Wilhelm Keitel, Giuseppe Bastianini and Dino Alfieri

From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef der Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Giuseppe Bastianini (Undersecretary at the Italian Foreign Ministry), and Dino Alfieri (Italian ambassador to Berlin). The picture was taken by Walter Frentz in Schloss Klesheim in Salzburg, 8-9 April 1943.

Source :
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-a-b/#&gid=1&pid=23

German Officials during Legion Condor Welcoming Ceremony

German high ranking officials stands during the welcoming ceremonies for the Legion Condor, which were held at the Lustgarten Square, Berlin, June 6, 1939. For the identification:

1.Unidentified SS General,
2.SA-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Brückner (Chefadjutant Führer und Reichskanzler),
3.Großadmiral Erich Raeder (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine),
4.Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres),
4a.Generaloberst Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht),
5.General der Flieger Bernhard Kühl (Offizier z.b.V. des Reichsluftfahrtministerium und Obersluftfahrtministerium und der Luftwaffe),
5a.Generalmajor Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz (Chef Ministeramts im Reichsluftfahrtministerium und Verbindungsoffizier Görings zu Hitler),
5b.Oberst Walter Warlimont (Stellvertreter Chef Wehrmachtsführungsamt),
6.General der Flieger Hugo Sperrle (former 1st Commander of the Legion Condor),
7.SS-Gruppenführer Karl Wolff (Chefadjutant Reichsführer-SS),
8.Generalleutnant Hubert Weise (Kommandierender General Luftgau-Kommando III),
9.Oberstleutnant Rudolf Schmundt (Chefadjutant des Heeres beim Führer und Oberbefehlshaber der Wehrmacht),
10.Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und Polizei),
11.SS-Gruppenführer Dr.rer.pol. Otto Dietrich (Staatssekretär im Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda),
12.SS-Obergruppenführer Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (Kommandeur "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler").

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/m064km4b?hl=en

Heldengedenktag (Heroes' Remembrance Day) 1943

On 21 March 1943, all of Germany commemorates 'Heldengedenktag' (Heroes' Remembrance Day). On this occasion, a state ceremony took place in the Berliner Zeughaus (Berlin armory), in which Hitler also took part. Seated in the front-left row, from left to right: Reichskriegsopferführer Hanns Oberlindober, Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock (Führerreserve), Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch (Generalinspekteur der Luftwaffe), Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und deutschen Polizei), Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), and Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht). Seated in the front-right row, from left to right: Reichsminister Joachim von Ribbentrop, Reichsminister Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Reichsminister Dr. Wilhelm Frick, SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Polizei Kurt Daluege, unknown, Reichsleiter Robert Ley, and SS-Obergruppenführer Dr. Philipp Bouhler.

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1983-0117-06
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/german-military-officers-including-hermann-goering-wilhelm-news-photo/493272171
https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=11336

Heldengedenktag 1942

 

Heldengedenktag in the year of 1942, which was held at Berlin on 15 March 1942. In front of the Zeughaus, from left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und Polizei), and Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch (Generalinspekteur der Luftwaffe). Photo by Siegfried Rösch.

In Germany, the rough equivalent of Memorial Day and Armistice Day is known as Volkstrauertag. This word does not translate well into English. One rough literal translation would be People's Mourning Day. In 1935 after the Nazi takeover of power, they renamed Volkstrauertag as Heldengedenktag, which is roughly translated into English as Memory of Heroes Day. Heldengedenktag became a significant propaganda event in Nazi Germany. After 1945, the use of the term Heldengedenktag was abandoned because of its close association with the Nazi government.

 

Heldengedenktag in the year of 1942, which was held at Berlin on 15 March 1942. In front of the Zeughaus, from left to right: Großadmiral Erich Raeder (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), and Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch (Generalinspekteur der Luftwaffe). Photo by Siegfried Rösch.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/09/album-foto-heldengedenktag-hari.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkstrauertag

Göring Keitel Dönitz

Three top notch of the Wehrmacht chats together while waiting for the arrival of Adolf Hitler at the demonstration of the first twenty Jagdpanzer 38 (Sd.Kfz.138/2) "Hetzer" (Baiter or Troublemaker) in Arys (Orzysz) in East Prussia, as a part of a somber 55th birthday celebration for the Führer, 20 April 1944. From left to right: Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), and Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine). The picture was taken by Walter Frentz.

Source :
https://waralbum.ru/337613/
https://ww2colorfarbe.blogspot.com/2016/05/hitler-watching-parade-of-hetzer.html

Kleßheim Palace during the Third Reich Era

Schloss Kleßheim in 1940

Kleßheim Castle is located four kilometers west of the city center of the provincial capital Salzburg in the area of ​​the neighboring municipality of Wals-Siezenheim (locality Kleßheim). It is surrounded by a large castle park and the Mühlbach. There is also a golf course in the historic park of the pleasure palace. The well-known Salzburg Tourism Schools are located below the edge of the terrace behind the castle.

