A Motor Column Crossing a River on a Pontoon Bridge

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

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

Friedrich August von der Heydte

Friedrich August von der Heydte (30 March 1907 - 7 July 1994) was born in Münich to a noble Freiherr, a title he inherited later in life. He joined the German Army after schooling, though he soon returned to school, attending Innsbruck University to study law; he earned his law degree in 1927. Further studies in Vienna (Austria) followed. He returned to Germany in the early 1930s and found himself disagreeing with Nazi philosophies. Nearly running across paths with Gestapo agents, he evaded arrest by rejoining the German Army in 1935. Between 1935 and 1937, he spent some time at The Hague, Netherlands, for further studying. During World War II, von der Heydte famously led a diversionary mission during the Ardennes Offensive. Immediately after the battle began, both real and dummy paratroopers were dropped to falsely enlarge the appearance of the assault and to confuse Allied defenders. The operation successfully forced the Americans put up roadblocks at every road junction and checked every passer by for identification, dramatically slowing the transportation system that was so critical for the Allied war effort: British General Bernard Montgomery was stopped and checked so many times that he later asked Eisenhower for an American identification card to speed up the process!

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=29879&start=10155
https://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=130

British and American Officers in India 1945

Accra, India, 1945. To the right is a Lieutenant of the USAAF. He wears a U.S. barracks hat and khaki shorts for hot or tropical climate. The forest warrior (Bush Jacket) with the short sleeves - made by a local tailor - is of British origin. The captain on the left is a British officer. He wears a Khaki beret, that seems to have added an additional tassel with the grenade emblem of the Artillery corps. He also wears an Army Captain's gallons with red rim and tailor-made KD shirt with the short sleeves, the last one is in blue color that in theory correspond to the RAF (Royal Air Force). At the bottom he wears a KD sand pants and a regulation green tights.

Source :
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page3

American Soldier in India

India, 1944-45. An American soldier in a Willys MB jeep (with a civilian front tire). He wear a 1943 HBT pants OD shade 7 with US white military shirt and British forest hat. This hat is commonly associated with Australians, but is actually the ordinance hat for the British and Commonwealth forces in tropical countries (in addition to the South Africans that will also use it in their desert uniform). The New Zealanders do have a distinctive hat.

Source :
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page3

Gerhard Barkhorn and Karl-Heinz Plücker

Summer of 1943: Oberleutnant Gerhard Barkhorn (left) - initially commanding officer of 4.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52), and subsequently of II. Gruppe itself - and Leutnant Karl-Heinz Plücker, photographed on the airfield at Kharkov-Roganj in the Eastern Front. Barkhorn was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 August 1942, plus Eichenlaub on 12 January 1943 and Schwerter on 2 March 1944. Although when this picture was taken Barkhorn had won Eichenlaub for 120 victories, he was wearing no decoration at the time.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

General der Flakartillerie Friedrich Heilingbrunner

General der Flakartillerie Friedrich Heilingbrunner (5 October 1891 - 17 August 1977) as a Generalmajor in this picture. After graduating from Franz-Ludwig-Gymnasium in Bamberg, Heilingbrunner joined 2. Fußartillerie-Regiment of Bavarian Army as a Fahnenjunker on 18 July 1910, and completed the Kriegsschule München from October 1911 to the end of September 1912. With the promotion to Leutnant on 28 October 1912, Heilingbrunner was transferred to 3. Feldartillerie-Regiment "Prinz Leopold". Here he was initially served as a battery officer. With the outbreak of the First World War, Heilingbrunner posted as a platoon leader in the front. From October 1915 to May 1917, he also served as battery chief in the Ottoman Army on the Gallipoli Peninsula and in Macedonia. After the demobilization of his regiment in late March 1919, Heilingbrunner joined Freikorps Epp on 26 March 1919, where he remained until the end of September 1919. Subsequent to the Provisional Reichswehr, he served until the end of September 1920 as a battery officer in the Reichswehr-Artillerie-Regiment 21. Heilingbrunner held the same position from October 1920 to the end of September 1923 at the 7. (Bayerisches) Artillerie-Regiment, where he was appointed as a Battery Chief on 1 October 1923. After he served as a teacher at the Artillerieschule Jüterbog from October 1927 to the end of March 1932, he returned as a major in the staff of the 7. (Bayerisches) Artillerie-Regiment on 1 April 1932. On 1 October 1933 he was finally became commander of the Fahr-Abteilung Fürth (and after its renaming on 1 April 1935 to Flak-Abteilung Fürth). On the latter date Heilingbrunner also joined the newly established Luftwaffe. On 1 October 1935 he was appointed as a Höheren Kommandeur der Flakartillerie in Luftkreis V, whose post he held until the end of February 1938. After the dissolution of the office, Heilingbrunner became Kommandierender General und Befehlshaber of Luftgau XII in Wiesbaden on 1 March 1938. On 1 April 1944 he was transferred to the Führerreserve of the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe, and dismissed from military service on 28 February 1945.

