Afrikakorps Generals as a POW in England

Captured German Senior Officers From the African Campaign Arrive at a Prisoner of War Camp in Britain, 10 June 1943. German senior officers are received by the Camp Commandant Major Topham and representatives of the War Office. The German officers include: General der Panzertruppe Gustav von Vaerst (Oberbefehlshaber 5. Panzerarmee), Generalleutnant Karl Bülowius (General der Pioniere, in der Stab Heeresgruppe "Afrika"), Generalleutnant Willibald Borowietz (Kommandeur 15. Panzer-Division), Generalmajor der Luftwaffe Georg Neuffer (Kommandeur 20. Flak-Division), Generalmajor Fritz Krause (Kommandeur 334. Infanterie-Division), Generalmajor der Luftwaffe Dipl.Ing. Gerhard Bassenge (Kommandant Festung Tunis), and Oberst i.G. August-Viktor von Quast (Chef des Generalstabes 5. Panzerarmee).

 
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Captured_German_Senior_Officers_From_the_African_Campaign_Arrive_at_a_Prisoner_of_War_Camp_in_Britain,_10_June_1943_TR980.jpg

German Radio Operator in the Russian Winter

A pair of German artillery radio operators send coordinates on a portable transmitter in the Soviet Union, winter of 1942. The second man has a captured Russian Ushanka fur hat. 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 picture itself was taken by Kriegsberichter Trautvetter.

Source :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264071426140
https://www.reddit.com/r/wwiipics/comments/72cdff/two_german_radiomen_operating_their_equipment_in/

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

Postage stamps of the Third Reich

Dressed in winter gear, two German soldiers look through a pile of mail, Soviet Union, 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 picture itself was taken by Kriegsberichter Bergmann.

Letters and other forms of written communication have been transported within and between countries since medieval times, although a cheap, easily accessible postal service only became generally available to the British public with the appearance of the world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, on 6 May 1840. This system was based on the sender pre-paying a flat rate for an item, a charge of one penny being made for the delivery of a letter weighing less than ½ ounce (14 grams) regardless of distance, with charges increasing for heavier items.

Other countries, including Germany, soon developed similar postal systems based upon adhesive, pre-paid stamps of a design unique to the area concerned, but it was not until Germany's partial unification in 1871 that the Deutsche Reichspost (German Imperial Mail or DRP) was established as a state monopoly, on 4 May 1871. It then became the official national postal authority for the German Empire and Alsace-Lorraine, being separated from Bismark's Reich Chancellery in 1876 as the Reichpostamt and operated as a separate agency.

Adolf Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in 1933 and the establishment of the Third Reich saw the DRP retain its original form and purpose, with Reichspost Minister Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rubenach kept in post until 1937, when Karl Wilhelm Ohnesorge was appointed Minister of the Reichspost. He held this post until the end of the war, having been the real power in the Ministry during the whole of Eltz-Rubenbach’s tenure under the Nazi regime.

 The Reich postal area was rapidly expanded during the period just before WWII, incorporating the Saar territory in 1935, and Austria and the Sudetenland in 1938.  Occupied Polish areas came under its jurisdiction in 1939, including the free port of Danzig which had previously issued its own stamps, although the Feldpost military postal organisation was the main postal authority in these occupied areas. The DRP finally ceased operations on 8 May 1945, the date of the German surrender, being replaced by two post-war organisations, West Germany’s Deutsche Bundespost (German Federal Post Office) and East Germany’s Deutsche Post.

Many early stamps issued by the Third Reich for general circulation typically showed the head of Adolf Hitler in either left or right profile, and in addition to these Hitler head stamps there were also issues of complete series of official stamps which bore only a swastika. Stamps were also issued to commemorate events such as the National Socialist’s 10 years in power or Hitler’s birthday and these usually included engravings appropriate to the event. After 1934, all Reich stamps show the value of the stamp in the top corner/corners and a subscript in Gothic script at the bottom of the stamp reading: ‘DEUTSCHES REICH’

After 1944, Deutsches Reich (German Empire) was replaced with Grossdeutsches Reich (Greater German Empire), as a subscript in Gothic script, reading:

‘GROSSDEUTSCHES REICH’.

As well as ordinary stamps Hitler’s postal service issued a considerable number of semi-postal stamps. These are stamps which include a surcharge and may be easily recognised because they are printed with the purchase price of the stamp, then an addition sign, followed by the surcharge: ‘12+8’ indicating a stamp for which 12 Pfennigs was charged for postage, with an additional surcharge of 8 Pfennigs going to the relevant government project for which the stamp was issued. These stamps were intended by most governments to serve as a contribution to various charitable institutions, but the surcharge from Nazi semi-postals was used to finance all manner of government projects, including the war.

The German government had operated a postal service of some sort specifically for its military personnel since the Seven Years War in 1756, but the system was based upon deliveries by civilian postal authorities and had no resources available to facilitate the delivery of letters and parcels to troops at the front. Even during WWI, when Britain’s GPO was delivering around 12 million letters each week to Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen, the German postal authorities responded to the 1915 pre-Christmas rush by telling soldiers at the front not to send Christmas cards, because the already overburdened postal service could not deliver them.

However, between 1937 and 1945 this system was vastly improved, the Wehrmacht operating a military postal service, the Feldpost (Army Postal Service), organised so that all branches of the German military (Luftwaffe, Kreigsmarine, Waffen SS, etc) were responsible for delivering their own mail, although Feldpost offices closest to the combat zone usually had a mobile facility which  processed mail for all the military branches. Charges for members of German military and paramilitary units (units composed of men not of German nationality serving with the Wehrmacht) were minimal, postcards and letters weighing less than 250gm (8oz) going free, while packages weighing between 250gm and 1kg (1,000gm/2.2lb) cost only 20 Reichspfennigs (about 5 old pence or 2p) to be delivered anywhere.

