Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts

[Conhoon]

Today the 21 April, is the 103rd anniversary of the death of German flying ace Rittmeister (Cavalry Captain) Manfred von Richthofen (later to become known as the “Red Baron”).
He was 25 and was credited with shooting down victims 79 and 80 on the 20th of April, 1918.
Richthofen received a fatal wound just after 11:00 am on 21 April 1918, while flying over Morlancourt Ridge, near the Somme River.
It is likely that a Lewis machine gunner with the 53rd Battery, 14th Field Artillery Brigade, Royal Australian Artillery killed von Richthofen.

(Colourised by Olga Shirnina/'Klimbim', Benjamin Thomas and Royston Leonard)

 

[Conhoon]

A German Fallschirmjäger armed with a Maschinenpistole (and possibly a holstered Walther flare pistol), also carrying an M35 map-case on the march in Nettuno, Italy. Winter 1943/44.

The 4. Fallschirmjäger-Division was formed in Venice, Italy, in November 1943 from elements of 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division with the addition of volunteers from the Italian parachute divisions 184. Parachutist Division Nembo and 185. Parachutist Division Folgore.
It was sent into action against the Allied landings at Anzio (Operation Shingle) as part of I. Fallschirm-Korps in January 1944. It fought the Allied forces in Italy until the surrender in May 1945 in the area between Viacenza and Bozen.

(Photo source - Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-575-1824-22)

Colour by Doug

 

[Conhoon]

Men of Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 enjoying some cigarettes at the Luftwaffe barracks in Cologne-Dellbrück after the battle of Fort Eben-Emael, 12 May 1940.

The Battle of Fort Eben-Emael was a battle between Belgian and German forces that took place between 10 May and 11 May 1940, and was part of the Battle of Belgium and Fall Gelb, the German invasion of the Low Countries and France. An assault force of German Fallschirmjäger, was tasked with assaulting and capturing Fort Eben-Emael which was considered to be the strongest fortress in the world at the time, a Belgian fortress whose strategic position and strong artillery emplacements dominated several important bridges over the Albert Canal. These carried roads which led into the Belgian heartland and were what the German forces intended to use to advance. As some of the German airborne forces assaulted the fortress and disabled the garrison and the artillery pieces inside it, others simultaneously captured three bridges over the Canal. Having disabled the fortress, the airborne troops were then ordered to protect the bridges against Belgian counter-attacks until they linked up with ground forces from the German 18th Army.

The battle was a strategic victory for the German forces, with the airborne troops landing on top of the fortress with gliders and using explosives and flamethrowers to disable the outer defences of the fortress. The Fallschirmjäger then entered the fortress, killing some defenders and containing the rest in the lower sections of the fortress. Simultaneously, the rest of the German assault force had landed near the three bridges over the Canal, destroyed several pillboxes and defensive positions and defeated the Belgian forces guarding the bridges, capturing them and bringing them under German control. The airborne troops succeeded in holding the bridges until the arrival of German ground forces, who then aided the airborne troops in assaulting the fortress a second time and forcing the surrender of the remaining members of the garrison. German forces were then able to use two bridges over the Canal to bypass Belgian defensive positions and advance into Belgium to aid in the invasion of the country.

 

[Conhoon]

A propaganda shot of five German Fallschirmjäger glider troops on an exercise, charging from a DFS 230 glider upon landing.

The DFS 230 was a Luftwaffe assault glider, developed by the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (German Research Institute for Sailplane Flight). Hans Jacobs was the lead designer.
It was intended for paratrooper assault operations, carrying ten soldiers with equipment or a payload of about 1,200 kg. The usual tug was a JU-52 but photos exist showing tugs as varied as Ju-87 and Ju-88's. DFS-230 gliders played a key role during the famous and successful assaults at Eben-Emael and in the raid at Gran Sasso.

The Assault on Fort Eben Emael
The Battle of Fort Eben-Emael was a battle between Belgian and German forces that took place between 10 May and 11 May 1940, and was part of the Battle of Belgium and Fall Gelb, the German invasion of the Low Countries and France. An assault force of German paratroopers, Fallschirmjäger, was tasked with assaulting and capturing Fort Eben-Emael; a Belgian fortress whose strategic position and strong artillery emplacements dominated several important bridges over the Albert Canal. The easterly roads led into the Belgium heartland and the rest of the Low Countries. These roads were which the German forces intended to use to advance into Belgium. As some of the German airborne forces assaulted the fortress and disabled the garrison and the artillery pieces inside it, others simultaneously captured three bridges over the Canal. Having disabled the fortress, the airborne troops were then ordered to protect the bridges against Belgian counter-attacks until they linked up with ground forces from the German 18th Army.
The battle was a strategic victory for the German forces, with the airborne troops landing on top of the fortress via the use of DFS-230 gliders and using explosives and flamethrowers to disable the outer defences of the fortress.

