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/

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

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

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

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

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/

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

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

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

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

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