Source :
Collection Akira Takiguchi
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Heilingbrunner

Fw 190s of JG 54 on the Eastern Front

1943: Pilots sits in the cockpits of their Focke-Wulf Fw 190s belonging to I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54), ready to take-off. Many of the Focke-Wulf fighters transferred to I.Gruppe got a rather dark camouflage, and the yellow background to their fuselage Balkenkreuz insignia is characteristic of the Russian theatre.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl
http://www.modelarovo.cz/luftwaffe-v-barve/

Bf 109 of JG 52 awaits Further Action

At Kharkov-Roganj, a day-fighter of 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) awaits further action. This Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 "White 10" (s/n 19881) was flown by Leutnant Willmann in summer of 1943. There was little chance of escape if Soviet low-level attacks took place when the Gruppe's aircraft were caught isolated in the open like this!

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

General Harry Crerar Just Before Going to France in 1944

General Henry "Harry" Crerar (chief of the First Canadian Army) just before going to France in 1944. He wears an "Irving" Model 1940 flight jacket of the RAF. The visor cap with the red tape is prescribed for Colonels to Field Marshals. He wears a badge cap for Generals, otherwise his pants, gaiters and boots is typical Canadian or British. Such is the popularity of flight leather garments that it can be considered that any soldiers or officers of any nations, branches, Corps or Army will acquire them as soon as possible, with famous cases like those of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery or Harold Alexander, General George S. Patton, or SS officer Joachim "Jochen" Peiper. Those are a very few cases that can be cited.

Source :
http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vol18/no3/eng/page26-eng.asp
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page3

U.S. MP in a French Ruined Building

Summer of 1944, Northwestern France. A lieutenant of the MP (Military Police) in the courtyard of a ruined building. He wears a black A-1 flight jacket of the USAAF. On the inside he used what technically would be called a "Faithful US Jacket, Army ETO", which is but one of the very first versions of what will be known as "Ike's Jacket" or the British Battledress version for the US Army that is mostly used as a walking uniform (here rarely used as a combat uniform). Another "first" of this jacket is that it has the pockets at an angle with flaps (this has been put inside the pocket) identical to those of the first version of the Parsons jacket. The color of the Ike's Jacket is the Olive Drab shade 33. What looks like a dustbin with fireplace on the right is actually a U.S. Army mobile kitchen. There also seems to be the letter that appears on his helmet. This picture was made by Frank Scherschel

Source :
http://iqisu.blogspot.com/2015/11/photo-minute-post-normandy-france.html
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page3
http://surfingbird.ru/surf/f6h00111E#.XCvwsWkxXcs

Christmas with the British Liberation Army in Holland 1944

Christmas with the British Liberation Army in Holland, November 1944. A unit postman from 4th Armoured Brigade with a sack of Christmas parcels decorated with holly near Weert, Limburg, Netherlands. The picture was taken by Captain E.G. Malindine from No. 5 Army Film and Photographic Unit.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_With_the_British_Liberation_Army_in_Holland,_November_1944_TR2567.jpg
http://www.desertrats.org.uk/bde/4thABartefacts2.htm

An Artillery NCO with Woman and Pet

A noncommissioned officer of a German Army Artillery regiment - specializing in Transmissions - posing with a woman (probably his spouse) and puppy, near Tempelhof, Berlin, summer of 1943. The strange thing is the color of his uniform, a cinnamon color, while if it were summer it should be white. This picture is a part of Thomas Gade photo collection.

