Studio Portrait of Panzertruppen

 WAFFEN-SS

SS panzer portrait with piped SS tabs and panzer cap with metal eagle in wear.

Source :
https://www.generalassaultmilitaria.com/product-category/photos/

Studio Portrait of SS Personnel

SS-rottenführer portrait with kvk ribbon and flat wire SS collar tab in wear.

SS-Mann portrait with hand stitched collar tab and some good wear to the uniform and cap.

Source :
https://www.generalassaultmilitaria.com/product-category/photos/

Wehrmacht Soldiers and Sailors Listening to the Speech of Hermann Göring

Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) spoke to the German Wehrmacht. On January 30, 1943, on the 10th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's assumption of power, Reichsmarschall Göring spoke to the German Wehrmacht in the ballroom of the Reich Aviation Ministry. View into the ranks of the representatives of the Wehrmacht, who listen to the striking words of the Reich Marshal.

 

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/?q=wehrmacht&mode=gallery&view=horizontal

Funeral of Graf von Westphalen

Funeral of SS-Obersturmbannführer Hermenegild Graf von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg, Commander of Regiment "Danmark" in Estonian capital Reval (Tallinn) Heldenfriedhoff Maarjamäe. He in was heavily wounded in fighting around the Narva Kreenholm bridge on 9 April 1944 and died on 28 May 1944 in SS-Korpslazarett 1/103 in Reval (Tallinn).

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Narvafronten,_1944_-_Narvafront037.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=489133855637573&set=gm.3978063015549414

Waffen-SS StuG Unit

There is no information about the unit of this Waffen-SS soldiers. It's either the 1. SS-Infanterie Brigade or the SS-Kavallerie Division, but in the winter of 1943/44 regardless. The photographer was named Ahrens, and there were several Waffen-SS war reporters with that name (both units had one of them). Both units also had a single battery of around 10 Sturmgeschützs.

 

 

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219232699879847&set=gm.751279962465553

SS Soldiers with StG 44 Assault Rifle

One of the most well-known photos with Sturmgewehr G44 (in fact it's an MP43/1) of SS-Panzergrenadiers from IV. SS-Panzerkorps engage in conversation during a break in Hungary, 1945.

 

 

Source :
https://equipment.fandom.com/wiki/M44_Erbsenmuster
https://twitter.com/StG44Geek/status/1221936827659116547
https://www.ww2-weapons.com/mp44-stug44-mp43/

SS Totenkopf Award Ceremony

Waffen-SS Totenkopf Division award ceremony.

Source :
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/index.php?cPath=26_60

Studio Photo of SS-Sturmmann from Totenkopf

Two Waffen-SS soldiers with the rank of SS-Sturmmann from Totenkopf Division posed in a studio portrait.

Source :
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/index.php?cPath=26_60

Studio Picture of a Latvian SS Volunteer

Studio portrait photo picturing a Latvian Waffen-SS volunteer in combat uniform. The "Latvija" sleeve shield is clearly visible, as well as the often seen metal SS runics used by Latvian volunteers. The picture was taken in 1944.

 

Source :
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/index.php?cPath=26_60

Two Latvian SS Soldiers

Studio portrait photo picturing two Latvian Waffen-SS volunteer in combat uniforms. The "Latvian" sleeve shield is clearly visable as well as the often seen metal SS runics used by Latvian volunteers.

Source :
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/index.php?cPath=26_60

Handschar Division Award Ceremony

War time photo picturing Waffen-SS Soldiers from the Handschar division, most probably an Award ceremony. Hand written to the reverse: "Zug 1.SS Flak Abt. 13, vierte von links mein K1 Calie Nasif für tapferkeit EKII". The picture was removed from a photoalbum.