A semipostal from after 1944 commemorating the work of the German labour divisions, face value 12pf, surcharge 8pfComplications arose within this system as a result of the rapid movement of the German army through Europe in 1940 and, after a series of negotiations with the relevant governments, postal agreements were set up between Germany and the occupied countries providing for extended use of the Feldpost service. This was an important consideration for Hitler and his government cronies, as many of those occupied countries had significant numbers of volunteers in Wehrmacht units and Goebbels in particular must have quickly appreciated how the moral of these individuals was increased by access to a free post allowing them to write and receive letters from home. Even neutral countries which had volunteers serving with the Wehrmacht, such as Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Turkey, were eventually included in these postal agreements, relatives receiving their letters from men serving with the German forces by the same Feldpost system as the average Berliner.

Stamps do not appear to have been generally issued for this service until 1942 and then only for parcels and airmail covers, ordinary letters being simply stamped with what was termed a Feldpost number (FPN), in a system similar to the modern postcode. Servicemen could also send items via the civilian postal system, in which case full postage was collected and stamps issued and cancelled upon dispatch.

Unit FPNs typically consisted of five digits indicating a location, preceded by a letter showing whether the recipient’s unit belonged to the Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine or some other service branch. There was also a letter following the digits which indicated whether the serviceman was serving in the headquarters company or as part of a line unit. This system was specifically developed to keep troop locations secret, relatives of service personnel receiving a messaging card (Benachrichtigungskarten) bearing the relevant FPN, with mail reaching the recipient in about two weeks. All correspondence from military personnel serving abroad was subject to censorship, although covers and postcards sent to addresses within Germany did not receive such scrutiny.

A Feldpost delivery on the Russian frontPerhaps needless to say, SS mail received special treatment. The SS-Feldpost mail was handled separately by the designated SS-units, the difference between ordinary Feldpost and SS-Feldpost mail being that an item for an SS soldier was required to bear the SS-Feldpost marking, SS unit seal and the sender's rank (SS-Mann), although these regulations do not appear to have been rigidly enforced. The SS also had mail surveillance centres, which used their own censorship markings. Initially the Feldpost was subject to the rules and regulations governing regular postal services and administered by the OKW (Wehrmacht High Command) but on 6 April 1944, all military mail, including its censorship, was removed from Wehrmacht control and came under the jurisdiction of the SS.

As well as their official stamps the Third Reich also produced several series of what are termed propaganda stamps and these include issues parodying the Royal family and the 1935 Silver Jubilee, which replaced the Silver Jubilee superscript with a picture of Stalin and the message ‘THIS WAR IS A JEWISH WAR’.

On the other side of the Channel, British MI6 produced a number of excellent forgeries of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Pfennig Reich stamps, while the OSS produced 6 and 12 Pfennig stamps, although their stamps were claimed to be inferior to MI6’s product. Both the SOE and OSS also produced propaganda stamps, in particular one with Himmler replacing Hitler, specifically intended to undermine the Fuhrer's confidence in his right hand man.

OSS stamp produced for Operation Cornflakes, showing Hitler as a Death's Head and with a subscript which translates as Ruined (or Lost) EmpireNot only did Allied intelligence forge genuine DRP stamps, they also set up an operation to fool the German postal service into delivering Allied propaganda. Designated Operation Cornflakes and run principally by the American OSS, the operation involved dropping subversive material in the form of letters enclosed in Reich-pattern mail bags from specially adapted planes on or near the site of a wrecked mail train. Letters were then re-collected and delivered in the normal way, OSS operatives having used captured German street directories to locate the addresses of real people within the Reich to whom this material was sent. From a collector's viewpoint this operation is of particular interest because the OSS produced a series of special stamps with unique engraving. One in particular shows Hitler’s face as a Death's Head in right profile with the usual subscript, ‘GROSSDEUTSCHES REICH’ replaced with the subscript ‘FUTSCHES REICH’, or ruined empire.

Although stamps, covers and postcards may not immediately seem something for the collector of militaria, many of these items have an intrinsic beauty of their own which can  prove very attractive. Also, they are relatively cheap so a small collection of items of intrinsic interest, say, stamps related to Stalingrad, need not break the bank and would add interest to an otherwise mundane collection.

Stamps issued by the Third Reich - Generally, the issues with Hitler's head and the official swastika stamps are fairly common and relatively inexpensive, 20 stamps of the Hitler head issue selling for as little as £6-£7, with the swastika stamps about the same price. Some semipostals and commemorative stamps are also relatively inexpensive, a set commemorating the 1936 winter Olympics being recently offered for only £5, although much depends upon condition and rarity.         

Propaganda stamps - Perhaps surprisingly, considering their interesting provenance, these stamps do not seem to fetch huge prices at auction, £5-£6 being the average internet price, depending upon condition and rarity.

Operation Cornflakes - Stamps from this operation are significantly more expensive than the general run of WWII stamps, £100-£200 being not unusual for the 12pf Death’s Head issue.

