Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts
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A dazed "Fallschirmjager" German prisoner puts his belongings in a white bag after being captured by US soldiers, at the end of the Battle for Hill 192 - Hill 192, municipality of Saint Georges D'Elle (near Saint-Lo), Normandy, France, June 1944
Coloured by Johnny Sirlande for historic photo restored in color
Photo by Frank Scherschel for Life magazine
Coloured by Johnny Sirlande for historic photo restored in color
Photo by Frank Scherschel for Life magazine
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Brazilian Expeditionary Force soldiers being greeted on their arrival back home.
ca. August 1945
On 2 May 1945, the German troops in Italy unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Forces. For 239 days; the BEF fought against German forces, covering more than 400 kilometers and capturing more than 20,000 prisoners.
After this success, the Brazilian government did not accept the United States' invitation to remain in Italy for a longer period, and to assist the Allied forces in dealing with the Trieste problem, which involved a border dispute between the Allies and Yugoslavia in Italy. The Brazilian government indicated that it had accomplished its agreement with the United States, and the BEF should not be involved in the Yugoslavia, and elected to withdraw its forces back to Brazil.
Even with the shipping demands of the Pacific theater, the United States provided all the necessary transport for the BEF for its journey back home, giving the BEF disembarkation top priority. In order to carry on this transportation, the BEF was divided in echelons, the first of which left Italy on 12 July 1945, and the last on 13 October 1945. The BEF returned home with 509 men less, having 451 killed in action, and 58 missing-in-action. The 1,577 wounded in action during the Italian Campaign returned on a different schedule.2 Since the Paraguay War in 1865, Brazilian Armed Forces had not lost so many personnel in less than a year.
On 18 July 1945, the first BEF echelon and members from the United States 10th Mountain Division paraded in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, where they were cheered by the Brazilian populace that attended the parade. This event demonstrated how the BEF victorious campaign in Italy enhanced Brazilian national pride.
Read more: https://www.ibiblio.org/.../Participation/index.html...
(Color by Reinaldo Elias)
ca. August 1945
On 2 May 1945, the German troops in Italy unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Forces. For 239 days; the BEF fought against German forces, covering more than 400 kilometers and capturing more than 20,000 prisoners.
After this success, the Brazilian government did not accept the United States' invitation to remain in Italy for a longer period, and to assist the Allied forces in dealing with the Trieste problem, which involved a border dispute between the Allies and Yugoslavia in Italy. The Brazilian government indicated that it had accomplished its agreement with the United States, and the BEF should not be involved in the Yugoslavia, and elected to withdraw its forces back to Brazil.
Even with the shipping demands of the Pacific theater, the United States provided all the necessary transport for the BEF for its journey back home, giving the BEF disembarkation top priority. In order to carry on this transportation, the BEF was divided in echelons, the first of which left Italy on 12 July 1945, and the last on 13 October 1945. The BEF returned home with 509 men less, having 451 killed in action, and 58 missing-in-action. The 1,577 wounded in action during the Italian Campaign returned on a different schedule.2 Since the Paraguay War in 1865, Brazilian Armed Forces had not lost so many personnel in less than a year.
On 18 July 1945, the first BEF echelon and members from the United States 10th Mountain Division paraded in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, where they were cheered by the Brazilian populace that attended the parade. This event demonstrated how the BEF victorious campaign in Italy enhanced Brazilian national pride.
Read more: https://www.ibiblio.org/.../Participation/index.html...
(Color by Reinaldo Elias)
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One of a series of photos shot by Robert Capa in Leipzig showing surrendering German soldiers being hit and kicked by a soldier from the US 2nd Infantry Division. April 18, 1945
At the time, the publication of these photos was forbidden by the US military censor for obvious reasons.
As the war came to its inevitable end, war-weary Allied soldiers often felt frustrated and angered with German stubborn resistance which they perceived as hopeless and pointless. Seeing some of their buddies being wounded or killed so near the end caused strong resentment with the end result being incidents such as the one depicted here.
In this case, from what one can see from the set, only one American soldier roughed up some of the surrendering Germans.
Original: Robert Capa
At the time, the publication of these photos was forbidden by the US military censor for obvious reasons.
As the war came to its inevitable end, war-weary Allied soldiers often felt frustrated and angered with German stubborn resistance which they perceived as hopeless and pointless. Seeing some of their buddies being wounded or killed so near the end caused strong resentment with the end result being incidents such as the one depicted here.
In this case, from what one can see from the set, only one American soldier roughed up some of the surrendering Germans.
Original: Robert Capa
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Italian artilleryman wears famous "Polivalente Z" gas mask.
