Luftwaffe Enigma Machine

Original caption: "Unsere Wehrmacht. Funkstation im offenen Gelände" (Our Armed Forces. Radio station in open terrain).

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

Bio of Generalleutnant Rudolf-Eduard Licht (1890-1978)

 

Rudolf-Eduard Hugo Heinrich Licht

Date of Birth: 11.06.1890 - Holzhaleben, Sondershausen, Thuringen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 14.09.1978 - Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg (West Germany)

Promotions:
19.12.1911 Fähnrich
18.08.1912 Leutnant
27.01.1916 Oberleutnant
01.05.1922 Rittmeister/Hauptmann
01.02.1933 Major
01.08.1935 Oberstleutnant
01.03.1938 Oberst
01.02.1942 Generalmajor
01.02.1944 Generalleutnant

Career:
Entered Army Service (17 Mar 1911)
Fahnenjunker in the 167th Infantry-Regiment (17 Mar 1911-01 Oct 1913)
Adjutant of II. Battalion of the 167th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1913-22 Nov 1914)
Wounded, in Hospital (22 Nov 1914-07 Feb 1915)
Adjutant of II. Battalion of the 167th Infantry-Regiment (07 Feb 1915-02 Aug 1916)
Company-Leader in the 167th Infantry-Regiment (02 Aug 1916-15 Oct 1916)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 167th Infantry-Regiment (15 Oct 1916-11 Jan 1917)
Company-Leader in the 167th Infantry-Regiment (11 Jan 1917-08 Jul 1917)
Regiments-Adjutant of the 167th Infantry-Regiment (08 Jul 1917-04 Nov 1918)
In British Captivity (04 Nov 1918-01 Nov 1919)
Transferred into the 22nd Reichswehr-Rifle-Regiment (01 Dec 1919-01 Jun 1920)
Transferred into the 21st Reichswehr-Rifle-Regiment (01 Jun 1920-01 Jan 1921)
Transferred into the 15th Infantry-Regiment (01 Jan 1921-01 Oct 1921)
Detached for Subsidiary-Leadership-Training and transferred into the 15th Mounted-Regiment (01 Oct 1921-01 Oct 1923)
With the Staff of the II. Battalion of the 15th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1923-01 Oct 1925)
Company-Chief in the 15th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1925-01 Oct 1929)
Instructor at the Infantry School (01 Oct 1929-01 Oct 1934)
Commander of the Training-Battalion of Infantry-Regiment Leipzig (01 Oct 1934-15 Oct 1935)
Commander of III. Battalion of the 101st Infantry-Regiment (15 Oct 1935-12 Oct 1937)
Commander of Instruction-Group C of the War School Dresden (12 Oct 1937-10 Nov 1938)
Commander of Instruction-Group A of the War School Wiener Neustadt (10 Nov 1938-01 Sep 1939)
Führer-Reserve OKH (01 Sep 1939-01 Dec 1939)
Commander of the 40th Infantry-Regiment (01 Dec 1939-23 Jul 1941)
Commander of the 17th Rifle-Brigade (23 Jul 1941-11 Nov 1941)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 17th Panzer-Division (11 Nov 1941-01 Feb 1942)
Commander of the 17th Panzer-Division (01 Feb 1942-10 Oct 1942)
Führer-Reserve OKH (10 Oct 1942-01 Nov 1942)
Commander of Division 487 (01 Nov 1942-15 Mar 1943)
Führer-Reserve & Detached to Army-Group Nord (15 Jun 1943-12 Oct 1943)
Delegated with the Leadership of the 21st Luftwaffe-Field-Division (12 Oct 1943-01 Nov 1943)
Commander of the 21st Field-Division (L) (01 Nov 1943-01 Nov 1944)
Commander of the 710th Infantry-Division (01 Nov 1944-15 Apr 1945)
In Captivity (08 May 1945-1947)
Released (1947)

Awards and Decorations:
25.10.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
09.08.1916 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.191_ Schwarzburgisches Ehrenkreuz III.Klasse mit Schwertern
00.00.191_ k.u.k. Österreichische Militär-Verdienstkreuz III.Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration
26.05.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Schwarz
15.01.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
02.10.1936 Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
00.00.19__ 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.19__ 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
30.08.1941 Anerkennungsurkunde des Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres
18.10.1941 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, as Oberst and Kommandeur 17. Schützen-Brigade
00.00.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/1942” (Ostmedaille)

Front inspection: Divisionskommandeur Rudolf-Eduard Licht (3rd from right) and Generalfeldmarschall Ernst Busch (right)

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/09/daftar-generalleutnant-heer-letnan.html
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalleutnant2/LICHT_RUDOLF.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/11169/Licht-Rudolf-Eduard.htm

German Soldiers in the Trenches

German soldiers crowded in the trenches, reminiscence of World War I. No information about place or date.

Source :
https://www.sutori.com/en/story/ww11-timeline--NzaxvEFFK32SoJX1ys9MJ8eK

Wehrmacht Briefing

An officer of the Wehrmacht gives speech in front of his soldiers, who gathered in the mountain slope. No information about place or date.