Source :
http://www.medienarchiv.com/Drittes%20Reich/1940-1943/page3.htm
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page2

Christmas with the British Tank Crew in Holland

Christmas with the British Liberation Army in Holland, November 1944: A tank crew of the 4th Battalion, the Royal Tank Regiment, 4th Armoured Division, unpack a Christmas parcel near Weert in Holland. The crew - who are shown with their camouflaged tank looking like a 'travelling Christmas tree' - had been together for three years. They had seen action in Libya and Italy before coming to Holland. Left to right: Trooper R Buckley; Trooper J Round; and Sergeant H Kirk. The picture was taken by Captain E.G. Malindine from No. 5 Army Film and Photographic Unit.

Source :
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205189095

General George C. Marshall Visits Italian Front

Vallecchia, Viareggio, Italy, April 1945. Colonel Raymond G. Sherman, of the 370th Combat Team of the 92nd Division, leads General of the Army George C. Marshall on a tour of inspection. Sherman wearing an M1 helmet and US officer's raincoat (officer's field overcoat), while Marshall with the British (or civil) gabardine. Behind Marshall is General Lucian King Truscott Jr., with another of these raincoats. Marshall seems to really wear a civilian raincoat!

Source :
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page10

Benito Mussolini Visits Tobruk in 1942

In the summer of 1942, Il Duce Benito Mussolini (marked with arrow) visits Tobruk, Libya, not long after its recaptured from the Commonwealth forces by "The Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel. In this picture, Mussolini is surrounded by his officers: the first officer from left is Vice Admiral Giuseppe Lombardi (Superior Naval Commander in Libya, with headquarters in Tobruk), then another Admiral (or maybe an Air force general). The third and fourth is Army generals. Mussolini himself have the peculiar rank insigna of Primo Maresciallo dell' Impero (a rank only for him and the King). The two officers at far right were Germans, from left to right: General der Infanterie Enno von Rintelen (Bevollmächtigten Deutschen General beim Hauptquartier der italienischen Wehrmacht) and Oberst Hans Hecker (Pionierführer Panzerarmee Afrika). Look at the ribbon bar (italian decorations), the Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse, and Kriegsverdienstkreuz I.Klasse mit Schwertern in Rintelen's uniform, while Hecker (a Ritterkreuzträger) wearing Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse, Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber, and Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=41411
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=238546

Kreisleiter Ernst Wagner of Königsberg

Original color photo of Kreisleiter Ernst Wagner from Königsberg, who was very active in the defence of the city in the last months of the war. He wore a Kreisleiter bracelet and cap, mixed with Army Splitter-pattern camo, Kreisleiter armband, and NSDAP brown pants. This is obviously a custom tunic, but interesting to note that in this color picture, he is wearing a standard Kreis visor and armband - sort of negates the purpose of camo!

Source :
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page10
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/cloth-headgear/nsdap-einsatz-u-dienst-visor-reichsleitung-290015-3/

Canadian Engineer Deactivated German Mine

Italy 1943. Canadian engineer sergeant of the 1st Infantry Division deactivating a German mine. In the divisional red patch it carries the letters R C E (Royal Corps Engineers). He wears a German pith helmet (tropenhelm or tropical helmet) of the type used by the Afrikakorps, to which he has added a Canadian engineers badge.

