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

Kompaniechef von Mutius Awarded Medals to His Soldiers

Kompaniechef Oberleutnant Erhard von Mutius awarded the medals in a paper box to the soldiers of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64 (part of 16. Panzer-Division). The picture was taken on the Eastern Front in July-August 1942. War medals such as the Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen were awarded with the approval of the regimental headquarters, but the scale of the award ceremony was determined by the grade of the medal being awarded, and the ceremony held only by the company was the smallest ceremony. Although the ceremony was held on the front lines in the summer, it is interesting to note that the company commander also had his first button undone, his pants were made of cotton, and the recipients were casually dressed. Incidentally, in July 1942 the 16. Panzer-Division was assigned to Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South) and participated in the battle for Kharkov, Ukraine. In August, it was assigned to Heeresgruppe A and moved to Artemovsk, Ukraine, and then in September. It was used in the struggle against Stalingrad. On 8 July 1942 Oberleutnant von Mutius was appointed as the commander of the 7.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64 / 16.Panzer-Division. Previously, he was the commander of the 2nd company of the 16th Panzer Rifle Battalion, which was formed from armored personnel vehicles from the 64th and 79th Schützen Regiments of the 16th Panzer Division . He was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold and later promoted to Hauptmann (Captain), before being killed in action at Stalingrad on 6 December 1942.

Oberleutnant Erhard von Mutius' old-style officer's peaked cap (crusher cap), lapel pin, and epaulettes use the military color Wiesengrün (literally translated as "grass green"). It is being said, since the officer belongs to the Panzergrenadier-Regiment unit, one would think that it would be the color of the Panzergrenadier, but grass green was made the color of the motorized infantry (Schützen) and Panzergrenadier only came into being in June 1942 (while the photo was taken from July to August 1942), so we cannot deny the possibility that the old-style field cap and insignia for officers in the new service colors were procured in about a month, even though the Oberleutnant's old-style field cap for officers looks like new. In fact, this grass green came in two shades: the lighter one was used by motorized infantry and units that had been converted from motorized infantry into armored grenadiers, while the darker one was used only by armored grenadiers. As you can see in this photo, it seems that the darker color is used, but these two colors are actually for light infantry units: Jäger and Gebirgsjäger It is difficult to distinguish it from the light green, which is the waffenfarbe for ordinary infantry. It is said that there were four types of light green, and although there was no clear distinction between their uses, it is said that light infantry often used bright colors. What is interesting is the history of Panzergrenadier Regiment 64, to which Oberleutnant Mutius belonged: The Panzergrenadier Regiment 64 was formed in the Wehrkreis VI on 15 October 1935, and was incorporated into the 16. Infanterie-Division, which had been formed in 1934. When the 16. Panzer-Division was formed in November 1940, the regiment was extracted from the 16. Infanterie-Division, reorganized as the Infanterie-Regiment 64 (motorisiert), and then incorporated into the 16. Panzer-Division. Furthermore, in June 1942 it was reorganized into a Panzergrenadier Regiment, but when it was first formed as an infantry regiment in 1935, it was originally a Jäger battalion. Therefore, it is possible that the 2nd Battalion came to use the Grass Green color at the same time that the Jägers were given the color. In the Defense Forces, Jäger and Gebirgsjäger initially belonged to the infantry category, but later on they were given a new Waffenfarbe (military color) as a type of elite unit and were distinguished from regular infantry, so it is possible that the soldiers have been using this light green military color since the days of infantry regiments.

The picture shows the Gefreiter (Corporal) who is about to receive his medal, but he is already a veteran warrior who wears the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse, and his epaulettes include the title "Panzerjäger'" (it has a "P" embroidered on it). Tank hunters, who were equipped with anti-tank guns, and heavy weapons companies, which operated heavy machine guns, heavy mortars, etc., were divided into groups into grenadier companies as needed for each operation. At first glance, this Gefreiter looks like a gun commander who detached from Panzerjäger-Abteilung 16 (a tank hunter battalion attached to the 16. Panzer Division). But this Gefreiter's field cap has a chevron insignia (sautache) in the military colors that were abolished in July 1942, and we can see that the color is green. The color of the Panzergrenadier class was established in June 1942, while the sautache field cap was abolished in July 1942, and this unit was reorganized as the Panzergrenadier Regiment in June of the same year. The picture shooting period was from July to August. It is difficult to say for certain, as various things are concentrated during this period. If there is a description in the division history that new military-colored uniforms were issued during this period, then this would be a solution. Also note that the military color of the lapel pin is rose pink. The service color piping on the epaulettes is not visible, but the "P" indicating tank hunter appears to be off-white. In this way, regarding the mismatch between the service color of the field cap and field uniform, it can be seen here and there in the photo, and it is as introduced for the assault gun crew uniform , but in fact, the "P" on the epaulettes is rose pink, which is the color of the service. It is more unusual that it is off-white.

