Christmas with the British Tank Crew in Holland

Christmas with the British Liberation Army in Holland, November 1944: A tank crew of the 4th Battalion, the Royal Tank Regiment, 4th Armoured Division, unpack a Christmas parcel near Weert in Holland. The crew - who are shown with their camouflaged tank looking like a 'travelling Christmas tree' - had been together for three years. They had seen action in Libya and Italy before coming to Holland. Left to right: Trooper R Buckley; Trooper J Round; and Sergeant H Kirk. The picture was taken by Captain E.G. Malindine from No. 5 Army Film and Photographic Unit.

Source :
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205189095

General George C. Marshall Visits Italian Front

Vallecchia, Viareggio, Italy, April 1945. Colonel Raymond G. Sherman, of the 370th Combat Team of the 92nd Division, leads General of the Army George C. Marshall on a tour of inspection. Sherman wearing an M1 helmet and US officer's raincoat (officer's field overcoat), while Marshall with the British (or civil) gabardine. Behind Marshall is General Lucian King Truscott Jr., with another of these raincoats. Marshall seems to really wear a civilian raincoat!

Source :
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page10

Benito Mussolini Visits Tobruk in 1942

In the summer of 1942, Il Duce Benito Mussolini (marked with arrow) visits Tobruk, Libya, not long after its recaptured from the Commonwealth forces by "The Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel. In this picture, Mussolini is surrounded by his officers: the first officer from left is Vice Admiral Giuseppe Lombardi (Superior Naval Commander in Libya, with headquarters in Tobruk), then another Admiral (or maybe an Air force general). The third and fourth is Army generals. Mussolini himself have the peculiar rank insigna of Primo Maresciallo dell' Impero (a rank only for him and the King). The two officers at far right were Germans, from left to right: General der Infanterie Enno von Rintelen (Bevollmächtigten Deutschen General beim Hauptquartier der italienischen Wehrmacht) and Oberst Hans Hecker (Pionierführer Panzerarmee Afrika). Look at the ribbon bar (italian decorations), the Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse, and Kriegsverdienstkreuz I.Klasse mit Schwertern in Rintelen's uniform, while Hecker (a Ritterkreuzträger) wearing Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse, Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber, and Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=41411
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=238546

Kreisleiter Ernst Wagner of Königsberg

Original color photo of Kreisleiter Ernst Wagner from Königsberg, who was very active in the defence of the city in the last months of the war. He wore a Kreisleiter bracelet and cap, mixed with Army Splitter-pattern camo, Kreisleiter armband, and NSDAP brown pants. This is obviously a custom tunic, but interesting to note that in this color picture, he is wearing a standard Kreis visor and armband - sort of negates the purpose of camo!

Source :
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page10
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/cloth-headgear/nsdap-einsatz-u-dienst-visor-reichsleitung-290015-3/

Canadian Engineer Deactivated German Mine

Italy 1943. Canadian engineer sergeant of the 1st Infantry Division deactivating a German mine. In the divisional red patch it carries the letters R C E (Royal Corps Engineers). He wears a German pith helmet (tropenhelm or tropical helmet) of the type used by the Afrikakorps, to which he has added a Canadian engineers badge.

Source :
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page2

SS Officer Wearing Army Eagle

Russia 1941. An unidentified SS-Hauptsturmführer from SS-Totenkopf-Division (motorisiert), wearing Heer Adler (eagle) in his crusher cap, usually to distinguished the wearer as one of the participants of the first military training of the Waffen-SS by the Heer officers. From his red waffenfarbe, we know that this officer - who wore a ledermantel (leather jacket) - comes from artillery unit, the same thing with all other Army officers behind him. Too bad there is no information whatsoever about his identity or his unit.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=146826&p=2173100#p2173100

Canadian Sergeant with German Medals

To the victor go the spoils: Sergeant Gerard Alderic Durocher - of Canadian Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal - displaying twenty-nine German medals which he acquired as souvenirs. The picture was taken by photographer Michael M. Dean at Schmargendorf , Berlin, Germany, on 19 July 1945. The "booty" aside, Sergeant Durocher wears two wound stripes and the ribbon for the Military Medal (MM) for Gallantry in the field. A .pdf of the original citation can be found HERE. Possibly another case on Montgomery downgrading an award, in this instance from the Distinguished Conduct Medal to an MM.

