US Private Jerry Smith

US Private Jerry Smith, on Okinawa during World War II. Jerry served in the Army's 718th Amphibious Tractor Battalion of XXIV Corps. He was a driver and armorer on an LVT-4 amphibian tractor, or "amtrac." Picture taken in Nishihara-Cho, Okinawa Prefecture, June 1945

Source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11046337@N07/2306611086

King Boris III of Bulgaria with one of his army general

King Boris III of Bulgaria with one of his army general

Source:
http://ww2-weapons.com/Orders-of-battle/Bulgaria/Armed-Forces.htm

Bulgarian Civilian Giving Water to a German Army Motocyclist

Bulgarian civilian giving water to a german army motocyclist or Kradmelder (1942). The bike is NSU 601TS

Source:
http://thirdreichcolorpictures.blogspot.com/2010/08/german-motorcycles-in-color.html

German Flame-Thrower in Action

Flammenwerfer 35 – from a german postcard printed in 1944. The Flammenwerfer 35, or FmW 35 (literally, "flame thrower") was a one-man German flamethrower used during World War II to clear out trenches and buildings. It could project fuel up to 25m from the user. It weighed 35.8 kilograms (79 lb), and held 11.8 litres (2.6 imp gal; 3.1 US gal) of flaming oil, (Flammöl 19), petrol mixed with tar to make it heavier and to give it better range, which was ignited by a hydrogen torch providing about 10 seconds of continuous use. The firing device is activated at the same time with the Selbstschlussventil and is inside the protective pipe. The Flammenwerfer 35 was produced until 1941, when the lighter, slightly redesigned Flammenwerfer 41 began replacing it

Source:

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/articles/in-their-own-words-german-veterans-of-wwii-by-rob-schafer.html

Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt Looking at a Map

"Why always me old donkey?" - Statement of Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall) Gerd von Rundstedt (1875-1953), several times discharged by Hitler, as many times called back. Eisenhower and Montgomery regarded him as the most dangerous and most capable German field marshall, not Rommel. When in 1944 he was asked by Generalfeldmarschall Keitel how to improve the critical situation of German forces in general, von Rundstedt answered (in front of Hitler and the whole Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht): "End the war, you idiots!"

Source:
https://www.ww2incolor.com/german/GFM+v.html?g2_fromNavId=xc00551b0

Mutterkreuz Recipient

Mutterkreuz (Mother's Cross) recipient. The Cross of Honour of the German Mother (German: Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter), referred to colloquially as the Mutterehrenkreuz (Mother’s Cross of Honour) or simply Mutterkreuz (Mother’s Cross), was a state decoration and civil order of merit conferred by the government of the German Reich to honour a Reichsdeutsche German mother for exceptional merit to the German nation. Eligibility later extended to include Volksdeutsche (ethnic German) mothers from, for example, Austria and Sudetenland, that had earlier been incorporated into the German Reich. The decoration was conferred from 1939 until 1945 in three classes of order, bronze, silver, and gold, to Reichsdeutsche mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary motherhood, and who conceived and raised at least four or more children in the role of a parent. A similar practice, that continues to this present day, was already established in France since 1920, by conferring the Médaille de la Famille française (Medal of the French Family), a tribute to the French mother who raised several children in an appropriate way.

Source:
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191725

A Wehrmacht Religious Service in the Field Before Operation Barbarossa Began

Men from a German 6. Armee infantry unit attending divine service in the field before going into battle, June 1941. They had not been told what their objectives were: a drive from the south of the Polish Gouvernement-General towards Kiev and the Dnieper

Source:
Book "The Onslaught; The German Drive to Stalingrad Documented in 150 Unpublished Colour Photographs" by Max Hastings

Street Sign in the Border of Soviet-German Occupied Poland

Soviet-occupied Poland began 14 metres beyond this frontier sign on the river Granitsa, June 1941 just days before Unternehmen Barbarossa. German-held Poland, the so-called Gouvernement-General, comprised the lowlands on either side of the Upper and Centra Vistula down to the south of Warsaw; in the East it extended to the River Bug and in the South to the summits of the Carpathians