Feldpost covers and postcards - Normally Feldpost mail could not be dispatched nor received by civil post offices and envelopes (postal covers) or postcards delivered via the service are usually found stamped with a military Feldpost Cancellation and Official Military Unit Seal. Some covers and postcards from paramilitary units may be found with overprinted stamps, indicating that the item was dispatched from an occupied country before the German post office had begun issuing their own stamps, specifically printed for that area. These covers and postcards may also bear stamps from a censor, particularly after June 1944, when all postal items became the responsibility of the SS. Feldpost numbers were also sometimes reassigned to other units, particularly when a formation ceased to exist as a result of military action and consequently legitimate covers may be found which bear the same Feldpost number for two different units.

As usual, values depend upon rarity and provenance, but generally these are not expensive, good quality Bavarian covers starting at about £20.

Reichsparteitag Party Rally Propaganda postcard Postcards - These are really a collecting field in themselves but many of the examples produced by the Third Reich as propaganda tools are of extremely high quality and mint examples can fetch high prices, around £30-£40 being not unusual.

Source :
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-events-second-world-war-wwii-back-area-military-mail-service-delivery-24441770.html?imageid=A6C4EDC4-6578-41A1-BAB7-1456CB9AB042&p=58867&pn=1&searchId=d7b5b9a049e0fb6db1aa0742a1ef9e44&searchtype=0
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/dressed-in-winter-gear-two-german-soliders-look-through-a-news-photo/103137516?phrase=Das%20Heer%20im%20Grossdeutschen%20Freiheitskampf
https://www.militaria-history.co.uk/articles/postage-stamps-of-the-third-reich/

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

Luftwaffe Flight Cap

A Luftwaffe navigator checks his course while laying in the nose of his Heinkel He 111 medium bomber. He is wearing a fliegerkopfhaube (flight cap). During World War I, most pilots quickly realized the need for protective headgear due to the cold weather effects while in an open cockpit.  As no headgear was readily available, pilots were forced to utilize commercially produced leather motorcycle and automobile helmets.  During World War II, the German military produced approximately 10 variations of flight helmets for various operational conditions, as well as with or without radio communication equipment.  This specific helmet was designed with radio equipment for fighter and bomber pilots.  It was similar to the earlier model used in the early months of the Battle of Britain (LWpW100), however with updated features.

Source :
https://www.angelfire.com/on4/okw/luftwaffe2.htm
https://axis-militaria.com/product/ww-ii-german-aircraft-lkpw101-fliegerkopfhaube-winter-flight-cap-nice/

Luftwaffe Ace Werner Machold and His Aircraft

Oberfeldwebel Werner Machold (Flugzeugführer in 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen") stands by his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 "Weisse 1" fighter aircraft. The picture was taken in France, April 1941. At the beginning of World War II, Machold was serving with 1./JG 2. He was particularly successful over France in 1940 gaining at least 10 victories, including his first on 14 May. Oberfeldwebel Machold continued to score heavily during the Battle of Britain. He was the eighth German fighter pilot to reach 20 victories. On 5 September 1940, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for 21 victories.On 7 September, Machold was transferred to 9./JG 2. He recorded his 24th through 26th victories on 30 September, shooting down three RAF fighters. Oberleutnant Machold was appointed Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 2 in spring 1941. On 9 June 1941, Oberleutnant Machold, flying his Bf 109 E-7/Z (W.Nr. 5983) “White 15”, force-landed near Swanage, Dorset after receiving damage from anti-aircraft fire from a Royal Navy destroyer during a low-level Jabo attack on a shipping convoy off Portland. He became a prisoner-of-war for the remainder of hostilities. Werner Machold amassed 32 victories in over 250 combat missions. All his victories were recorded over the Western front.

Source :
https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109E/JG2-III/pages/Messerschmitt-Bf-109E7-7.JG2-White-1-Staka-Werner-Machold-France-Apr-1941-02.html
https://waralbum.ru/403494/

Hitler in SA Rally in Dortmund

Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler addressing an SA (Sturmabteilung) rally in Dortmund, Germany, during “Aufmarsch der SA-Gruppe Westfalen” (also known as the “SA-Westfalentreffen”), 9 July 1933. From left to right: Gauleiter Josef Wagner (NSDAP-Gauleiter des Gaus Westfalen-Süd), SA-Gruppenführer Wilhelm Schepmann (Führer SA-Gruppe Westfalen), SA-Brigadeführer Georg von Walthausen (Gruppenstaffelführers der SA-Gruppe Nord-West), Hitler, Adolf Hühnlein (blocked by Hitler, NSKK-Korpsführer ), and SA-Obergruppenführer Viktor Lutze (Oberpräsident der Provinz Hannover). This picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger, and was first published in the book "Deutschland Erwacht – Werden, Kampf und Sieg der NSDAP".

Source :
"Deutschland Erwacht", Bild Nr. 155, Album Nr. 8
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/hitler-jaeger-file/ngHRdAjU47eUHQ?hl=en
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=251161&start=120
https://www.granger.com/results.asp?inline=true&image=0112430&wwwflag=1&itemx=8
https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/M429572/Nazi-leader-Adolf-Hitler-with-Josef-Wagner-Gauleiter-of-South-Westphaliam-and-senior-members-of-the-SA-Wilhelm

Idiot's Delight

Master Sergeant Penrose Bingham watches Sergeant Pilla (no first name given) paint another bomb on the side of a Boeing B-17F Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber, nicknamed 'Idiot's Delight' of the U.S. 8th Air Force, England, to commemorate the planes 50th successful mission, 1944. Idiots’ Delight (42-30301 XM * J) belonged to the 94th Bomb Group, 332nd Bomb Squadron and was the first in that group to survive 50 missions. She flew her first mission on July 14, 1943 to Le Bourget and her fiftieth mission on March 22, 1944 to Berlin. Camouflage is standard Olive Drab over Neutral Gray with Neutral Gray (instead of white) stars in the national insignia.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2598504867039308
https://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/in-colour/

