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.

Norwegian Kriegsberichter SS-Oberscharführer Oskar Bang in the Leningrad Front

Norwegian war correspondent SS-Oberscharführer Oskar Bang (born in 9 April 1916) holding a film camera on the Leningrad Front with the Den Norske Legion in the summer of 1942. Note the collar tab representing a Norwegian lion holding an axe.

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-Rottenführer Werner Kindler of the Leibstandarte Division in 1943

Portrait of SS-Rottenführer Werner Kindler of the Leibstandarte Division taken in 1943. He survived at least 84 days of close quarters combat and was awarded on 1 April 1945 the Close Combat Clasp in Gold, being one of only 631 men awarded for this decoration! He was also awarded the German Cross in Gold, the Iron Cross First and Second Class, the East Medal and the Gold Wound Badge, having been wounded six times in action. Kindler served in Soviet Union, Italy, Normandy, in the retreat across France and Belgium, in the Ardennes campaign, in Hungary and finally in Austria, where he sank his half-track in the River Enns and surrendered to American forces on 10 May 1945, with the Soviets in hot pursuit. He wrote his his memoirs after the war, "Mit Goldener Nahkampfspange – Werner Kindler, Ein Panzergrenadier der Leibstandarte" (in English as Obedient Unto Death: A Panzer Grenadier of the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler Reports).

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!

Gebirgsjäger in the First Day of Invasion of Poland

Two photographs showing a Gebirgstruppen unit crossing the Polish border during the morning of 1 September 1939. There are a variety of vehicles, including support trucks and motorcycle combinations, along with vehicles towing the 3.7cm PaK 35/36 anti-tank gun. Note the returning pack animals moving rearward to collect more supplies.

Gebirgsjäger Enjoy their Ration

Inside one of the mountain troop log-cabins, soldiers enjoy their rations. Inside these quarters, the Gebirgs often had plenty of provisions in order to sustain them on the battlefield. During arctic weather, the troops were well insulated from the terrors of the winter, especially on the Ostfront.

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.

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.

Flemish SS Recruits in Light Mortar Training

Flemish recruits undergoing training in the use of a light mortar. They are devoid of shoulder straps and collar patches, presumably because these recruits have not yet passed out as trained members of the Flemish SS Legion. The two-man mortar team is protected by a third man, who armed with a rifle, is there to give covering fire if required.

SS Recruits Manhandling an 88mm Flak Gun in Training

SS recruits manhandling an 88mm Flak gun and ammunition limber as part of their training programme. The 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41 (commonly called the eighty-eight) was a German 88 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognized German weapons of that conflict. Development of the original model led to a wide variety of guns.

SS Recruits in Anti-Aircraft Training

SS recruits undergoing anti-aircraft training on a four-barrelled rapid fire gun (2 cm Flakvierling 38). Even as the Flak 30 was entering service, the Luftwaffe and Heer (Army} branches of the Wehrmacht had doubts about its effectiveness, given the ever-increasing speeds of low-altitude fighter-bombers and attack aircraft. The Army in particular felt the proper solution was the introduction of the 37 mm caliber weapons they had been developing since the 1920s, which had a rate of fire about the same as the Flak 38, but fired a round with almost eight times the weight. This not only made the rounds deadlier on impact, but their higher energy and ballistic coefficient allowed them to travel to much longer distances, allowing the gun to engage targets at longer ranges. This meant it could keep enemy aircraft under fire over longer time spans.

Luftwaffe Student Pilots with their Aircraft

Two Luftwaffe student pilots photographed before going into air. Left, a Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz at FFS (Flugzeugführerschule) Fürth in 1938 with a prewar D-code and a red and white diamond emblem aft of the engine. Right, Gefreiter Teddy Hauk in a Bücker Bü 131 at Canitz, 1943.

Student Pilots of Luftwaffe in Training

Luftwaffe Student pilots with parachutes already strapped into place over their flying overalls wait for their next training flight at FFS (Flugzeugführerschule) Fürth, 1937/38. In the background is the C-variant of the Heinkel He 72 Kadett which was powered by a 135hp Argus As 10 inline piston engine.

The Steering Position Inside the Conning Tower of U-124

U-124, a Type IXB, showing the steering position inside the conning tower with voice pipe by the man's mouth. He has his hand on the button for moving the rudder to the right - there was an identical button for going in the other direction. Since it was difficult to maintain position during rough weather, operators were provided with handles to grip and thus support their bodies. One of these is visible above the man's right hand. Rudder and hydroplanes were usually electrically controlled by pressing buttons, but wheels were provided in case of a power failure. Turning these was hard work and sometimes demanded that men stood up to use both hands. If this manual mechanism broke as well, then it was also possible to operate aft hydroplanes and rudder from the rear compartment and there were duplicate forward hydroplane controls in the bow torpedo room.

Kriegsberichter Interviewed U-Boat Crew

The navigation, or sky, periscope terminated inside the central control room of a U-boat - here of a small, coastal Type II. This photograph shows a war correspondent on the left, holding a microphone. The man on the right wears a leather coat with large lapels, suggesting that he is a member of seamen's division

Gebirgsjäger Soldiers Erect Quarters in the Rear Area

Mountain soldiers erect quarters in the rear area. Wooden quarters such as these were common in the Gebirgsjäger and many would be erected on the Ostfront in Heeresgruppe Nord (Army Group North) where the front lines were often stagnated for many weeks or even months.