Source:

Book "The Onslaught; The German Drive to Stalingrad Documented in 150 Unpublished Colour Photographs" by Max Hastings

Erwin Rommel (Left) and Ludwig Crüwell Chats in North Africa

Two prominent German generals in North African theatre takes a little walk while discussing the recent situation: Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Panzerarmee "Afrika") and General der Panzertruppe Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandierender General Deutsche Afrikakorps)

Source:
Book "Für Rommels Panzer durch die Wüste" by Hellmuth Frey

An Armored Crew Washing their SdKfz 250 Halftrack

An armored crew washing their SdKfz 250 Leichter Schutzenpanzerwagen (Light-Armored Personnel Carrier). Hanging from his neck, the soldier on the left has his identification disc in a leather pouch

Source:
Book "Uniforms of the German Soldier; an Illustrated History from 1870 to the Present Day" by Alejandro M. De Quesada

German Anti-Aircraft Crew

These men are wearing the Model 1936 Tunic with the bottle-green collars. The soldier on the left is wearing a Model 1938 Field Cap. A pair of MG34 Machine-Guns have been placed on an anti-aircraft mount

Source:

Book "Uniforms of the German Soldier; an Illustrated History from 1870 to the Present Day" by Alejandro M. De Quesada

General Kurt von Briesen Reviewing His Troops in Paris Parade

Generalleutnant Kurt von Briesen (Kommandeur 30. Infanterie-Division) reviewing his troops in a parade at Avenue Foch, Paris, 14 June 1940. The German 30. Infanterie-Division was approaching Paris from the north, but its original intention was to by-pass the city and continue its pursuit of the French forces retreating southward. When the commander of the division, Kurt von Briesen, heard that Paris had been declared an "open city", he decided to send units into the city outskirts to test whether the declaration was genuine. Those units reported back that there was no French resistance, and that all French forces had left the city. At that point, von Briesen decided to change the 6th Army's line of advance, and route through the city centre.When the advancing German units had reached the Champs Elysees, von Briesen decided to hold an extempore parade, so the 6th Army marched down the Champs Eysees accompanied by a band, with von Briesen taking the salute. The film footage of that parade is well known, but is usually mistakenly presented as the German victory march after the French surrender. In fact, after the parade the 6th Army kept on moving, exiting Paris from the south and continuing its pursuit of French forces.

Bernard Montgomery decorates Konstantin Rokossovsky

British Field Marshal Sir Bernard "Monty" Montgomery (17 November 1887 - 24 March 1976) decorates Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky (21 December 1896 - 3 August 1968) with a Knight Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) at the Hindenburg Platz near Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, 12 July 1945, while other Soviet generals waiting for their turn

Source:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205189188

Bernard Montgomery decorates Georgy Zhukov sash order of the bath

British Field Marshal Sir Bernard "Monty" Montgomery (17 November 1887 - 24 March 1976) decorates The Deputy Supreme Commander in Chief of the Red Army, Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov (1 December 1896 - 18 June 1974) with the sash of the Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) at the Hindenburg Platz near Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, 12 July 1945, while other Soviet generals waiting for their turn

Source:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205189188

Award Ceremony For Russian Generals by Montgomery at Brandenburg Gate

 British Field Marshal Sir Bernard "Monty" Montgomery (17 November 1887 - 24 March 1976) decorates Soviet generals at the Hindenburg Platz near Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, 12 July 1945. The Deputy Supreme Commander in Chief of the Red Army, Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov (1 December 1896 - 18 June 1974), the Commander of the British 21st Army Group, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery, Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky (21 December 1896 - 3 August 1968) and General of the Army Vasily Sokolovsky (21 July 1897 - 10 May 1968) of the Red Army leave the Brandenburg Gate after the ceremony. Zhukov (Commander of 1st Belorussian Front), on Montgomerys left, was presented with the sash of the Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (G.C.B.), while Rokossovsky (Commander of 2nd Belorussian Front), on Montgomery right, was made a Knight Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.). Sokolovsky (Deputy Commander of 1st Belorussian Front), in the background between Montgomery and Rokossovsky was made a Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.). The same was Colonel General Mikhail Malinin (28 December 1893 - 24 January 1960) who is standing just behind Rokossovsky. As citizens of the UK or the Commenwealth, the four generals would have been entitled to wear the title "Sir" in front of their names. So they only had the right to put the K.B.E., etc. after their name, as the Austrian pianist Alfred Brendl. The British King's Company of the Grenadier Guards formed the guard of honor and tanks of the King's 8th Royal Irish Hussars were drawn up on either side. The ceremony was held in front of a banner proclaiming "Glory to the Soviet forces who planted the flag of victory over Berlin." Note the British officer on the far right having a hearty laugh!

