Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts
- Thread starter BravoZulu
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OPERATION 'BARBAROSSA'
The invasion of the Soviet Union, June 1941
Operation 'Barbarossa' - named after the all-conquering Medieval Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I - was launched on 22 June 1941. Over three and a half million German and other Axis troops attacked along a 1,800-mile front. A total of 148 divisions - 80 per cent of the German Army - were committed to the enterprise.
Seventeen panzer divisions, formed into four Panzer Groups, formed the vanguard with 3,400 tanks. They were supported by 2,700 aircraft of the Luftwaffe. It was the largest invasion force to date.
(Colors by Irootoko jr., Royston Leonard, Richard Molloy)
The invasion of the Soviet Union, June 1941
Operation 'Barbarossa' - named after the all-conquering Medieval Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I - was launched on 22 June 1941. Over three and a half million German and other Axis troops attacked along a 1,800-mile front. A total of 148 divisions - 80 per cent of the German Army - were committed to the enterprise.
Seventeen panzer divisions, formed into four Panzer Groups, formed the vanguard with 3,400 tanks. They were supported by 2,700 aircraft of the Luftwaffe. It was the largest invasion force to date.
(Colors by Irootoko jr., Royston Leonard, Richard Molloy)
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WW1 - German offensive on the Lys. A Lewis Gun-post in Le Marquais, 13 April 1918 .
© IWM Q 6528
The Lewis gun is a First World War–era light machine gun. Designed privately in America but not adopted, the design was finalised and mass-produced in the United Kingdom, and widely used by troops of the British Empire during the war. It had a distinctive barrel cooling shroud (containing a finned, aluminium breech-to-muzzle heat sink to cool the gun barrel) and top-mounted pan magazine. The Lewis served to the end of the Korean War, and was widely used as an aircraft machine gun during both World Wars.
© IWM Q 6528
The Lewis gun is a First World War–era light machine gun. Designed privately in America but not adopted, the design was finalised and mass-produced in the United Kingdom, and widely used by troops of the British Empire during the war. It had a distinctive barrel cooling shroud (containing a finned, aluminium breech-to-muzzle heat sink to cool the gun barrel) and top-mounted pan magazine. The Lewis served to the end of the Korean War, and was widely used as an aircraft machine gun during both World Wars.
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22 June 1918, near Candelù town, Veneto region. An Italian infantryman equipped with a SBR gas mask and aiming a Carcano Modello 1891 (M91) rifle at enemy lines.
Veneto became a major battlefront. After the Italians suffered an enormous defeat at Caporetto in November 1917, the combined Austro-Hungarian and German forces advanced almost unhindered through Veneto towards Venice until reaching the Piave River. The Battle of the Piave River prevented their troops from advancing further and was celebrated in La Leggenda del Piave. Between 24 October and 3 November 1918, Italy launched the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The battle's outcome assured Italy's victory. The Armistice of Villa Giusti which ended warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary in World War I, was signed at Villa Giusti near Padua.
Color by ROCOlor)
Veneto became a major battlefront. After the Italians suffered an enormous defeat at Caporetto in November 1917, the combined Austro-Hungarian and German forces advanced almost unhindered through Veneto towards Venice until reaching the Piave River. The Battle of the Piave River prevented their troops from advancing further and was celebrated in La Leggenda del Piave. Between 24 October and 3 November 1918, Italy launched the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The battle's outcome assured Italy's victory. The Armistice of Villa Giusti which ended warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary in World War I, was signed at Villa Giusti near Padua.
Color by ROCOlor)
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It is been a while that I colorized a picture, here is a recent one I did and I really like the picture.
Jayforce soldiers with Japanese children (Alexander Turnbull Library, PA1-q-305-0267)
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British Parachute troops, bare-headed and wearing 'jump jackets', at Norwich City Castle during exercises in 'Eastern Command'
23 June 1941.
(Additional info - All three were part of the 11th S.A.S. Battalion. Left to right Privates Fred Cutting and Jim Crabtree and Corporal Reg Curtis.)
The Parachute Regiment was formed in February 1941 and eventually raised 17 battalions. In Europe, these battalions formed part of the 1st Airborne Division, the 6th Airborne Division and the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group.
Another three battalions served with the British Indian Army in India and Burma. The regiment took part in six major parachute assault operations in North Africa, Italy, Greece, France, the Netherlands and Germany, often landing ahead of all other troops.
Colour by Royston Leonard
(Photo source - © IWM H 10972)
Lt. Puttnam, War Office official photographer
23 June 1941.
(Additional info - All three were part of the 11th S.A.S. Battalion. Left to right Privates Fred Cutting and Jim Crabtree and Corporal Reg Curtis.)
The Parachute Regiment was formed in February 1941 and eventually raised 17 battalions. In Europe, these battalions formed part of the 1st Airborne Division, the 6th Airborne Division and the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group.
Another three battalions served with the British Indian Army in India and Burma. The regiment took part in six major parachute assault operations in North Africa, Italy, Greece, France, the Netherlands and Germany, often landing ahead of all other troops.
Colour by Royston Leonard
(Photo source - © IWM H 10972)
Lt. Puttnam, War Office official photographer
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Ground crew loading ammunition into the port wing of No. 485 Squadron Spitfire.
This Spitfire MkVb was coded OU -A and named Silver Blue. Ground crew are Corporal Bong'ard, Leading Aircraftman Hooper, and Corporal Muir on the wing. RAF Station Kenley. 1942.
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Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo
This Spitfire MkVb was coded OU -A and named Silver Blue. Ground crew are Corporal Bong'ard, Leading Aircraftman Hooper, and Corporal Muir on the wing. RAF Station Kenley. 1942.
