Snapshots from the Ostfront.

Just recently I've started getting together a little collection of those snapshots characteristic of the Wehrmacht. I've kept mainly to the Eastern Front - one wonders what fate held in store for many of the men pictured.

Here's my latest - on the back is written 'Auf der Fahrt nach Russland'




with ; -

Uffz. Sehimmele
Gefr. Hellrich
Gefr. Burkhard
Schirrm. Florschutz
Gefr. Kugelmeier ( stehend )

 

Nice pic, Martin!

Must be early part of the trip, still smiling...

 

I too wonder about the fate of any of the people pictured in old war photo's and how they and their families managed after.

 

nice shot

 

At least these men have their names behind the pic and can be identified. Good pic.

 

Next one up and I'm cheating....this one certainly isn't in Russia. But the rear is marked 'March 1941' and it has a certain atmosphere to it. It's a long troop-train and look at the civilians on the roadway ; are they just waving, or is that a 'Hitler-grusse' I can see..........?




I really like this one, though....if it were in colour, you could almost be on that train.

 

Those are very nice pics Martin, your right about the last one - 'you are on the train' feel about it .......be a prime juicy target too for a roaming fighter!

 

This one is Russia. Poor quality but hey - taking a pic today through the windscreen of a moving vehicle isn't that easy, and they didn't have digital cameras in 1941.......

 

Next up - more trucks raising dust in the advance of 1941 ; and a long column of prisoners......

 

Nice photos Martin !!

 

Is that a kiosk on post 7 ?

 

that must have been a heck of a camera and photographer

 

I really don't know....looking at the original under a magnifying glass, I'm wondering if it is some kind of religious structure such as a wayside shrine or small chapel ?

( Under the same magnifier, yes - those definitely are Hitler salutes. Makes me wonder if this is Germany, or Austria....? )

 

A chapel would make sense but the poster stuck on it makes me wonder.

 

The poster looks more like a painting...all very mysterious....

 

I think I got it Martin, it could be a mortuary chapel to commemorate the death of a loved one. I remember seeing those in Greece and Othodox countries, so your picture could have been taken in the Balkans (Yougoslavia, Albania or Greece) in 1941. Some are stone, others have a glass door with a candle.

 

Here's another one from the passenger seat....barely legible on the reverse is written : 'Russland im Sommer 1941 : vor Kerchitschew' (?)

 

I´d love to see this photo series end in front of Moscow?! Go Martin Go!

 

Another one dated 1941 - a bit of 'battlefield tourism', maybe ? ( Note the red cross on the door of the car )......