth of the mud it might require several layers of cross-laid logs. Ideally a layer of sand, earth, or gravel would be laid on the surface for a smoother ride.

Source :
Book "German Pionier 1939-45: Combat Engineer of the Wehrmacht" by Gordon L. Rottman

Adler 3 Gd of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 139 Towing Anti-Tank Gun

Despite the poor roads, the Germans were ready to rely on their Mittlere Kübel-Personenwagen (medium car) Kfz.12 Adler (3 Gd) "Geländewagen", a precursor to modern-day SUVs. Following up a report of the enemy in the direction of Lake Jelettijärvi, the squad from Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 139 / 3.Gebirgs-Division shown here is trying to tow a desperately needed anti-tank gun to the front near Louhi on 15 May 1942. The Finnish hinterlands were to prove a poor operating theatre for the Wehrmacht’s advanced war machinery, designed for more accessible fronts.

Source :

Book "Finland at War: The Continuation and Lapland Wars 1941-45" by Vesa Nenye, Peter Munter, Toni Wirtanen and Chris Birks

http://www.militaryimages.net/media/adler-car-of-german-gebirgsjger-regiment-139.10955/