Another Gefreiter is also pictured to the right of the first Gefreiter above, and the bright green military color can be seen on this Gefreiter's field cap and epaulettes. If you look closely at the photo, you can see a green sautache on the field caps of the company members lined up in the rear, confirming that this military color is used by each unit. The Gefreiter's uniform is a herringbone cotton work jacket with lapel pins and epaulettes, and his epaulettes don't even look new! This field gray epaulet was introduced at the same time as the 1940 model field uniform, and was commonly issued in 1942, so there is little to be said about this company and when the green military color was introduced. Although it is useless, if this is a dark green epaulet, it is likely that the green military color was used before June 1942.

The Hauptfeldwebel (Sergeant Major) in the left corner of the photo has two tresse sewn on his sleeve, identifying him as the company's senior noncommissioned officer (spiess). Since there are no officers other than the company commander at company headquarters in the German Army, the oldest non-commissioned officer - who is respected by all the company members - usually serves as the "Spiess" (Mother of the Company) and coordinates all other NCOs. At the same time, he was assigned tasks other than direct combat command. This Spiess, pictured above, appears to be checking the list of recipients of the medals prepared by the company secretary. A black neckerchief with white polkadots can be seen at the collar of the 1936 field uniform, which was worn with an open collar. This Spiess field cap also has a green sautaché, but unfortunately the color of the military color piping on the epaulettes not clearly visible.

In the lower left of the photo, there is a paper box containing military medals that put in a helmet casually placed in it, but considering the rank, the person holding the stahlhelm seems to be the 1st platoon commander (Zugführer). The company commander itself is not a Hauptmann (Captain) but a Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant), so it is unknown how many officers there were in the 7th Company at the time this photo was taken, but usually the role of the Zugführer for the 1st platoon is reserved for a Leutnant (Second Lieutenant). In the Wehrmacht organization at the beginning of the war, each platoon leader was a Leutnant, but due to the loss of personnel because of the protracted war, the platoon leaders, except for the 1st platoon, were later changed to non-commissioned officers. In any case, the fact that the helmet was used as a container for the medals is an indication that the awarding ceremony was held at the frontline.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
http://steiner.web.fc2.com/uni/p/029/029.html
https://twitter.com/atakiguchi/status/1709921746860884441/photo/1

Canadian Soldiers with M1928 Thompson

The propaganda photograph above dates from the summer of 1943 and shows a pair of Canadian troops from the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps training in the UK. A private and a sergeant both have M1928 Thompsons, their weapons are unloaded and both have been equipped with webbing slings. The Thompson in the foreground has lost its forward sling swivel and the sling has been looped around the submachine gun’s barrel near the end of the cooling fins. Both soldiers are wearing battledress and have the 1937 Pattern webbing gear, and a matching pair of excellent pencil moustaches. The M1928 Thompson was adopted by the British Army in 1940, with over 300,000 being ordered via the British Purchasing Commission in the US. Only approximately 100,000 of those orders arrived, however, and the British adopted the indigenously made Sten in March 1941. The Thompson remained in service, however, and was extensively used by British and Commonwealth troops in North Africa, Italy, France and the Far East. They were especially well liked by Commando units, who refused to give them up when it was planned to issue Sten guns. The Thompson became a prominent feature in Britain’s propaganda with the first guns to arrive often moved between units which appeared in newsreels and print articles to give the impression of widespread issue.

