First Batch of German POWs from Normandy

1,096 German prisoners of War have arrived at Hardway on HM Landing Ship Tank (LST-165) at Gosport. June 1944. This is the first transport with prisoners from Normandy invasion. They will be interrogated and distributed to various camps according to their classification but first, marched to either the holding camp in the Mill lane area or onward to other camps by rail from Gosport station.

Source :
https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/ww-ii-historical-war-world-war-second-world-war-operation-overlord-overlord-invasion-german-prisoners-nazi-national-socialist-soldier-march/H44-10957047
https://www.akg-images.co.uk/archive/-2UMEBM9OJZ.html
https://www.alamy.com/ww-ii-historical-war-world-war-second-world-war-operation-overlord-image68448510.html
https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/noartistknown/1-096-german-prisoners-of-war-have-arrived-on-hm-landing-ship-tank-lst-165-at-gosport-hampshire/photograph/asset/860850
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=813159515881924
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/some-of-the-1-096-german-prisoners-of-war-who-have-arrived-news-photo/183097384

Bio of U-Boat Captain Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann (1917-2010)

U-boat commander Oberleutnant zur See Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann with his submarine U 137 of the type II-D, which served as a training boat, in the spring/summer of 1941 in Danzig harbor. Born on June 25, 1917 in Kiel, he was taken prisoner of war after his boat U 409 was sunk in the Mediterranean in July 1943, from which he was released on February 27, 1948. Massmann died on October 2, 2010 in Bremen. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger.

Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann

Date of Birth: 25.06.1917 - Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein (German Empire)
Date of Death: 02.12.2010 - Bremen (Germany)

Promotions:
03.04.1936 Offiziersanwärter
10.09.1936 Seekadett
01.05.1937 Fähnrich zur See
01.07.1938 Oberfähnrich zur See
01.10.1938 Leutnant zur See
01.10.1940 Oberleutnant zur See
01.08.1943 Kapitänleutnant

Career:
03.04.1936 Entered the Kriegsmarine as Offiziersanwärter (Crew 36)
03.04.1936 - 13.06.1936 Basic training at the II. Schiffsstammabteilung der Ostsee in Stralsund
14.06.1936 - 21.09.1936 On-board training at the sailing training ship GORCH FOCK.
22.09.1936 - 29.04.1937  On-board training at the training ship SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.
30.04.1937 - 27.11.1937 Main course for ensigns with subsequent officer main examination at the Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwik
28.11.1937 - 02.04.1938 Fähnrichslehrgänge (Ensign courses)
03.04.1938 - 02.04.1939 Not determined
03.04.1939 - 00.01.1940 Zugoffizier (Platoon Officer) in the 7. Schiffsstammabteilung in Stralsund
00.01.1940 - 00.01.1940 Adjutant beim Befehlshaber der U-Boote in Kiel
00.01.1940 - 00.05.1940 Wachoffizier in U 17
05.06.1940 - 14.06.1940 Construction instructions for U 137 at the U-Boote Ostsee in Kiel
15.06.1940 - 14.12.1940 I. Wachoffizier in U 137
15.12.1940 - 07.12.1941 Kommandant U 137
08.12.1941 - 20.01.1942 Construction instruction for U 409 at 7. Kriegsschiffbaulehrabteilung Danzig
21.01.1942 - 12.07.1943 Kommandant U 409
12.07.1943 - 27.02.1948 After the loss of U 409 in the Mediterranean sea northeast of Algiers, he was taken prisoner of war
12.07.1943 - 27.02.1948 POW in England

Awards and Decorations:
08.03.1940 U-Bootskriegsabzeichen 1939
00.04.1940 Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse
00.09.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.04.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse

Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Ferdinand Massmann

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/hitler-jaeger-file/5AGL8Mq8csRg6A?hl=en&ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A8.694963005207958%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A2.976126926214648%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375%7D%7D
https://uboat.net/men/commanders/791.html
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/Hanns-Ferdinand_Massmann
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

German Coastal Artillery in Norway

German coastal artillery in Norway. Photo by Bildberichterstatter Gundlach.