Gran Sasso Raid
The successful rescue of imprisoned Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from atop the Gran Sasso plateau was one of the most dramatic special forces operations in military history. Arrested by his own officers in July 1943, Mussolini had been whisked away to an isolated and heavily guarded mountaintop resort, the Hotel Campo Imperatore which could only be reached by a heavily guarded cable car station. The Germans, led by SS Haupsturmführer Otto Skorzeny, launched a daring DFS-230 Glider-borne assault, which surprised the Italian guards and secured Mussolini without a shot being fired. However, when the original escape plan had to be scrapped, the Germans organized a desperate, last minute airborne escape plan before the Italians could launch a counter attack.

(Photo source - Bundesarchiv - Bild 101I-569-1579-14A)
Colour: ColourisedPieceofJake

 

[Conhoon]

About @santana post from previous page - sorry, I'm wrong:

August 9, 1945 Japanese POW 2Lt Minoru Wada using the intercom aboard a USMC PBJ Mitchell bomber to relay instructions to his interpreter about the location of the Japanese 100th Infantry Division headquartersdeep in the jungle on Mindanao, Philippines.

Minoru Wada was an American citizen, educated in Japan and served as a Japanese Army junior officer. He was taken prisoner in the Philippines in 1945. He provided U.S. bomber crews with vital intelligence, and led the aircraft in a highly successful attack on the headquarters of the Japanese 100th Division. He was motivated by a desire to minimize the loss of life through aiding to effect a swift end to the Pacific War.

During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the West Coast because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage. As the war progressed, many of the young Nisei, Japanese immigrants' children who were born with American citizenship, volunteered or were drafted to serve in the United States military. Japanese Americans served in all the branches of the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Merchant Marines.

An estimated 33,000 Japanese Americans served in the U.S. military during World War II, of which 20,000 joined the Army. Approximately 6,000 Japanese Americans served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Approximately 800 were killed in action.

Japanese Americans were generally forbidden to fight a combat role in the Pacific theatre; although no such limitations were placed on Americans of German or Italian ancestry who fought against the Axis powers. Up to this point, the United States government has only been able to find records of five Japanese Americans who were members of the Army Air Forces during World War II.

The 442nd Infantry Regiment became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. The related 522nd Field Artillery Battalion liberated the infamous Dachau concentration camp. Other Japanese-American units also included the 100th Infantry Battalion, the Varsity Victory Volunteers, and the Military Intelligence Service.

Colour: ColourisedPieceofJake
Photo: David Douglas Duncan

 

[Conhoon]

May 20, 1941

Fallschirmjäger, Karl Heinz Becker, Oberleutnant and chief of 11./Fsch.Jäg.Rgt 1 resting sometime after the attack at Heraklion Airfield on the Island of Crete. (he is armed with a Maschinenpistole MP-38).

The German invasion of Crete, codenamed 'Operation Merkur', or Mercury, lasted from 20 May until the June 1

The Battle for Crete was a German victory but a costly one. Out of an assault force of just over 22,000 men, the Germans suffered some 5,500 casualties, of which 3,600 were killed or missing in action. Almost a third of the Ju52s used in the operation were damaged or destroyed. The Allies suffered almost 3,500 casualties (of which just over 1,700 were killed) and almost 12,000 were taken prisoner. The Royal Navy suffered 1 aircraft carrier, two battleships, six cruisers and seven destroyers badly damaged and another three cruisers and six destroyers sunk with the loss of over 2,000 men. The RAF lost some forty-seven aircraft in the battle. Exactly how many Greek soldiers and Cretan civilians died during the fighting will never be known. (http://www.historyofwar.org/)
The last Allied troops, of which around 14,500 had been evacuated, were lifted off early on the 1st of June, with General Freyburg leaving on the 30th of May, by flying boat. The remaining 5,000 Allied troops were ordered to surrender at 09.00 on the 1st of June, leaving the Germans in control of Crete.

As a result of the huge losses suffered by the Fallschirmjäger in Crete, it was forbidden by Hitler to mount any large-scale operations in the future and apart from a few small-scale operations, mainly served as elite infantry for the rest of the war.

