World War 2 Photos

96th BG

brummbar — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:50:35 -0400

96Th bomb group C
http://www.8thafhs.org/bomber/96bg.htm
In album US Army Air Force

Before and after D-Day

brummbar — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:55:10 -0400

Life.Time magazine runs a series of color photos for the 69th anniversary of D-Day.They say the photos were not published before but of great quality.

http://life.time.com/history/wwii-before-and-after-d-day-color-photos-from-england-and-france-1944/#1

greetz,brummbar
In album Posters Artwork Documents

Airey Neave, Colditz escaper.

John Rutledge — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:58:06 -0400

Lieutenant (later Major, later Member of Parliament) Airey Neave, DSO, OBE, MC, the first officer to make a successful escape from Colditz PoW facility when he reached Switzerland in 1942. Neave was subsequently recruited to the military intelligence service, where he served for the remainder of the war. Best regards, JR.
In album British Forces

Welcome to Butlinz ... ?

John Rutledge — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:44:40 -0400

Well, no, not exactly a holiday camp. Colditz Castle, Saxony, Germany or - in WW2 terms - Oflag IV-C, high security officers PoW camp for those overly inclined to mount escape attempts from less secure camps.

Having served as a royal and Electoral residence of the rulers of Saxony in the Middle Ages, the medieval castle was destroyed in an accidental fire at the beginning of the 16th century. Following the fire, the castle was rebuilt and expanded to a prodigious size in the 16th and 17th centuries even though, by this period, the military usefulness of such constructions was declining sharply. By the 19th century, the fortunes of the castle had declined, not least I think, because a forbidding anachronistic fortress like this no longer supplied the standard of comfort required by its noble owners.

The castle, however, did have its uses. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, it had an extraordinary record of use as a prison, or mental asylum, or "secure hospital", or at times a combination of these uses simultaneously. It may not have been defensible in modern terms; however, its forbidding location and medieval defences were good when it came to securing that nobody confined there could get out without permission.

When the Nazis came to power, they followed the prevailing fashion by turning the place into a prison for political "offenders". Then the war came along, and the castle was converted to a PoW camp for serial escapers. It is hard to know whether this was a particularly good idea, at least for the Heer personnel who had to guard it. Contrary to what I have posted elsewhere In Here, the Castle/camp had a notably high rate of escape, and an enormous rate of escape attempts. I suppose if a large number of serial escapers are locked up in one place, such an outcome should hardly surprise. Inmates included RAF ace Douglas Bader, and Lieutenant (later Major) Airey Neave. The latter became the first person to make a successful escaping "home run" when he made it all the way from Saxony to Switzerland in 1942. Best regards, JR.
In album German Forces

Postwar Police Green (original colour)

John Rutledge — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:42:18 -0400

For comparison with the preceding colorisation by Lusitania, I attach (courtesy of Wikipedia) a photo of what the Wikipedia contributor describes as a "moss green" uniform jacket of the postwar Landespolizei (State of Hesse). The similarity in colour is very clear. This photo was taken by a Wikipedia contributor, and is reproduced under that person's general waiver of copyright to the public domain. Best regards, JR.
In album Colorizations By Users

Damage Ferdinand

Guest — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:47:24 -0400

A captured Ferdinand tank destroyer displayed at Gorky Park that sustained heavy damege during the battle of kursk
In album Soviet Forces

On a Sicilian airfield

iginocoggi — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:36:35 -0400

Servicing of a Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt Bf 110D-3 fitted with the wing-mounted drop tanks on a Sicilian airfield, likely Palermo. Luftwaffe’s unit: likely ZG 26 “Horst Wessel”. Victor Sierra
In album German Air Force

"Horst Wessel" in Sicily

iginocoggi — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:26:11 -0400

Messerschmitt Bf 110 of the Luftwaffe’s Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26) "Horst Wessel" in maintenance on a Sicilian airfield. Notice the nose compartment weapons open and, in background, a multi-engine Italian aircraft (S.81?). The aircraft is a Bf 110C/D of the 9. Staffel of the III Gruppe (III./ZG 26). The III./ZG 26, as part of X. Fliegerkorps (10th German Air Corps), was the Bf 110 unit deployed in Sicily. The X. Fliegerkorps order of battle 12 January 1941 specify the III./ZG 26 based at Palermo with 34 Bf 110D-3 on strength, 16 of them completely serviceable. On 22 February 1941 the strength of III./ZG 26, again at Palermo, is increased to 40 Bf 110D-3, full serviceable 31. On 22 March 1941 the 9. Staffel, 15 aircraft, 11 full serviceable, is the only unit of the “Horst Wessel” in Sicily, while the entire III./ZG 26 is already in North Africa. The III./ZG 26, except the 7. Staffel still in North Africa, will return in Sicily, at Trapani, on January 1942 as part of the Luftfotte 2. Victor Sierra
In album German Air Force

Ordnungspolizei and French Colonial POW (col.)