In the beginning of the Norwegian campaign, there were 6 Marineartillerie-Abteilungen: MAA Horten, MAA Kristiansand, MAA Stavanger, MAA Bergen, MAA Drontheim, and MAA Narvik. These units were to man captured Norwegian Coastal Fortresses. In June 1940, the MAA’s got number designations, the first ones for just 1 month, before they got permanent numbers.

The German MAA’s were divided into companies, each company manned a battery. Each MAA usually consisted of 6 companies, but this could range from 2 – 12 coys. The commander of a MAA was usually Korvettenkapitän, but could also be Fregattenkapitän or Kapitänleutnant.

Army artillery units designed for coastal defense appeared in Norway in 1941. They established several Heeresküstenartillerie-regimenter (HKAR), Heeresküstenartillerie-Abteilungen (HKAA) and 160 Heeresküsten-Batterien (HKB). At the end of the war, there were 221 batteries divided into 29 units & 10 regiments. The Germans had serious problems in commanding and controlling this effectively. The mix-up between army and naval artillery also caused serious problems when it came to effective command.

The Heeresküstenartillerie had standard army OOB, but had guns of varying quality.They were also equipped with tanks, mostly French captured ones, like the Somua. The coastal defense had a big need of men. In 1930, the whole Kriegsmarine counted 15000 men. In Norway, the total number of Army / Naval Coast defense personnel was about 65000 (1945). Artillery Schools were established several places, amongst them Rauöy in the Oslo-fjord, and Stavern.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/posts/1906782666173814/?__cft__[0]=AZUuO_vSByS790n9KaQIsAbuwn8LeoffMWol5IX4nTf8sMPB_b34YSFLfnbFNMHPXLxRg0lkaLFjrhIf2gtox2fDPXMGqWLcR0qR6L5drmcG2BYeiqK9p9N8otNjwmO1Rf-6ZdxwqD1wJhtPEqRwEXJ0&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-german-norway-coastal-defence/

The USS Midway (CVB-41) Launching

The USS Midway (CVB-41) is launched on March 20, 1945, in Newport News, Virginia. Midway was laid down 27 October 1943 in Shipway 11 at Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Virginia; launched 20 March 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Bradford William Ripley, Jr.; and commissioned on 10 September 1945 (eight days after the Surrender of Japan) with Captain Joseph F. Bolger in command. Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955, as well as the first U.S. aircraft carrier too big to transit the Panama Canal. She operated for 47 years, during which time she saw action in the Vietnam War and served as the Persian Gulf flagship in 1991's Operation Desert Storm. Decommissioned in 1992, she is now a museum ship at the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego, California, and is the only remaining inactive U.S. aircraft carrier that is not an Essex-class aircraft carrier.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration 80-G-K-3515
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

Wilhelm Gustloff

Wilhelm Gustloff, 1938/1939 Italian cruise. From the slide group of the Wilhelm Gustloff's 1938/1939 cruise in Mediterranean sea.

The MV Wilhelm Gustloff was a German armed military transport ship which was sunk on 30 January 1945 by Soviet submarine S-13 in the Baltic Sea while evacuating German civilian refugees from East Prussia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Estonia and military personnel from Gotenhafen (Gdynia) as the Red Army advanced. By one estimate, 9,400 people died, which makes it the largest loss of life in a single ship sinking in history. Originally constructed as a cruise ship for the Nazi Kraft durch Freude (Strength Through Joy) organisation in 1937, she had been requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine (German navy) in 1939. She served as a hospital ship in 1939 and 1940. She was then assigned as a floating barracks for naval personnel in Gdynia (Gotenhafen) before being armed and put into service to transport evacuees in 1945.

Almost all Gustloff friends believe that the Gustloff was always painted white. but that is wrong. Color photos are often processed until the paint is white. In fact, in 1938/39 the paint was cream-colored. Axel Urbanke have a few slides on which this can be seen exactly. He told the Gustloff Museum about this, who previously believed that white was correct. Cream was new information to them. To show the diffrence he post here a zoom from one of his slides which show a ship of Seedienst Ostpreußen (white) and in the background the Gustloff (cream). The slide was taken in August 1939 in Swinemünde.

