ILLUSTRATED HISTORY: RELIVE THE TIMES: Images Of War, History , WW2: German Soldiers In Russia

German Soldiers In Russia

German soldiers in Kharkov. 1942

German troops in the Ukrainian town of Alexandria

Alexandria again

The French did not like it then and they do not like it even today. The fact that many Frenchmen fought in the Wehrmacht. This man is from the French Legion in Russia. 1941.

Incidentally the French soldiers in the German army during WW2 proved to be some of the best fighters in the war. As the Russians closed in on Berlin in April 1945, the last and most tenacious resistance was put up BY FRENCH SOLDIERS IN THE SS

A Frenchman again in the Wehrmacht. Russia 1941

A French Legion soldier. November 1941. USSR

More French Legion soldiers

German soldiers firing at Russians. Summer 1944

June 1943. Eastern Front

Wehrmacht infantrymen. 1943. Russia

The man looks very hassled. The Russian rain and the following slush took the goat of most German soldiers

This pic is from Stalingrad

Stalingrad again

November 1942. Stalingrad. Things were not very bad then. Hence the smile on his face.

Early days of Barbarossa. 1941. Germans move into Russia

Germans talk with a captured Russian soldier

These men have found Russian girlfriends!

These German soldiers prepare for an attack. Stalingrad. 1942

Stalingrad again

Helping an injured comrade

Summer 1941. Eastern Front

German soldiers scour a Russian village

Men of the Grossdeutschland Division . Eastern front.

WHAT WAS THE GROSSDEUTSCHLAND DIVISION?

The Großdeutschland Division was a Heer combat unit of the Wehrmacht often portrayed by the Nazi press and media during World War II. For this reason the Großdeutschland was one of best-equipped unit of the German Armed Forces, receiving equipment before all other units.
More on Wikipedia

December 1941. A German tank trundles through a Russian village near Moscow. The Germans never reached Moscow. Their supply lines were too stretched. The harsh Russian winter struck the ill-prepared German army. And the Russians counter-attacked hard.

Germans with captured Russian partisans

Mail from home!

This German patrol stumbles upon a Soviet partisan camp

A German handles a captured Russian Maxim anti-aircarft gun

This German soldier has his meal

1941. Eastern Front. German soldiers dig a foxhole

Stalingrad

This is near Moscow. 1941. Germans chat with captured Russian soldiers

Grim fighting in Stalingrad. Autumn 1942

Having a drink

Germans fire away at Russians. March 1944

On the way to Moscow. 638th regiment. 7th Division. French Legion

Fighting in Narva. 1941

8.8 cm self propelled artillery unit (SAU) PaK 43/1 Pzkpfw 4

Pzkpfw 3

Ready for a Russian assault

Stalingrad. November 1942

Fighting on street of Zhimotir. Summer 1941

More On German Soldiers In Russia

4 Comments:

Anonymous said...: First I'll commend you on your great collection of pics, and agree with the core setiment that German soldiers of WWI and WWII fought bravely, with as much honor and depravity as found in any other participant of that war. The truth is when it comes to war there is no example that I'm aware of (save acient Israel) where pure evil didn't manifest itself in the actions of at least a few. I don't have a problem with you honoring the amazing sacrifice and those who fought with honor under Hitler, likely unaware of what was going on in the concentration camps. Unfortunately, there was a profound cowardice in the officer ranks regarding the subject of killing Hitler. (Excluding the amazing Rommel and said others). While I "get" what your trying to do here, breathing in important yet forgotten context of the war, you seem to come off doing so without merit as you don't seem to fully and clearly acknowledge the evil also committed, rationalizing it even by pointing out the evil of the other entities throughout warfare history. You need to split time or continue to come off as pro-nazi. Your call.; January 24, 2012 at 11:39 PM
Editors said...: There is no doubt that there is something in the German psyche that churns out great soldiers, whether be it WW1 or WW2. Our emphasis is on that point. It enabled Germany to fight the combined might of America, Russia, France and Britain for six years (WW2).

About the evil nature of Nazi Germany; much has been written about it. We felt it unnecessary to stress on it.; January 25, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Editors said...: There is no doubt that there is something in the German psyche that churns out great soldiers, whether be it WW1 or WW2. Our emphasis is on that point. It enabled Germany to fight the combined might of America, Russia, France and Britain for six years (WW2).

About the evil nature of Nazi Germany; much has been written about it. We felt it unnecessary to stress on it.; January 25, 2012 at 8:31 PM
gary said...: Germany prepared for war whilst everyone else dithered and were miles ahead of anyone in preparation in 1939. Britain never had a big army by european standards and had relied on its Navy.For France see the Simpsons. Germany also had a political outlook which many people supported and formed battalions from Ireland to Ukraine's Sonnderkommand. Germany had friends and allies all over Europe,Italy,Croatia,Austria,Romania,Hungary,Slovakia,Japan,Baltic countries and in many of the countries they invaded there were populations of ethnic Germans.The USA didn't appear til 44. Germany never won a battle after 43 and not on it's own.; July 19, 2014 at 3:55 PM

Points to Ponder: Why Is China Unstable?