For the identification of the medals:

1. Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz mit Schwertern
2. Tapferkeits- und Verdienstauszeichnung für Angehörige der Ostvölker 1. Klasse in Silber
3. Tapferkeits- und Verdienstauszeichnung für Angehörige der Ostvölker 1. Klasse in Gold
4. SS-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Stufe (25 years)
5. SS-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Stufe (12 years)
6. Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen 1. Stufe (40 years)
7. Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen 2. Stufe (25 years)
8. Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse ohne Schwerter
9. Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
10. Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter
11. Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
12. Kriegsverdienstmedaille
13. Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen Sonderstufe (50 years)
14. Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 1. Stufe (10 years)
15. SS-Dienstausteichnung 3. Stufe (8 years)
16. Dienstauszeichnung für den Reichsarbeitsdienst 4. Stufe (4 years)
17. Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen
18. Erinnerungsmedaille für die spanischen Freiwilligen im Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus
19. Tapferkeits- und Verdienstauszeichnung für Angehörige der Ostvölker 2. Klasse in Silber mit Schwertern
20. Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Ostmedaille)
21. Olympia-Erinnerungsmedaille
22. two Mutterkreuze

Source :
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/second-world-war/faces-second-war/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=1911&
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=153613&p=2173089#p2173089
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=222543

Messerschmitt Bf 109 of JG 53 in a Bay of Snow

Photographed in the winter of 1941/42, this "White 2", a Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 of 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) "Pik-As", is standing in the partial shelter of a bay of snow. Snow led to many Bf 109s (E, F and G models) being damaged in taking-off and landing, increasing the Luftwaffe's difficulties in finding sufficient aircraft to replace losses sustained in action. Externally the Bf 109F had many aerodynamic improvements over the E series. On later aircraft the left hand exhaust was fitted with a metal shield to stop exhaust fumes from entering the supercharger intake. The canopy stayed essentially the same as that of the E-4 although the handbook for the F stipulated that the forward, lower triangular panel to starboard was to be replaced by a metal panel with a port for firing signal flares. A two-piece, all metal armour plate head shield was added to the hinged portion of the canopy, although some lacked the curved top section. A bullet-resistant windscreen could be fitted to the windscreen as an option. A boundary layer duct allowed continual airflow to pass through the airfoil above the radiator ducting and exit from the trailing edge of the upper split flap. The lower split flap was mechanically linked to the central 'main' flap, while the upper split flap and forward bath lip position were regulated via a thermostatic valve which automatically positioned the flaps for maximum cooling effectiveness. In 1941 'cutoff' valves were introduced which allowed the pilot to shut down either wing radiator in the event of one being damaged; this allowed the remaining coolant to be preserved. The valves were only delivered to frontline units as kits, the number of which, for unknown reasons, was limited. Other features of the redesigned wings included new leading edge slats, which were slightly shorter but had a slightly increased chord, and new rounded, removable wingtips which changed the profile of the wings and increased the span slightly over that of the E series. The redesigned wing made the internal mounting of guns impractical, so armament was revised. The armament of the Bf 109F consisted of the two MG 17 above the engine plus a Motorkanone cannon firing through the propeller hub: The early F versions were equipped with the MG FF/M cannon, the F-2 got the 15 mm MG 151, and from F-4 on the 20 mm MG 151/20 was used. Only after a lack of spare parts, did he accept an F. Later on, an attachment of underwing 20 mm cannons addressed the issue of fire-power, but at a price to performance.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl 
https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109F/JG53.III/pages/Messerschmitt-Bf-109F-7.JG53-Russia-1942-01.html

