Authetic Photos from WWII

And they wore "shiny" high boots... it was discontinued at end of war if I am correct?   Also at the end of war their uniform didn't have pleds (spelling?) on their chest pockets so figured it was taken in early stage. 

Bob has many pictures of the barge, ships and boats filled with the troops and it showed destroyed bridges by the river. 

The M-40 has five buttons, as does the M-36... (I think it's just a wierd wrinkle in the fabric that's got you confused.. ) The only external difference between the two was the removal of the Bottle Green collar and Shoulder Marks from the M-36...  However, the Bottle Green collars and shoulder marks were popular with the troops, and it was authorized as an addition, so many M40-issued Soldiers had them added at tailor-shops...  Without seeing the lining, it's hard to tell the difference.. The next new tunic was the M43, which did away with one button, the pleated pockets, and the scalloped pocket-flaps, externally, and had changes to the sewn-in suspension system...

The "Marching Boots" (Jackboots) stayed in service until the end of the war, but the low-cut, gaitered "retreat boots" were issued to new troops, and to veteran troops as their jackboots wore out, starting in 1943... However, lotta "old guys" had more than one pair of jackboots, and you still saw them at war's end...

The two Unteroffiziers (Corporals) are easily ID'd as NCOs due to the silver Tresse on the collars and shoulder marks... I'd guess that that photo was taken in the late Summer of 1940, that's a SWAG based on the uniforms'  Lichtgrau collar Litzen in combination with the trees....  Also, there's a decided lack of any types of campaign ribbons, combat  or wound badges, and their Waffenfarben isn't white, meaning that they aren't Infanterie...

BTW, the Gefreiter's out of uniform.. His trousers aren't bloused into his jackboots...

Hans von Hammer

The M-40 has five buttons, as does the M-36... (I think it's just a wierd wrinkle in the fabric that's got you confused.. ) The only external difference between the two was the removal of the Bottle Green collar and Shoulder Marks from the M-36...  However, the Bottle Green collars and shoulder marks were popular with the troops, and it was authorized as an addition, so many M40-issued Soldiers had them added at tailor-shops...  Without seeing the lining, it's hard to tell the difference.. The next new tunic was the M43, which did away with one button, the pleated pockets, and the scalloped pocket-flaps, externally, and had changes to the sewn-in suspension system...

The "Marching Boots" (Jackboots) stayed in service until the end of the war, but the low-cut, gaitered "retreat boots" were issued to new troops, and to veteran troops as their jackboots wore out, starting in 1943... However, lotta "old guys" had more than one pair of jackboots, and you still saw them at war's end...

The two Unteroffiziers (Corporals) are easily ID'd as NCOs due to the silver Tresse on the collars and shoulder marks... I'd guess that that photo was taken in the late Summer of 1940, that's a SWAG based on the uniforms'  Lichtgrau collar Litzen in combination with the trees.... 

CSI: von Hammer...

The pic of the Back of Photo, under the LW wideboy pic,

my interpretation, based on datestamps on the back of my mum's photos:

Hand-written Date: april 1940

Shop: Photo Kessels

s/n #942

Lcn: Crailsheim,

South Germany, 1/2 way between Stutgart & Nuremberg.

Pic 1 & 2 look more Germany than France.

Pic 3 is interesting, the side-shot of the Podium.

My opinion only: the Elderly Gent in Picklehaube, could be local veteran/dignitary rolled out to 'legitimize' the 'New Regeme'

Of interest the fat guy outside, 1st right of the podium, flat peaked-cap. This looks very much like a SA (Sturm Abteilung) uniform, which, if correct, would make this pic pre-war.

To my eye, & to what pics are on Google Images, I think it looks more like Rhoem's Girth, but Lutze was also a bit portly, so could be either.

The SA, under Ernst Rhoem, were responsible for Hitlers security from 1920 (known then as the Saalschutz Abteilung) to 1934, when there was a "personnel change" to Viktor Lutze till about 1938.  

Amy markings on the back of this photo?

ps. the open 'Engine compartment' on the FT-17 is the open drivers' compartment door btw...

Hans von Hammer

BTW, the Gefreiter's out of uniform.. His trousers aren't bloused into his jackboots...

Hans- Well, by looking at his face he was probably only 18 years old... he was still a boy.  I really enjoyed your assesment on the soldiers and their uniforms.  Thanks buddy!

