German Infantry Marching during the First Phase of Operation Barbarossa

German infantry from 79. Infanterie-Division marching during the first phase of Operation Barbarossa, June-July 1941. The Russian summer can be hot way above what an average German is used to. The expressions on the faces of the troops tell the story. When the 79. was committed to the invasion of Soviet Union on June 26, 1941, little would the members of the Division realize that they had started the long road to disaster. From June 1941 to September 1942 the 79. fought its way into Russia, encountering strong resistance from Russian forces as well as fierce cold weather during the winter of 1941. The Division participated in actions in the southern portion of Russia via Korosten, Lutsk, Rovno, Piryatin, and Akhtyrka. From November 1941 to June 1942 the Division fought in the Belogorod and Volchansk areas. The Division then advanced from Volchansk via Valuiki, Rovenki, and Serafimovich. By October 1942 the Division was in the marshes between the Don and Volga Rivers, and received orders to the place that was to become the end of the Division's march into Russia, Stalingrad...

Sources :
Book "Die 79. Infanterie Division" by Hans Sänger
http://www.reenactor.net/units/ir226/3-79_hist.html