Oblt. Karl Becker was awarded the Knight's Cross on the 9th of July 1941 for his leadership at Heraklion.
He died on the 3rd of October 2000 (aged 86)

(Colourised by Doug)

 

[Conhoon]

May 20, 1941

The skies of Crete became filled with the crosses of the Luftwaffe and parachute canopies as the Fallschirmjäger of the 7th Flieger Division dropped from their Ju-52 transport planes, often right on top of the Allied defences.

As a result many were shot dead even before hitting the ground. To make things worse, they jumped armed only with pistols or machine-pistols. Their rifles, sub-mgs and heavier equipment being dropped separately in containers. Getting rid of the parachute and finding the containers while under fire from the well prepared defences proved a deadly task and the number of casualties raised accordingly.

In this photo, two Fallschirmjäger, lucky enough to have survived the drop and find their weapons, look towards the coast and their next objective.

The spot has been wrongly identified as being near Suda Bay. Using the mountain tops in the horizon I believe I managed to identify the correct location as the hills near Maleme airfield, looking North-west (comparison in comments). Part of the runway can be seen on the left, half hidden by the soldier.

If true, these men probably belonged to the 1st (Koch) or 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Fallschirmjäger Regiment. They had dropped on Hill 107, defended by the 22nd New Zealander Battalion. It is on the slopes of Hill 107, overlooking the airfield that stands today the German War Cemetery.

Original: B. L. Davis Collection

Color by Rui Candeias

 

[Redav]

Portuguese Soldiers WWI

 

[Conhoon]

The Battle of Anzio in Italy, during January-June 1944
Two captured German paratroopers carry a wounded British soldier who has lost a foot in a mine explosion near Anzio, Italy, May 22, 1944.

This casualty’s serious injury is not dissimilar to the kind caused by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan in recent years. The fact that he is carried by German prisoners-of-war is not unusual – prisoners were often used to carry wounded from front line areas. (IWM caption)

The Battle of Anzio was a battle of the Italian Campaign of World War II that took place from January 22, 1944 (beginning with the Allied amphibious landing known as Operation Shingle) to June 5, 1944 (ending with the capture of Rome).

(Photo source - © IWM NA 15295)
Radford (Sergeant) (Photographer)
No. 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit (Undefined)

(Colourised by Doug)

 

[Conhoon]

Three Fallschirmjäger man a 10cm Nebelwerfer 35 (German heavy mortar). According to Bundesarchiv this photo was shot in Italy, Monte Cassino area, January-February 1944.

Original: Bundesarchiv (Bild 101l-577-1917-08)

(Colorised by Rui Candeias)

 

[Conhoon]

"Captured German parachute troops file past a Sherman tank of the New Zealand 4th Armoured Brigade at Cassino, 16 March 1944." (Caption source IWM)

Fallschirmjägers (paratroopers) from Leutnant Peter Maul’s 2. Company of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, that had been captured earlier on 'Castle Hill' are being led to the rear.
(The two German soldiers in front have been identified as Gefreiter Hölzinger and Gefreiter Möbius.

They are passing the M4A2 Sherman tank of Lieutenant Peter G. Brown, the Troop Leader of No. 10 Troop of 'C' Squadron, 19th NZ Armoured Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade. (he was wounded two days later on the 18th)

'C' Squadron were waiting to go into the town of Cassino after 'B' Squadron, which had its path blocked by rubble, caused by the aerial bombing of the town, the previous day.

The Sherman tank, just visible to the left, is the one belonging to Major Dolvin of the US 756th Tank Battalion that was knocked out on February 3.

This photo was taken on Via Caira near the quarry facing the town.

(Photo source - © IWM NA 12912)
Sgt. Johnson, No. 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit

 

[Conhoon]

4 Fallschirmjäger Division, at Anzio in Italy, January 1944.

The trooper shows off a captured British ‘Bren’ Light Machine Gun.

The 4 Fallschirmjäger Division was formed in Venice, Italy, in November 1943, from elements of 2 Fallschirmjäger Division and volunteers from the Italian 184 and 185 Airborne Division Folgore parachute divisions.
Its first combat action was against the Allied landings at Anzio (Operation Shingle) as part of the I. Fallschirm Korps in January 1944.
After Anzio, the Division fought a rear guard action in front of Rome, and was the last German unit to leave the city on 4 June; it withdrew towards Viterbo Siena Firenze and then managed to halt the Allies at the Futa pass.
In the Winter of 1944/1945 it was positioned on the Gothic Line. In March 1945, the Division had to send the II Battalion, 12 Fallschirmjäger Regiment and the 2nd Company from the Pionier Battalion to the new 10 Fallschirmjager Division, which was being formed in Austria.
It then fought at Nettuno, Florence, Rimini and Bologna and surrendered to the Allies in April 1945.