 

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Wilhelm_Gustloff
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10222606779271661&set=gm.1627323930786357

SS Normandie Capsized

French ocean liner SS Normandie (USS Lafayette) lies capsized at Pier 88 in New York City, after a fire broke out while she was being converted into a troopship on 9 February. 1942. The SS Normandie was a French ocean liner built in Saint-Nazaire, France, for the French Line Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT). She entered service in 1935 as the largest and fastest passenger ship afloat, crossing the Atlantic in a record 4.14 days, and remains the most powerful steam turbo-electric-propelled passenger ship ever built. During World War II, Normandie was seized by U.S. authorities at New York and renamed USS Lafayette. In 1942, the liner caught fire while being converted to a troopship, capsized onto her port side and came to rest on the mud of the Hudson River at Pier 88, the site of the current New York Passenger Ship Terminal. Although salvaged at great expense, restoration was deemed too costly and she was scrapped in October 1946.

 

 

Source :

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3414543215311583&set=gm.1619026891616061

USS Pennsylvania Drydocked in the Pacific

USS Pennsylvania (BB-38, originally Battleship # 38), 1916-1948, drydocked in an Advanced Base Sectional Dock (ABSD) at the Pacific, 1944. Note the extensive anti-torpedo blister built into her hull side and paravane streaming chains running from her forefoot to her foredeck.

 

USS Pennsylvania, lead ship of a class of two 31,400-ton battleships, was built at Newport News, Virginia. Commissioned in June 1916, she served as the Atlantic Fleet's flagship into the early "Twenties". Though her operations during this time were primarily off the U.S. east coast and in the Caribbean area, Pennsylvania briefly cruised to France in December 1918. Transiting the Panama Canal to the Pacific early in 1921, she became flagship of the newly-organized Battle Fleet. During the next eight years, she led the Navy's battleships in maneuvers in the Atlantic, Caribbean and in the Pacific, including a cruise to Australia and New Zealand in mid-1925.

From June 1929 to May 1931, Pennsylvania received an extensive modernization at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania. She emerged with new "tripod" masts, improved combat systems, and an enlarged armored conning tower to better support her mission as fleet flagship. Through the following decade, Pennsylvania continued her pattern of drills, at-sea exercises and periodic major "Fleet Problems" conducted to refine the Navy's war plans.

When Japan attacked on 7 December 1941, Pennsylvania, flagship of the United States Fleet, was in drydock at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. Her relatively light damage was repaired over the next few months, and she operated along the U.S. west coast and off Hawaii until October 1942. Following an overhaul that significantly updated her secondary battery of 5" guns and added many anti-aircraft machine guns, Pennsylvania went to Alaskan waters, where she participated in the recapture of Attu in May 1943 and Kiska in August.

In November 1943, Pennsylvania bombarded Makin during the amphibious assault on the Gilbert Islands. She repeated this role a few months later at Kwajalein and Eniwetok, and in June and July 1944 at Saipan, Tinian and Guam. Her guns supported landings in the Palaus in September 1944 and at Leyte in October. When the Japanese Navy responded vigorously to the latter operation, Pennsylvania helped to destroy part of the enemy fleet in the Battle of Surigao Strait.

In January 1945, Pennsylvania took part in the Lingayen Gulf invasion. Freshly returned to the combat zone after another overhaul, she was seriously damaged by a Japanese aerial torpedo off Okinawa on 12 August 1945, the last major Navy ship to be hit during the Second World War. Too old for retention in the post-war fleet, Pennsylvania was repaired only enough to fit her for target duty. She served in that capacity during the July 1946 Bikini atomic bomb tests. Subsequently moored at Kwajalein for studies of residual radioactivity, USS Pennsylvania was scuttled at sea on 19 February 1948.

 

 

Source :

https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1551937918324959/?__cft__[0]=AZUDzQiyLPz2bweHE1SUCwl2L7gKl3yP0seWajeueHjH4iQwNasmezrrCQTSh9W2rRTpk-MEW7HPrk8pn1b1arFSu4LeKPI9TlRdRW0KMrxq5x2HSN0k3j_fRQcZzuQ0sHCy_P69XKM29nnmlxd4O26maDWbm5_ZBqUk9MNW4mLtCw&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

HJ-school ship "Hein Godenwind"

Adolf Hitler visits HJ-school ship "Hein Godenwind" in Hamburg. The Hein Godenwind was a full-rigged ship built in 1902 at the French shipyard Chantiers et Ateliers de Penhoët in Saint-Nazaire as Maréchal Souchet. The ship was used from 1933 to 1939 as the first floating youth hostel in the port of Hamburg.