German Reconnaissance Pilot

Luftwaffe Fernaufklärer (long-distance reconnaissance pilot) with his aircraft in 1940. He is wearing Fliegerkopfhaube (aviator head cover) and Fliegerschutzbrille (aviator goggles). Despite a considerable technological and numerical head start, Germany gradually neglected aerial reconnaissance, at least relative to Britain. The reason, grounded in history and geography, was that Germany had no strategic bombing doctrine and viewed air power as an auxiliary of land armies. Numerous Aufklärungs (up-clearing, i.e. reconnaissance) units were established for marine and ground support purposes, but while this was effective in the tactical sense, the intellectual investment in interpretation, analysis, and strategic estimation lagged. From the German perspective, this was defensible considering that about 90% of the action lay in large land-battles in the East, and an expensive long-range air capability would have been unlikely to effectively change the outcome.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_reconnaissance_in_World_War_II
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/airwar-ww2-the-pilots.54010/page-16

German Tanks Near Moscow

White winter camouflaged tanks of the 11. Panzer-Division in the village of Matronino near Volokolamsk. On the left, the first and third are Panzer III tanks, while between them and on the right is Panzer II tanks. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Artur Grimm in Moscow area, November 1941. From 31 October to 13–15 November 1941, the Wehrmacht high command stood down while preparing to launch a second offensive towards Moscow. Although Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Centre) still possessed considerable nominal strength, its fighting capabilities had thoroughly diminished because of wear and fatigue. While the Germans were aware of the continuous influx of Soviet reinforcements from the east as well as the presence of large reserves, given the tremendous Soviet casualties, they did not expect the Soviets to be able to mount a determined defense.

Source :
https://en.topwar.ru/189069-tanki-shli-naprolom-podvigu-geroev-panfilovcev-80-let.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Moscow

German 88mm Flak Gun during Barbarossa

Positioning of an 8.8 cm Flak gun of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) at the Eastern Front during Unternehmen Barbarossa, summer 1941. Photographer: Artur Grimm. For the invasion of the Soviet Union, Germany deployed the 8.8 cm Flak in 51 mixed Anti-Aircraft battalions. They were mostly Luftwaffe-subordinated units attached to the Heer at corps or army level, with approximately one battalion per corps. The weapon saw continuous use on the eastern front. The appearance of the outstanding T-34 and the later KV tanks shocked the German panzer crews and anti-tank teams, who could only penetrate the Soviet tanks' armor at extremely close range on the order of 200 yards when using the standard 37 mm and 50 mm guns, while the Russian 76 mm gun was effective out to 1000 yards.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.8_cm_Flak_18/36/37/41
https://photochronograph.ru/2019/04/20/gitlerovskie-vojska-vo-vremya-nastupleniya-v-sssr-1941-43-gody/

German Bf 110 and Italian Macchi C.200

German fighter-bomber Messerschmitt Bf 110 and an Italian Macchi C.200 Saetta flying over a (southern?) Italian city, somewhere in 1942. Photographer: Artur Grimm. At least three Bf.110 C-3 supplied by Luftwaffe to Italian Regia Aeronautica for night fighter units. After training and familiarization of Italian crews with the German twin engine in Germany, the planes was transferred in Italy in July and August 1942 and assigned to Nucleo Addestramento Intercettori, an unit for interceptor’s training operating inside of 235th Squadriglia transferred from Treviso to Lonate Pozzolo, near Varese, in Lombardy. Role of this unit was train the Italian pilots to new methods of night fighting against the Allied strategic bombers. In this color photo the commander of 235th Squadriglia, captain Aramis Ammannato, and his dog, standing in front of a Bf.110 of the unit at Lonate Pozzolo.

Source :
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/386887424240669388/
http://losgrandesfotografos.blogspot.com/2018/02/arthur-grimm-1908-1990.html

Mussolini in the Cover of Nazi Propaganda Magazine

The cover of "Die Woche" magazine, 9 October 1940: Italian dictator Benito Mussolini with German Ambassador in Rome behind him, Hans Georg von Mackensen. Mackensen was a very committed supporter of the Nazi regime, and as ambassador in Rome he worked tirelessly to strengthen the Axis. Mussolini had appointed his son-in-law Ciano Foreign Minister in 1936 to order to overcome the reluctance of the professional diplomats of the Palazzo Chigi towards closer ties with Germany, thus providing a bond with Ciano who was also keen to strengthen the Axis alliance.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Georg_von_Mackensen
https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryMemes/comments/pnguk2/mussolini_at_the_march_on_rome/

German Soldiers Warming Themselves

German soldiers at the Eastern Front warming themselves at a fire. In the background a tank. November / December 1941. Photographer: Artur Grimm. Despite their military successes, the German offensive stalled on the outskirts of Moscow in the end of November, 1941. They were not equipped for the Russian brutally cold winter. A Soviet counter offensive pushed the Nazis back before they could take Moscow. The Wehrmacht could no longer mount a simultaneous offensive along the entire strategic Soviet–Axis front, which contributed to their ultimate defeat.