Source:
 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205189188

Reichsbahn Personnel Wearing Camo

This particular photograph takes place somewhere at or around the bombarded railway staton at Verona (Italy) in August 1944 by a well-known German photographer, Walter Hollnagel. The man on the right is German DRB (Deutsche Reichsbahn) official whose wearing the edelweiss cap mixed with Reichswehr-Splittermuster 31 camo jacket (It's a particularly odd jacket, too, what with the collar, cuffs, buttons and full insignia of a regular railway tunic attached!)

Source:
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/cloth-headgear-3-reich/dont-tell-me-they-wouldnt-have-worn-it-146333-6/

Karl Dönitz Studying Maps at Kriegsmarine Headquarter

First published by "Signal" magazine February 1943 edition (to celebrate the new leader of the German Kriegsmarine), this picture (made by Walter Frentz) shows Generaladmiral Karl Dönitz (Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote) studying maps on a table (center) with Kapitänleutnant Adalbert Schnee (Geleitzugs-Asto, Admiralstabsoffizier beim Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote) at left and Kapitän zur See Eberhard Godt (Chef der Operationsabteilung beim Befehlshaber der U-Boote). The briefing held at the U-Boat operations section of the Kriegsmarine HQ in Berlin (Marinehauptquartier Koralle)

Source:
https://www.ullsteinbild.de/ullstein-webshop/start.html;jsessionid=ADEF5C350FBEAB22AE80311729863365.as04

Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring at the Demonstration of Hetzer

 Adolf Hitler (Führer und Reichskanzler; Oberbefehlshaber der Wehrmacht; Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres) and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der deutschen Luftwaffe) at the demonstration of the newly developed Hetzer tank destroyer at a closed highway near Klessheim Palace (Schloss Klessheim), west of Salzburg (Austria), on the occasion of Adolf Hitler's 55th birthday, 20 April 1944. In the left behind Hitler wearing ledermantel (leather jacket) is General der Flieger Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz (Chef des Ministeramts im Reichsluftfahrtministerium und gleichzeitig Verbindungsoffizier Görings zu Hitler), while in the far left (face cropped) is Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht). Last, the man wearing black hat behind Göring is Dr. Ferdinand Porsche (Austrian-German automotive engineer)

Source:
http://ww2images.blogspot.com/2013/06/adolf-hitler-and-hermann-goring-at.html

Major Heinrich Gerlach

Heinrich Gerlach (as a Hauptmann) playing with a swine / pig. He was the glider pilot who fled Mussolini out of his confinement at Gran Sasso in 1943, and received Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for that feat

Source:
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5617990&highlight=gerlach#post5617990

German Soldiers March To The Front In Fall Blau

German soldiers from 25.Infanterie-Division/LIII.Armeekorps/2.Panzerarmee/Heeresgruppe Mitte marching to the front in the peak of "Fall Blau" (Case Blau), August 1942. In the background we can see the building of Savior Transfiguration Cathedral (Spaso-Preobragenskij Cathedral), built in 1841-51 to a design by one of Konstantin Thon's disciples

Source:
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/troops_retreat.jpg.html