This was the first domestically produced mask adopted by the italian army. The mask was made of multiple layers of lint soaked in blocking substances, which were sewn and riveted between themselves, making them able to fit a soldier's face with an air-tight seal. Those layers, which acted as the filter, were covered by a coating of grey-green waxed canvas. The eye pieces where made of mica and tended to break easily, reason why in later production they had some metal strengthening. The mask was wore using a three point harness made of an elastic material. The mask came in a box made of metal or canvas covered wood that featured the very well known text: "Chi leva la maschera muore. Tenetela sempre con voi", that means "whoever takes off the mask dies, always keep it with you". Usually in the box there was a pamphlet explaining how to use the mask.
This was the first domestically produced mask adopted by the italian army. The mask was made of multiple layers of lint soaked in blocking substances, which were sewn and riveted between themselves, making them able to fit a soldier's face with an air-tight seal. Those layers, which acted as the filter, were covered by a coating of grey-green waxed canvas. The eye pieces where made of mica and tended to break easily, reason why in later production they had some metal strengthening. The mask was wore using a three point harness made of an elastic material. The mask came in a box made of metal or canvas covered wood that featured the very well known text: "Chi leva la maschera muore. Tenetela sempre con voi", that means "whoever takes off the mask dies, always keep it with you". Usually in the box there was a pamphlet explaining how to use the mask.
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Portrait of Tasker Watkins, awarded the Victoria Cross: France, 16 August 1944.
His citation read:
On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, France, Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle.
His citation read:
On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, France, Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle.
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Men of Detachment Kuhlmey (Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey) in front of a Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber, Immola Airfield, Finland, 28 June 1944.
Detachment Kuhlmey participated in large battles during the summer of 1944, during the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War. When the Soviet Red Army launched its fourth strategic offensive on 9 June 1944. Mannerheim asked Germany for assistance. Among the help that arrived was a Luftwaffe unit that arrived in Finland on 12 June. The aircraft landed at the Immola Airfield on 17 June. The unit used the whole airfield from there on. The unit flew some 2,700 missions against the enemy and dropped 770 tonnes of bombs on the enemy. Reportedly It destroyed over 150 Soviet aircraft, about 200 tanks, dozens of bridges and transport vessels. Personnel losses included 23 pilots killed and 24 wounded in battle. The unit lost 41 of its aircrafts.
Photograph was taken by Eino Nurmi and was provided by Sa-kuva. Photo number: 157689.
Color by Julius Jääskeläinen
Detachment Kuhlmey participated in large battles during the summer of 1944, during the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War. When the Soviet Red Army launched its fourth strategic offensive on 9 June 1944. Mannerheim asked Germany for assistance. Among the help that arrived was a Luftwaffe unit that arrived in Finland on 12 June. The aircraft landed at the Immola Airfield on 17 June. The unit used the whole airfield from there on. The unit flew some 2,700 missions against the enemy and dropped 770 tonnes of bombs on the enemy. Reportedly It destroyed over 150 Soviet aircraft, about 200 tanks, dozens of bridges and transport vessels. Personnel losses included 23 pilots killed and 24 wounded in battle. The unit lost 41 of its aircrafts.
Photograph was taken by Eino Nurmi and was provided by Sa-kuva. Photo number: 157689.
Color by Julius Jääskeläinen
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Battle of Bazentin Ridge 14-17th July 1916.
A piper of the 7th Bn. the Seaforth Highlanders leads four men of the 26th (Highland) Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division back from the trenches after the attack on Longueval, Somme on the 14th July.
The Battle was a 'Tactical Victory' for all of the five British Divisions present but at a cost of over nine thousand casualties.
(Photo source -© IWM Q 4012)
Colourised by Royston Leonard
A piper of the 7th Bn. the Seaforth Highlanders leads four men of the 26th (Highland) Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division back from the trenches after the attack on Longueval, Somme on the 14th July.
The Battle was a 'Tactical Victory' for all of the five British Divisions present but at a cost of over nine thousand casualties.
(Photo source -© IWM Q 4012)
Colourised by Royston Leonard
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Pilots of No.32 Squadron at 'A' Flight Dispersal taken about lunchtime at RAF Hawkinge on 29th July 1940.
From L-R are P/O Rupert F. Smyth, P/O Keith R. Gillman, P/O John E. Procter, Flt/Lt Peter M. Brothers, P/O Douglas H. Grice, P/O Peter M. Gardner, & P/O Alan F. Eckford. All survived the war, except Keith Gillman who went missing in action on August 25 1940 from RAF Hawkinge.
Colourised by Doug
From L-R are P/O Rupert F. Smyth, P/O Keith R. Gillman, P/O John E. Procter, Flt/Lt Peter M. Brothers, P/O Douglas H. Grice, P/O Peter M. Gardner, & P/O Alan F. Eckford. All survived the war, except Keith Gillman who went missing in action on August 25 1940 from RAF Hawkinge.