Passagierschiff ''Hein Godenwind'' in 1938. Photo by Franz Grasser.

Germany. Hamburg Port. View over the passenger ship "Hein Godenwind" (floating youth hostel 1933-1939) with Hitler Youth to the city. View with tower of St. Michaelis Church (so-called Hambuger Michel). Photo by Franz Grasser.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi collection
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hein_Godenwind_(Schiff,_1902)
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10221866871654433&set=gm.1538862719632479

The Explosion of ST Voorbode

The Dutch steam trawler Voorbode was a fishing vessel, until it was confiscated by the Germans during World War II and used for military transport. In April 1944, it was on its way from Oslo to Kirkenes when it faced mechanical problems, forcing it to seek repair in Bergen, Norway. Due to lack of control, the ship was allowed entrance to Bergen harbour loaded with 124,000 kg (273,000 lb) of explosives, even though the ship did not satisfy security regulations and should not have been allowed into major cities with this cargo.

On April 20 at 8:39, the ship exploded at the quay in the center of Bergen. The force of the explosion caused a water column that was hundreds of metres high, spreading heavy debris. Several ships were thrown on land and Voorbode's anchor was later found on the 417-metre-high (1,368 ft) mountain Sandviksfjellet at 60.41756°N 5.34043°E at a distance of 3 km away from the blast area. The air pressure from the explosion and the tsunami that followed flattened whole neighbourhoods near the harbour; then fires broke out and further destroyed the wooden houses, leaving 5,000 people homeless; 160 people were killed and 5,000 wounded, mostly civilians. The Nykirken was among the buildings which were severely damaged.

The Germans initially tried to conceal the extent of the catastrophe, probably because it exposed their failure to maintain security regulations. Because the explosion occurred on Adolf Hitler's birthday, there was some suspicion of sabotage, but investigations revealed that the explosion was an accident caused by self-ignition. Rescue efforts after the event were extensive and have been well documented.

The pictures were all taken by photographer Franz Guthausen.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ST_Voorbode
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10220914645449373&set=gm.1453693828149369&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Panzer-Regiment 5 Unloading in Tripoli

SdKfz 141 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. G tanks of Panzer-Regiment 5 being unloaded in Tripoli, 10 March 1941. These were armed with the 5 cm L/42 gun and had the addition of a turrent ventilator added to the top of the turret just forward of the cupola. They also came with the new cupola design. Also seen are Le.gl. Einheits LKW 2.5 ton 6x6 "Einheitsdiesel” transport trucks loading supplies. The bulk of the Panzer-Regiment 5 /  5.Leichte-Division arrives in Tripoli where they are unloaded. The following were unloaded : PzKpfw I Ausf A (25), PzKpfw II Ausf C (45), PzKpfw III Ausf G (61), PzKpfw IV Ausf D (17), Panzer Befehlswagen command tanks (3 x SdKfz 265 Panzerbefehlswagen based on the Panzer I chassis and 4 x Sd.Kfz. 266 Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf. E based on the Panzer III chassis). Leutnant Joachim Schorm of 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 5 records in his diary his arrival in Tripoli and the vivid scenes greeting him and the rest of the regiment: “We enter the harbour at Tripoli. We have done it! 15 miles from us, it's true, an Italian merchant ship and two tankers were sunk by submarines. Behind the colonel and adjutant, I leave the Marburg at 1300 hours at the head of half of 6th Company. The scene in the docks is indescribably picturesque. Rommel and German officers [are dressed] in field grey, the Luftwaffe in khaki trousers, breeches, shorts, the Italians in every conceivable uniform.”