Source :
https://www.jchb.org/neveragain-eastern-front-map/
https://twitter.com/dhkriegbericher?lang=en

A Burning Soviet T-34

Aftermath of the repel of a Soviet tank attack by German forces in the Eastern Front: a hit, burning T 34 tank. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Artur Grimm, early or late 1943 (winter). The T-34 seemed impervious to German weapons and able to destroy German tanks with ease. Panzer commander General Heinz Guderian saw the heavy losses inflicted by the T-34 and realized what a game-changer it was, outclassing his own Panzer IIIs and IVs: “Up to this time we had enjoyed tank superiority, but now the situation was reversed,” Guderian wrote. “The prospect of rapid, decisive victories was fading in consequence."

Source :
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a32439030/t-34-soviet-tank-history/

German Infantryman Taking Cover

German infantryman taking cover on the Eastern Front. No place given, probably Russia 1942. Photographer: Artur Grimm. The troops had been pushed to the extreme limit of endurance since the beginning of the Russian campaign, particularly during the intensive fighting in the areas of Sevastopol and Feodosia. The infantry companies as well as units of pioniers, panzerjaegers, reconnaissance battalions, the forward observers of the artillery, and the supply units had repeatedly demonstrated how good soldiers conform and react to a given situation, regardless of the strength of the opposition, when provided the proper training and leadership.

Source :
"In Deadly Combat: A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front" by Gottlob Herbert Bidermann
http://losgrandesfotografos.blogspot.com/2018/02/arthur-grimm-1908-1990.html

German Victory Parade in Warsaw (1939)

Hitler's Motorcade Crosses Warsaw

On the threshold of Hitler’s visit to Warsaw on 5 October 1939, the center of the city, a maiden part of the upcoming motorcade route, had been practically sealed from the locals, abandoning the presence of any polish citizens in proximity to the event. A number of buildings along the planned route were now covered with the Nazi banners and a good few special security squads, armed with machine guns, were disposed within the windows and roofs across the city center. The local population of the occupied Warsaw was now forbidden (at least on October 5), under penalty of death, to leave their accommodation across the route or to open windows facing the chosen streets. the day before, Hitler personally alleviate the concerns of some SS soldiers and officers, who had already participated in mass killings in Poland. On October 4 he issued a secret order on amnesty, an act of oblivion for the Germans soldiers, who were now beyond the law in committing crimes within occupied territories.

For this once on October 5, 1939, Adolf Hitler made it to Poland from Berlin by means of a plane. As early as 11:30 a.m. the air cortege under the masterful lead of Hans Baur came down to the airfield of Okecie (The modern Warsaw Chopin Airport. Some sources state that they landed at the Kielce airport). As befits the supreme commander and the conqueror, Hitler was awaited and welcomed by his generals. Gerd von Rundstedt, the triumphal commander of ‘Heeresgruppe Süd’ (Army Group South); Walther von Brauchitsch, Commander-in-Chief of the German army; Erhard Milch, the future Field Marshal of aviation and Goering’s deputy; Johannes Blaskowitz, the commander of the triumphal 8th army; Walter von Reichenau, the commander of the 10th army at that time; Friedrich von Cochenhausen, the future general of artillery. The planned VIP-like motorcade was to enter Warsaw from the East and proceed towards the initial point, which was the set of the military parade.

Hitler’s automobile cortege cross the Vistula river across the Most Poniatowskiego (Poniatowski Bridge), named after the Polish military leader of the 17-18 centuries. The bridge was rebuilt after the demolition during the ‘Great War (WWI) and would be totally devastated by Germans five years later in the midst of the Warsaw Uprising. Hereafter, the motorcade proceeded to an avenue, historically praised as ‘Aleje Jerozolimskie’ (The Jerusalem alley), now hastily renamed into Bahnhofstrasse (later one, in the course of the occupation, into ‘Reichsstraße’ and finally ‘Ostlandstrasse’). Subsequently, the cars turned into Nowy Swiat, the famous fashionable arteria of Warsaw, and finally to Ujazdów Avenue. All arrangements were made to orchestrate a parade of victory, thus paying tribute both to the German army and Hitler himself as a supreme commander and a Fuhrer.

The Two-Hour Military Parade

The long-drawn automobile column, which had been proceeding its way from the airfield, now eased down and entered the wide avenue. Hitler was the key figure of the cortege, all while standing and greeting the German soldiers (who had been carefully ranked by the side of the road hours before) from his Mercedes-Benz W31 type G4 of improved cross-country performance. The route was not accidental as for a while now his cortege had been moving forward across the so-called ‘King’s route’ the king’s road with a two-century history behind. The German dictator was known for his disdain toward the monarchy. Hitler was even much less concerned with the history of the independent Polish state and its kings, who had used this route to reach their royal residences in the South of Warsaw. ‘Ujazdów Avenue’ would later (May 1940) be renamed Lindenallee (Linde Avenue) with a barefaced parallel to the berlin Unter-den-Linden. A year from the day of Hitler’s visit it would be once again renamed (in the course of the orchestrated parade viewed by Hans Frank) to ‘Siegenallee’ (The avenue of Victory).

As far back in Warsaw’s history as the end of the XIX century, a broad street with an elite status of the former king’s road was settled on by rich aristocrats of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. With the acquisition of independence and the fall of the Habsburgs at the back of the Great War, the spacious villas and adjoining green gardens were mainly turned into embassies. That very afternoon minutes of October 5 1939 Hitler’s cortege made a stop next to Ujazdowski Park and Pałacyk ‘Rembielińskiego’, a luxurious palace of 1840, hit by a German air bomb in the course of the recent raids. A large grandstand, ornamented with Nazi symbolics was erected prior to the event to accommodate Hitler and his close military entourage during the so-called ‘Siegesparade’ (Parade of victory).

