Saturday, December 3, 2022

Studio Portrait of Luftwaffe Personnel in Tropical Uniform


Nice original postcard sized Luftwaffe portrait picture with full tropical uniform and a ribbon to the Deutsch-Italienische Erinnerungsmedaille an den Afrika-Feldzug.

Source :
https://fjm44.com/product/luftwaffe-portrait-picture-with-tropical-uniform-and-afrika-ribbon/

Monday, November 28, 2022

Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot in Avignon


Photograph, portrait. Uniformed Luftwaffe fighter pilot. Translated German caption on photo reverse: "Junior fighter pilots learn gunnery. (See leader)/ These young fighter pilots are between school and front. They get the 'finishing touches' in a training group, with multiple air and gunnery exercises under the guidance of experienced fighter pilots. Soon, the beginners will be able to record their first success, when they fly together with the 'old hands' against the enemy. Avignon, 4/10/43." Avignon, France. 4 October 1943.

Source :
https://www.ww2online.org/search-page?f%5B0%5D=field_tgm%3AMilitary%20air%20pilots--German--France

Sunday, November 13, 2022

88 Flak Guns Towed by Sd.Kfz.7

The 8,8-cm-Flak 36 / 37 anti-aircraft gun is towed by Krass-Maffei's 8-ton Sd.Kfz 7 tractor. This tool was effective weapons against air and ground targets. 1st Battery of the 33rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (1./Flak-Rgt.33 (gem.mot.)) Arrived in Cyrenaica on February 10-11, 1941 from France. The 33rd regiment was formed on October 1, 1939 in Hull as part of five batteries with 20 guns. In North Africa, the regiment included three 8,8-cm batteries guns and three batteries of light 2-cm guns Flak 38. During the French campaign in the Battle of Arras, one of the 8,8-cm batteries destroyed five heavy British Matilda tanks, which determined his future fate. 8,8-cm guns became the most important anti-tank weapon in the African campaign. Their shells with an initial speed of 810 m / s could penetrate at a distance of 500 m 110 mm armor mounted at an angle of 60 degrees. This was enough to penetrate 78 mm of the frontal armor of British tanks Matilda from a distance of 1,5 km. They themselves remained outside the reach of their guns, which also had no high-explosive shells.

Source :
https://en.topwar.ru/135723-rommel-v-afrike.html
https://warshistory.ru/raznoe-2/rommelya-formula-10.html

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Afrikakorps Soldier on a Camel with a Guide


An Afrikakorps soldier on a camel with a guide. The Germans and Italians more or less left the Arab populations to themselves, so long as they did not interfere with operations in the area. The German command also instructed soldiers not to fraternize with the local populations. However, a sizable number of Arabs volunteered to fight in the Afrika Korps in the ‘Free Arab Legion,’ later in Panzerarmee Afrika, and smaller numbers served as translators or guides.

Source :
http://www.mourningtheancient.com/truth1cb2.htm
https://www.quora.com/How-did-the-Afrika-Korps-and-Italian-troops-treat-local-populations-during-the-North-African-campaign

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Recruits of the Luftwaffe during a Prayer

Recruits of the Luftwaffe during a prayer, 9 July 1938. The original caption said: "Luftwaffe soldiers have taken off their helmets after the issue of the command 'Helmets off for prayer!'"

Source :
https://www.akpool.de/ansichtskarten/26753519-ansichtskarte-postkarte-deutsche-wehrmacht-luftwaffe-helm-ab-zum-gebet-soldaten-mit-stahlhelmen-und-bajonetten
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-recruits-of-the-luftwaffe-during-a-prayer-1938-122549762.html?imageid=8FB962D8-981E-4D84-B5F2-C0C554513477&p=291611&pn=1&searchId=2adb0d94b30ee950bdafece3810c320c&searchtype=0
https://www.arkivi-bildagentur.de/articles/a514634

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Happy German Soldiers in Yugoslavia

German soldiers, confident of success shortly before the end of combats, in Yugoslavia during Operation Marita, 14 April 1941. The Axis victory was swift. As early as 14 April the Yugoslav high command had decided to seek an armistice and authorised the army and army group commanders to negotiate local ceasefires. That day the commanders of the 2nd and 5th Armies asked the Germans for terms, but were rejected. Only unconditional surrender could form the basis for negotiations they were told. That evening, the high command sent an emissary to the headquarters of the Panzergruppe 1 to ask for armistice, and in response General Ewald von Kleist sent the commander of the 2nd Army, Maximilian von Weichs, to Belgrade to negotiate terms. He arrived on the afternoon of 15 April and drew up an armistice based on unconditional surrender. This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Artur Grimm and first published in SIGNAL magazine.
 
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Yugoslavia
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/352969689554597002/

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Afrikakorps Soldiers with Sand Protector


Goggles, scarves and headdresses were indespensible for blocking sand and the sun, and for preventing sun strokes. The heat often caused mirages. The wind, named "ghibli" by the Italians, could blow at more than 150 km/hours and caused terrible sand-storm, which could last up to three days. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Albrecht Heinrich Otto of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) "Afrika" in April 1941.