Source :
https://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/158684164594/in-action-thompson-m1928-the-propaganda

Group Photo of Mustang Pilots

Pilots of a North American P-51 group in flying togs and Mae West jackets at a base in England. In the background is an interesting writing on the wall: "Narvik. Hell' Sapoppin Here!". They are, front row, from left to right: Lieutenant Nicholas W.J. Rosenson (Monessen, Pennsylvania); Lieutenant Charles L. Brock (Lockhart, Texas); Captain Robert J. Mabie; and Lieutenant William R. Groseclose (Pierre, South Dakota). Second Row, from left to right: Lieutenant George D. Green (Whittier, California); Lieutenant Robert J. Cooper (Chicago, Illinois); Lieutenant Hugh W. Lindsay (Paoli, Pennsylvania); and Lieutenant Zack S. Sensibaugh (Decatur, Texas). The Captain, Bob Mabie, flew with the 4th Fighter Group from July 13, 1944 to May 4, 1945. In January 1945 he was designated Flight Commander of D Flight. He flew a P-51D, serial number 5-NA 44-14221, coded WD-I. In February of that same year he was designated Assistant Squadron Operations and Gunnery Officer for the 335th. Mabie flew 80 missions and claimed 3 damaged aircraft.

Source :
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A49647-K2426.
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-21452jpeg

German Gebirgsjäger Climbing the Mountain

A Heeresbergführer (Army Mountain Leader) of German Gebirgsjäger displaying his climbing equipment (carabiner, pegs, climbing shoes, cords, and ropes). All the hardware needed for climbing and roping had to be carried with the soldier; it was issued as required, and then returned to stores. Several Italian-issue and many civilian items found their way into German use.

Source :
"German Mountain Troops" by Yves Beraud
https://www.2ndgebirgsjager.com/photos-of-approved-kit.html

Gebirgsjäger on Ski

This young German Gebirgsjäger (mountain soldier) photographed during the winter of 1938/9 is wearing a typical uniform of the period: a Bergmütze (mountain cap) with the first version of national insignia (white on light grey); a Feldbluse M33 (jacket) with the bluish dark green Schulterklappen (shoulder straps) with a light green distinctive and the first version of white on a light grey national eagle; stone-grey trousers, or Skihose—the quality of the photograph, one of the first slides ever used in Germany, highlights the difference between the jacket and the trousers—with buttoned pocket flaps; and Wickelgamaschen (puttees) made of feldgrau cloth. The ash skis and duralumin sticks likely come from the resort where he is spending his leave.

Source :
"German Mountain Troops" by Yves Beraud

German Training in Mid to Late War

1943. New Wehrmacht recruits being given their kit

As a German conscript in to a combat unit in the Wehrmacht in mid to late war, first your journey would have begun with the arrival of a notice to report to the nearest training and replacement battalion to wherever you lived.

You’d report to the Stammkompanie of the replacement unit in question- a reception company of sort intended to introduce you to military life. You’d turn in your Wehrpaß, a booklet you were given when you registered for the draft(you’d receive it back when you were discharged) and you’d be issued your uniform, ID disc, and Soldbuch. You’d spend about a week or two along with other called up recruits at the Stammkompanie camp.

After the acclimatization, during which you were taught the basics of military life, you’d be sent to an Ausbildungskompanie, a training company, of your replacement battalion. A year or two back, these units would probably have been separate entities sprawled across occupied Europe, in order to provide extra occupation troops in form of recruits being trained and the training cadres. By mid and late 1944, as the Germans were being pushed out of most of their occupied territories, many of those formations would be unified again as they were in 1940 and stationed in Germany proper.

Nevertheless, you’d receive your basic training in this company alongside your batch of recruits for about the next few months- a total of 14 weeks in total. This was training for infantrymen- more specialized branches like artillerymen would’ve received longer and different training.

Basic training was tough and vicious in entirely realistic ways: the day would start from sunrise and last well past sundown. You’d receive training with rifles, pistols, submachine guns, grenades and machine guns. Long marches with full gear and regular field exercises were hallmarks of training. Navigation, fieldcraft, and other important aspects of infantry warfare were heavily emphasized.

You and your fellow recruits hardened by rigorous training would then be sent back to the Marschkompanie, transfer company, of your replacement battalion, whereupon all of you, as a batch, would be issued to a division. Ideally, this division would be the one which the replacement battalion was specifically assigned to- but by 1944, it wasn’t unheard of for recruits from replacement units to be sent to other divisions receiving their replacements from the same district, depending on how needed replacements were in which division. You could’ve also been sent to a new division being formed in your area, if desired.

You and your comrades from training would arrive to their designated unit- most likely either at the frontline, or pulled back for rest and refit. There you’d be assigned to the division’s field replacement battalion. You’d spend a few more weeks there, receiving training from the veterans of the division, being acclimatized to the specific conditions of the front, and be imparted the particularly relevant methods and knowledge that the division had learned through experience. In the meanwhile you’d gather a bit of practical experience yourself, as the battalion was employed for guard, rear area protection and anti-partisan sweep duties.

