German and Italian Troops near Tobruk

German troops, including a Paratrooper, inspects an Italian anti-aircraft position near Tobruk in 1942. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Rechenberg.

Source :
https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/german-paratroopers/21535/tobruk

Captured US Truck of the Afrikakorps

Captured American Ford 3T truck armed by the Germans with a Flak gun 20mm on the back of the truck. Mareth area, Tunisia, March 1942.

Source :
ECPAD Archive

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

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

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

Ferntrauung (Proxy Wedding)

 

Ferntrauung (proxy wedding) in North Africa, 30 April 1942. The Battalion commander lead the ceremony. Photo by Kriegsberichter Otto

Marriage by proxy is one more than a hundred-year-old family law institution, common to the legal systems of many states. Obviously it consists of a marriage in which one of the spouses, who is absent, is replaced by a third party for the issuance of consent; This third party acts as a proxy through a special power that has been legally granted by the absent spouse.

A Law of November 4, 1939 regulated this institution for the Wehrmacht members in campaign. The family book and an affidavit on the Aryan ancestry of the bride and the corresponding civil registry data were required. Over time, a mere written statement was enough.

The ceremony for the bride took place in the office of the civil registry with the presence of two witnesses and was called “Stahlhelmtrauung” or “steel helmet wedding”, since a steel helmet was placed to symbolize the presence of the absent contractor.

The ceremony for the groom took place before an officer of his unit and in the presence of comrades of the contracting party, who acted as witnesses.

Ferntrauung (proxy wedding) in North Africa, 30 April 1942. The comrades share in the joy of the young husband. Photo by Kriegsberichter Otto.

Ferntrauung (proxy wedding) in North Africa, 30 April 1942. The newly wed shows his comrades the bride's picture. Photo by Kriegsberichter Otto.

Source :
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/history-research-third-reich-ww2/knights-cross-next-queen-elizabeth-764957-2/#post2072546

First Axis POWs at Tobruk

 

Men of the Australian 9th Infantry Division guard Italians and some of the first German prisoners to be taken during the war in North Africa, after Rommel's first unsuccessful assault on Tobruk, 17 April 1941. If we are talking about Heer Division, it was the 5. leitche-Division during the 1st Siege of Tobruk that was on 10-14 April 1941. However, on the 2nd Siege of Tobruk from 30 April to 7 May 1941 it was a mix between the elements of the 5.leichte-Division and the newly arrived 15. Panzer-Division (except for Panzer-Regiment 8 that was not involved yet). BTW, if someone asking: Why are their heads bowed? It is actually a basic techniek of not to look your captors in their eyes, state only your name and number. Look what happened at Malmedy: at the Nuremberg Trials the SS Soldiers stated in their defense that the American POW’s looked at them tauntingly almost staring them down ... we all know how that ended for the Americans!

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4981605118546865&set=gm.2563691697254982
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205205791

Flak Vehicle of 19. Flak-Division in North Africa

 

A Horch 108 modified with a 20mm Flak 30 anti aircraft gun. The four-leaf clover symbol is belong to 19. Flak-Division. This is the quintessential symbol of good luck in Germany, is of Christian origin. According to Christian legend, when Eve was driven out of the Garden of Eden she took a four-leaf clover with her – to remember the good times in paradise by later on. So market gardens grow millions of potted clover plants for gift-givers at New Year’s. But hardliners say they’re cheating. To really bring good luck your four-leaf clover has to be found in the wild - where exemplars are very few and far between. So whoever does find them must be quite fortunate indeed – in which case good luck comes full circle.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=689595875035925&set=gm.2564221030535382

S-Minen Preparation by Afrikakorps

 

S-Minen preparation with a vast array of fuzes (pressure and trip). Mines are for defending but also for slowing down the enemy. Booby traps not forgotten. The picture was taken when the Axis troops were in full retreat in Lybia, December 1942.

Source :
ECPAD Archives, courtesy of Blanluet Christophe
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158979917633308&set=gm.2743536849246876

Luftwaffe Radio Operator in Tunisia

 

Luftwaffe radio operator in Thala area, Tunisia, February 1943.

Source :

ECPAD Archives, courtesy of Blanluet Christophe

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2360048380929060/permalink/2697288740538354/?__cft__[0]=AZUZA9pxWJ5eKRcFQ8-_lWvbpMMxCzhKIMmqIZCvwtkPMvdBilAWalg2Ewd_XRKMsvSEj3BD4EbQlPb1Kl75PH361Zi7fRiO5aavwm9sJvU6XF7wpYwXMQ_-EZ95j8cewjccfNfQB2cV7IRnhi224j0MmMHdj8UCr7kt3DQSy-wN6w&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Reconnaissance Raid near Tobruk 1941

A DAK assault team climbs aboard a PzKpfw III Ausf.G. Location and date unknown. Supposedly taken during the siege of Tobruk (April to November, 1941). An interesting display of German war material and personal equipment including a flamethrower (Flammenwerfer 35) carried by the soldier already atop the tank. The soldier to the left carries an MG34 ammo drum and a MG spare barrel (the tube on his back); to his right another soldier carries two bags filled with grenades. On the right, what was most probably the team leader has laid his MP-38 or 40 on the vehicle before climbing aboard. Note the 2 canteens per soldier and the makeshift helmet covers.

Source :
Courtesy of Blanluet Christophe of ECPAD Archive
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1728158044141689/
https://www.facebook.com/TheTruthInColor/photos/a.853308841373560/2212145122156585/?type=3&theater

Oberfeldwebel of the Afrikakorps Feldgendarmerie

Oberfeldwebel of the Feldgendarmerie of the German Afrikakorps. He is wearing a Field Police tropical tunic straps. The winkerkelle (traffic stick) he is using is the standard vehicle stick found in the smaller vehicles. Note the British officer standing behind!

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=141730587417149&set=gm.2379626985661455&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Zentral Ersatzteillager 220 Photo Album

These photos comes from the private collection of Denis Daum, and shows the visit of Generaloberst Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Panzerarmee "Africa") to the Zentral Ersatzteillager 220 headquarters in Benghazi, Libya, which took place on May 19, 1942. Officer with the bright hemd and shorts that accompanied him is Major Peter Deiglmayer, who was the commander of the central warehouse supplying the Afrikakorps vehicle parts. Coming with Rommel on his visit was his loyal Chief of Staff, Generalmajor Alfred Gause, who could be recognized from the Ritterkreuz medal on his neck.

 
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Other pictures of Zentral Ersatzteillager 220 and Major Peter Deiglmayer in North Africa:

 Proxy wedding of one of the member of Zentral Ersatzteillager 220 in North Africa

Source:

Denis Daum photo collection

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1728158044141689/