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.

Two Gebirgsjäger with a Young Mule during Training

Two mountain troopers with a young mule during training. The mule would be the Gebirgs main source of transporting equipment to the front, across rugged and mountainous terrain. These hardy pack animals were well suited for rough terrain and were used extensively by the Gebirgstruppen throughout the war.

Gebirgsjäger Sleeps in a Shelter Quarter

Mountain troops protect themselves from the low temperatures in a mountain region. During training, the Gebirgstruppen had to learn a variety of survival techniques for living in the mountains. These soldiers sleep in a shelter quarter on the ground, probably during the spring or summer season where high exposure to the cold was minimal.

Waffen-SS Mounteineering Training

These four photographs show an SS-Unterscharführer mountaineering instructor demonstrating various correct positions and methods for moving across ice and snow as well as the correct way to traverse a valley by ropeway. As they possessed six mountain divisions, it was necessary for the Waffen-SS to have a constant supply of fully trained mountaineers. Special schools of instruction were set up in those areas of mountainous country where Waffen-SS troops were taught both basic and advanced skills in skiing, climbing mountains, scaling rock faces, traversing glaciers, crossing gullies as well as all the other skills that were required for this specialised form of warfare. In addition to this, they were also taught how to handle their particular forms of equipment and weaponry and how to fight, usually under difficult, cold and hazardous conditions. Physical fitness was paramount.

Officers of JG 1 at Leck Airfield

Pilots of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1). In front of a partially painted Heinkel He 162 are, from left to right: Major Werner Zober (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 1), Oberst Herbert Ihlefeld (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 1), Hauptmann Heinz "Heinrich" Künnecke (Staffelkapitän 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe), Oberleutnant Karl Emil Demuth (Staffelkapitän 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe), Hauptmann Bernhard "Bernd" Gallowitsch (Staffelkapitän 4.Staffel / II.Gruppe), Hauptmann Gerhard Strasen (Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 4), and Hauptmann Wolfgang Ludewig (Staffelkapitän 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe). When this photograph was taken at Leck, Schleswig-Holstein, towards the end of the war, there were about 45 Heinkel He 162s of I.(Einsatz)/JG 1 in the background.

Pilots of JG 1

Three Staffelkapitäne of I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1). From left to right: Hauptmann Wolfgang Ludewig (2.Staffel), Hauptmann Heinz "Heinrich" Künnecke (1.Staffel) and Oberleutnant Karl Emil Demuth (3.Staffel). When this photograph was taken at Leck, Schleswig-Holstein, towards the end of the war, there were about 45 Heinkel He 162s of I.(Einsatz)/JG 1 in the background.

The Central Control Room and Nerve Centre of a Type IIB U-boat

The central control room and nerve centre of a Type IIB submarine, probably U-18 under Hans Pauckstadt, shortly after having been commissioned in 1936. On the man's left, and partly hidden by him, is the main steering wheel, while the other wheel operated the forward hydroplanes. The aft hydroplane controls were slightly to the right. This is not an idle shot in port but a photograph taken when the submarine was submerged - as can be seen from the hand of the large, shallow depth gauge on which the man's eyes are fixed. Fractions of metres became less critical once deeper than 25 metres, and a couple of smaller dials were provided for deeper depths. The two identical dials above the man's head, are the engine telegraphs showing both diesel engines on stop. Towards the right is a repeater from the gyro compass with a wire running down to the deck. Near the ceiling there would also be an illuminated periscope for viewing the magnetic compass, situated inside a bulge at the base of the conning tower. Obviously, a magnetic compass would not work inside a steel submarine and so the conning tower was made from non-magnetic bronze, making it one of the most expensive parts of a submarine!

A Type II Coastal U-Boat

This shows a small Type II coastal submarine. The main conning tower hatch can be seen open behind the periscope support, between the two men who are leaning over and peering down at the upper deck. The sailor is using the galley hatch. Much to the annoyance of the cook, this was the main way in and out of the submarine while in port. In the foreground is a red and white rescue buoy with a light on the top. This was released from a submerged boat in times of an emergency. These conspicuous objects were later accomodated inside containers with almost flush-fitting lids, to be less obstructive for men working on the upper deck. Towards the end of the war they became a superfluous luxury and some boats went to the sea without them.

Gebirgsjäger Tents

Two photographs showing unidentified Gebirgsjäger units in an encampment in hilly terrain. The soldiers have used a number of shelter quarters for housing a number of troops. These field tents were of standard design and had a fly tarp erected over it to provide insulation from the sun in order to reduce intensive heat inside the tent. These shelter quarter encampments could be quickly erected by the troops, and were an important part in a soldier training. Without adequate shelter in the mountain regions, a soldier would easily become exposed to freezing temperatures and, as a consequence, could die.

Gebirgsjäger Resting

Gebirgsjäger troops take what was known as a "firebreak" beside an alpine road during training in Austria in summer of 1939. On their right sleeve, the embroidered Gebirgstruppen badge can be seen displaying the Edelweiss. Note their mountain boots bearing thick soles and heavy hobnails which were specially designed for mountain climbing.