Source :
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/index.php?cPath=26_60

Handschar Soldiers at Bijelina

Early post war photo, most probably from early 60's. Picturing SS Soldiers from SS Handschar division. Date and location hand written to the reverse: "Bijelina mai 1944"

Source :
http://www.military-antiques-stockholm.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_60&products_id=7370

Waffen-SS Patarooper

Portrait of SS Paratrooper with the rank of Oberscharführer

Source :
https://germanmilitaryrelics.com/index.php/papers-books-photos/german-elite-waffen-ss-portrait-wwii-elite-waffen-ss-portrait-2-wk.html

Wedding of Alois Dotter from LSSAH

Wedding of SS-Unterscharführer Alois Dotter from LSSAH (Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler)

Source :
https://germanmilitaryrelics.com/index.php/papers-books-photos/german-ss-lah-cufflinks-honor-gift-wedding-gift-wwii-ss-lah-manschettenknopfe-ehrengeschenk-hochzeitsgeschenk-2-wk.html

Adolf Salie from Wiking Division

SS-Unterscharführer Adolf Salie from SS-Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 5 / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking". He took some of the most dramatic photographs to survive the Cherkassy Pocket (January-February 1944).

Source :
Douglas E. Nash photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158489133169357&set=p.10158489133169357&type=3&theater

Panzermann and SS Soldier

This studio portrait of two young soldiers, who I presume are friends, contains some interesting details, a couple of enigmas, and some historical background. My guess is that the photo was taken in 1941 or 1942. The Place is the small town of Dürnholz, since World War II known as Drnholec in Moravia in the Czech Republic. The young men are most likely Sudeten Germans, the Volksdeutsche – ethnically German – population of western Czechoslovakia that the Nazi government in Germany used to further their territorial claims. When the war was over, Czechoslovakia was ethnically cleansed, the Sudeten Germans forced to flee to the zones under Western Allied administration. The Soldat on the left is a Panzer crewman. He wears the black side-buttoned tunic typical of the Panzer crews. His collar tabs sport the silver skulls of the armored troops. Those had their roots in the skulls worn on the headdress of Napoleonic-era Prussian Hussars, symbolizing the do-or-die attitude of the daring cavalrymen. Many Panzer divisions were mechanized cavalry units, changing horses for tanks and armored cars. His shoulder straps are partially covered by slip-on fabric loops used to obscure the regimental number. This was done for operational secrecy, but there’s the possibility that his regiment is one of those that use differently-colored loops to differentiate between the battalions. His black sidecap indicates that the photo is taken after 1940. His friend is a Waffen-SS Sturmmann (lance corporal) of some experience, implied by his Iron Cross, 2nd class, ribbon and the silver Wound Badge. He’s a member of a Waffen-SS division, but as his cuff title isn’t visible, it’s impossible to tell which one. One intriguing detail is the Edelweiss flower tucked in his cap. It’s a real flower, and not the embroidered patch of the SS-Gebirgsjäger mountain rangers. It obviously has some personal meaning, as it wasn’t an official feature of the uniform. The skull on his cap is the SS version, which symbolizes the willingness of the SS soldiers to die for the Reich. It wasn’t uncommon for Panzer crewmen to be confused with SS troops because of the skulls and black uniforms. If they were taken prisoner, they ran the risk of being shot straightaway, as both western Allied and Soviet troops thought they were SS soldiers. One can but wonder about the final fates of the two young men in the photo.

Source :
Björn Hellqvist photo collection
https://ww2inphotos.wordpress.com/2017/07/30/skulls/

SS Soldier Inspects U.S. M45 Quadmount

A soldier from the Stabskompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" next to a M45 Quadmount "meat chopper" found at the US supply dump at Honsfeld on the 17th of December 1944 (photo by SS PK-Berichter Büschel). Members of the Stabskompanie - particularly from its Panzerspähzug (armoured recce platoon) and the Fahrradzug (bicycle platoon) which hitched a ride at the enginedecks of the armoured cars - were pictured at the abandoned American supply dump and later near Born.