(Photo source - Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-576-1846-11A)

(Colourised by Doug)

 

[Conhoon]

A Fallschirmjäger (Paratrooper) carrying a Maschinengewehr MG.34 in Italy, September 1943

The trooper seen here is possibly from a group in Rome during the time of the Italian Army surrender of the 9th-12th September 1943

In the light-machine gun role, the MG.34 when used with a bipod and weighed only 12.1 kg (26.7 lb).
The 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge had a rate of fire - 800–900 rounds per minute.
(The MG in this pic has a smashed, metal tipped Bakelite stock, which was an early production of 1938-41)

(Photo source - Bundesarchiv Bild 1-101I-569-1584-35)

(Colourised by Doug)

 

[Conhoon]

2 Fallschirmjäger Division (Ukraine) sharing a ride on the Pz. VI 'Tiger' Ausf E. Turmnummer 'S33' in a road march with Kampfgruppe Lammerding, 8.Kompanie, 2nd SS Panzerregiment, 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich." In the region of Berdychiv, near Zhytomyr, Ukraine. 1st December 1943.

On December the 24th, the Soviets launched a massive operation that shattered the Ukrainian Front and threatened to cut off German forces. Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube successfully extricated his 200,000 soldiers and inflicted heavy losses on the Red Army, but at a high cost in armour. The Soviets could now concentrate on liberating Kharkov.
Except for two Tigers evacuated for factory maintenance, all the vehicles were destroyed by April 1944.The "Das Reich" survivors were then removed from the Eastern Front and sent to France to be rebuilt.

On the 15th of December 1943 the entire 2 Fallschirmjäger Division were airlifted from the Zhitomyr sector to Kivovgrad to counter a Soviet breakthrough. After heavy losses, they were eventually wound-down in April and rested at Köln-Wahn by May 1944.

(Colourised by Doug)

 

[Conhoon]

'Truce Train from St Nazaire' - 19, January 1945

Fallschirmjäger (Paratroopers) of the St.Nazaire garrison await the arrival of an empty train returning from Nantes after it had transported 13,000 French civilian evacuees from St.Nazaire. They would be checking that no unauthorised personnel may have boarded the train, on it's return journey.
The train had left Cordemais station for Nantes after repairs had been made to the railway lines. The refugees arrived in Nantes, leaving behind them the ruined town that had had no coal, gas, electricity or bread, for months.

(Nb. some of these troopers may be carrying the 9mm MP3008,
also known as the Volksmaschinenpistole ("people's machine pistol"), the weapon was closely based on the Sten MKII submachine gun, except for its vertical magazine; some had additional pistol grips.)

British Paramount News Cameraman, Ronald L Read, reporting on the German Truce at St. Nazaire for evacuation of French civilians;
"This is one of those stories that tend to make one believe that this is a phoney war.
We arrived at the arranged 'Truce' time to find plenty of 'action' photo shooting etc. going on, leaving just a corridor in "No Mans Land" for the train to go through. We walked through to the Station (Cordemais) which was behind enemy lines. There were various meetings of German, French and American personnel. Scenes of the French Railway men repairing the lines, close ups etc. General view of the whole scene showing German armed guards........
Evacuation Train on arrival from St. Nazaire, German guards being replaced with French guards. Various shots with German personnel and the Evacuees. Various shots at the Evacuees Centre at Nantes, children and young babies being carried off the train etc.

National News Archive;
Truce at St, Nazaire
CIVILIANS EVACUATED
London, Jan. 19.— "The seven-day truce at St. Nazaire began this morning and the first train carry ing civilians entered the Allied lines outside the city a few hours after the beginning of the truce. The first evacuees stated that the German garrison was well supplied with food. It is estimated that about 25,000 Germans are still holding the St. Nazaire perimeter."

(Colourised by Doug)

 

[Conhoon]

A soldier from the ‘Polish Carpathian Independent Brigade’ manning a ‘borrowed’ German MG-34 during the Siege of Tobruk, Libya, 1941.

Officially formed in Syria on April 12, 1940, from former Polish soldiers that had managed to escape Poland in 1939, the Polish Carpathian Independent Brigade* was initially part of the French Army, but after the French capitulation and the French in Syria siding with the pro-German Vichy government, the Brigade was sent first to Palestine, and later in November of that same year, to Egypt, were it saw itself in an awkward situation: It couldn’t engage the enemy because there wasn’t one. At the time the British were fighting the Italians in Libya, and Poland wasn’t officially at war with Italy, so the Brigade had to wait it's turn.