Apart from Hitler himself, the made tribune was now to welcome and place forgoing Walther von Brauchitsch, Gerd von Rundstedt, and Friedrich von Cochenhausen. The attentive attendees of the parade had a glimpse to identify the future Feldmarschall of aviation Albert Kesselring, who had been recently (September 30) awarded with Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) by Hitler personally. General Colonel Wilhelm Keitel, the chief of the OKW, had been disdainfully called ‘Lakeitel’ by some of the high-ranking officers of the army. He caught the sight of the battlefields in Poland only from the perspective of Hitler’s personal train, a fact, which had not get in the way of being awarded the ‘Knight’s Cross’ for the Polish campaign. It would take him seven years to get from the parade in Warsaw to the gallow in Nuremberg. Erwin Rommel, the chief of the ‘Führerbegleitbataillon’ was another prominent figure, summoned to Warsaw after a short stay at home and now present within the grandstand.

Among the others present, Johannes Albrecht Blaskowitz, the commander of the 8th army was now filled with a mix of pride and doubts watching his soldiers (the 8th army was the privileged regime of the parade) marching the conquered city. Following the Polish campaign, Blaskowitz was promoted to colonel-general, awarder with ‘Knight’s Cross’ and assigned as the Commander in Chief in the East. In under two subsequent months, the general would fall out of favor of Hitler after his deprecation towards the mass killings, performed by the SS in Poland with the extermination of the city citizens, the prelude to mass killing actions in the USSR such as Babi yar massacre in 1941. On that October afternoon, Blaskowitz could see Heinrich Himmler nearby, an architecture of the ‘Sonderauftrag’ (special tasks) against Polish and Jews, who had come purposively from Berlin to join the parade after a ten-day ‘vacation’.

As for Adolf Hitler, he was now making the most of the moment, while playing the role of the warlord, a colonizer who reviewed his self-made triumphant army for more than two hours in the heart of Warsaw downtown. October 5, 1939, was a warm and sunny day, yet the German Fuhrer favored a leather coat to appear in front of his army. The bloody war would demand another day until the shatters of the devastated Polish army would capitulate on October 6 (on that day Hitler would voice a triumphant speech in Berlin). In the meantime, waiting for such ‘formality’, Hitler addressed the foreign journalists next to the grandstand, who had been craving his commentaries for a few hours. He made emotional stress on the ruins of Warsaw and proclaimed a verbose statement, that Warsaw suffered so much because of the ‘criminal’ perseverance of its leaders and defenders. Hitler voiced the idea, that the Western powers should pay extreme attention to the possible aftermath of war. Subsequent to a two-hour orchestrated parade, Hitler was now to proceed with a short ride across Warsaw.

Siegesparade (Victory Parade) of German troops from 8. Armee in Warsaw, Poland, which were held on October 5, 1939. Hitler specifically flew to Warsaw on a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 A-0 (S-8) AC+VH "Grenzmark" aircraft to watch the parade. He landed at Okecie airport in Aleja Krakowska, and armed convoy went to the central part of the city where the main event was taking place. After that, he made brief visits to various parts of Warsaw. In addition with Hitler, the main podium was filled by the commanders of the Wehrmacht, while at the bottom left were other generals of lower rank. Also, the bottom right is filled by aides. For identification of the people standing on the podium is, from left to right: Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Werner Kienitz (Kommandierender General XVII. Armeekorps), General der Kavallerie Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Weichs (Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps), Generaloberst Walther von Reichenau (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee), Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz (Oberbefehlshaber 8. Armee), General der Flieger Alexander Löhr (Chef Luftflotte 4), General der Flieger Albert Kesselring (Chef Luftflotte 1), and SA-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Brückner (Chefadjutant des Führers und Reichskanzler). Photo by Hugo Jaeger, one of Hitler's personal photographer.

Siegesparade (Victory Parade) of German troops from 8. Armee in Warsaw, Poland, which were held on October 5, 1939. Standing in the podium, from left to right: Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalmajor Friedrich-Carl Cranz (Kommandeur 18. Infanterie-Division), General der Artillerie Emil Leeb (Kommandierender General XI. Armeekorps), Generaloberst Wilhelm Keitel (Chef der Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), General der Kavallerie Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Weichs (with glasses, Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps), Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz (Oberbefehlshaber 8. Armee), Generaloberst Walther von Reichenau (blocked by Blaskowitz, Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee), and General der Flieger Albert Kesselring (Chef Luftflotte 1). Standing directly below Hitler is Generalmajor Erwin Rommel (Kommandeur Führer-Begleit-Bataillon). Photo by Hugo Jaeger, one of Hitler's personal photographer.

Siegesparade (Victory Parade) of German troops from 8. Armee in Warsaw, Poland, which were held on October 5, 1939. Standing in the podium, from left to right: Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalmajor Friedrich-Carl Cranz (Kommandeur 18. Infanterie-Division), General der Artillerie Emil Leeb (Kommandierender General XI. Armeekorps), Generaloberst Wilhelm Keitel (Chef der Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), and Generaloberst Walther von Reichenau (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee). In the invasion of Poland, 18. Infanterie-Division (Cranz) was under the command of XI. Armekorps (Leeb), which itself is a part of the 10. Armee (Reichenau). Standing directly below Hitler is Generalmajor Erwin Rommel (Kommandeur Führer-Begleit-Bataillon). Photo by Hugo Jaeger, one of Hitler's personal photographer.