Assuming nothing went wrong for you, like the battalion being pressed into the frontline on an emergency(or the rear area becoming the frontline on an emergency…), after a few weeks in the field replacement battalion you and your fellow recruits would be issued to the division’s frontline formations.

Between reporting for your draft and leaving the field replacement battalion for the frontline elements of your division, you’d have spent slightly more than four months.

In all likelihood, you’d be well received by your division. In a country with strong regional identities, all your comrades would be coming from the same region as you. If you were sent to the assigned frontline unit of your replacement battalion(which was the ideal circumstances, and it was tried to make that happen as much as possible) as opposed to being diverted to another unit in dire need of replacement, things would be even better: your old-timer comrades would have gone through the same training program in the same unit and same barracks. Your instructors, veterans from the division, would’ve been people your old-timer comrades personally knew. And of course, no unit would be unhappy to receive much-needed reinforcements.

The existence of regional recruitment districts, replacement formations assigned to specific field units, and the field replacement battalions made for a replacement system quite effective at ensuring unit cohesion and esprit de corps. You’d be serving alongside the same men you spent four months training alongside, and formed friendships with. This gave German formations quite strong esprit de corps down to the last day of the war.

 
Source :
https://www.quora.com/As-a-German-conscript-in-to-a-combat-unit-in-the-Wehrmacht-in-mid-1944-What-was-my-training-like-How-did-veteran-members-of-my-unit-see-me-How-much-time-in-between-training-and-being-thrown-in-to-an-active-combat
https://www.treasurebunker.com/forums/index.php?/topic/2864-high-quality-color-exceptional-bw-photographs-german-side/#comments

Pile of German Soldier's Helmet

 

A pile of helmets taken from the German Afrika Korps after their surrender at the Battle Of El Guettar, April 1943. Photo by Eliot Elisofon. Helmets were usually only retained until POW physically left the combat zone, most prisoners then discarded them and wore their field caps instead. This will have been a dumping point for helmets - note also that a lot of the unpopular pith helmets have been thrown away! Clothing, hats, medals,gear were frequently stolen by those who captured them. BTW, The Geneva convention dictate that POWs should be kept within 200 miles of the latitude they were captured in. Germans captured in North Africa were largely detained along Georgia, Texas, and Arizona corridor. The US was one of very few nations that actually followed this protocol!

source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=737488886913290&set=gm.1701943823324367
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/pile-of-soldiers-helmet-during-the-battle-of-el-guettar-news-photo/1187488265

Naval Aviation Cadets Check the Morning Roster

U.S. Naval aviation cadets of the Morning Wing check flying assignments by class for their primary training flights in N2S “Yellow Perils,” 1942/43. The leather flight jackets were a status symbol. Undoubtedly hot in the Texas sun, they would be needed in the Stearman’s open cockpits.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration 80-G-K-15048
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/tag/usaaf/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

Lt. Clifford Allen of 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion

 

Lieutenant Clifford Allen of Chicago, Illinois, stands in front of a C-47 preparing to drop the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. The 555th was the only African American parachute unit and was not ready in time to deploy to Europe. Instead, as incendiary Japanese balloon bombs were launched towards the U.S. in mid-1945 in hopes of starting large fires in the Pacific Northwest, the 555th was assigned to jump on fires to extinguish them as part of “Operation Fire Fly.” The unit made 15 such jumps. Note the 150-foot rope for descending from tall trees; the plastic helmet and catcher's mask were protection against branches and brambles.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration 342-C-K-3746
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

US Pilot Adjusts His Oxygen Mask

 

 

While still the ground at an unspecified base, American Captain Louis Detoni adjusts his oxygen mask as he sits in front of what appears to the bombardier's position in the nose of heavy bomber, England, 1940s.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3828235250596593&set=gm.1671348413050575

Gebirgsjäger in action

A Gebirgsjäger soldier posing with his ski. He is wearing a whistle lanyard in his pocket and a darkened lenses goggle associated with snow/ice goggles. They were a standard for the Italian Alpine corps and for the Swiss army till the end of last century. Someone may have brought them down there too, but although robust, they were not good with sand because they easily got scratched as the lenses were celluloid and later soft plastic.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10222852270488788&set=gm.1652878351564248

German MG Gunner in Winter Camo

 

 