Source :
Personal collection

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

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

Bio of Oberbootsmannsmaat Wilhelm Becker

Wilhelm Becker

Date of Birth:
Date of Death:

Promotions:
00.00.19__ Oberbootsmannsmaat

Career:
00.00.19__ seemännischer Unteroffizier in Vorpostenboot 1812 / 18.Vorpostenflottille

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.19__ Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
26.10.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, as Oberbootsmannsmaat and seemännischer Unteroffizier (seaman's non-commissioned officer) in Vorpostenboot 1812 / 18.Vorpostenflottille

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/14174/Becker-Wilhelm.htm

German Soldiers in Akershus Fortress Norway

Quay below Akershus fortress. Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital Oslo that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. The fortress has never successfully been besieged by a foreign enemy. However it surrendered without combat to Nazi Germany in 1940 when the Norwegian government evacuated the capital in the face of the unprovoked German assault on Denmark and Norway.

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/?q=wehrmacht&mode=gallery&view=horizontal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akershus_Fortress
https://www.klikk.no/produkthjemmesider/vimenn/tatt-pa-senga-da-tyskerne-angrep-norge-2859155
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/09/23/henry-morgenthau-roosevelt-government-europes-jews-00058206

Three SS-Untersturmführer in the Netherlands

Three SS-Untersturmführer in the occupied-Netherlands. In the middle is a Dutchman. No date.

 

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

Bio of Major Paul Block

Paul Block

Date of Birth: 16.05.1915 - Pommern (German Empire)
Date of Death: unknown

Religion: Evangelist
Father: Eduard Block (priest)
Mother: Frieda Schmidt
Wife: Gisela Leistikow (born 25.09.1921)
Children: Two sons (born in 13.11.1932 and 03.11.1942)

Promotions:
20.04.1936 Leutnant, RDA 01.04.1936 (850)
31.03.1939 Oberleutnant, RDA 01.04.1939 (129)
15.02.1942 Hauptmann, RDA 01.03.1942 (105)
01.03.1944 Major (19a)

Career:
04.06.1934 Entered Infanterie-Regiment 4
16.06.1934 Sworn-in
06.10.1936 Member of II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 94
26.08.1939 - 27.09.1941 Chef 12.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 94
28.09.1941 - 11.06.1942 Chef MG-Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 94
15.06.1942 - 19.01.1943 Inspektionschef Schule V für Offiziersanwärter der Infanterie
20.01.1943 - 28.02.1943 Führerreserve OKH
01.03.1943 - 24.03.1943 Stabsoffizier 321. Infanterie-Division
25.03.1943 - 09.11.1943 Adjutant 321. Infanterie-Division
10.11.1943 - 09.12.1943 Führerreserve OKH
10.12.1943 Adjutant 352. Infanterie-Division

Awards and Decorations:
03.10.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
19.08.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
15.12.1941 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber

LINK DOCUMENT FILE IN THE GENERALKARTEI

Source:
Bundesarchiv

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

Why German Soldiers Fought with their Sleeves Rolled up

To date, there are not so many people left who remember and saw with their own eyes the events of the Second World War, and you and I, the descendants, can only observe the events of those years from documentary chronicles, photographs, or from artistic paintings that were shot in Soviet Union or already in our time.

Surely, many of you have noticed how German soldiers appeared in newsreels with a proud expression on their faces, leisurely walking with an MP40 machine gun in their hands. And almost always their sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, while Soviet soldiers never did this.

What is the reason for such wearing of military clothes. I would like to note right away that in this situation we are not talking about any military traditions. It was all about the form itself.

The fabric from which the German uniform was sewn consisted of two-thirds of wool, the rest of viscose. The quality and characteristics of the appearance of the clothes were at a high level. In the cold season, in this form it was quite warm, but this plus turned into a minus at the same time. Heat transfer is disturbed in woolen products and because of this, it was very hot in a woolen military uniform in the warm season, unlike cotton clothes. Toward the middle of the war, the German uniform began to be sewn, it was from cotton, but the rolling up of the sleeves by the Wehrmacht soldiers on the tunic had already become a habit. Apparently, the charter did not prohibit such wearing of a military uniform, and the officers turned a blind eye to this. However, discomfort in warm weather is not the only reason for rolling up sleeves. We all know that natural wool is a rather prickly material, and those who have worn a wool sweater on their naked body at least once understand what is at stake and remember how the skin itches after that.

As for the soldiers of the Red Army, their uniforms were sewn almost entirely from cotton fabric, as a result of which it was much lighter and more practical. Cotton also breathed well, was a versatile fabric for heat and cold. Plus, the tunics of Soviet soldiers were distinguished by a special cut. The sleeves were slightly tapered, so rolling up the sleeves was quite difficult and impractical.

Source :
https://dzen.ru/media/id/5fdf902d0199050378ad334d/pochemu-nemeckie-soldaty-voevali-zasuchiv-rukava-60771d448fb1c273054dd6bb
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:German_troops_in_Russia_-_NARA_-_540156_(cropped).tif

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/

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

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

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

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