Siegesparade (Victory Parade) of German troops from 8. Armee in Warsaw, Poland, which were held on October 5, 1939. From left to right: Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz (Oberbefehlshaber 8. Armee), General der Flieger Albert Kesselring (Chef Luftflotte 1), Generalleutnant Conrad von Cochenhausen (with stahlhelm, Kommandeur 10. Infanterie-Division), General der Flieger Alexander Löhr (Chef Luftflotte 4), Generalmajor Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz (Verbindungsoffizier zwischen dem Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe und dem Führerhauptquartier), and SA-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Brückner (Chefadjutant des "Führers und Reichskanzlers“). In this photo, Brückner is wearing a rare wartime SA schirmmütze (visor hat) reserved only for Adolf Hitler's personal staff. This type of hat can be identified from the dark brown center with the Reichsadler SA emblem on the top center which resembles the Reichsadler Heer / Kriegsmarine. Photo by Hugo Jaeger, one of Hitler's personal photographer.

Siegesparade (Victory Parade) of German troops from 8. Armee in Warsaw, Poland, which were held on October 5, 1939. This picture shows Panzerkampfwagen IIs passing Adolf Hitler and other Wehrmacht officials who were standing on the podium. Since the only armored formation belonging to the 8. Armee under the siege of Warsaw was I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 23, it is likely that the tanks is from that unit. Standing on the podium is, from left to right: General der Kavallerie Erich Hoepner (Kommandierender General XVI. Armeekorps [motorisiert]), Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), Generaloberst Wilhelm Keitel (Chef der Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), General der Kavallerie Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Weichs (Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps), Korvettenkapitän Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer (Adjutant der Kriegsmarine beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generaloberst Walther von Reichenau (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee), Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz (Oberbefehlshaber 8. Armee), General der Flieger Alexander Löhr (Chef Luftflotte 4), and General der Flieger Albert Kesselring (Chef Luftflotte 1).

PaK (Panzerabwehrkanone) 35/36 37mm caliber belonging to a Wehrmacht anti-tank unit passing through the podium during the victory parade of the German troops from 8. Armee in Warsaw, Poland, which were held on October 5, 1939 in the presence of Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) and other high-ranking Wehrmacht officials. The PaK 35/36 itself was the standard German anti-tank weapon early in the war, before being replaced by the larger caliber as Allies and Soviet armored vehicles increased in thickness. Note that these anti-tank guns are painted with field gray color so they will "blend" with the color of the tires! The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger, one of Adolf Hitler's personal photographer.

This photo was taken by Hugo Jaeger and shows the Siegesparade (Victory Parade) of the German troops from 8. Armee in Warsaw, Poland, which were held on October 5, 1939. The Einheits-PKW (standard passenger car) marching past Adolf Hitler and other dignitaries of the Wehrmacht, standing on the podium . The vehicle on the left is the Stoewer Typ M 12 RW, while the one in the center and right is the Horch 830 R Kübelwagen. Those standing in the podium is, from left to right: General der Kavallerie Erich Hoepner (Kommandierender General XVI. Armeekorps [motorisiert]), Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Werner Kienitz (Kommandierender General XVII. Armeekorps), General der Kavallerie Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Weichs (Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps), Generaloberst Walther von Reichenau (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee), Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz (Oberbefehlshaber 8. Armee), General der Flieger Alexander Löhr (Chef Luftflotte 4), General der Flieger Albert Kesselring (Chef Luftflotte 1), and SA-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Brückner (Chefadjutant des Führers und Reichskanzler). The aides are watching below the podium and - in this photo - they can be seen at far right.

This photo was taken by Hugo Jaeger and shows the Siegesparade (Victory Parade) of the German troops from 8. Armee in Warsaw, Poland, which were held on October 5, 1939. A line of military trucks passes Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking Wehrmacht officials, followed by the Einheits-PKW (standard passenger cars). It seems that these vehicles have been added with a two-tone gray-brown camouflage paint, and they also have a glossy shine as if they were fresh from the factory (the order to use all-grey camouflage only came into effect after the end of French campaign in 1940). Here, too, we can see that the generals around Hitler changing according to their unit's turn to parade. From left to right: Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd), General der Infanterie Werner Kienitz (Kommandierender General XVII. Armeekorps), and General der Kavallerie Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Weichs (Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps)

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/10/koleksi-ratusan-foto-berwarna-dari-life.html
https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/m064km4b?hl=en
https://www.life.com/history/world-war-ii-erupts-color-photos-from-the-invasion-of-poland-1939/
https://war-documentary.info/hitler-goes-warsaw/

Bio of Generalfeldmarschall Maximilian von Weichs

Maximilian Maria Joseph Karl Gabriel Lamoral Reichsfreiherr von Weichs zu Glon (12 November 1881 – 27 September 1954) was a German Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. He was born into a noble family at Dessau in Anhalt, a son of an Army colonel. Following his graduation from the Wilhelmsgymnasium in Munich, he entered the Bavarian Cavalry in 1900 and fought with them in World War I. From 1915 until 1918 he served with the General Staff of the 3rd Bavarian Army Corps. After the war he remained in the newly created Reichswehr where he worked at a number of General Staff positions and later served as an instructor. Transferred from the 3rd Cavalry Division to command Germany's 1st Panzer Division upon its formation in October 1935, he led the unit in maneuvers that impressed Army Commander in Chief Werner von Fritsch. Weichs' aristocratic and cavalry credentials demonstrated the continuing influence of these military elites in Germany's modernizing force.

In October 1937 he became the commander of the 13th Army Corps, that later served in the 1938 German annexation of the Sudetenland.