Lusitania — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:18:57 -0400

Two members of the German Schutzpolizei light a French colonial soldier's cigarette. France, May/June 1940.
With the outbreak of war, the German Ordnungspolizei formed a considerable number of rifle battalions (sources tell of a number above 80, probably very close to 100), each consisting of more than 500 men. These were sent out of Germany to operate behind the front line combat units of the Wehrmacht. Their main tasks were preventing partisan activity and sabotage, removing weapons and abandoned military equipment, rounding up POWs, securing lines of communication, guarding installations, and generally maintaining law and order.
The standard Police tunic was cut from grey-green wool, with contrasting dark brown collar and cuff facings. The collar, cuffs, front edge and rear skirt panels of the tunic were piped in Truppenfarbe (branch of service colour, the equivalent to the military Waffenfarbe). In this case the bright 'police-green' can clearly be seen, identifying this two men as Schutzpolizei (des Reiches).
Both men have a rank no higher then NCOs, as shown by the collar patches edged with a narrow silver-grey cord all around, this cord being absent in Officers. The middle soldier seems to be either a Wachtmeister or a Oberwachtmeister, as shown by his shoulder straps. Only from 1941 onwards did the shoulder straps allow to differentiate between these two ranks, with the addition of a piece of extra cord to the base of the shoulder strap for Oberwachtmeisters.

To know with absolute certainty the correct ribbon bars wore by this 2 policemen, one would have to have access to their service records. An impossibility in this case, nevertheless some extrapolations are possible, so based on the info available, the following provisional ribbon bar's choices were made:

Both soldiers are wearing the Anschluss Medal, awarded to those that took part in the annexation of Austria. Although no thin black bands are visible, these could easily 'disappear' when surrounded by the light reflecting on the white parts of the ribbon. The Westwall Medal was also a possibility, but was excluded because it didn't fit the order of precedence.
The middle soldier's second ribbon: The 2 dark bands with a middle band of a lighter colour has one match, the Sudetenland Medal, awarded to German and Ethnic German citizens, military and civilians, who participated in the occupation of that territory in March 1938.

Note: A 'cold light' filter was applied to mimic the general cold tones characteristic of German colour photography of the period (Bundesarchiv examples used as reference), these should not be confounded with the artificially colour-saturated photos published in period magazines such as Signal.

b&w original property of: Bundesarchiv (Bild 121-0417)

A sample of the references consulted:

(Original colour plates): Bundesarchiv, in particular: R-165-Bild-244-46, Bild-GD-47, Bild-GD-55.

Published sources:

" Blitzkrieg Vol.2 - France, Holland and Belgium 1940-1941"; Fowler W.; Alan Publishing, 2002.

"German Military Police Units 1939-45"; Williamson G. & Volstad R.; Men-At-Arms (213); Osprey Military.

"German Security and Police Soldier 1939-1945"; Williamson G.; Warrior Series (61), Osprey Publishing.

"Hitler's Army, 1939-1945: The Men, Machines and Organization"; Stone D.; Zenit Press, 2009.

"The French Army 1939-45, Vol.1 - The Army of 1939-40 & Vichy France"; Men-At-Arms Series, Osprey Military.

"The German Home Front 1939-1940"; Davis, Brian L.; Elite (157); Osprey Publishing.

"World War Two German Police Units"; Williamson G. & Embleton G.; Men-At-Arms (434); Osprey Publishing.

In album Colorizations By Users

Digging in

Guest — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:22:45 -0400

Digging in at Kentjärvi, 25km southwest of Kondopoga. October 9, 1941.

SA-kuva 57252
In album Finnish Forces

Soldier

Guest — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:53:54 -0400

Closeup picture of a soldier. Nuijamaa, July 28, 1941.

SA-kuva 30001
In album Finnish Forces

Mail

Guest — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:43:21 -0400

Mail for the outpost. Nuijamaa, July 28, 1941.

SA-kuva 29382
In album Finnish Forces

Wounded

Guest — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:30:20 -0400

Wounded soldiers. Kiestinki, August 1941.
In album Finnish Forces

Dead Panther.

Guest — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:00:58 -0400

PzKpfw V, Ausf G, destroyed in the Rhineland, November 1944. The dead crew member in the foreground may be the main gun loader, whose entry/exit hatch is shown open. This hatch was also used by the loader to expel used shell cases when in action, in order to minimise congestion and the build-up of fumes in the turret. The original caption to this photo suggested that the man had been blown through the hatch by an internal explosion; more likely, perhaps, is that he exited the hatch and was killed immediately thereafter. Note the additional tracks attached to the side-rear of the tank. Panthers using this type of supplementary protection tended to apply it to the sides of the turret or, as here, to the side-rear (covering the fuel tanks), rather than to the extremely robust front plate, reflecting the relative vulnerability of the Panther's flanks. The tank appears to be covered with a light coating of Zimmerit ant-magnetic plaster. Best regards, JR.
In album German Armored Forces & Vehicles

Hows it feel on the other end of the Rfle?

