I thought I’d share this with you… a good friend of mine Bob served in the Army from 1984 to 1988. He was with 1st Cavalry based in Germany working and flying Huey helicopters. On weekends, he would shop at flea markets outside the base. Bob brought those photos from a seller when he was approached about buying authetic WWII photos. It was not legal at that time to sell photos with swastika in Germany he said. The seller had a tin box where photos were stored out of view and it was only shown to American soldiers at that time.
Last night he brought the whole thing including the tin box too to the cookout at my place last night… baby back ribs! The photos were in very good condition after many years sitting inside the tin box. There were about 150-200 photos and he allowed me to take pictures of my favorite photos so I can share with you. Also he would love for me to gather more information about those photos since he doesn’t know much about WWII. He’s really into Vietnam War…
Here’s the photos… some kind of special celebration event with the parade doing on. Inside Germany or maybe France after the French surrendered?
Big shots giving speeches at the right… you can see they are inspecting the troops. I think I see Himmler? Who would be the one in darker officer uniform behind Himmler?
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?
Those are stamped and written on the back of photos… number orders and dates I assume. Is it May 24th? It can’t be May of 1924 because the Third Reich wasn’t in the power yet. Maybe you guys know???
I have more great photos I can post if you are interested… including damaged French tank and warplane, etc. Many photos were of German infantry… just let me know!
SF- I agree. Thanks for stopping by… ribs were just perfect last night. Secret family receipe… what the heck… it was stolen from a restaurant where my brother-in-law used to work. LOL
Here’s more pictures… I like those four the best. They were probably taken by different person I suspect a German soldier in infantry. No question they were taken during the invasion of France as you can tell why…
French warplane… but I don’t know which plane… I don’t really follow French. I wonder if this soldier was the owner of those photos taken during the invasion.
I like the overturned tank. Its a perfect photograph to base a vignette on, the officer looks like her is trying to figure out what type of tank it is as well. The engine covers draped open show they were not latched of the officer had a peek inside. Either way excellent photograph!
The aircraft was obviously strafed on the ground. The opening day around 1/2 of the French air force was destroyed on the ground. Once again another excellent photograph of the soldiers posing on the wrecked plane.
SF- I agree about the overturned French tank… that’s why it is one of my favorites. It is on a loan so I can scan those favorite photos to share with you guys.
Eric- Glad you loved the photos. Amazing pieces of history!!! I offered to buy them but he declined. I will not give up! LOL I think this guy is actually Himmler… I zoomed in and it really looks like him at far left now. He had a faint mustache and funny looking pair of eyeglasses.
You could be right. What about this photo… another blown up photo to help us? Inspecting the troop… only big shots do this… who is he? For sure its not Manny because he was held up in a hotel room with one of his many mistresses. [whstl]
A steady diet of beer, sausage , Schweinshaxe ( pork knuckles )and gigantic pretzels made many middle aged males of the era look like the guy on the right.[:$]
Well, I presume the C.O. of the Army unit in formation ( saluting ) is “taking the salute” followed by two of his officers and two visiting German officers.
One in rear may be Luftwaffe due to shape of cap insignia while other three men following the C.O. appear to be Heer (army ).
I don’t recognize anyone but Manny may have encountered them at Bad Kissingen casino.
My late F-I-L, who was a Luftwaffe 88mm Guncrewmember unti he was captured in 1943, had some really good stuff from his side of the War… Dozens of unioforms close-up, and several really spectacular shoot-downs, were in his collection, all from the Battle of France through his capture in Sicily… Even a couple dozen color shots…
Wish I’d have gotten them, instead of his son getting them, lol… Since he, conceivably at least, shot at my Dad and my uncles Bud (B-17 pilot), Stan, and Ronnie (brothers-in-law, and B-17 tail-gunners both) It would have made for some interesting pairings…
I’ve never seen any of the photos used anywhere, which makes them all the more interesting to me…
Sprue-ce Goose- Let me guess… you used to date them but they were little too wild for your taste? [:D]
Hans- I am with you! Knowing you are into WWII militaria collection and I have started myself but it won’t be that large unless they allow me to live that long. Was hoping you’d recognize those big shots in the pictures…
I will see if I can borrow more photos so I can share with you guys. I only have 20-25 photos on loan out of 150-200 photos at this moment.
Here’s another one… Panzer officer? Maybe a pilot based on his collars? I can’t tell…
The photo below is the back of the officer photo above. ‘September of 1942’ stamped? But in writing it may have been taken in ‘October of 1940’ in German? Anybody know German…
Nope, not Panzer, Panzer SS, not an officer, not even a pilot… He’s a Luftwaffe Gefreiter, equal to an RAF Aircraftsman First Class , or American PFC… If the Waffenfarben on his collar and shoulder-mark piping is red, and just thnking that it is, then he’s in a FlaK Batterie of some sort… What leads me down THAT path is the FlakArtillerie Qualification badge on his left sleeve…