Maintenance of Messerschmitt Bf 109

Two technicians of I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) working on the piston engine of the unit's Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6. Regular maintenance was vital, so that as many aircraft as possible could be kept serviceable to counter the steady growth of Russian airpower.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Bf 109 of Romanian Air Force at Stalingrad

The Romanian Air Force was equipped with fifty Messerschmitt Bf 109Es, about twelve Bf 109Gs, and several IAR 80 and PZL fighters. Of these more than 60% were lost in action over Russia and Romania. Altogether, the Corpul Aerian (Romanian Air Command) comprised Flotila 2 vanataori, in which there were eight fighter units, each of ten or twelve aircraft. Three of these units (Escadrile 56 to 58) were equipped with Bf 109E such as that shown here at Stalingrad, 1942. This Romanian Air Force Bf 109E-7, No 64, WNr704 "Nella", is a refurbished Luftwaffe machine which had previously served with Erg.Staffel JG52, this Bf 109E-7 was flown by Adj. stag. av. de rezerva Tiberiu Vinca during the Stalingrad campaign at the end of 1942 with the phrase 'BUCURESTI-MOSCOVA' [Bucharest-Moscow] chalked on the port side beneath the cockpit. Note also Vinca's personal monogram just visible below the cockpit, his girlfriend's name 'Nella' on the cowling, and the five victory bars he had, less than 12 of his total confirmed victories.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Messerschmitt_Bf_109E_Rom
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/98797785560814610/?lp=true
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/24/fb/68/24fb6878a59a0510b5037a7a891e8c9c.jpgania.jpg

Bf 109 F-4 of JG 54 in the Eastern Front

This Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 fighter operated over the northern sector of the Ostfront, and in 1941 belonged to 7.Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) "Grünherz" (Green Hearts). During the attack on Russia, JG 54 was subordinated under the command of I. Fliegerkorps / Luftflotte 1, and was based at Kowno, Dünaburg and Ostrov. In August 1941 a significant part was redeployed in the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) region.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Bf 109 "White 11" of JG 54

A Messerschmitt Bf 109 E "White 11" of II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54), handed over to a training unit after the first Bf 109 F fighters had arrived in the Russian theatre. Because the ground at forward airfield was a different colour, the aircraft's earlier camouflage has been painted over with a darker mottled pattern to give it a better chance of surviving low level attacks by Red Army aircrafts.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Junkers Ju 88 at Bad Zwischenahn Airfield

Junkers Ju 88 “T5+BU” (probably an A-4) of 1.Staffel / ObdL (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe). Picture taken at Bad Zwischenahn airfield in March or April 1941. The Staffel had moved to this airfield at the end of January when it was still equipped with Heinkel He 111’s. In the first three weeks of March they switched to the Ju 88. The Staffel had an authorised strength of 9 aircraft. To make long weather flights over the Northsea and Polar Sea possible, the range of the Ju 88 had to be increased. This was done by removing the ventral gondola with the aft-firing MG. The absence of this defensive weapon to the rear and below led to a number of losses due to British fighters. Note the unit emblem of Westa 1./ObdL and the aircraft’s individual letter “B” painted black on the fuselage and green on the upper side of the wing. The unit code “T5+...U” was used by the Staffel till mid January 1942, after which it was replaced by “D7+...H”. Note also that camouflage precautions are in full process at Bad Zwischenahn. The walls to protect the aircraft against shrapnel and the frame to hold the camouflage nets are already completed. The nets itself have not been installed yet.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the Snow

Two pictures of Messerschmitt Bf 109 C-1 or D-1 of an unidentified Luftwaffe unit. As these aircraft have already the two ventilation slits behind the exhaust and show the wing armament (although removed here), these aircraft are not Bf 109 B’s. Note also the large opening in the middle of the spinner of the VDM-metal propeller, intended for the MG 17. The style of the German cross indicates that these pictures were probably taken during the winter of 1940/41. Most of the aircraft carry the typical 1940 camouflage.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Rumanian Heinkel He 111 Abandoned in Bessarabia