Source :
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page2

SS Officer Wearing Army Eagle

Russia 1941. An unidentified SS-Hauptsturmführer from SS-Totenkopf-Division (motorisiert), wearing Heer Adler (eagle) in his crusher cap, usually to distinguished the wearer as one of the participants of the first military training of the Waffen-SS by the Heer officers. From his red waffenfarbe, we know that this officer - who wore a ledermantel (leather jacket) - comes from artillery unit, the same thing with all other Army officers behind him. Too bad there is no information whatsoever about his identity or his unit.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=146826&p=2173100#p2173100

Canadian Sergeant with German Medals

To the victor go the spoils: Sergeant Gerard Alderic Durocher - of Canadian Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal - displaying twenty-nine German medals which he acquired as souvenirs. The picture was taken by photographer Michael M. Dean at Schmargendorf , Berlin, Germany, on 19 July 1945. The "booty" aside, Sergeant Durocher wears two wound stripes and the ribbon for the Military Medal (MM) for Gallantry in the field. A .pdf of the original citation can be found HERE. Possibly another case on Montgomery downgrading an award, in this instance from the Distinguished Conduct Medal to an MM.

For the identification of the medals:

1. Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz mit Schwertern
2. Tapferkeits- und Verdienstauszeichnung für Angehörige der Ostvölker 1. Klasse in Silber
3. Tapferkeits- und Verdienstauszeichnung für Angehörige der Ostvölker 1. Klasse in Gold
4. SS-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Stufe (25 years)
5. SS-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Stufe (12 years)
6. Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen 1. Stufe (40 years)
7. Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen 2. Stufe (25 years)
8. Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse ohne Schwerter
9. Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
10. Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter
11. Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
12. Kriegsverdienstmedaille
13. Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen Sonderstufe (50 years)
14. Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 1. Stufe (10 years)
15. SS-Dienstausteichnung 3. Stufe (8 years)
16. Dienstauszeichnung für den Reichsarbeitsdienst 4. Stufe (4 years)
17. Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen
18. Erinnerungsmedaille für die spanischen Freiwilligen im Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus
19. Tapferkeits- und Verdienstauszeichnung für Angehörige der Ostvölker 2. Klasse in Silber mit Schwertern
20. Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Ostmedaille)
21. Olympia-Erinnerungsmedaille
22. two Mutterkreuze

Source :
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/second-world-war/faces-second-war/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=1911&
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=153613&p=2173089#p2173089
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=222543

Messerschmitt Bf 109 of JG 53 in a Bay of Snow

Photographed in the winter of 1941/42, this "White 2", a Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 of 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) "Pik-As", is standing in the partial shelter of a bay of snow. Snow led to many Bf 109s (E, F and G models) being damaged in taking-off and landing, increasing the Luftwaffe's difficulties in finding sufficient aircraft to replace losses sustained in action. Externally the Bf 109F had many aerodynamic improvements over the E series. On later aircraft the left hand exhaust was fitted with a metal shield to stop exhaust fumes from entering the supercharger intake. The canopy stayed essentially the same as that of the E-4 although the handbook for the F stipulated that the forward, lower triangular panel to starboard was to be replaced by a metal panel with a port for firing signal flares. A two-piece, all metal armour plate head shield was added to the hinged portion of the canopy, although some lacked the curved top section. A bullet-resistant windscreen could be fitted to the windscreen as an option. A boundary layer duct allowed continual airflow to pass through the airfoil above the radiator ducting and exit from the trailing edge of the upper split flap. The lower split flap was mechanically linked to the central 'main' flap, while the upper split flap and forward bath lip position were regulated via a thermostatic valve which automatically positioned the flaps for maximum cooling effectiveness. In 1941 'cutoff' valves were introduced which allowed the pilot to shut down either wing radiator in the event of one being damaged; this allowed the remaining coolant to be preserved. The valves were only delivered to frontline units as kits, the number of which, for unknown reasons, was limited. Other features of the redesigned wings included new leading edge slats, which were slightly shorter but had a slightly increased chord, and new rounded, removable wingtips which changed the profile of the wings and increased the span slightly over that of the E series. The redesigned wing made the internal mounting of guns impractical, so armament was revised. The armament of the Bf 109F consisted of the two MG 17 above the engine plus a Motorkanone cannon firing through the propeller hub: The early F versions were equipped with the MG FF/M cannon, the F-2 got the 15 mm MG 151, and from F-4 on the 20 mm MG 151/20 was used. Only after a lack of spare parts, did he accept an F. Later on, an attachment of underwing 20 mm cannons addressed the issue of fire-power, but at a price to performance.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl 
https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109F/JG53.III/pages/Messerschmitt-Bf-109F-7.JG53-Russia-1942-01.html

