Snapshots from the 1940 WESTFRONT with now and thens

After having enjoyed the Snapshot from the Ostfront thread, I figured you'd like to see a few westfront pics as well . This is about the 1940 Campaigns and includes private pics from France and Belgium mainly.

Picture one : Where it all started : the SEDAN station with a now and then




Note the beer bottles on the right !

 

Dunkirk June 1940

 

Great pics, Skipper....keep 'em coming !

 

I will Martin, I need to identify a couple first.

 

This one stems is mentionned "weg nach Ostende" = "on the road to Ostende" , Belgium. It was taken from a driving car, possibly by an officer considering the car looks quite comfortable according to the boot. Note the destroyed military vehicles in the ditch . I'm not sure which nationality those trucks are , but they appear to be a destroyed convoy.

 

two direct hits took out the soldiers who were firing from those two windows in northern France.




and when the car arrived in this city to control a cross road near Dunkkirk , a building is still on fire.

 

The trucks on the way to Ostend look as though they've been run off the road in echelon ; possibly the engines would then have been drained of oil and then run until seized up. There is a very similar scene in the old movie 'Dunkirk'.

These are great, early-war images !

 

Thanks Martin , the Dunkirk scenario would make sense. I suppose the trucks were pushed in the ditch like dominos to prevent them from being captured intact.

 

Who can identify this ferry for me? The picture was taken between Dunkirk and Dieppe, or Le Havre (I think) .
Note the large squad of "tourists"

 

Found this one photo from Rouen WW2 period...

 

Certainly not Rouen Kai, but the Place du Martroi in Orleans. Both towns are often mistaken because of joan of Arc who liberated Orleans but was burnt at Rouen, so she's famous in but cities. "Rouen vêtements" was a clothing shop . Orleans was heavily damaged during the attack on the Loire bridges on June 15th 1940. To be noticed, you can't see the soldatenheim opposite the soldiers, but it was only 20 meters away from the Statue.






Enjoy the Now and then I made for you with your intitial picture

 

Thanx Skipper!

 

you're welcome Kai. Once a year there is a flea market on this very square. I've been there quite often and have already made some good finds .

 

Just as I was starting to enjoy this thread..........

( )

 

Another modern one!

 

An this must be a firts on this forum : we've had "now" and "thens" , but about "befores" this one is from the Prussian 1870 occupation!

 

the Calais theatre : nowadays and then ......as a Front theater

 

John on his BMW.

Does anyone know where this picture was taken?

 

Sorry Skipper cannot see the picture....

 

try again kai it's a heavy pic