For the German invasion of Poland beginning World War II in 1939, Weichs was appointed head of his own Army Corps "Weichs". After the Polish surrender, and in preparation for the invasion of France, he was made Commander-in-Chief of the 2nd Army, a part of Rundstedt’s Army Group A in the West. For his successes in the French campaign he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and promoted to colonel-general. Leading his corps, Weichs later took part in the Balkans Campaign, and in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he was assigned to lead the 2nd Army as a part of Fedor von Bock’s Army Group Centre. He led the 2nd Army in 1941 through the Battle of Kiev, the Battle of Smolensk, and then on to Vyazma and Bryansk.

In 1942, for Fall Blau, Weichs was assigned to lead the newly created Army Group B. Army Group B was composed of Hans von Salmuth's 2nd Army, Hermann Hoth’s 4th Panzer Army, and Friedrich Paulus' 6th Army. In addition to the German armies, Army Group B included the 2nd Hungarian Army, 8th Italian Army, the Third and the Fourth Romanian Army. The 6th Army was assigned to take the city of Stalingrad and cover approximately 800 km of front.

Weichs warned about his lines being stretched too thinly, but Adolf Hitler ignored his warnings. Weichs' fears were realised when Operation Uranus smashed the Romanian armies on his flanks, cutting off the 6th Army inside Stalingrad. Suggesting retreat, Weichs fell out of Hitler’s favor. Consequently, parts of Army Group B were taken away from Weichs' command and incorporated into a new Army Group Don, led by Erich von Manstein. Later in February the remaining part merged with the Don Group into a newly reinstated Army Group South, also led by Manstein. Weichs was put in leader reserve.

Weichs was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall on 1 February 1943. As the German situation was starting to become more dire, in August 1943 Weichs was appointed Commander of Army Group F in the Balkans defending against possible Allied invasion in what was seen as Germany’s weak underbelly and fighting off local partisan groups that were gaining strength. In late 1944, he oversaw the German retreat from Greece and most of Yugoslavia.

As Nazi Germany fell apart, Weichs was finally retired on March 25, 1945, and was arrested by American troops in May. During the Nuremberg Trials, Weichs was implicated in war crimes committed while suppressing the partisans, however, he was removed from the Hostages Trial due to medical reasons without having been judged or sentenced.

Weichs died at Burg Rösberg near Bonn.

Medals and decorations
Knight's Cross on 29 June 1940 as General der Kavallerie and commander-in-chief of the 2. Armee
731st Oak Leaves on 5 February 1945 as Generalfeldmarschall and commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe F, at the same time OB Südost (commander-in-chief south east)
Iron Cross of 1914, 1st and 2nd Class
Clasp to the Iron Cross of 1939, 1st and 2nd Class
Bavarian Military Merit Order, Fourth Class with Swords
Eastern Front Medal
Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar
Jubilee Medal for the Bavarian Army
Bavarian Military Long Service Award 2nd Class
Wehrmacht Military Long Service Award 1st Class
Order of Franz Joseph, Knight's Cross

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/07/album-foto-berwarna-jenderal-heer.html
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Maximilian_von_Weichs

German Infantryman with MG 13

German infantryman with MG 13 on the Eastern Front. No place given, but probably Russia 1942. Photographer: Artur Grimm. The MG 13 (shortened from German Maschinengewehr 13) is a German light machine gun developed by converting the Dreyse Model 1918 heavy water-cooled machine gun into an air-cooled version. The MG 13 was introduced into service in 1930, where it served as the standard light machine gun until 1935. It was superseded by the MG 34 and then later the MG 42.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/ww2soldiers/photos/a.1756598311265149/2471299086461731/?type=3

Maintenance of Ju 88 Aircraft

Maintenance of a Junkers Ju 88 bomber at a German air force base in Northern France, autumn 1940 (or spring 1941). Photographer: Artur Grimm. The Ju 88 sported a rather ungainly appearance but was consistent with the German bomber design trend of the period. The heavily-framed cockpit was held in a stepped arrangement overlooking a short, glazed nose section. The fuselage was expectedly tubular and terminated in a single rounded vertical tail fin at rear. The wing mainplanes were low-mounted along the forward section of the aircraft with the engine nacelles installed at each wing leading edge. The engines sported large spinners and drove three-bladed propeller units. Most Ju 88 versions held a belly gondola for a defensive machine gun position. The undercarriage arrangement was of the typical tail-dragger configuration featuring two main legs.

Source :
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/world-war-ii-air-battle-over-england-maintenance-of-a-ju-88-news-photo/548132153?phrase=artur%20grimm
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=98

Funeral of General Hans Kamecke

Funeral of Generalleutnant Hans Kamecke, the second commander of 137. Infanterie-Division, who was severely wounded in the battle against the Red Army at Ostrowy / Lojew, Belarus, on 15 October 1943. He then died because of his wounds in the field hospital near Kolpen the next day, 16 October 1943. Kamecke would posthumously awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 27 October 1943.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/ww2soldiers/posts/funeral-of-lieutenant-general-hans-kamecke-the-second-commander-of-the-137th-inf/2596754230582882/

German Victory Parade in Paris

German victory parade at Place de la Concorde, Paris, June 14, 1940. Front row from left to right: General der Kavallerie Georg Stumme (Kommandierender General XXXX. Panzerkorps), General der Artillerie Georg von Küchler (Oberbefehlshaber 18. Armee), and Generaloberst Fedor von Bock (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe B). Far left is Generalmajor Erich Marcks (Chef des Generalstabes 18.Armee), while closest to the camera is Generalleutnant Hans von Salmuth (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe B). Photo by Hugo Jaeger.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/10/koleksi-ratusan-foto-berwarna-dari-life.html