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159724068514782&set=gm.2341167459507408&type=3&theater&ifg=1

German Prisoners from Normandy

Some of the 1,096 German prisoners of war who have arrived on HM Landing Ship Tank (LST-165) at Gosport, Hampshire, June 1944. This is the first transport with prisoners from the Allied invasion of Normandy. They will be interrogated and distributed to various camps according to their classification. Man with the blanket under arm is wearing the ribbon of Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille) in his uniform. Probably counting himself as a lucky survivor of the war. The picture was taken by Reinhard Schultz

Source :
https://www.denverpost.com/2014/06/05/d-day-color-photos-normandy-wwii/
https://www.gettyimages.in/detail/news-photo/some-of-the-1-096-german-prisoners-of-war-who-have-arrived-news-photo/183097382
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/history-research-third-reich-ww2/you-war-over-period-photos-german-pows-686919-5/

U-403 in Zoppoter Woche in Danzig

After the successes of the early war years and the extensive propaganda coverage given by the radio and newspapers, public interest in the U-boat service and its men was tremendous. The National-Socialist regime used this interest and the enthusiasm of German youth to attract volunteers. Whenever possible, the U-Bootwaffe made itself accessible, so that young men in particular could see it up close. Successful crews visited their sponsor cities, and U-boat captains spoke at schools and addressed members of the Jungvolk and Hitlerjugend in addition. The Kriegsmarine took every opportunitiy to put its submarines on public display. Zoppoter Woche (Zoppot Week) in the summer of 1941 was one such opportunity. Situated on Danzig Bay not far from Danzig, Zoppot was a beach and spa resort. Zoppoter Woche, held every year in mid to late July, was a major sporting event with regattas, horse races and swim competitions. For the whole week the city's spa promenade was crammed with visitors. One attraction was the pier, which extended more than 500 meters into Danzig Bay, offering visitors a wonderful view of the shore promenade and the large Grand Hotel. Hitler had recently spent a week there during the opening phase of the campaign in Poland (1939). It was precisely there, during Zoppoter Woche in July 1941, that U-403 tied up to attract the attention of visitors.

U-403 (The Type VIIC boat) had been commissioned a short time earlier on 25 June 1941. Attached to the 5. U-Flottille and commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Ehlert Clausen, the boat had just completed UAK-Abnahme (UAK Acceptance Trials) on 8 July 1941. It was subsequently sent to the shipyard in Danzig for remaining work, including the fitting of a conning tower wind deflector. The color photo reproduced here provide an excellent view of the ship's emblem. It is the Wappen (Coat of Arms) of the boat's sponsor city, Halle an der Saale, with stylized representations of the sun, moon and stars. The emblem had been present on both sides of the conning tower since the boat's commissioning in Danzig-Neufahrwasser. The emblem was painted on metal shields which were then affixed to the conning tower. The crew also wore the emblem as a cap badge. In October 1941, U-403 added its own emblem. Then in the spring of 1942 Halle's Wappen was deleted on both sides of the tower, leaving just the ship's emblem. By the end of October, U-403 had completed its training phase at the AGRU-Front, as well as armament and tactical training. Much to the captain's displeasure, the boat was retained as a training vessel with the 27. U-Flottille in the Baltic. It was used to train U-boat commander trainees in Pillau and Memel. Not until 23 February 1942 did U-403 move from Kiel to Helgoland, from where it carried out its first operational sortie on 1 March 1942. Kapitänleutnant Clausen tied up his boat in Narvik 19 days later. By the spring of 1943 U-403 had completed five more patrols from Norway. On 1 July 1942 it was attached to the recently established 11. U-Flottille in Bergen. On 1 March 1943 the boat was attached to the 9. U-Flottille in Brest. One day later U-403 arrived at the Atlantic Coast base from Trondheim. Under Kapitänleutnant Clausen the boat made another patrol in April-May 1943. Despite the heavy U-boat losses in May 1943, Clausen brought his boat safely back to Brest. There followed a change of command, possibly because Clausen had not been particularly successful, sinking just two enemy ships totaling12,946 GRT in seven patrols. Under its new commander Kapitänleutnant Karl-Franz Heine, U-403 sailed from Brest on its 8th patrol on 13 July 1943. The last message from the boat was received 10 days later, when it reported it was under air attack at position 46 N 10 W. No further message was received, and the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (BdU) concluded that U-403 had been sunk by air attack on 23 July. On 27 August 1943, therefore, the boat was listed as "x" (probably sunk), and on 18 May 1944 as "xx" (lost). In fact U-403 had survived the attack. The absence of any further radio messages suggests that its radios were damaged in the attack. The boat was sunk, but not until four weeks later on 18 August 1943 near the Westafrican coast, after an attack by a French-flown Wellington of Nr. 344 Squadron. There were no survivors from the crew of 50. The new commander had brought the crew no luck.