From 1938, Adolf Hitler used the palace for state receptions and work meetings when he was staying on his private estate, the Berghof on Obersalzberg. For this purpose, the fenced-in area was provided with entrance portals in the style of the 1930s. Hitler received Benito Mussolini, Miklós Horthy, Ion Antonescu and others here. An assassination attempt by General Hellmuth Stieff planned there did not materialize. Kleßheim Palace was the scene of gun shows and parades. At the end of the war, the presidential administration stranded here on the way to the Alpine fortress. In 1945 Kleßheim Palace was the scene of the Allies' victory celebrations, then the seat of the American military administration.

These pictures below were taken by Walter Frentz in 1943. Enjoy!

Klessheim Palace near Salzburg, guest house of the Nazi Reich government. Hermann Göring and Dr.med. Karl Brandt in the park, 1943.

Klessheim Palace near Salzburg, guest house of the Nazi Reich government. Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring and entourage entering the reception room, 1943.

Klessheim Palace near Salzburg, guest house of the Nazi Reich government. Interior view, reception room, 1943.

Kleßheim Palace near Salzburg, guest house of the Nazi Reich government. Interior view, dining room, 1943.

Klessheim Castle near Salzburg, visit from Benito Mussolini. Front row, left to right: Kurt Zeitzler, Benito Mussolini, Hermann Göring, and Adolf Hitler, 2nd row: Alfieri, Bastianini, Karl Otto Schmidt, and Hans-Georg von Mackensen, April 7-10, 1943.

Klessheim Castle near Salzburg, guest house of the Nazi government. Hermann Göring with Hans Jeschonnek, 1943.

Klessheim Castle near Salzburg, Giuseppe Bastianini (center) with Wilhelm Keitel (left) and Dino Alfieri in the reception room, 1943.

Klessheim Castle near Salzburg, guest house of the Nazi government. Albert Bormann (left) With a captain of the Luftwaffe on the terrace, 1943.

Klessheim Castle near Salzburg, guest house of the Nazi government. Nazi Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (left) with the Croatian dictator Ante Pavelic on the terrace, April 27, 1943.

Klessheim Castle near Salzburg, guest house of the Nazi government. View from the terrace into the park, 1943.

Source :
Cortesy of Tobi Moll at https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/permalink/1539388529579898/?__cft__[0]=AZXbdnTfB3dCshHo6SsZg2kqpy94axKOl1-5EeW_xGWDhkmJOZ0fzwx-l9sbI_Eg6nxzWSpU-R-XkPMxKrWowk9AXB5wPJvmX_APLXcAJbXmS-uvonvHREnLg5UvnpGwbf1Uewr1ROCDsqZrRKez8dUnxWlXH5Hohk9FbPL5rKhxPmZthIA23_ilg0P7Qt9SSs8&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
https://www.bildindex.de/document/obj20149809/?medium=fmlac43041
https://www.salzburgcb.com/en/destination-salzburg/regions/wals-siezenheim/

Keitel Göring Dönitz Himmler Bormann

High ranking Nazi officials in conversation at Platterhof Hotel, Obersalzberg. They are waiting for Hitler to come. From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine), Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und Deutschen Polizei), and Reichsleiter Martin Bormann (Leiter Parteikanzlei der NSDAP und Privatsekretär Führer und Reichskanzler). The picture was taken in May 1944 by Heinrich Hoffmann.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2838528286414648&set=gm.1517702435081841&type=3&theater&ifg=1

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

Hitler Examines Model of Heavy Fortifications and Bunkers

Hitler examines model of heavy fortifications and bunkers, September-October 1942. From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des 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). Claus is taking down Hitler's comments. He received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 17 November 1941 as Oberstleutnant and Stab Pionier-Bataillon 43.