Source :
Timo R. Worst collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10219546730164692&set=gm.442666669869864&type=3&theater&ifg=1

SS-Rottenführer Arthur Christian, Volksdeutsche from Romania who Received the Nahkampfspange in Gold

Some 60,000 ethnic Germans from Romania would eventually be incorporated into the Waffen-SS, serving in nearly every SS division. From June 1941 until May 1945, 15,000 of them would be killed or missing-in-action. One of he first of these Romanian German soldiers to really distinguish himself was SS-Rottenführer Arthur Christian who became the first one to receive the Close Combat Clasp in Gold in November 1943. Christian had been born in Ulmbach, the Banat (German) Region of Romania on 4 August 1922. After Germany made arrangements to have Romanian ethnic Germans (who were otherwise Romanian citizens) do their required military service in the German Armed Forces (again almost all in the Waffen-SS), contingents of them began traveling to Germany in 1941.

Arthur Christian was among the first 600 Romanian ethnic German volunteers. This group was given a festive send-off in the Banat and then sent to Vienna to begin basic military training. After completing this, Christian was assigned to the “Der Führer” SS Panzergrenadier Regiment of the 2nd SS Panzer Division “Das Reich” which was heavily engaged on the Russian Front. On 28 January 1942, he received his first battle wounds in the front lines near Rzhev when he received splinters from an exploding artillery shell in his face and also suffered burns from a fuel “flash” explosion. Despite this he refused to be evacuated from his machine-gun post until the combat situation stabilized.

For his deeds at this time, Arthur Christian would receive the Iron Cross, 2nd Class, the Wound Badge in Black, the Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze and later the “Ost” medal or “Eastern Front” medal given to everyone who survived the brutal winter of 1941/1942 in Russia. After having participated in 50 battlefield engagements, he was awarded the Close Combat Clasp in Gold on 25 November 1943, receiving it personally from the “DF” Regimental CO, SS-Obersturmbanniführer Sylvester Stadler. He would soon also be decorated with the Iron Cross, 1st Class and receive a promotion to SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant.).

Later on, fighting on the Western Front with the “Das Reich” Division, Arthur Christian would again be severely wounded and was decorated with the Golden Wound Badge during his lengthy convalescence. In fact the war ended while he was still a patient at a Waffen-SS military hospital in Vienna. Following his release from post-war captivity, Christian remained in Austria and trained to become a master mechanic. He then lived and worked in the Upper Austrian town of Waizenkirchen where he died prematurely (probably due to effects from his war wounds), on 5 December 1966 at the age of 44.

Besides being one of the first Romanian ethnic-Germans to be highly decorated, Arthur Christian had served in and survived some of the most brutal battles in history on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. He would be remembered by surviving veterans as a “good comrade, who was always prepared to help out as needed”.

Source :
'Siegrunen 80' by Richard Landwehr

Armored vehicle of the Hitlerjugend Division in the Ruins of Caen

A Sd.Kfz. 231 armored vehicle of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" photographed in the ruins of Caen, Normandy, France in July 1944. In the background the ruined Church of Saint-Pierre. The city of Caen was destroyed and reduced to rubble by the Allied bombing after they encountered difficulty in taking it (the bombing was futile as Germans positions were intact outside of the city, in the northern edge). The Allies flattened and wiped out cities and towns all across Normandy and Northern France in which tens of thousands civilians were killed outright.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/167393189682/a-sdkfz-231-armored-vehicle-of-the-12-ss-panzer

SS-Standarte "Der Führer" Soldiers

A group of enlisted men from the SS-Standarte "Der Führer". All wear the SS-VT (SS-Verfügungstruppe) pattern field cap and collar patch with numeral "3" alongside the runes. The SS-Standarte Der Führer was formed in March 1938 in Vienna as SS-Standarte 3 following the German annexation of Austria and it was made up Austrian volunteers around a cadre from SS-Standarte Deutschland. It was renamed SS-Standarte Der Führer at the Parteitag in Nuremberg 1938 when it also received its Deutschland Erwache standard.

Source :
http://www.axishistory.com/books/123-germany-waffen-ss/germany-waffen-ss-ss-vt/1462-ss-standarte-der-fuehrer
https://www.thirdreichmedals.com/article/WSS.html