German Soldiers in the Trenches

German soldiers crowded in the trenches, reminiscence of World War I. No information about place or date.

Source :
https://www.sutori.com/en/story/ww11-timeline--NzaxvEFFK32SoJX1ys9MJ8eK

The Thousand-Mile Stare of Soldier from Panzergrenadier-Regiment 126

 

 

Soldier of I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 126 / 23.Panzer-Division in Romania, April-August 1944. His face showing the thousand mile-stare: a mixture of sheer exhaustion, everyday fear, endless boredom and despair...

Source :
ECPAD Archives, courtesy of Blanluet Christophe
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158997833213308&set=gm.2748717868728774

1. Skijäger Brigade at Ostfront

1. Skijäger Brigade at Ostfront, February 1944. The 1. Skijäger-Brigade was formed in September 1943 and was upgraded to 1. Skijäger-Division in June 1944

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Source :
ECPAD Archive (courtesy of Blanluet Christophe)
https://www.axishistory.com/books/152-germany-heer/heer-brigaden/4438-1-skijaeger-brigade
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2360048380929060/?post_id=2442574256009805

German Machine Gunner in the Battle of Kursk

A German non-commissioned officer and a machine gunner zero in on an enemy Soviet position during the Battle of Kursk (German: Unternehmen Zitadelle); the Germans hoped to weaken the Soviet offensive potential for the summer of 1943 by cutting off a large number of forces that they anticipated would be in the Kursk salient. The Kursk salient or bulge was 250 kilometres (160 mi) long from north to south and 160 kilometers (99 mi) from east to west. By eliminating the Kursk salient, the Germans hoped to also shorten their lines, nullify Soviet numerical superiority in critical sectors (which would give the Germans time to regroup and plan another offensive against the Red Army) and regain the initiative from the Soviet Union. For the Germans, the battle was a failure, and the Soviets  were able to gain back territory along a 2,000 km (1,200 mi) wide front following the battle. Kursk Oblast, Russia, Soviet Union. July 1943. Image taken by Franz Grasser.

Source :
http://bag-of-dirt.tumblr.com/post/142864374500/a-german-non-commissioned-officer-and-a-machine

German Soldiers in the Battle of Stalingrad

A German Wehrmacht Oberstabsfeldwebel (Sergeant-Major) and a non-commissioned Stabsfeldwebel officer (First Sergeant, or Master Sergeant equivalent) battle enemy Soviet troops outside of Stalingrad, just prior to the Battle of Stalingrad. The German offensive to capture Stalingrad began on 23 August 1942, using the German 6th Army and elements of the 4th Panzer Army. The attack was supported by intensive Luftwaffe bombing that reduced much of the city to rubble. The fighting degenerated into pitched house-to-house fighting as both sides poured reinforcements into the city. Near Stalingrad (now, Volgograd), Volgograd Oblast, Russia, Soviet Union. 10 July 1942.

Source :
http://bag-of-dirt.tumblr.com/post/143290010165/a-german-wehrmacht-oberstabsfeldwebel

SS-Untersturmführer Paul Barten from Wiking Division

SS-Untersturmführer Paul Barten (foreground) with an SS-Unterscharführer from the Regiment Germania of the Wiking Division in a defensive positions in the spring of 1944. During this time, Wiking Division saw fierce combat in the Kovel sector.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/139202505392/5sswiking-ss-untersturmf%C3%BChrer-paul-barten

Norwegian Soldiers on the Leningrad Front

Two Norwegian soldiers from the Den Norske Legion photographed on the Leningrad Front with a MG 34 (Maschinengewehr 34) machine gun mounted on an anti-aircraft tripod, summer of 1942. In the light-machine gun role, it was used with a bipod and weighed only 12.1 kg (26.7 lb). In the medium-machine gun role, it could be mounted on one of two tripods, a smaller one weighing 6.75 kg (14.9 lb), the larger 23.6 kg (52.0 lb). The larger tripod, the MG 34 Lafette, included a number of features, such as a telescopic sight and special sighting equipment for indirect fire. The legs could be extended to allow it to be used in the anti-aircraft role, and when lowered, it could be placed to allow the gun to be fired "remotely" while it swept an arc in front of the mounting with fire, or aimed through a periscope attached to the tripod. Mounted to the Lafette the effective range of the MG 34 could be extended out to 3,500 meters when fired indirectly.

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 MG Team on Training

A two-man SS machine gun unit standing at their firing positions in a neatly dug slit trench. Needless to say, this photograph was taken during an exercise on a training ground.