Jon_a_its

The pic of the Back of Photo, under the LW wideboy pic,

my interpretation, based on datestamps on the back of my mum's photos:

Hand-written Date: april 1940

Shop: Photo Kessels

s/n #942

Lcn: Crailsheim,

South Germany, 1/2 way between Stutgart & Nuremberg.

Jon-  You have been a great help!!!   I really appreciate you taking your time to share information about those photos.  My friend would be thrilled to know more about this. 

Knew I could count on you guys... FSM rocks!

deafpanzer

French warplane... but I don't know which plane...

Bloch MB 152

All three pictures are taken in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany.

How do I know?  Because I visit that city often as my mother lives there.  It is the market square. 

As you can see it still looks like that today! 

Crazy to find the same exact shots of a different time.

Is there a kassern near there? That would be a help tracing what unit it may have been.

Rothenburg is a great town and houses a fantastic Museum of Medival Torture devices...I recommend stopping in...

Here's a couple interesting tidbits on Rothenburg and it's relation to WWII from wiki,,,,

Rothenburg held a special significance for Nazi ideologists. For them, it was the epitome of the German 'Home Town', representing all that was quintessentially German. Throughout the 1930s the Nazi organisation "KDF" (=Kraft durch Freude) Strength through Joy organized regular day trips to Rothenburg from all across the Reich. This initiative was staunchly supported by Rothenburg's citizenry – many of whom were sympathetic to National Socialism – both for its economic benefits and because Rothenburg was hailed as "the most German of German towns". In October 1938 Rothenburg expelled its Jewish citizens, much to the approval of *** and their supporters across Germany.^[2]

In March 1945 in World War II, German soldiers were stationed in Rothenburg to defend it. On March 31, bombs were dropped over Rothenburg by 16 planes, killing 39 people and destroying 306 houses, six public buildings, nine watchtowers, and over 2,000 feet (610 m) of the wall. The U.S Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy knew about the historic importance and beauty of Rothenburg, so he ordered US Army General Jacob L. Devers not use artillery in taking Rothenburg. The local military commander Major Thömmes ignored the order of Adolf Hitler for all towns to fight to the end and gave up the town, thereby saving it from total destruction by artillery. American troops of the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division occupied the town on April 17, 1945, and in November 1948 McCloy was named Honorable Protectorate of Rothenburg. After the war, the residents of the city quickly repaired the bombing damage. Donations for the rebuilding were received from all over the world. The rebuilt walls feature commemorative bricks with donor names.

deafpanzer

 

I see few familiar faces but I can't tie them with names... you see any you know?  Too bad we can't see the speaker as he is behind that brush.  But I think I am looking at SS leader Himmler right of the brush? 

 

A killer find, these photos!

I have looked at the shot here, and have some opinions about the characters in the photo.

The guy you have speculated to be Himmler is probably not--there are no ranking badges whatsoever on his lapels, and Himmler was SS-Reichsfuhrer as early as 1929. So, I would say it couldn't be him given the absence of identifying lapel badges.

I'm pretty sure that the portly guy facing to the left (if you're looking at looking at the picture) in the middle of the photo just left of the bush is Julius Streicher, founder and publisher of the Nazi propaganda rag Der Sturmer who was executed for Crimes Against Humanity after the war.

The beefy guy in the dark uniform on the edge of the steps to the right of the pic with what looks like his hand in his pocket is probably Ernst Rohm, co-founder of the SA, who was arrested and exectued on Hitler's orders because he feared him as a rival. . Same uniform, same style hat he always wore, same disheveled appearance.

Those words on the back of that other dressed-up soldier photo are nothing more than the photographer's name, numbering of the photos on the reel, and city of the photographer's studio. Common on old German war photos.

Just for fun...here is a LIVE CAM that sits over the market square: http://www.rothenburg.de/index.php?get=112

Sareth- WOW!  This is freaking AWESOME!  Thanks for the link.  I will definitely let my friend Bob know about this.   I loved the picture of the building shown in both past and present photos... unscratched!  to FSM by the way...

Stikpusher-  Great story about how the town was untouched during the war especially at the end.  That explain why many buildings are still standing today. 

Doog-  It is great to know about those big shots.  Thanks for dropping by.  My friend is going to be thrilled... he will let us show you more pictures.  He has about 150-200 photos of those...

Manny- Recommend any good brothel in that town?