Two pictures of Heinkel He 111 H-3 Nr.5 of Aeronautica Regală Română (ARR, or the Royal Rumanian Air Force), taken at an unknown airfield in Bessarabia. The aircraft crashed due to bad weather during a night operation in July 1942 on Popesti-Leordene airfield near Bucharest. Four men were killed, including a Luftwaffe Leutnant. One man was wounded.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Kriegsmarine Filmberichter with Arriflex 35mm Camera

Horst Grund (Kriegsmarine filmberichter or cameraman) shot some scene in the boat with his Arriflex 35mm camera, in the Mediterranean sea, 1943. He is wearing a kapok schwimmweste (life jacket/vest) early model. The Arriflex 35 II is one of the most significant motion picture cameras of all time. It was designed and developed by Arnold & Richter, A.G. of Munich Germany, founded in 1917 as film laboratory equipment and accessory manufacturers. The name ARRI derives from the first two letters of each founder’s name: August Arnold and Robert Richter. ARRI introduced their first camera the Kinarri in 1924. 100 Kinarris were sold. After a great deal of research and development, they developed the mirror reflex viewing system in 1931. After perfecting their mirror reflex system, ARRI introduced the Arriflex 35 in 1937. It was the world’s first 35mm reflex motion picture camera. The mirror reflex viewing system it introduced was so superior that it is used on all professional motion picture cameras, in all formats, to this date!

Source :
http://cinematechnic.com/resources/arri_35-2
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Horst_Grund
https://ww2db.com/photo.php?source=ll&color=all&list=search&foreigntype=P&foreigntype_id=985

Two Reichsbahn Personnel Eating Their Lunch

Look like this picture was taken yesterday (and they are a bunch of reenactors), but actually it was taken during World War II! It shows the personnel of Reichsbahn (German Reich Railway) eating their lunch. The picture was taken in 1944 by Walter Hollnagel. In August 1944, this German photographer was tasked to photographed the state of the Italian railways (please note that after the Italians concluded a truce with the Allies on 8 September 1943, most of the country was occupied by the German army). While the Allied forces were slowly moving forward, the Anglo-American aircraft delivered destructive attacks on infrastructure facilities. Back to the picture: The man on the right is an official of pay group 8 or 7a or a supernumerary official of pay group 7. His actual "rank" designation depends on his occupational specialty; he could be a Kanzleisekretär, Kanzleivorsteher, Reichsbahnobersekretär, Vermessungsobersekretär, Lokomotivbetriebsrevisor, Betriebsoberwerkmeister or Oberlokomotivführer. There's no way to tell for the man on the left. Not much to say about the uniforms; they are wearing normal Reichsbahn service dress. From the badges and insignia, it's probably an early-war photograph. (The sidecap for men as worn by the official on the left was introduced around the outbreak of war. However, his colleague is not yet wearing the large wings on the cap band of the service cap and the duty station insignia on the left upper tunic sleeve, both of which were introduced in 1941.)

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/08/foto-berwarna-deutsche-reichsbahn-drb.html
https://eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Deutsche%20Reichsbahn%20Gesellschaft
https://flackelf.livejournal.com/214873.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=213048&start=105
https://www.vintag.es/2012/12/fire-at-train-station-of-florence-italy.html
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5937803

Oberst Von Drebber and Hauptmann Bender on Field Telephone

Two German officers using Feldtelefon (field telephone) at a position near Stalingrad, autumn 1942. From left to right: Oberst Moritz von Drebber (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 523 / 297.Infanterie-Division) and Hauptmann Bender. In October 1942, the regiment was renamed as Grenadier-Regiment 523. Von Drebber received the rank of Generalmajor on 1 January 1943, and on 22 January 1943 he was appointed as commander of the 297. Infanterie-Division. Three days later he surrendered to the Red Army. The picture was taken by Alois Beck.