Panzer IVs Pass Knocked Out Universal Carrier

Two Deutsche Afrikakorps Panzer IV ausf F including turmnummer (turret number) 413 pass a knocked-out captured Carden Lloyd Universal Carrier Mark 1 serial number T33417 armed with a Boys .55 caliber (13.9mm) anti-tank gun. The Universal Carrier is painted in the Caunter camouflage scheme, which used grey, blue, black, sand, and brown paint, or whatever was available, to form straight angular lines that were thought to "dazzle" whomever saw the vehicle in the desert, making it hard to judge size and distance. The Carrier has a Nazi flag over it to prevent an air attack by friendly German aircraft; this was common practice to mark captured vehicles with the Swastika flag

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0137

French Troops Supported by American Tanks During the Fighting of the Italian Campaigns

Free French colonial troops supported by American tanks during the fighting of the Italian campaigns, May 1944 (LIFE has wrongfully captioned the month as August 1944!). They passed in front of abandoned Italian M42 Semovente 75/18 850(i) from German Panzerjäger-Abteilung 171/71.Infanterie-Division "Kleeblatt" (Cloverleaf). The Airfix White M3 Halftrack comes with an optional "canvas tilt" piece to cover the back (omitting the Five-oh and mount), and Red Cross markings

Source:
LIFE photo collection
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/80ae46c55ea6d803.html

French Troops Supported by American Tanks During the Fighting of the Italian Campaigns

Free French colonial troops supported by American tanks during the fighting of the Italian campaigns, May 1944 (LIFE has wrongfully captioned the month as August 1944!). They passed in front of abandoned Italian M42 Semovente 75/18 850(i) from German Panzerjäger-Abteilung 171/71.Infanterie-Division "Kleeblatt" (Cloverleaf). The Airfix White M3 Halftrack comes with an optional "canvas tilt" piece to cover the back (omitting the Five-oh and mount), and Red Cross markings

Source:
LIFE photo collection
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/80ae46c55ea6d803.html

Oberleutnant Karl Hanke in a Panzerkampfwagen IV

Panzerkampfwagen IV ausf.D (turmnummer 432) commanded by Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) Karl Hanke and assigned to the Panzer Regiment 25/7.Panzer Division under Generalmajor Erwin Rommel during the Battle of France. This propaganda photo appeared in Signal magazine in 1940

Source:
Signal magazine 1940

Panzerkampfwagen IVs of the Afrika Korps

A column of Panzerkampfwagen IVs on the move. Some of the men appear to be wearing the tropical hat (tropenhelm) first issued in 1941

Source:
Signal magazine

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf N Unloaded in North Africa

Panzerkampfwagen III ausf N medium tanks are unloaded form a transport at Bizerte, Wilāyat Binzart, Tunisia, 23 November 1942

Source:
Signal magazine

Panzerkampfwagen III Crews at Rest and Playing Cards

The crews of a group of german panzers benefit from a pause during the advance to resume the never-ending card game, interrupted so many times. They were came from the 12. Armee commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Siegmund Wilhelm List during Operation Marita

Source:
Signal Magazine, June 1941 

Panzer III and Panzergrenadier Advances Through the Kuban Steppe

Panzerkampfwagen III of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South) advances through the Kuban Steppe on the Caucasus Mountains during Operation Blue (Unternehmen Blau/Fall Blau)

Source:
Signal Magazine, November 1942

Panzer III and Panzergrenadier Advances Through the Kuban Steppe

Panzerkampfwagen III of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South) advances through the Kuban Steppe on the Caucasus Mountains during Operation Blue (Unternehmen Blau/Fall Blau)

Source:
Signal Magazine, November 1942

Panzer III and Panzergrenadier Advances Through the Kuban Steppe

Panzerkampfwagen III of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South) advances through the Kuban Steppe on the Caucasus Mountains during Operation Blue (Unternehmen Blau/Fall Blau). The Panzer III is from the 6. Kompanie, 3. Zug and is tank number 3, going by its turret number '633'; there're a couple of symbols on the right rear mudgard- the one on the right might be that of the 1. Panzer-Division. Original caption from Signal magazine: "tank 633 spots a Russian anti-tank emplacement and at once opens fire"

Source:
Signal Magazine, November 1942