Maintenance of Messerschmitt Bf 109

Two technicians of I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) working on the piston engine of the unit's Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6. Regular maintenance was vital, so that as many aircraft as possible could be kept serviceable to counter the steady growth of Russian airpower.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Bf 109 of Romanian Air Force at Stalingrad

The Romanian Air Force was equipped with fifty Messerschmitt Bf 109Es, about twelve Bf 109Gs, and several IAR 80 and PZL fighters. Of these more than 60% were lost in action over Russia and Romania. Altogether, the Corpul Aerian (Romanian Air Command) comprised Flotila 2 vanataori, in which there were eight fighter units, each of ten or twelve aircraft. Three of these units (Escadrile 56 to 58) were equipped with Bf 109E such as that shown here at Stalingrad, 1942. This Romanian Air Force Bf 109E-7, No 64, WNr704 "Nella", is a refurbished Luftwaffe machine which had previously served with Erg.Staffel JG52, this Bf 109E-7 was flown by Adj. stag. av. de rezerva Tiberiu Vinca during the Stalingrad campaign at the end of 1942 with the phrase 'BUCURESTI-MOSCOVA' [Bucharest-Moscow] chalked on the port side beneath the cockpit. Note also Vinca's personal monogram just visible below the cockpit, his girlfriend's name 'Nella' on the cowling, and the five victory bars he had, less than 12 of his total confirmed victories.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Messerschmitt_Bf_109E_Rom
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/98797785560814610/?lp=true
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/24/fb/68/24fb6878a59a0510b5037a7a891e8c9c.jpgania.jpg

Bf 109 F-4 of JG 54 in the Eastern Front

This Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 fighter operated over the northern sector of the Ostfront, and in 1941 belonged to 7.Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) "Grünherz" (Green Hearts). During the attack on Russia, JG 54 was subordinated under the command of I. Fliegerkorps / Luftflotte 1, and was based at Kowno, Dünaburg and Ostrov. In August 1941 a significant part was redeployed in the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) region.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Bf 109 "White 11" of JG 54

A Messerschmitt Bf 109 E "White 11" of II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54), handed over to a training unit after the first Bf 109 F fighters had arrived in the Russian theatre. Because the ground at forward airfield was a different colour, the aircraft's earlier camouflage has been painted over with a darker mottled pattern to give it a better chance of surviving low level attacks by Red Army aircrafts.

Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Junkers Ju 88 at Bad Zwischenahn Airfield

Junkers Ju 88 “T5+BU” (probably an A-4) of 1.Staffel / ObdL (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe). Picture taken at Bad Zwischenahn airfield in March or April 1941. The Staffel had moved to this airfield at the end of January when it was still equipped with Heinkel He 111’s. In the first three weeks of March they switched to the Ju 88. The Staffel had an authorised strength of 9 aircraft. To make long weather flights over the Northsea and Polar Sea possible, the range of the Ju 88 had to be increased. This was done by removing the ventral gondola with the aft-firing MG. The absence of this defensive weapon to the rear and below led to a number of losses due to British fighters. Note the unit emblem of Westa 1./ObdL and the aircraft’s individual letter “B” painted black on the fuselage and green on the upper side of the wing. The unit code “T5+...U” was used by the Staffel till mid January 1942, after which it was replaced by “D7+...H”. Note also that camouflage precautions are in full process at Bad Zwischenahn. The walls to protect the aircraft against shrapnel and the frame to hold the camouflage nets are already completed. The nets itself have not been installed yet.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the Snow

Two pictures of Messerschmitt Bf 109 C-1 or D-1 of an unidentified Luftwaffe unit. As these aircraft have already the two ventilation slits behind the exhaust and show the wing armament (although removed here), these aircraft are not Bf 109 B’s. Note also the large opening in the middle of the spinner of the VDM-metal propeller, intended for the MG 17. The style of the German cross indicates that these pictures were probably taken during the winter of 1940/41. Most of the aircraft carry the typical 1940 camouflage.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Rumanian Heinkel He 111 Abandoned in Bessarabia