The commander of U-403, Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Ehlert Clausen, photographed on the pier of Danzig Bay during Zoppoter Woche (Zoppot Week) in July 1941. His submarine is in the right background. That same day Clausen used his own camera to shoot the two color photos of U-403 reproduced here. Kapitänleutnant Clausen (born in 12 July 1909) survived the war and died in 24 March 1987. His only war patrols was with U-403 (7 patrols and 191 days at sea), with two ships sunk and total tonnage 12,946 GRT. The medals and decorations received by Clausen: Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (26 May 1940) und I.Klasse (4 October 1942); Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boot-Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände (23 October 1941); U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen (26 February 1942); and Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern (1 September 1944)

Source :

 "U-Boot Im Focus" magazine, edition nr.5 - 2009

www.uboat.net

Build-Up of US Army Vehicles Before D-Day

Castletown Road Slipway, Portland, Dorset (England), 5 June 1944. Trucks and Willys MB jeeps which will carry men and supplies of the U.S. 32nd Field Artillery Regiment / 1st Infantry Division "The Big Red One" to the front lines of the invasion in Normandy on D-Day are loaded onto an American Landing Craft. The Divisional HQ jeep at right (with Divisional HQ tactical insignia in the bumper: black star on dark yellow circle; 1-X: indication of the Division Headquarters; Star in center bumper; HQ-19: 19th vehicle of the Division Headquarters; and Barcode with five-digit number of the DivHQ) has an 15'x15' vehicle camouflage net (this type of net with interwoven twine came in different sizes) above the white star on a yellow background marking. The yellowy green (or greeny yellow) background between star and circle was a kind of gas detecting paint that was supposed to change colour during a chemical attack. Presumably these jeeps are an example of the stuff. Might also be worth noting that a yellow or white star in black and white photos would show up the same tone. Closer analysis of even quite familiar black and white pictures recently seems to be turning up even camo schemes that have been almost lost in the monochrome process. In the dust and confusion of the battles in the North Africa previously, the US star could be mistaken for a German Cross at long range (greater then 1000 yards). Tankers and armored units began painting out the stars to avoid becoming a casualty of ‘friendly fire’. The addition of the circle around the star helped to resolve this problem, though some of the more experienced units (like the 2nd Armored) stayed with the painted out stars until the Normandy landings. There they painted the vehicle number on the sides of the turret in yellow. This was painted out by D-Day + 14. After Normandy several armored divisions were sent into Europe but kept their stateside markings, except the bar, and that is why one sees so many variations in pictures.

Source :
http://historylink101.com/ww2_color/WorldWarIIAmphibiousUnit3/PICT0442.html
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57160-the-liberator-collection/page-18
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/6397-yellow-circles-white-stars/

The Tirpitz in Fættenfjord near Trondheim

The Tirpitz in June 1942 in Fættenfjord near Trondheim, Norway. Note the light /dark grey splinter-pattern disruptive camouflage. This was one of several paint schemes sported by Tirpitz during her service career. Additional quad 2cm anti-aircraft guns have been fitted to the roof of turret "Bruno" and the forward part of her main superstructure, and the ship is surrounded by anti-torpedo netting. Even when damaged severely enough to prevent any further combat use, she represented a serious enough threat that the British spared no effort in seeking her total destruction

Source :
Book "German Battleships 1939-45" by Gordon Williamson
http://www.bismarck-class.dk/tirpitz/gallery/themes/gallthemetirincolour.html

German Battleship Tirpitz in Scheerhafen

The Tirpitz in Scheerhafen, Kiel in June-August 1941. Tirpitz was the second of two Bismarck-class battleships built for the German Kriegsmarine (War Navy) during World War II. Named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, the architect of the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy), the ship was laid down at the Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven in November 1936 and her hull was launched two and a half years later. Work was completed in February 1941, when she was commissioned into the German fleet. Like her sister ship Bismarck, Tirpitz was armed with a main battery of eight 38-centimeter (15 in) guns in four twin turrets. After a series of wartime modifications she was 2,000 metric tons (2,000 long tons; 2,200 short tons) heavier than Bismarck.

