Walther von Brauchitsch Inspecting the Pioneers

Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch (left, Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres) chats with unknown soldier from Pioniertruppen. Behind Brauchitsch is Generalleutnant Karl-Adolf Hollidt (Kommandeur 50. Infanterie-Division), while face visible behind the soldier is General der Pioniere Alfred Jacob (General der Pioniere und Festungen im Oberkommando des Heeres). This original color picture is taken from "Nach Frankreich Hinein!", a Wehrmacht issued magazine commemorated the Battle of France, which published on 20 April 1941. It contains over 150 photographs and also some dozen illustrations.

Source :
https://ea-militaria.com/product/large-nach-frankreich-hinein-magazine-1941

German Pioneers Cutting Barbed Wire

Operation Barbarossa - German pioneers cutting through barbed wire on the German-Soviet demarcation line behind the Granitza River at the beginning of the Russian campaign. On June 22, 1941, more than 3 million German and Axis troops invaded the Soviet Union along an 1,800-mile-long front, launching Operation Barbarossa. It was Germany’s largest invasion force of the war, representing some 80 percent of the Wehrmacht, the German armed forces, and one of the most powerful invasion forces in history.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/index.php?sid=78b247827f7aa5bebb247cf9956130ce
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa

German Soldier About to Lay Mines

German Obergefreiter (Corporal) leaving his position to lay land mines in the Eastern Front during Unternehmen Barbarossa (German invasion of Soviet Union). In his waist belt a hand grenade. This picture was taken by Artur Grimm in the summer of 1941. On the eastern front, mine warfare of massive proportions was used by both sides during defensive and offensive operations. A postwar German assessment of mine operations credited mine warfare with achieving some temporary tactical results but dismissed it as having no operational or strategic effect. "The effectiveness of German mines," General Major Alfred Toppe said, "was reduced by Soviet indifference to casualties and diligent countermine operations."

Source :
https://1997-2001.state.gov/global/arms/rpt_9401_demine_ch1.html
https://www.facebook.com/1219329084887059/posts/obergefreiter-mit-stielhandgranate-und-tellerminen/1414892765330689/
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/soviet-union-ukrainian-ssr-world-war-ii-german-soldier-news-photo/548130249?phrase=artur%20grimm

German Flamethrower

A German solider aims a backpack flamethrower across a field of tall grass, Soviet Union, 1941 or 1942. The image was originally published as 'Das Heer im Grossdeutschen Freiheitskampf' (translated as 'The Army in the Greater German Freedom Struggle'), a collection of 50 plus images taken by the German Army's combat photography unit (Propagandakompanie) during the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

The Flammenwerfer 35, or FmW 35 (flame thrower) was a one-man German flamethrower used during World War II to clear out trenches and buildings. It could project fuel up to 25 metres from the user.

It weighed 35.8 kilograms (79 lb), and held 11.8 litres (2.6 imp gal; 3.1 US gal) of flaming oil, (Flammöl 19), petrol mixed with tar to make it heavier and to give it better range, which was ignited by a hydrogen torch providing about 10 seconds of continuous use. The firing device is activated at the same time with the Selbstschlussventil and is inside the protective pipe. The Flammenwerfer 35 was produced until 1941, when the lighter, slightly redesigned Flammenwerfer 41 began replacing it.

This flamethrower, like all flamethrowers employed by the Wehrmacht, was exclusively used by sturmpionieres (assault pioneers); specialist pioneers who were to assist the infantry in an assault, by overcoming natural and man made obstacles for the infantry, clearing enemy fortifications with flamethrowers and then destroying them with demolition charges. The sturmpionieres that exclusively used these flamethrowers played an important part in overcoming French fortifications blocking the German advance during the Battle of France. More specifically the Battle of Sedan (1940).