Source :
https://www.akg-images.de/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2UMESQDIHRM1H&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=871&POPUPPN=58&POPUPIID=2UMDHUSBDVJ

Hitler with the Bunker Models

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef der Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Oberstleutnant Fritz Claus (Leiter referats IV in der Inspektion 5, Festungswesen, im Oberkommando des Heeres), and General der Pioniere Alfred Jacob (General der Pioniere und Festungen im Oberkommando des Heeres). This photo was taken when pioneer general Jacob showed Hitler the latest German fortification and bunker designs, which would later be used on many battle fronts. There is no information when and where this photo was taken, but most likely in June 1943, shortly after Jacob was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz mit Schwertern (June 4, 1943), the medal attached to his neck. Other version for the identification of the officer between Hitler and Jacob is Oberst Erich Kahsnitz. This photograph by Walter Frentz is famous for being the cover of 'Hitler's War' book by the author David Irving.

Source:
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=66810&p=605541&hilit=alfred+jacob#p605541

Some of the First Americans to Attack on D-Day

Some of the first American soldiers to attack the German defenses in Normandy (France), transported in Higgins Boats (LCVPs), approach Omaha Beach near Ruquet, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, on 6 June 1944. They were part of E Company of the 16th Infantry Regiment. To the right is another LCVP. The soldiers are protecting their weapons with Pliofilm covers against the wetness. This picture was shot by Chief Photographer’s Mate (CPHOM) Robert F. Sargent of the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

Source :
http://allthatsinteresting.com/world-war-2-in-color
https://www.historyinorbit.com/never-before-seen-colored-photos-from-d-day-landings-in-normandy-will-leave-you-breathless/
https://www.turkishnews.com/en/content/2015/12/20/d-day-in-color-photographs-from-the-normandy-invasion/
https://www.vintag.es/2017/06/26-rare-color-photos-of-d-day-show-new.html

US Troops Marching in Saint-Lô

United States Army trucks and jeeps drive through the ruins of Saint-Lô, Normandy (France), in July of 1944. A group of American soldiers is walking along the street. The town was almost totally destroyed by 2,000 Allied bombers when they attacked German troops stationed there during Operation Overlord. The Battle of Saint-Lô is one of the three conflicts in the Battle of the Hedgerows (fr), which took place between July 9–24, 1944, just before Operation Cobra. Saint-Lô had fallen to Germany in 1940, and, after the Invasion of Normandy, the Americans targeted the city, as it served as a strategic crossroads. American bombardments caused heavy damage (up to 95% of the city was destroyed) and a high number of casualties, which resulted in the martyr city being called "The Capital of Ruins", popularized in a report by Samuel Beckett. The picture was taken by Reinhard Schultz from PRISMA magazine

Source :
http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-world-war-ii-normandy-saint-lo-july-1944-second-world-war-ww2-war-30511322.html
https://www.gettyimages.com/articles/news/see-rare-color-pictures-of-d-day
http://historyinphotos.blogspot.co.id/2016/01/world-war-ii-in-color.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/06/scenes-from-d-day-then-and-now/100752/
https://www.turkishnews.com/en/content/2015/12/20/d-day-in-color-photographs-from-the-normandy-invasion/

American Medics Drive Through the Ruins in Normandy

 American military medics drive through the rubble and ruins of an unnamed town somewhere in northwestern France in the summer of 1944. The ruins left behind after warfare speak a language of their own. Even more strikingly, no matter where the conflict has taken place — whether it's in northern Europe or the South Pacific, the Middle East or Central Africa — the vernacular of destruction is often the same: Buildings reduced to rubble and dust. A scarred, tortured landscape seemingly devoid of life, aside from small human forms trying to piece it back together. Twisted, rusting, abandoned vehicles. And always, above it all, the indifferent sky. Frank Scherschel, who shot the photograph, was an award-winning staff photographer for LIFE magazine