It all changed when Rommel and the Afrika Korps arrived in February 1941. After some limited action near Mersa Matruh during the spring, in late August the Brigade was sent to the besiege perimeter of Tobruk, where it replaced the Australian 18th Brigade and the Indian Army’s 18th King Edward’s Own Cavalry.

It was first sent to the southern sector where it faced the Italians of the ‘Pavia’ Infantry Division. In October it was moved to the far more dangerous westernmost perimeter. Known as the ‘Gap’, enemy positions were often as close as 200 m, and in improvised, shallow slit trenches, with no cover against the blazing sun, the Polish, together with the Czechs, experienced hell. The Brigade spent 10 weeks in the ‘Gap’, during which it conducted night raids and aggressive patrolling, as did the enemy.

In December, during Operation Crusader, the Brigade successfully broke through the German defenses and seized the strategically important Ras El-Medauar, White Knoll and the Twin Pimples positions, finally breaking through to the advancing British forces. The siege and the Brigade’s defense of Tobruk was over.

During the 100 days that the Brigade spent on the line at Tobruk it lost 127 KIA and over 400 WIA from a total of around 3750 men.

Note the Patronentrommel 34 (or PT-34 for shorts) on the MG-34: a double-drum, saddle-type 75 rounds magazine, not to be confused with the MG-15 double-drums used by the Luftwaffe on their airplanes.

*Although usually referred to by this name, once it was reorganized as a British Motorized Infantry Brigade in January 1941, the PCIB was officially renamed as the ‘Polish Independent Brigade Group’.

Original’s source unknown

(Colour and text by Rui Candeias)

 

[santana]

About @santana post from previous page - sorry, I'm wrong:

View attachment 299354

August 9, 1945 Japanese POW 2Lt Minoru Wada using the intercom aboard a USMC PBJ Mitchell bomber to relay instructions to his interpreter about the location of the Japanese 100th Infantry Division headquartersdeep in the jungle on Mindanao, Philippines.

Minoru Wada was an American citizen, educated in Japan and served as a Japanese Army junior officer. He was taken prisoner in the Philippines in 1945. He provided U.S. bomber crews with vital intelligence, and led the aircraft in a highly successful attack on the headquarters of the Japanese 100th Division. He was motivated by a desire to minimize the loss of life through aiding to effect a swift end to the Pacific War.

During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the West Coast because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage. As the war progressed, many of the young Nisei, Japanese immigrants' children who were born with American citizenship, volunteered or were drafted to serve in the United States military. Japanese Americans served in all the branches of the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Merchant Marines.

An estimated 33,000 Japanese Americans served in the U.S. military during World War II, of which 20,000 joined the Army. Approximately 6,000 Japanese Americans served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Approximately 800 were killed in action.

Japanese Americans were generally forbidden to fight a combat role in the Pacific theatre; although no such limitations were placed on Americans of German or Italian ancestry who fought against the Axis powers. Up to this point, the United States government has only been able to find records of five Japanese Americans who were members of the Army Air Forces during World War II.

The 442nd Infantry Regiment became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. The related 522nd Field Artillery Battalion liberated the infamous Dachau concentration camp. Other Japanese-American units also included the 100th Infantry Battalion, the Varsity Victory Volunteers, and the Military Intelligence Service.

Colour: ColourisedPieceofJake
Photo: David Douglas Duncan

Thank you very much for the story behind that picture. I was aware about the Nisei imigrants in the US and how many of them fight in WWII under the US Army and US Armed Forces. thanks again

 

[Conhoon]

The Battle of the Lys.
Royal Artillery officers outside their billet near Saint-Floris, 9 miles (14.5 km) north of Béthune. 2 May 1918.

The officer on the far right is a serviceman of the Royal Army Medical Corps, decorated with the Military Cross. Note also the dog mascot on the top of the piano.
(Photo Source - © IWM Q 6586)
Brooke, John Warwick (Lieutenant) (Photographer)

 

[Conhoon]

A CMP truck and motorcycle of 11th Royal Horse Artillery (Honourable Artillery Company), 1st Armoured Division, Tunisia, 22 April 1943.

 

[Conhoon]

Venus, the bulldog mascot of the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Vansittart, taken in 1941.

Original image A4998 IWM Collection.
© Colourised by Tom Marshall