Thursday, September 25, 2014

Quiet Days before Operation Barbarossa

Quiet days in Johannisburg (East Prussia) with the blooming tulips while the war against Soviet Union was imminent, early summer 1941. Left is Oberleutnant Hermann Budenbender (Abteilungsadjutant Aufklärungs-Abteilung 35 / 35.Infanterie-Division) while at right is unknown Führer Panzerspähzug from the same unit. In early April 1941, the 35. Infanterie-Division (known as "Fish Division") began moving to the east - originally was staying in the area north and east of Warsaw but then moved to East Prussia in the space around Johannisburg. They stayed until 10 June 1941 and then march further to the east in "Suwalkizipfel" for the upcoming Unternehmen Barbarossa


Source:
http://kavallerie-regiment18.de/aa35.html

Friday, September 19, 2014

Heinz Guderian and Walther Wenck

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen) and Generalleutnant Walther Wenck (Chef des Generalstabes 1. Panzerarmee) planning the next operation (possibly Unternehmen Zitadelle/Kursk), spring 1943. Wenck (last rank General der Panzertruppe) wearing the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes which he received on 28 December 1942. He was a talented general, and enjoyed (if that is the word) a distinguished career on the Eastern Front, serving a considerable period in command of German forces operating in conjunction with Romanian forces (he was highly decorated by Romania), and in key staff posts. He is best remembered, however, for his actions as commander of the 12. Armee in April 1945. This recently-formed Army, which had been fighting the Americans, responded to orders to turn about and attack towards Berlin with the object of relieving the city. It is a tribute to the skills of Wenck and his officers in the staff area that they accomplished the turn-around, and launched an attack on the Soviets that acheived a surprise breakthrough. However, Wenck was neither a Nazi nor a madman; he limited his breakthrough to one with more-or-less sustainable flanks, rather than pressing through (suicidally) to Berlin, and invited German military formations and civilians within reach to use it as an escape corridor to the West. The number of "kettled" German soldiers and Berliners who escaped through this corridor is uncertain - but it was probably not less than 300,000. There is some dispute as to how one should interpret Wenck's actions. It did after all constitute disobedience of orders. But more likely a sign of a realistic officer who served not the Nazis in the end, but Germany


Source:
http://weltkrieg2.de/Kriegstagebuch/1943/02/22-28-Februar.htm#mainEvent

Heinz Guderian and Walther Wenck

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen) and Generalleutnant Walther Wenck (Chef des Generalstabes 1. Panzerarmee) planning the next operation (possibly Unternehmen Zitadelle/Kursk), spring 1943. Wenck (last rank General der Panzertruppe) wearing the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes which he received on 28 December 1942. He was a talented general, and enjoyed (if that is the word) a distinguished career on the Eastern Front, serving a considerable period in command of German forces operating in conjunction with Romanian forces (he was highly decorated by Romania), and in key staff posts. He is best remembered, however, for his actions as commander of the 12. Armee in April 1945. This recently-formed Army, which had been fighting the Americans, responded to orders to turn about and attack towards Berlin with the object of relieving the city. It is a tribute to the skills of Wenck and his officers in the staff area that they accomplished the turn-around, and launched an attack on the Soviets that acheived a surprise breakthrough. However, Wenck was neither a Nazi nor a madman; he limited his breakthrough to one with more-or-less sustainable flanks, rather than pressing through (suicidally) to Berlin, and invited German military formations and civilians within reach to use it as an escape corridor to the West. The number of "kettled" German soldiers and Berliners who escaped through this corridor is uncertain - but it was probably not less than 300,000. There is some dispute as to how one should interpret Wenck's actions. It did after all constitute disobedience of orders. But more likely a sign of a realistic officer who served not the Nazis in the end, but Germany


Source:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=151514&start=45

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Heinz Bär

 Major Heinz Bär (last rank Oberstleutnant) is one of only a small handfull of “First to Last” pilots, flying from the first day to the last. Also fighting and scoring on every front, from Holland and France, to the English Channel, to Russia, to the Mediterranean, to North Africa and back to defend Germany. And this in both of propeller fighters : Me 109 E/F/G, FW 190 A-7/A-9, D-9 them Me 262 A/C, the first in combat used jet fighter. He's scoring 220 enemy planes shot down in about 1000 missions, shot down himself 18 times, taking to his parachute 4 times and making 14 belly landings. To survive this type of combat career is maybe due to his lucky “13”, carried on several of his planes, but is nothing short of remarkable!

Source:
http://www.historicalwarmilitariaforum.com/topic/6937-ritterkreuztr%C3%A4ger-photos-in-color-thread/page-15#entry36796

Monday, September 8, 2014

Result of an Air Raid on German Town

Result of an air raid on an unknown (north?) German city. The picture was made in 1943 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel


Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Signposts in occupied Warsaw

Signposts in occupied Warsaw. The picture was made in 1943 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel


Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Transport of Luftwaffe unit probably in Norway

Transport of Luftwaffe unit probably in Norway. In the left, the trimmed coaches are almost certainly a 4-axle 3rd class (maybe 2 / 3rd class) for the Norwegian State Railways with the Waggen no. 198. The picture was taken in February 1942


Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Sunday, September 7, 2014

FS-741 241 freight locomotive makes its way over the last skiable track in Ancona train station

The FS-741 241 freight locomotive makes its way over the last skiable track in Ancona train station. The repaired tracks can still bring the locomotive and personnel in danger after the devastating Allied air attack. The picture was made in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel


Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

The completely destroyed facilities of the Ancona railway station in northern Italy

The completely destroyed facilities of the Ancona railway station in northern Italy. The picture was made in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel


Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Not much left in Ancona Train Station after an Allied air raid

Not much left in Ancona Train Station after an Allied air raid. The picture was made in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel


Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

A 741 FS locomotive carves its way carefully through the chaos in Ancona train station

A 741 FS locomotive carves its way carefully through the chaos in Ancona train station. The picture was made in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel


Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Bomb Crater in Ancona Railway Station

An aerial mine with tremendous destructive power of a crater in the track area of the station of Ancona, which ruptured water pipes and quickly formed an artificial lake. The picture was taken in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel


Source:

Damage After Allied Air Raid in the Railway Station of Ancona

Damage after Allied air raid in the railway station of Ancona. The picture was taken in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel


Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Monday, September 1, 2014

Panzer I Advance During Prewar Training

Nice color image of Panzer I’s advance during prewar training. Three-color prewar camouflage scheme can be seen to good advantage. No writing on reverse of this postcard which was printed and distributed by the periodical "Die Wehrmacht"


Source:
http://battlebornbooks.com/?page_id=29&paged=2