Source :
"Deutsche Afrikakorps (1941-1943)" by Ricardo Recio Cardona
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-785-0285-14A,_Nordafrika,_Soldat_mit_Sandschutz.2.jpg

British POW being Questioned by Afrikakorps


April 1941: Rommel wrested more than 800 kilometres from the British forces that were forced to retreat towards Egypt. The men under his command took so many prisoners. In the picture, a British POW is being questioned by german officer.

Source :
NARA - 242-EAPC
"Deutsche Afrikakorps (1941-1943)" by Ricardo Recio Cardona

Afrikakorps Soldiers Wearing Mantel

The German forces had to adapt to harsh North-African desert conditions and weather. During the summer the temperatures rose to 70°C (158° F) under the sun, while at night, occasionally, it steady froze. Most of the combatants wore warm clothes and took them off when the temperatures got really warm.

Source :
NARA - 242-EAPC
"Deutsche Afrikakorps (1941-1943)" by Ricardo Recio Cardona

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Oberleutnant Diekmann of Afrikakorps


Both the sun and washing worked to bleach out the colours of the clothes. The young officer in this picture, dated 3 May 1942, was Oberleutnant Diekmann, aide to General Erwin Rommel of Afrikakorps. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Ernst Alexander Zwilling.

Source :
"Deutsche Afrikakorps (1941-1943)" by Ricardo Recio Cardona

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Luftwaffe Ground Crew Waiting for the Return Bombers

Battle of Britain: Ground staff on the Luftwaffe air base waiting for the return of the bomber squadrons from mission against england, end of August 1940. No further information. Photographer: Artur Grimm.

Source :
https://www.keymilitary.com/article/duel-aces

Saturday, October 15, 2022

RAD Men with He 51 of Fliegergruppe Döberitz

Men of RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) are shown around one of the Heinkel He 51 biplanes at Döberitz - presumably aircraft of Jagdgruppe / Fliegergruppe Döberitz. The He 51 was produced between 1934 and 1937, starting 1936 was partly replaced by the Arado Ar 68 and starting 1937 extensively replaced by the Messerschmitt Bf 109 as a Luftwaffe standard fighter aircraft. At this time, the Fliegergeschwader Döberitz received the distinction "Richthofen", but received the final name "JG 2 Richthofen" only on 1 May 1939, under which it later participated in the Second World War.

Source :
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/iron-cross/20220629/281535114675360

Luftwaffe Ace Hans Galubinski


Feldwebel Hans Galubinski of 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) was credited with eight aircraft destroyed (and a ninth unconfirmed) between 12 May and 6 June 1940, although he was himself shot down on the latter date by Adj Jean Crocq of GC II/1. Assigned to 7./JG 53, Galubinski and his Staffel had taken on 12 MB.152s near Soissons. Three Bloch fighters were destroyed, although Galubinski was in turn shot down after claiming two of his French opponents. The ace was fired on by furious civilians as he descended beneath his parachute, being seriously wounded by shotgun pellets prior to his capture! Galubinski would received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 2 July 1942.

Source :
"Jagdgeschwader 53 'Pik'As' Bf 109 Aces of 1940" by Chris Goss & Chris Davey
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/23112/Galubinski-Hans.htm

Fallschirmjäger Training in Norway


At Banak airfield in Norway, a Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) non-commissioned officer shortly before a joint demonstration with 8./LLG 1 (Lulftlandegeschwader 1). The picture was taken autumn 1943 by Wolfgang Stocker from Kriegsberichterzug XII. Fliegerkorps












Generalmajor Joseph "Beppo" Schmid (facing the camera in the middle, Kommandierender General XII. Fliegerkorps)










Source :
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/catalogsearch/advanced/result/?auteur=1509513

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

German Anti-Aircraft Halftrack in Training

Sd.Kfz. 10/4 anti-aircraft half-track with 2 cm Flak 30 gun during training of Heeres Flak-Kompanie, April 1941. The "SdKfz 10 leichter Zugkraftwagen 1 t." (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 10) was a German semi-tracked product produced at 17,000 between 1934/1937 and 1944, capable of carrying eight men, and towing the 3.7-cm Pak 35/36 anti-tank guns; Pak 38 5-cm and Pak 40 7.5-cm; or the 7.5-cm LeIG 18 infantry howitzers; sIG 33 of 15-cm; 12-cm Heavy Granatwerfer 42 mortars; as well as any artillery or Flak pieces with the weight included in the cathegorie of these weapons. The chassis of the "SdKfz 10" was used for the production of the SdKfz 250.
 
Source :
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/tanks--482588916295606544/
https://www.net-maquettes.com/waffen-arsenal/halbketten-fahrzeuge-waffen-arsenal-008/

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Polizei Parade

Two nice postcard sized pictures showing a parade of Gendarmerie members wearing the typical "Tschako". Also notice the flag bearer gorget on one of the portraits.