Two pictures of Heinkel He 111 H-3 Nr.5 of Aeronautica Regală Română (ARR, or the Royal Rumanian Air Force), taken at an unknown airfield in Bessarabia. The aircraft crashed due to bad weather during a night operation in July 1942 on Popesti-Leordene airfield near Bucharest. Four men were killed, including a Luftwaffe Leutnant. One man was wounded.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Kriegsmarine Filmberichter with Arriflex 35mm Camera

Horst Grund (Kriegsmarine filmberichter or cameraman) shot some scene in the boat with his Arriflex 35mm camera, in the Mediterranean sea, 1943. He is wearing a kapok schwimmweste (life jacket/vest) early model. The Arriflex 35 II is one of the most significant motion picture cameras of all time. It was designed and developed by Arnold & Richter, A.G. of Munich Germany, founded in 1917 as film laboratory equipment and accessory manufacturers. The name ARRI derives from the first two letters of each founder’s name: August Arnold and Robert Richter. ARRI introduced their first camera the Kinarri in 1924. 100 Kinarris were sold. After a great deal of research and development, they developed the mirror reflex viewing system in 1931. After perfecting their mirror reflex system, ARRI introduced the Arriflex 35 in 1937. It was the world’s first 35mm reflex motion picture camera. The mirror reflex viewing system it introduced was so superior that it is used on all professional motion picture cameras, in all formats, to this date!

Source :
http://cinematechnic.com/resources/arri_35-2
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Horst_Grund
https://ww2db.com/photo.php?source=ll&color=all&list=search&foreigntype=P&foreigntype_id=985

Two Reichsbahn Personnel Eating Their Lunch

Look like this picture was taken yesterday (and they are a bunch of reenactors), but actually it was taken during World War II! It shows the personnel of Reichsbahn (German Reich Railway) eating their lunch. The picture was taken in 1944 by Walter Hollnagel. In August 1944, this German photographer was tasked to photographed the state of the Italian railways (please note that after the Italians concluded a truce with the Allies on 8 September 1943, most of the country was occupied by the German army). While the Allied forces were slowly moving forward, the Anglo-American aircraft delivered destructive attacks on infrastructure facilities. Back to the picture: The man on the right is an official of pay group 8 or 7a or a supernumerary official of pay group 7. His actual "rank" designation depends on his occupational specialty; he could be a Kanzleisekretär, Kanzleivorsteher, Reichsbahnobersekretär, Vermessungsobersekretär, Lokomotivbetriebsrevisor, Betriebsoberwerkmeister or Oberlokomotivführer. There's no way to tell for the man on the left. Not much to say about the uniforms; they are wearing normal Reichsbahn service dress. From the badges and insignia, it's probably an early-war photograph. (The sidecap for men as worn by the official on the left was introduced around the outbreak of war. However, his colleague is not yet wearing the large wings on the cap band of the service cap and the duty station insignia on the left upper tunic sleeve, both of which were introduced in 1941.)

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/08/foto-berwarna-deutsche-reichsbahn-drb.html
https://eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Deutsche%20Reichsbahn%20Gesellschaft
https://flackelf.livejournal.com/214873.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=213048&start=105
https://www.vintag.es/2012/12/fire-at-train-station-of-florence-italy.html
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5937803

Oberst Von Drebber and Hauptmann Bender on Field Telephone

Two German officers using Feldtelefon (field telephone) at a position near Stalingrad, autumn 1942. From left to right: Oberst Moritz von Drebber (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 523 / 297.Infanterie-Division) and Hauptmann Bender. In October 1942, the regiment was renamed as Grenadier-Regiment 523. Von Drebber received the rank of Generalmajor on 1 January 1943, and on 22 January 1943 he was appointed as commander of the 297. Infanterie-Division. Three days later he surrendered to the Red Army. The picture was taken by Alois Beck.

Source :
https://www.akg-images.de/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2UMESQDIHRM1H&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=871&POPUPPN=58&POPUPIID=2UMDHUSBDVJ