Source :
http://www.bismarck-class.dk/tirpitz/gallery/themes/gallthemetirincolour.html
https://www.stormfront.org/forum/t302798-59/

Two VII C Boats are Frozen in the Ice

Although East and West Prussia were used to severe winters on account of their continental climate, the winter of 1941-42 broke all records for cold. In mid-January 1942 frigid Siberian air streamed through an enormous high-pressure area over Russia and into Northern Europe. Overnight, temperatures in the East- and West-Prussian Baltic ports fell to more than 20 degrees below zero. In a very short time everything became frozen in ice, including the U-Boat arm’s training base. The U-Boat flotillas in Danzig, Pillau and Gotenhafen were forced to suspend practical training on U-Boats. Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) Otto Elwert, an instructor in the 2. Unterseeboote-Lehrdivision (ULD, 2nd Submarine Training Division) in Gotenhafen, captured the 22. U-Flottille’s predicament in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft on Agfa color slide film. These two VII C boats are also frozen in the ice. As the 22. U-Flottille had only one VII C boat when the photo was taken, these may have been boats undergoing acceptance trials. The thickness of the jutting ice sheets shows that the ship was initially able to break through the ice themselves, but that the severe cold then caused the floes to freeze into a solid pack.

Source :
  "U-Boot im Focus", editon no.2 - 2007

German Submarines in the Frozen Harbor of Gotenhafen

Although East and West Prussia were used to severe winters on account of their continental climate, the winter of 1941-42 broke all records for cold. In mid-January 1942 frigid Siberian air streamed through an enormous high-pressure area over Russia and into Northern Europe. Overnight, temperatures in the East- and West-Prussian Baltic ports fell to more than 20 degrees below zero. In a very short time everything became frozen in ice, including the U-Boat arm’s training base. The U-Boat flotillas in Danzig, Pillau and Gotenhafen were forced to suspend practical training on U-Boats. Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) Otto Elwert, an instructor in the 2. Unterseeboote-Lehrdivision (ULD, 2nd Submarine Training Division) in Gotenhafen, captured the 22. U-Flottille’s predicament in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft on Agfa color slide film. The photo show the German submarines frozen in the ice. At that time the 22. U-Flottille had 18 training boats, the U-8, U-14, U-19, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-78, U-137, U-138, U-139, U-140, U-142, U-143, U-145, U-146, U-149 and U-150. All were type II boats except for the U-178, which was a VI C. This photo depicts the harbor basin area in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft. The vessel wearing the five-color camouflage scheme is the submarine escort ship Erwin Wassner (next to the Erwin Wassner are three Type II training boats of the 22. U-Flottille, frozen fast in the ice). Commissioned as the “Gran Canaria” on 21 January 1938, it was purchased by the Kriegsmarine in 1938. After conversion, on 29 March 1939 it entered service as Erwin Wassner. A First World War U-boat commander and wearer of the Pour le Mérite, Erwin Wassner had served as military attaché in London with the rank of Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) prior to his death in 1937. Following the outbreak of war, F.d.U. (Führer der Unterseeboote) Karl Dönitz and his staff used the Erwin Wassner as a command ship until November 1939 when the operations staff, which had been reorganized as B.d.U. (Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote) in October, moved to Sengwarden near Wilhelmshaven. Kapitän zur See Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, departmental head of the B.d.U. organization, who was in charge of the entire supply organization, remained on board the Erwin Wassner. That is probably why Friedeburg was in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft with the Erwin Wassner in early 1942. During the night of 23-24 July 1944 the ship was sunk by bombs dropped in an RAF night raid on Kiel.