Source :
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/444308319458249407/

Top Third Reich Officials at Heldengedenktag 1943

German top military officials standing at the podium in Unter den Linden, Berlin, for Heldengedenktag (Day of Commemoration of Heroes) parade, 21 March 1943. From left to right: Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine), Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Reichsführer SS und Chef der Deutschen Polizei), and Adolf Hitler (Führer und oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht). The picture was taken by one of the photographer from Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann and first published in 22 March 1943

Source :
http://der-fuehrer.org/Galleries/Farbe_Fotos/index3.html
http://www.gettyimages.com/pictures/german-empire-berlin-heldengedenktag-1943-soldiers-of-the-news-photo-545722943#german-empire-berlin-heldengedenktag-1943-soldiers-of-the-wehrmacht-picture-id545722943
https://www.ullsteinbild.de/ullstein-webshop/workbench.html?queryWord=g%C3%B6ring+keitel+d%C3%B6nitz+himmler+hitler&newTitle=ullstein+bild+|+Search%3A+g%C3%B6ring+keitel+d%C3%B6nitz+himmler+hitler&qwAction=searchQueryWord&viewMode=tile

Adolf Hitler in Front of His Newly Built Bunker

Adolf Hitler (Führer und Reichskanzler des Grossdeutschen Reiches) in front of a newly built bunker at his Führerhauptquartier 'Wolfsschanze' near Rastenburg, East Prussia, 18 September 1944. With the back to the camera is his personal adjutant, SS-Obersturmführer Otto Günsche, while the cropped body at left belong to Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht). The picture itself was taken by Walter Frentz, one of Hitler's personal photographer.

High ranking officials of the Third Reich in front of a newly built bunker at Führerhauptquartier 'Wolfsschanze' near Rastenburg, East Prussia, 18 September 1944. From left to right: Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler (back to the camera, Führer und Reichskanzler des Grossdeutschen Reiches), Joachim von Ribbentrop (Reichsminister des Auswärtigen), and SS-Obersturmführer Otto Günsche (back to the camera, persönlicher Adjutant Adolf Hitler). The picture was taken by Walter Frentz, one of Hitler's personal photographer.

Source :
https://www.ullsteinbild.de/ullstein-webshop/workbench.html?queryWord=otto+g%C3%BCnsche&newTitle=ullstein+bild+|+Search%3A+otto+g%C3%BCnsche&qwAction=searchQueryWord&viewMode=tile

Benito Mussolini and Wilhelm Keitel

Il Duce Benito Mussolini speaking with Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht) at Feltre airfield (Northern Italy) before Keitel leaves for Berlin. The picture was made by Walter Frentz in the evening of 19 July 1943. Only a couple of days later (24 July 1943), the Italian dictator would be defeated in the vote at the Grand Council of Fascism, and the King Victor Emmanuel had him arrested the following day. On 12 September 1943, Mussolini was rescued from prison in the Gran Sasso raid by German special forces led by the daring Otto Skorzeny. In late April 1945, with total defeat looming, Mussolini attempted to escape north, only to be quickly captured and summarily executed near Lake Como by Italian partisans. His body was then taken to Milan where it was hung upside down at a service station for public viewing and to provide confirmation of his demise. In this picture Keitel holding his Interimstab (baton), while in his uniform we can see his Italian Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy, awarded to him by King Victor Emmanuel on 24 April 1942, along with Großadmiral Erich Raeder

Source:
https://www.ullsteinbild.de/ullstein-webshop/workbench.html?queryWord=walter+frentz&newTitle=ullstein+bild+|+Search%3A+walter+frentz&qwAction=searchQueryWord&viewMode=tile

Adolf Hitler Visiting Rügenwalde

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler visited the town of Rügenwalde/Pomerania (Germany) to see the 80 cm. Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora", the largest gun in the world. While Hitler was there the gun fired two granates. This picture was taken in 19 March 1943 by Walter Frentz and shows, from left to right: General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef Wehrmacht-Führungsamt), SS-Oberführer Prof. Dr.-Ing. e.h. mult. Ferdinand Porsche (Vorsitzender der Panzerkommission), Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen), Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Reichskanzler), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Hauptdienstleiter Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Otto Saur (Staatssekretär im Reichsministerium für Bewaffnung und Munition), and SS-Gruppenführer Julius Schaub (Chefadjutant des Führers Adolf Hitler)

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler visited the town of Rügenwalde/Pomerania (Germany) to see the demonstration of 80 cm. Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora", the largest gun in the world, and newly built panzers. This picture was taken in 19 March 1943 by Walter Frentz and shows, from left to right: General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef des Wehrmachtsführungsstabes im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, OKW), Dr.-Ing. Albert Speer (Reichsminister für Bewaffnung und Munition), Adolf Hitler (Führer und oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Hauptdienstleiter Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Otto Saur (Staatssekretär im Reichsministerium für Bewaffnung und Munition), SS-Gruppenführer Julius Schaub (Chefadjutant des Führers Adolf Hitler), Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), and Oberstleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm "Fritz" Holzhäuer (Abteilungsleiter im Waffenamt Prüfwesen 6, Abteilung Panzer- und Motorisierung, beim Oberkommando des Heeres).

Source:
http://fuehrer3345.tumblr.com/post/76948612504/wartime-super-color-photo-hitler-confers-with
http://www.hitlerpages.com/pagina42.html