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammenwerfer_35
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/german-solider-aims-a-backpack-flamethrower-across-a-field-news-photo/103118678

US Army Combat Engineers Salvaging Steel

 

Combat Engineers of the US Army salvage steel to be used in building bridges for Allied armies from the Fallersleben Factory, which has been turned from a "peoples' car" factory to V-1 production. The VW factory had Cellars originally to be used for support equipment and storage. After allied bombing the undamaged areas were used to manufacture the Wing assemblers for the Fi156 V-1s ("repurposing" is what we call it nowadays!).

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4369889033097876&set=gm.1781015942083821

US Army Engineers Locating Land Mines

 

In Italy with US Army Engineers locating land mines, 1943. The conventional method of mine detection was developed in World War II and has changed little since then. It involves a metal detector, prodding instrument and tripwire feeler. Deminers clear an area of vegetation and then divide it into lanes. A deminer advances along a lane, swinging a metal detector close to the ground. When metal is detected, the deminer prods the object with a stick or stainless steel probe to determine whether it is a mine. If a mine is found, it must be deactivated. Although conventional demining is slow (5–150 square metres cleared per day), it is reliable, so it is still the most commonly used method. Integration with other methods such as explosive sniffing dogs can increase its reliability. Demining is a dangerous occupation. If a mine is prodded too hard or it is not detected, the deminer can suffer injury or death. The large number of false positives from metal detectors can make deminers tired and careless. According to one report, there is one such incident for every 1000–2000 mines cleared. 35 percent of the accidents occur during mine excavation and 24 percent result from missed mines.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demining
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1707581389427277/?__cft__[0]=AZUx0dYLNfqxBviinHiydaNq6YBrrH7rLoT_T_kFp1NWHcWqAhpbo8XqhNddJcBRH_aQ1QRu51v0wj1mxeGFlEnaqOCDTV88w6CBDGee8OxMpAuF4OGOj5t-0jrrkkU9OeL2WYWXwRQ2uYYCrHgIkAZ3h-z8dVjlUxIzU2tH7ut8BkSpPNyjdX6jnJLMormFW7M&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Flieger Oberstabsingenieur Otto Sunkel

 

 

Luftwaffe engineer Otto Sunkel

Based on the extensive group of documents, photos and insignia related to the career of Luftwaffe engineer Otto Sunkel, includes: his Luftwaffe "wehrpass", issued Feb. 24, 1938 and featuring his identity photo and signature on the second page. Page 12 shows his various regimental assignments, indicating that he served primarily with signals and communications units, while page 22, shows his rank progression from his induction as "Hauptingenieur" ("general engineer") in September of 1937, to "Stabsingenieur" ("staff engineer") in October of 1938, and finally "Flieger Oberstabsingenieur" ("aviation chief engineer") in April of 1944. Pages 32 and 33 indicate that he spent the majority of the war stationed in Belgium and western France, and several of his decorations are listed on page 38. April 20, 1944, an award certificate granting Sunkel the War Merit Cross, First Class with Swords. Signed at the conclusion in black ink by Luftwaffe field marshal HUGO SPERRLE (1885-1953) as chief of Luftflotte 3. Jan. 30, 1944, an award certificate granting Sunkel the War Merit Cross, Second Class with Swords. Again signed by Sperrle at the conclusion in black ink. March 11, 1939, an award certificate granting Sunkel the Long Service Award, Fourth Class for four years' service in the Luftwaffe. Signed once more at the conclusion by Sperrle in black ink. Munich, Sep. 18, 1939, an award certificate granting Sunkel the Sudetenland Medal. Signed at the conclusion by a Luftwaffe major general in black ink, countersigned with Sperrle's typed signature. WITH: eleven additional documents related to Sunkel's service, including his service agreement, completed and signed by Sunkel upon joining the Luftwaffe; documents for his dismissal from the Luftwaffe issued both by the Wehrmacht and the occupying American 14th Armored Division; his shooting record book; a 1935-dated order enlisting Sunkel as a radio engineer; and more. WITH: pair of Luftwaffe collar tabs, each 2" x 1 1/2", of pink wool over a buckram core, trimmed with braided aluminum bullion and depicting a three-bladed propeller over an oak leaf cluster, indicating Sunkel's early rank of "Oberingenieur" ("upper engineer") in the Luftwaffe Engineering Corps.