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/2x-postcard-sized-picture-gendermerie-parade

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

General Knochenhauer during Führergeburtstag


Private picture of General der Kavallerie Wilhelm Knochenhauer (right, Kommandierender General X. Armeekorps) posing with two NSDAP officials during Führergeburtstag (Hitler Birthday) celebration, 20 April 1937. The picture was possibly taken in Hamburg.

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/private-picture-general-der-kavallerie-wilhelm-knochenhauer

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Jagdkommando Interrogating Female Partisan

Private picture of  a Jagdkommando while interrogating a female partisan, dated August 1943. Possibly in Yugoslavia. German Jagdkommando unit were very small and lightly armed, meant to mop up the last of partisan resistance after major sweeps. Perhaps that even included sympathizers and partisans trying to hide amongst the civilians. Some books call it the first or one of the first modern responses and attempts to cope with the insurgency problem. In the form of a guerrila type unit that fought the partisans at their own game, setting up traps, ambushes and taking prisoners.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=163546
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/private-picture-jagdkommando

Bio of Generalleutnant Willy Seeger (1890-1978)

Viktor Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm Seeger
Born: 28 September 1890 in Arco (Südtirol) (heute Arco, Trentino, Italien)
Died: 27 July 1978 in Stuttgart

Promotions:
01.03.1935: Oberstleutnant
01.08.1937: Oberst
01.09.1941: Generalmajor
01.09.1943: Generalleutnant

Career:
1935 - 1936 ?
01.07.1936 Adj of V. AK
26.08.1939 Adj. Gen.Kdo. V. AK
01.08.1940 Kdr. Infanterie-Regiment 13.
01.10.1940 Kdr. Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 13
25.10.1940 FR ?
15.11.1940 Kdr. Infanterie-Regiment 75
26.07.1941 FR?
29.09.1941 Kdr. 292. Infanterie-Division
24.08.1942 FR?
01.05.1943 Kdr. Division Nr. 405
22.02.1945 FR?
23.04.1945 - 29.04.1945 “Korps Seeger“ (“Kampfgruppe Nord“) mit 106., 719. und 805. ID

Medals and Decorations:
 EK II,
 EK I,
 Ritterkreuz des Württembergischen MVO,
 Ritterkreuz 2. kl des Württembergischen Friedrichs Orden mit Schwertern,
 Ritterkreuz 2. kl des Sächsischen Albrechts Orden mit Schwertern,
 Verwundeten Abzeichen in Schwarz,
 Österreichisches MVK 3 kl mit KD.
 Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern (1934),
 Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnung für 25 Jahre (2 octobre 1936),
 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1 Oktober 1938,
 1939 Spange zum 1914 EK II (23 juin 1941),
 1939 Spange zum 1914 EK I (21 juillet 1941),
 Verwundeten Abzeichen in Silber (29 juillet 1941),
 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (2 juillet 1942),
 Ostmedaille (22 août 1942).




Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2269752#p2269752
https://gmic.co.uk/topic/68794-seeger-willy/
https://www.leo-bw.de/en/detail/-/Detail/details/DOKUMENT/labw_findmittel_06/labw-1-329199/Seeger+Willy?p_auth=dSoSNGM5
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/18510/Seeger-Willy.htm

Monday, October 3, 2022

Josef Wulf in a Luftwaffe Ceremony

Major Josef Wulf (left) in a Luftwaffe ceremony before the war. On 1 January 1938 he was promoted to Oberstleutnant (Werkmeister). on 1 July 1942, as Oberstleutnant (Erganzungsoffizier), he was transferred from Fl.H.Kdtr. (Fliegerhorst-Kommandantur) Grossenhain to Wehrbez.Kdo (Wehrbezirkskommando) Gelsenkirchen. On 21 February 1943 he was ordered temporary duty to Stab/Wehr-Ers.Insp. (Wehrersatzinspektion) Weimar. On 1 April 1943 he permanently transferred to Wehr-Ers.Insp. Weimar.

Source :
"Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries" by Henry L. deZeng IV and Douglas G. Stankey
https://www.ebay.de/b/General-in-Militaria-Fotos-1900-1918-1945/15504/bn_7004515776

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Motorcyclist in Action

Original period postcard of the" Unsere Wehrmacht" series, showing Kradschütze in action: "An die Deckung heran...Feuer" (Get to cover... Fire). The postcard was sent in August 1943 by a member of the 4. Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung.

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/postkarte-postcard-kradsch%C3%BCtze-an-die-deckung-heran-feuer

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Army Paratroopers Group Picture

Nice group picture of  Fallschirmjäger Infanterie members. Notice the Heeresspringerabzeichen (heer paratrooper badge) and the rare white gothic “L” on the shoulder boards. Stunning image!

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/fallschirmj%C3%A4ger-infanterie-fik-group-picture

SS Musician on Horse


SS Musician on horse wearing the black parade uniform (numbered collar tab partly visible) and helmet.

Source :
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/ss