Guest — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:16:30 -0400

One of my favorite photos.Concentration Camp prisoner holding German at bayonet point after liberation of his camp. Robert
In album Dramatic Photos

On the apron

iginocoggi — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 06:05:16 -0400

Regia Aeronautica’s transport aircraft Savoia-Marchetti S.82 “Marsupiale” (Marsupial) parked on the apron of an Italy Mainland’s airfield (notice the large flap down) overflew by three Savoia-Marchetti S.79 bombers just before the Italy’s entry in the war, 1940. Victor Sierra
In album Italian Forces

Through the concentration camp

iginocoggi — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:45:19 -0400

Benghazi, Libya. 1941: British prisoners board an Italian transport aircraft Savoia-Marchetti S.82 ready to take-off to Lecce, Southern Italy, for their transfer to a concentration camp. Victor Sierra
In album Italian Forces

Beute LKW

Guest — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:35:39 -0400

In album German Armored Forces & Vehicles

Carnage and Wreckage.

John Rutledge — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:17:55 -0400

US Marine views a wrecked, burned-out Japanese gun following the taking of Tinian. Given the mess, I would have found it difficult enough to work out what sort of gun it was, exactly. However, as the original caption indicates that it is a "25mm Naval model machine cannon", and as the appearance seems to fit, the weapon is almost certainly a Type 96 25mm anti-aircraft/antitank automatic cannon (whether the single or dual-barrel version I am really not sure, given the damage). Best regards, JR.
In album US Marines

Over Here ...

John Rutledge — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:43:54 -0400

US infantrymen march down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Paris, 1944. JR.
In album US Army

Sons of the Soil ...

John Rutledge — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:34:53 -0400

Photo, probably pre-1933, of Hitler and Stormtroopers taking a photo-op with traditional German farming family. Has the look of something taken during an election campaign, to me. The Nazis worked hard to establish a base in the farming community, an effort spearheaded by Walthher Darré. Best regards, JR.
In album German Leadership

Heillo Kitty ?

John Rutledge — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:30:28 -0400

Couldn't resist this one. I detest "Hello Kitty". Yeuch ! Give me the real cat, anyday ... JR.
In album Posters Artwork Documents

Could be worse ?

John Rutledge — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:27:28 -0400

London kids contemplate the results of a bombing raid, London Blitz, 1941. Best regards, JR.
In album Homefront

Legion Freies Arabien

Carn — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:07:04 -0400

Soldiers of the "Legion Freies Arabien" at training 1943

@Carn

In album German Forces

Legion Condor

Carn — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:40:43 -0400

Legion Condor soldiers on parade after their return from Spain

@Carn
In album German Forces

Legion Condor

Carn — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:38:24 -0400

Legion Condor soldiers on parade after their return from Spain

@Carn
In album German Forces

Shot down during the “Night of Taranto”

iginocoggi — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:51:01 -0400

Salvage’s operation by the Italians of one of two HMS Illustrious Fairey Swordfish lost during the “Night of Taranto”, the successful attack of the Royal Navy’s torpedo aircraft against the Italian Fleet on the night 11-12 November 1940. The first Swordfish lost was an aircraft of the first wave of the attack, precisely those of Lieutenant Commander K. Williamson, 815 Squadron Squadrons Commanding Officer, shot down by anti-aircraft guns of the battleship Conte di Cavour which had just torpedoed. Williamson and the other member of the crew, NJ Scarlett, was rescued by workers of the Italian Navy’s Arsenal and taken POW. Likely the aircraft of the photo is the Williamson’s Swordfish. The other Swordfish lost was the aircraft piloted by Lieutenant G. W. L. A. Bayly, observer Slaughter, one of the nine planes of the second wave led by Lieutenant Commander J. W. Hale 819 Squadron, was shot down by antiaircraft fire from the cruiser Gorizia while following the attack on battleship Littorio. Both Bayley and Slaughter was killed and only the body of Bayley was recovered. Victor Sierra
In album British Forces

USS Lexington CV-16

Guest — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:31:45 -0400

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Lexington CV-16 photographed from the light carrier USS Cowpens CVL-25 during raids in the Marshalls and Gilberts Islands, November-December 1943. She is painted in camouflage Measure 21.November 1943
In album US Navy

First US Navy ship with a predominantly black crew

Guest — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:00:33 -0400

Black sailors standing on snowy docks in front of destroyer escort USS Mason, one of the first US Navy ships to have a predominantly black crew.Boston, MA, US,March 20, 1944
In album US Navy

Marine Command Post

Guest — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:39:07 -0400

Marine Colonel David Shoup's command post on Red Beach 2,Tarawa.
In album US Marines