Source :
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2344233/The-ruins-Normandy-Unpublished-color-photos-taken-northern-France-1944-devastating-impact-Allied-Forces-battle-defeat-Nazis-World-War-2.html
http://historyinphotos.blogspot.co.id/2016/01/world-war-ii-in-color.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/d-day-photos-color-gallery-1.1381271?pmSlide=1.1381254
http://time.com/3880091/after-d-day-unpublished-color-photos-from-normandy-summer-1944/

British Commonwealth Soldiers with Nazi Flag at Cassino

British and South African soldiers show off a prize, a swastika Nazi flag, after finally conquering Monte Cassino, 18 May 1944. By May 1944 the historic Benedictine Abbey of Monte Cassino had been reduced to rubble. As part of Operation Diadem, the task of capturing it was given to Polish II Corps, but their attack on the night of May 11th/12th failed. The German positions in and around the ruins high on the mountain (atop which the soldiers above are standing on) were simply too strong. Further to the south, however, French troops managed to find a way through the Aurunci Mountains, which the German's believed are impassable, and could now overlook the Liri Valley, through which highway 6 ran to Rome. A second attack on Monte Cassini by the Poles, on May 17th, made some progress, but because of the French advance German troops were already withdrawing from the Gustav Line. The following morning the Polish flag was hoisted over the ruins of the abbey. The capture of Monte Cassino came at a high price. The Allies suffered around 55,000 casualties in the Monte Cassino campaign. German casualty figures are estimated at around 20,000 killed and wounded. Total Allied casualties, spanning the period of the four Cassino battles and the Anzio campaign with the subsequent capture of Rome on 5 June 1944, were over 105,000. This image is in beautiful and original Kodachrome, and was taken by Carl Mydans from LIFE magazine.

Source :
http://historyinphotos.blogspot.co.id/2016/01/world-war-ii-in-color.html
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg_fluFnn01/
http://www.vintag.es/2013/07/color-photos-of-italian-campaign-of.html

Captured German Kübelwagen in the Liberation of Paris

Paris, France, 26 August 1944: Car carrying journalists and photographers of YANK magazine give a ride to French partisan and unidentified woman during parade held the day after the liberation of Paris by Allied troops. They are using a captured VW Kübelwagen Typ 82, a light military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military (both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS). Based heavily on the Volkswagen Beetle, it was prototyped as the Type 62, but eventually became known internally as the Type 82. Kübelwagen is an abbreviation of Kübelsitzwagen, meaning "bucket-seat car" because all German light military vehicles that had no doors were fitted with bucket seats to prevent passengers from falling out. The first VW test vehicles had no doors and were therefore fitted with bucket seats, so acquiring the name VW Kübelsitzwagen that was later shortened to Kübelwagen. Mercedes, Opel and Tatra also built Kübel(sitz)wagens. The picture was taken by Frank Scherschel from LIFE magazine.

Source :
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100326/Stunning-rare-colour-images-World-War-II.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_K%C3%BCbelwagen
https://www.gettyimages.com/license/72430265

German Soldier Lay Flowers in the Military Cemetery

German Kriegsberichter (war correspondent) from Kriegsmarine, Horst Grund, honors a fallen comrade on the Soldatenfriedhof (military cemetery) at Gadshikov on the Crimea peninsula/Ukraine in summer of 1942. "And I will show you the field where the Iron Crosses grow..." (quote from the movie 'Cross of Iron'). On 4 July 1942, German troops captured the Russian port of Sevastopol. The Soviet Separate Coastal Army was annihilated, with 118,000 men killed, wounded or captured in the final assault and 200,481 casualties in the siege as a whole for both it and the Soviet Black Sea Fleet. Axis losses in Störfang amounted to 35,866 men, of which 27,412 were German and 8,454 Romanian. With the Soviet forces neutralized, the Axis refocused their attention on the major summer campaign of that year, Case Blue and their advance to the Caucasus oilfields.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sevastopol_(1941%E2%80%9342)
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/_n_1603_bild-261_501x0_0_22.html

Two Luftwaffe Soldiers Wearing Black Glasses

Two Luftwaffe soldiers with the rank of Gefreiter (left) and Obergefreiter (right) posing their smile. They were both wearing black glasses a.k.a. shades. This picture comes from a collection of Akira Takiguchi, a moderator in Wehrmacht-Awards.com. Based from the text above, it was taken from the album of the 3.7cm Flak crew, even though it is possible the two guy in this picture is not a member of Flaktruppen (which usually wearing red collar tabs).