MG-Schütze from section machine gunner number 1 of a Heer combat team in the Ukrainian village, February 1944. The machine gunner case/pouch usually contains a Kreiskorn (AA sight), spare lock, muzzle cover, two wrenches (big and small), cartridge remover, one or two cartridge belt opening sections, asbestos patch for changing the barrel, and oil bottle. Naturally a gunner could tune his pouch a little if he wished. Photographer: Hugo Jäger

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=226247508965456&set=gm.2747210062212888

Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen

 

August von Mackensen, Prussian Field Marshal General, in the series of pictures probably taken in 1944 on the occasion of his 95th birthday. He wears the uniform of Hussars with the famous skull symbol. Photos by Walter Frentz

Anton Ludwig Friedrich August Mackensen (6 December 1849 – 8 November 1945, ennobled as von Mackensen in 1899) was a German field marshal. He commanded successfully during the First World War of 1914–1918 and became one of the German Empire's most prominent and competent military leaders. After the armistice of November 1918 the victorious Allies interned Mackensen in Serbia for a year. He retired from the army in 1920; in 1933 Hermann Göring made him a Prussian state councillor. During the Nazi era (1933–1945), Mackensen remained a committed monarchist and sometimes appeared at official functions in his First World War uniform. Senior NSDAP members suspected him of disloyalty to the Third Reich, but nothing was proven against him.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_von_Mackensen
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1639277556257661/?__cft__[0]=AZV8YeNxCoTwuTBsNRr3Gd-gYikNev2rn7Fixxdbakjg8Ic3tKlca_NXySMOyGYTzW8qX2Ts29voUmfaM6R4dGwajkHBO7GIsEg0a6ZAfsunxnhfS45ciYk9iKBVfIBPoNnltSYuL8ad8wbGM3b_nr1rebfgUBbuu1GVtZbyy2E2tbvIS6ygrF1iHPlJ1yMNuFM&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Heer Soldiers by Franz Guthausen

Zitronengelb (citron yellow) and Hellblau (light blue) soutache. Color correction is far from perfect on this one (sorry about that!), but you see yellow and light blue branch colors. They are most probably related to Zentra-Kraft-OST (the photographer's unit). photographed by Franz Guthausen.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/?post_id=1414267335425352

German Soldier in the Iron Cross Award Ceremony

A young German Heer (Army) soldier in the day he receive the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class) medal. He already got the Verwundetenabzeichen (Wound Badge) and Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen (Infantry Assault Badge). He is wearing a model 1940/1941 field blouse. The collar is already made of field grey basecloth, but the breast pockets still have pleats and scalloped pocket flaps (The dark green collar was abolished in May 1940, the pleats in late 1941 and the scallops in 1943). The helmet looks like a rolled-rim M40.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2279922#p2279922

World War II Snow Blowing Machines

 

Snow blowing machines used by the Germans in Norway during World War II. From the estate of Franz Guthausen, two pictures of snow blowing machines in action in Norway. The first one (top) was snow blower on a DER ( Diesel-Elektrisch-Raupenantrieb ) built on Renault R40 drive train by Süddeutsche Maschinenbaugesellschaft Erich Schad & Co.  The other is one (bottom) on a "BER" ( Benzin-Elektrisch-Raupenantrieb ). For more information, take a look at a thread in Missing Lynx forum - https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/identification-request-for-a-raupenfahrzeug-t324308-s10.html

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10221137924551211&set=pcb.1472700962915322&type=3&theater&ifg=1

German Officers Holding Wolchowstock

Officers of 212. Infanterie-Division in Wolchow, holding Wolchow stocks in their hands. Variations of their uniform colors is remarkable.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10221420448414131&set=gm.1497216527130432&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Waffen-SS Panzer Reconnaissance Troops

SS-Armoured Crews in front of an Sd.kfz.222

Source :
Book "Tip of the Spear: German Armored Reconnaissance in Action in World War II" by Robert J. Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=721701321740358&set=gm.1466515296867222&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Generalmajor Carl Böttcher Wearing Tropical Cap

Generalmajor Carl Böttcher (Kommandeur 21. Panzer-Division) wearing an early model, factory-made, General officers' tropical peaked cap. The soutache and the officers' braid are gold-coloured, and the eyelets green. The ends of the soutache appear to be folded between the base of the cap's brow and its peak.

Source :
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Figure-A13-Carl-Boettcher-wearing-an-early-model-1-G-factory-made-General-officers_fig2_334746682