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ORIGINAL FALLSCHIRMJAGER PHOTO ALBUM CRETE AND RUSSIAN FRONT

Discussion in 'North Africa and the Mediterranean' started by hornetsfan, Jan 21, 2010.

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  1. hornetsfan

    hornetsfan Member

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    Here I will share some images from an original Fallschirmjager photo album within my collection .
    The album belonged to First sgt . Wilhelm Plieschen ...he served in The Fallschirmjager Machine gun battalion 7 .
    On 20th.May 1941 he was dropped close to Rethymnon as part of the invasion of Crete ...around 50% of his comrades ( all elite troops ) died on day one of the battle .
    Wilhelm is later seen in Russia where he saw action at Kalinin during the winter of 1941-42 .
    If anyone else is able to add to this mans service history I would appreciate any further information . Many great photos ..including flight to Crete , fresh war graves in Crete , award service Crete , service in Russia .
    many thanks
    jim www.throughtheireyes2.co.uk

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    hornetsfan, Jan 21, 2010
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    rkline56, Volga Boatman, GI546 and 4 others like this.
  2. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    Excellent photos. We don't get to see many fallshirmjager photos. Rarer are those taken while serving in the East.
     
    PzJgr, Jan 21, 2010
    #2
  3. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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    sniper1946, Jan 21, 2010
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    LRusso216 and PzJgr like this.
  4. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    Excellent video Ray. Thanks! Fortunately for us, the Germans spent a lot of effort recording the war.
     
    PzJgr, Jan 21, 2010
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  5. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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    absolutely! pleasure ike,lots,ray..:)
     
    sniper1946, Jan 21, 2010
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  6. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Thanks to both Ray and Hornetsfan for these posts. We get so used to seeing video of Allied paratroop activities that it is refreshing to be reminded that there were equally daring men on the "other" side.

    edit - Drew, you posted while I was writing. Rep to you as well.
     
    LRusso216, Jan 21, 2010
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  7. Sloniksp

    Sloniksp Ставка

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    Amazing and horrific photos!
     
    Sloniksp, Jan 21, 2010
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  8. sniper1946

    sniper1946 Expert

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    good pics drew,ray..
     
    sniper1946, Jan 21, 2010
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  9. hornetsfan

    hornetsfan Member

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    More photos from the album ,just before drop over Crete ..the tension must have been great ....these men did not know the soldiers on the ground were waiting for them.

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    hornetsfan, Jan 21, 2010
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  10. hornetsfan

    hornetsfan Member

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    Hello Efestos , chilling photos ...I had not seen them before . All part of the madness and horror that took over the world .
    Goering ..now there's a man who was rotten to the core ..and a poor leader .
    Below is an original photo from the album of Kurt Student inspecting his troops .
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    hornetsfan, Jan 22, 2010
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  11. hornetsfan

    hornetsfan Member

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    Nice story Erich .
    Pz ...I agree with your comments ..and being a newbie here was a little taken aback as I immediately noticed what you picked up on .
    But I did find the photos the execution images interersting and I suppose relevant . although I did deteched some hostility .
    I'm broad shouldered and used to taking flak ...but would rather have friends than enemies .
    As I said previously , in my opinion a borderline hi-jack .
    Incidently , I have a fair number of German albums ..this does not make me a Nazi ... My personal politics are if anything slightly left of centre ..but as we grow older most of us come to realise politics is all stuff and nonesense ...spin and lies .
    Onwards and upwards .
    jim
     
    hornetsfan, Jan 22, 2010
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  12. GI546

    GI546 Member

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    these pics are amazing!
     
    GI546, Jan 22, 2010
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  13. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    In this forum, you do not have any worries about being labeled a Nazi just because you collect the albums. There are many militaria collectors here so don't worry about it. Keep posting away.
     
    PzJgr, Jan 22, 2010
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  14. hornetsfan

    hornetsfan Member

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    hornetsfan, Jan 22, 2010
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  15. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    I love the JU-52 and all of the photos of the interior when it was an airliner seemed to look more roomier than these. Perhaps the troops on the right side are leaning forward to get in the photo. Perhaps it is their equipment forcing all of them to sit more forward. Better than flying ontop the wings and then let go like the Russians did.
     
    PzJgr, Jan 22, 2010
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  16. hornetsfan

    hornetsfan Member

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    hornetsfan, Jan 22, 2010
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  17. Erich

    Erich Alte Hase

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    Jim you have my full support yes I have been called many things........who cares !

    and yes I have many WW 2 German albums from LW to Kriegsmarine several relatives served under that little Austrian turd in the LW and Heer
     
    Erich, Jan 22, 2010
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  18. Erich

    Erich Alte Hase

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    Jim do we know the unit yet of this Fallschirm soldier ?
     
    Erich, Jan 22, 2010
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  19. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Since Drew edited his posts down to nothing, I deleted them.

    Jim, please do not consider this to be anything to do with you. Please continue to post your excellent pictures, and we'll try our best to stay focused on what you present.

    Drew, I agree with Jim, this should become anything that significant that it should cause you to leave. Please reconsider and continue posting.
     
    LRusso216, Jan 22, 2010
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  20. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Continue on, Jim.

    Trust me, if there was a problem with what you are doing, you would have heard from me already.

    I have heavily edited the thread. Let's move on.
     
    Slipdigit, Jan 22, 2010
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