Source :
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

General der Infanterie Albrecht Schubert

General der Infanterie Albrecht Schubert (23 June 1886 – 26 November 1966) was born in Glatz (modern Kłodzko, Poland, then in German Silesia), in a family of long Silesian ancestry. In 1904 he joined the Prussian Army and initially served with the Magdeburg-based Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Louis Ferdinand von Preußen (2. Magdeburgisches) Nr.27. By the time of the outbreak of World War I he rose to the rank of Leutnant. Promoted to the rank of Hauptmann in 1914, during the war he served with the Grenadier-Regiment Kronprinz (1. Ostpreußisches) Nr.1, 21. Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade, 4. Landwehr-Division, 11. Infanterie-Division and as a staff officer in the 202. Infanterie-Division. After the war he remained within the Reichswehr and served in Stettin in the 2. Division, and then in the 8. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment. Promoted to Major in 1926, to Oberstleutnant in 1931 and to full Oberst in 1933. Three years later he became the commanding officer of the Infanterie-Regiment 12. Following Adolf Hitler's rise to power, Schubert's career was fast-tracked. In April 1936 he was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor and already in March 1938 he became a Generalleutnant. The following month he became the commanding officer of the 44. Infanterie-Division, with which he took part in the initial stages of World War II. During the joint Nazi and Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 his unit took part in the fights as part of the 14. Armee. After the end of hostilities in October 1939 he was temporarily withdrawn to the personal reserve of the OKH (Oberkommando des Heeres, but was soon reinstated to active service as a provisional commanding officer of the XXIII. Armeekorps, with which he took part in the battle of France of 1940. Shortly before the start of Operation Barbarossa, Schubert was promoted to the rank of General der Infanterie and his corps was relocated to East Prussia. Already in September 1941 he was awarded with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as General der Infanterie and Kommandierender General XXIII. Armeekorps. In May 1942 he temporarily commanded the entire 9. Armee, but was again withdrawn from active service in the summer of that year. It was not until the following year that he was given the command over the Hannover-based XI. Armeekorps. Until the end of World War II he served on various staff positions in Vienna, away from the front. Schubert survived the war and died 26 November 1966 in Bielefeld, Germany. Other medals and decorations he received: Ritterkreuz des Königlich Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern; kaiserlich und königlich Militär-Verdienstkreuz I.Klasse mit Kriegsdekoration und Schwertern ; Königlich Bayerischer Militär-Verdienstorden IV.Klasse mit Schwertern; Herzoglich Sachsen-Meiningisches Kreuz für Verdienste im Krieg; Königlich Württembergischer Friedrichs-Orden, Ritterkreuz I.Klasse mit Schwertern; Hamburger Hanseatenkreuz; 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914/1918; Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnungen; 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse und I.Klasse; Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (1942); and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (20 January 1943)

Source :
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=5858&searchword=schubert,%20albrecht
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_Schubert
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=126814
http://www.grosser-generalstab.de/regiment/index.html
http://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General2/SCHUBERT_ALBRECHT.html

Ukrainian Volunteers with the Wehrmacht

Operation Barbarossa, summer 1941: In many Ukrainian villages - especially in the District of Galicia assigned to Generalgouvernement - German soldiers were welcomed as liberators from Stalinist oppression. On 14 July 1941, Joseph Stalin called on the people of USSR to engage in partisan warfare, but many Ukrainians preferred to serve as collaborators against their own compatriots.

Source :

Book "The Onslaught: The German Drive to Stalingrad Documented in 150 Unpublished Colour Photographs" by Max Hastings