Source ;
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/document-and-relic-grouping-of-luftwaffe-engineer_32A4B6783B/

The M1 Flamethrower

 

 

Camouflaged U.S. Army engineer with his flamethrower, 1941.

The M1 and M1A1 were portable flamethrowers developed by the United States during World War II. The M1 weighed 72 lb, had a range of 15 meters, and had a fuel tank capacity of five gallons. The improved M1A1 weighed less, at 65 lb, had a much longer range of 45 meters, had the same fuel tank capacity, and fired thickened fuel (napalm). Development of the weapon began in July 1940. The first prototype had the designation of E1. The prototype was further refined into the E1R1 model, which resulted in the adopted M1 model in August 1941. These man-portable weapons saw little use in Europe. They were more common in the Pacific, where they were used extensively when attacking pillboxes and fortifications. The M1's unreliability and lack of developed tactics resulted in the failure of the first flamethrower attack on a Japanese fortification in December 1942. The M1 was gradually replaced by the M1A1 in 1943. The M1A1 was replaced by the M2 flamethrower later during the war.

Source :
Bettmann Archive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_flamethrower?fbclid=IwAR26fIvT2J84OFfmebNLcph_smlulynrT75k1K4gSZ4QkQRUG7hDmA2zX_k
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=450225342912962&set=gm.1689193411266075

German Panzers Ready to Cross a Pontoon Bridge

 

Interesting photo of a German panzer unit on the approaches to the blown bridge at Kremenchug, Ostfront. At left we can see a temporary bridge built to get across. German Army pioniere were pretty experienced at this point at quickly constructing sturdy pontoons for armored units. The truck has the symbol of "Werkstattwagen" (repair company). According to Axel Urbanke, the slide of this traffic jam at the makeshift bridge next to the blown up Dnjeper bridge near Kremenchug was taken by Obergefreiter Joseph Kleinhenz from the Brückenbau-Bataillon 751 in August 1941. The tanks could belong to the 13. Panzer Division. They have little yellow tower numbers. Its a slide of big group (320 slides) of this soldier. All slides are well labeled. Later this unit was transferred to Heeresgruppe Nord.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2824672191185440&set=gm.1650558301796253

A Motor Column Crossing a River on a Pontoon Bridge

France, 1940: The German convoy crossing a tributary of the Oise at Senlis on a pontoon bridge, in this case a Brücken-Gerät B, some 50m long and capable of supporting as much as 20 tons. While not evident here, anti-aircraft guns were normally emplaced to protect bridge sites. The Bruckengerat B could use two-piece metal pontoons (Halbpontons) or large inflatable boats.

Source :
Book "German Pionier 1939-45: Combat Engineer of the Wehrmacht" by Gordon L. Rottman
http://www.cartula.ro/forum/topic/4297-al-doilea-razboi-mondial-in-fotografiian-sau-color/page__st__620

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

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

Finnish Infantry Crossing a River

Finnish infantry crossing a river at Olonets Karelia using an "Iivar’s Bridge", named after its inventor Captain Iivari Akseli Kauranen, during the retreat in Continuation War in 1944. The pioneers could quickly make these pontoon bridges by lashing together branches and planks of wood. Kauranen himself was a Jäger officer who retired as a Colonel from duty of Inspector of Engineer Corps. He also co-designed another quick-build floating bridge: Pikasilta M/32, nicknamed after the designer: Iivarin Pikasilta.

Source :
 Book "Finland at War: The Continuation and Lapland Wars 1941-45 by Vesa Nenye
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=206843&start=30