Snapshots from the Ostfront.

Great pics. Post away. Love the pics of eastern landscape. Infinite and creepy. Makes me wonder as the soldier was taking the pic what was his thought process trekking into what seemed to be endless steppe.

 

I'm not sure about the trucks being Russian - my vehicle recognition isn't good enough. I do know that the Germans used vast numbers of trucks requisitioned from Belgium and ( especially ) France, plus captured British Army transport ( although certainly none of those are in the photos ).

 

I think the one in front is a GAZ-AA. Ford had car plant in France but I don't know if it built trucks too. If it did it might be a Ford AA from there.

 

Here's a soldier snapshot with a slight difference. This poor old Tante Ju looks to have been well-and-truly 'cannibalized'.....

 

It seems as if one wing was damaged and that the Tante was beyond repair. An attempt to repair the wing damage was initially made and explains why there are bricks under the rmeoved landing gear. Unfortunately a new wing never arrived and the plane was left to its fate.

I'm not sure but I believe it was then set on fire which could explain the engine damage and the missing window panes.

Other elements such as the hatch and nose have indeed been removed for recycling" either to be be fitted on a new Ju-52 or used by locals.

The micca window panes were often used as "candles" too which could also explain why they were removed.

 

Cold snowy weather and one from the warmer days. You said Veterans?

 

" ..Zum Arsch der Welt.."

 

Always found myself asking the same question upon looking at photos of the German soldiers on the "Ost" front...

How many of these soldiers made it? A bit eerie When looking at the faces on these men knowing that the majority never left the Soviet Union....

Excellent photos Martin.

 

Much like viewing photo's of passengers on Titanic.

 

Not to mention those from other nationalities who fought on the Axis side and were even killed AFTER the war (Vlassov's troops, LVF members, Hungarians, Romanians, Italians etc... )

 

Interesting to see they made some temporary WW1 type trenches. According to the Mantels this could be autumn 1941, just before the first snow . The men still have a high morale and even have a bottle or two to drink.

 

thanks for the commentary Skipper!

here the guy on the right - who appears to be the same Gefreiter (?) as above right - is now in a Mantel ..but now with snow

 

Yes, this would confirm they'd decided to dig a winter hole to protect themselves from the first assault of Russia's winter. The lack of decent winter clothing clearly shows this dates from the first 1941-42 winter. Those poor buggers still have their regular gear with some possible home made gloves and not even a scarf or a decent fur hat. The wooden soles aren't there yet either. Those two certaine deserved the Ostfront medaille.

 

Russian POWs in open rail wagons at Suwalki, Poland, snow on the ground " Eisenbahnransport von russische Gefangene am Bahnhof Suwalki, Polen, 1941 "

 

Keep em comin'