Colour by Rarity Color
Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo
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The crew of 'Our Gang', a B-17(# 42-5069) of the 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, posing with their two mascots, Windy and Skippy, at Bassingbourn, England, 24 June 1943.
Several captions for this image record that the photo was taken after engine problems forced the aircraft to abort a mission to Le Mans and turn back, before the rest of the planes also aborted and returned.
The crew comprised of (left to right): S/Sgt. Marion J. Spagnola (Cincinatti, OH); T/Sgt. Jack R. Carlson (Rockford, IL); S/Sgt. Jack Kevine, (East Nassau, NY); 2nd Lt. F.N. Dibble (Bronxville, NY); 1st Lt. R.F. Brubaker (Clearwater, FL); 1st Lt. James M. Smith, Pilot (Austin, TX); Sgt. Bernard Bedrock (New York, NY); 1st Lt. W.S. Sooveli (Portland, CT); S/Sgt. Edward L. Lawler (Camden, AK), and T/Sgt. Arthur L. Smith (Norwich, CT).
The plane was lost over Germany on a mission to Schweinfurt only a few months later on 17 August 1943 with a different crew piloted by William Wheeler, though all ten bailed, survived and where taken prisoner.
(The photo was taken by Pearson 8th AFHQ)
Several captions for this image record that the photo was taken after engine problems forced the aircraft to abort a mission to Le Mans and turn back, before the rest of the planes also aborted and returned.
The crew comprised of (left to right): S/Sgt. Marion J. Spagnola (Cincinatti, OH); T/Sgt. Jack R. Carlson (Rockford, IL); S/Sgt. Jack Kevine, (East Nassau, NY); 2nd Lt. F.N. Dibble (Bronxville, NY); 1st Lt. R.F. Brubaker (Clearwater, FL); 1st Lt. James M. Smith, Pilot (Austin, TX); Sgt. Bernard Bedrock (New York, NY); 1st Lt. W.S. Sooveli (Portland, CT); S/Sgt. Edward L. Lawler (Camden, AK), and T/Sgt. Arthur L. Smith (Norwich, CT).
The plane was lost over Germany on a mission to Schweinfurt only a few months later on 17 August 1943 with a different crew piloted by William Wheeler, though all ten bailed, survived and where taken prisoner.
(The photo was taken by Pearson 8th AFHQ)
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ITALIAN MADE 75/34 ARMOURED USED BY GERMANS BURIED IN RUBBLE, CASTELFORTE NEAR LATINA, ITALY, 1944
Two GI's examine an italian made armoured Semovente 75/34 used by germans of Panzerjaeger Abteilung 171 of 71 Infantry Division buried in rubble in the middle of a bomb-damaged city street of Santi Cosma e Damiano in the Castelforte Area.
The Armoured is buried beneath rubble effected by heavy Allied blasting of buildings in Castelforte area during the latest Allied artillery fire. Italy, 13 may 1944.
This photo belong to a series taken by Brigadier General Terence John Tully, a West Point graduate. Tully served with the Signal Corps in Italy and North Africa documenting the 5th Army specifically.
During the battles of Cassino of World War II, Castelforte, part of the German Gustav Line, was heavily bombed by Allied troops. The city suffered hundreds of casualties in the events.
Colorization by: Ghost Of Past - Colourizations
Two GI's examine an italian made armoured Semovente 75/34 used by germans of Panzerjaeger Abteilung 171 of 71 Infantry Division buried in rubble in the middle of a bomb-damaged city street of Santi Cosma e Damiano in the Castelforte Area.
The Armoured is buried beneath rubble effected by heavy Allied blasting of buildings in Castelforte area during the latest Allied artillery fire. Italy, 13 may 1944.
This photo belong to a series taken by Brigadier General Terence John Tully, a West Point graduate. Tully served with the Signal Corps in Italy and North Africa documenting the 5th Army specifically.
During the battles of Cassino of World War II, Castelforte, part of the German Gustav Line, was heavily bombed by Allied troops. The city suffered hundreds of casualties in the events.
Colorization by: Ghost Of Past - Colourizations
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A British 60 pounder Mk I battery in action on a cliff top at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, 1915. The unit might be the 90th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, located forward of Hill 114. The gun has the inscription "Annie" painted on the barrel.
(Photo source - © IWM Q 13340)
Colourised by Royston Leonard
(Photo source - © IWM Q 13340)
Colourised by Royston Leonard
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Left reserve captain-pilot G.A de Brauw, born in 1880 and first lieutenant-pilot H.G. van Voorthuijsen, born in 1888 to a Rumpler C.VIII. The photo was probably taken in the run-up to the flight to Copenhagen in May 1919.
During the war, about 40 Rumplers reconnaissance aircraft were purchased by the neutral Netherlands in Germany. Largely in exchange for horses that the German army desperately needed at the time. The machines were delivered in German camouflage colors but soon the orange circles were applied.
Van Voorthuijsen is holding a test model helmet, a copy of which can still be found in the collection of the National Military Museum.
In the background you can just see the house of the commander of the Soesterberg airfield and commander of the Aviation Department Lieutenant Colonel H. Walaardt Sacré.
Collection: Netherlands Institute of Military History
During the war, about 40 Rumplers reconnaissance aircraft were purchased by the neutral Netherlands in Germany. Largely in exchange for horses that the German army desperately needed at the time. The machines were delivered in German camouflage colors but soon the orange circles were applied.
Van Voorthuijsen is holding a test model helmet, a copy of which can still be found in the collection of the National Military Museum.
In the background you can just see the house of the commander of the Soesterberg airfield and commander of the Aviation Department Lieutenant Colonel H. Walaardt Sacré.
Collection: Netherlands Institute of Military History
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