The aim of individuals in any society is money and power. Societies that give equal chance to all its members to get them will be the most stable. That is why democracies are more stable than other systems of governance.

China after Deng's reform gave the chance to get rich but power is in the hands of an elite; the Communist Party of China. Membership to the party is at the whims of the local party bosses. This leaves out many people who crave political power dissatisfied and disgruntled. There in lies the roots of instability. The Party suppressed these demands once at Tiananmen in 1989. But force is hardly the way to deal with things like these.

READ MORE: Tiananmen Square Massacre

Why This Interest For Waffen SS Even Today?

World War Two ended many many years ago. All the Nazi creations were destroyed. But even today there is a continuous, even a growing interest in the Waffen SS. Why?

OK, Hitler was a bad guy. He dragged the world into a destruction never seen before . Agreed, the SS leadership was evil. The millions of fighters of the Waffen SS were embued with the Nazi ideals.

But certain ideals were drilled into them which made them one of the toughest soldiers the world will ever see. A camaraderie, a fierce devotion to Germany. With a complete disregard for one's life. A purity which is rarely seen in today's world.

Herein lies the appeal......

Some articles on the Waffen SS on this site

Mass Rape Of German Women In 1945....

One young officer coming upon a unit that had overtaken a column of German refugees fleeing westward later recalled: ‘Women, mothers and their children lie to the right and left along the route, and in front of each of them stands a raucous armada of men with their trousers down. The women who are bleeding or losing consciousness get shoved to one side, and our men shoot the ones who try to save their children.’ A group of ‘grinning’ officers was standing near by, making sure ‘that every soldier without exception would take part’.
READ MORE >>>>

The End Of Nazi Germany

Zhukov stood up. 'We invite the German delegation to sign the act of capitulation,' he said in Russian. The interpreter translated, but Keitel, by an impatient gesture, signalled that he had understood and that they should bring him the papers.

Zhukov, however, pointed to the end of his table. 'Tell them to come here to sign,' he said to the interpreter. Keitel stood up and walked over. He ostentatiously removed his glove before picking upthe pen. He clearly had no idea that the senior Soviet officer looking over his shoulder ashe signed was Beria's representative, General Serov. Keitel put the glove back on, then returned to his place. Stumpff signed next, then Friedeburg.

'The German delegation may leave the hall,' Zhukov announced. The three men stood up.Keitel, 'his jowls hanging heavily like a bulldog's', raised his marshal's baton in salute,then turned on his heel.

As the door closed behind them, it was almost as if everybody inthe room exhaled in unison. The tension relaxed instantaneously. Zhukov was smiling, sowas Tedder. Everybody began to talk animatedly and shake hands. Soviet officers embraced each other in bear hugs. The party which followed went on until almost dawn,with songs and dances. Marshal Zhukov himself danced the Russkayato loud cheers fromhis generals. From inside, they could clearly hear gunfire all over the city as officers and soldiers blasted their remaining ammunition into the night sky in celebration. The war was over.

From Berlin Downfall 1945 by ANTONY BEEVOR

The War In Russia....

The German divisions advanced across immense fields of sun-flowers or corn. One of the main dangers they faced was from Red Army soldiers, cut off by the rapid advance, attacking from behind or from the flank. On many occasions, when German soldiers fired back, the Red Army soldiers fell, feigning death, and lay there without moving. When the Germans approached to investigate, the Soviet soldiers waited until almost the last moment, then 'shot them at close range'

Stalingrad: A Fateful Siege by ANTONY BEEVOR

Trivia: RudolfHoess

"I must admit that this gassing had a calming effect on me, I was always horrified of executions by firing squads. Now, I was relieved to think that we would be spared all these bloodbaths."
Rudolf Hoess..

Rudolf Hoess was responsible for the death of over one million people in his concentration camp. He was caught in March 1946, gave evidence at Nuremberg and was then handed over to Poland for trial. While awaiting trial he wrote his memoirs. He was executed at Auschwitz, the very site he commanded, and allowed others to die in.

Snippets From History

In World War II and almost every other war in United States military history, our military was very clearly threatened by a uniformed and rather easily recognizable enemy. However in Vietnam, it was quite opposite. It appeared to the American soldiers that the whole country was hostile to American forces. It was impossible to tell the difference between friendly Vietnamese and enemy Vietnamese, (Viet Cong). The Viet Cong was rarely uniformed; therefore American troops were often forced to kill women and children.

READ MORE>>>

Snippets From History: Vietnam War

From a journalist’s perspective, especially a photo-journalist, the war in Vietnam was unique. With virtually unrestricted access to the battle fields many photographers came to depict war in a way never seen before or since. Despite the technology, this was a guerrilla war with much of the fighting at close quarters, allowing intense moments to be recorded on film.

This meant risk; over 135 photographers from all sides are recorded as dead or missing. But it was also a war where images changed public opinion.

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY: RELIVE THE TIMES: Images Of War, History , WW2

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