Source :
 "U-Boot im Focus", editon no.2 - 2007

U-Boats Stranded in the Frozen Port

Although East and West Prussia were used to severe winters on account of their continental climate, the winter of 1941-42 broke all records for cold. In mid-January 1942 frigid Siberian air streamed through an enormous high-pressure area over Russia and into Northern Europe. Overnight, temperatures in the East- and West-Prussian Baltic ports fell to more than 20 degrees below zero. In a very short time everything became frozen in ice, including the U-Boat arm’s training base. The U-Boat flotillas in Danzig, Pillau and Gotenhafen were forced to suspend practical training on U-Boats. Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) Otto Elwert, an instructor in the 2. Unterseeboote-Lehrdivision (ULD, 2nd Submarine Training Division) in Gotenhafen, captured the 22. U-Flottille’s predicament in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft on Agfa color slide film. The photos show the German submarines frozen in the ice. At that time the 22. U-Flottille had 18 training boats, the U-8, U-14, U-19, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-78, U-137, U-138, U-139, U-140, U-142, U-143, U-145, U-146, U-149 and U-150. All were type II boats except for the U-178, which was a VI C. The 2nd ULD was established in June 1940 and it began training operations at Gotenhafen base on 1 November 1940. Its first commander was 39-year-old Fregattenkapitän Werner Hartmann, who had received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Crosses) on 9 May 1940 after successfully commanding the U-37. Hartmann came from Crew 21 and his age and success made him an ideal training unit commander, but in November 1941 he handed command over to Fregattenkapitän der Reserve Ernst Hashagen. He was not from the new generation of U-boat commanders, having commanded the UB-21 and U-62 in the First World War. Also under the command of 2. ULD was the 22. U-Flottille under Korvettenkapitän Wilhelm Ambrosius. This flotilla, which was responsible for practical training, was established in January 1940. The 2. ULD was responsible for training U-boat crews and submarine officers. Command courses were also given there. Personnel trained on engines, weapons and torpedoes in the 2. ULD’s training buildings. As a rule, the courses lasted 3 to 4 months, but some were shorter. During this time most of the participants were quartered on the 2. ULD’s residence ships. Placed in service in November 1940, they were the former “Kraft durch Freude” (Strength through Joy) cruise ship Wilhelm Gustloff, plus the Hansa and Oceana. The Wilhelm Gustloff, which had seen previous military service as a hospital ship, was now permanently anchored in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft. Approximately 1,000 members of the 2. ULD lived on the Gustloff. The majority were course participants, but a number of instructors – the so-called “core personnel” – also lived aboard. The submarine people took their meals on the ship and a number of diversions were provided to make their stay more pleasant. Movies were shown twice daily. Initially the residence ships continued supplying their own power, steam and water, but in 1943 a steam plant was set up ashore to provide the three vessels with steam. Most married members of the Core Personnel moved their families and lived in apartments in Gotenhafen.

Source :
"U-Boot im Focus", editon no.2 - 2007

Marinefährprahm (MFP) in the North African Harbor

This photo shows a MFP (or an Italian MZ) in the North African harbor (could be Benghazi or Tripoli), the load compartment cover (corrugated iron) is open at the bow. The photo is M.E. first class, because there are hardly any color photos of the MFP's. The Marinefährprahm (MFP) or "naval ferry barge" was the largest landing craft operated by Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. It served a variety of roles (transport, minelayer, escort, gunboat) in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Black Seas as well as the English Channel and Norwegian coastal waters. Originally developed for the proposed invasion of England (Operation Sea Lion), the first of these ships was commissioned on 16 April 1941, with approximately 700 being completed by the war's end in May 1945. Allied sources sometimes refer to this class of vessel as a "Flak Lighter" or "F-lighter". Photo taken by General Erwin Rommel during his Campaign in North Africa, 1941

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml

German Vehicles in the North African Harbor

German vehicles in the North African harbor (could be Benghazi or Tripoli) during the German drive to Egypt, 1941. The picture was taken by General Erwin Rommel, commander of Afrikakorps. According to Bert SIS 5 from Axis History Forum (AHF), the car on the left is an Opel Olympia (OL 38), while the truck on the right is a Fiat 508 C Militare, based on the militarized Balilla 1100

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=73232&start=5475