Colourised by Doug
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17th (Service) Battalion Manchester Regiment officers and a private soldier eating near Bernafay Wood, Somme.
July 1916
(Photo source - © IWM Q 4053)
Brooke, John Warwick (Lieutenant) (Photographer)
Colourised by Doug
July 1916
(Photo source - © IWM Q 4053)
Brooke, John Warwick (Lieutenant) (Photographer)
Colourised by Doug
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Sergeant J. Whawell of London (left) and Sergeant John Turl of Gloucester, both of the E Squadron, 2nd Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, search for German snipers in the ULO-School which was badly damaged by mortars when the thatched roof caught fire during Operation Market Garden.
Location: Kneppelhoutweg, Oosterbeek, The Netherlands, 21 September 1944.
Sgt Turl was killed in action on 25 September 1944, aged 25, and was given a field burial on the 'Hemelse Berg' estate, and was re-interred to the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 27 April 1948.
His companion Sgt Whawell was later captured and imprisoned at Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel.
An empty Medical Supply (CLE) Canister lies open on the ground in the doorway.
Prepacked canisters were allocated code numbers according to their load; a unit requiring resupply simply had to communicate the code and the number of canisters required. The type of load was indicated by the colour of the parachute, so the contents could be identified without opening the container.
The colours used were periodically changed to confuse the enemy. During Operation Market Garden, for example, the colours used were red for ammunition, green for rations, white for medical supplies, blue for fuel and yellow for communication equipment.
Colour and research, Colourised PIECE of JAKEd
Photo: Sgt. Smith ©IWM
Location: Kneppelhoutweg, Oosterbeek, The Netherlands, 21 September 1944.
Sgt Turl was killed in action on 25 September 1944, aged 25, and was given a field burial on the 'Hemelse Berg' estate, and was re-interred to the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 27 April 1948.
His companion Sgt Whawell was later captured and imprisoned at Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel.
An empty Medical Supply (CLE) Canister lies open on the ground in the doorway.
Prepacked canisters were allocated code numbers according to their load; a unit requiring resupply simply had to communicate the code and the number of canisters required. The type of load was indicated by the colour of the parachute, so the contents could be identified without opening the container.
The colours used were periodically changed to confuse the enemy. During Operation Market Garden, for example, the colours used were red for ammunition, green for rations, white for medical supplies, blue for fuel and yellow for communication equipment.
Colour and research, Colourised PIECE of JAKEd
Photo: Sgt. Smith ©IWM
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One of only two Panzer Selbstfahrlafette II auf Fahrgestell m Zugkraftwagen 5t (or 7.5 cm Kanone L/41 auf Zugkraftwagen 5t (HKp 902), or Büssig-NAG HKp 902, or simply Panzer Selbstfahrlafette II Hornisse) to see action during WW2 seen here somewhere in the Western desert, circa 1942.
A further development of the Büssing-NAG BN10H, an armored half-track armed with a 7.5cm L/40.8 gun installed on a rotating, open turret. The intent was to have an anti-tank platform powerful enough to deal with the French heavy tanks. 3 prototypes were built and tested between 1936 and 1940 but never achieved operational status.
The Panzer Selbstfahrlafette II was built on the chassis of a zugkraftwagen 5t, the same chassis of a SdKfz.6 half-track, but with the engine mounted on the rear. Two of the prototypes were equipped with a 7.5cm L/40.8 Modell 2 anti-tank gun and sent to North Africa at the beginning of 1942 as part of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 605 (one arrived in January, the other in February).
Accurate information concerning the actions of these guns is scarce. Both vehicles appeared in German reports until the end of March 1942. During this time, they managed to take part in a counteroffensive, and, apparently, in the same period, the first Panzer Selbstfahrlafette II was lost. The second self-propelled gun continued to serve at least until May 25, 1942, when Operation Venice began near Bir Hakeim. The last report that mentions the Hornisse dates to June 5. It stated that one Panzer Selbstfahrlafette II was lost in battle, but had in turn been able to knock out three enemy tanks. At least two photos of a burned Hornisse exist.
At the end of the war, a 3rd prototype was captured in Germany. Instead of a gun, it had installed an armored command post for controlling the launching of V-2 missiles.
Note: Colour is thought to have been khaki grey (RAL 7008).
Source: Bundesarchiv
A further development of the Büssing-NAG BN10H, an armored half-track armed with a 7.5cm L/40.8 gun installed on a rotating, open turret. The intent was to have an anti-tank platform powerful enough to deal with the French heavy tanks. 3 prototypes were built and tested between 1936 and 1940 but never achieved operational status.
The Panzer Selbstfahrlafette II was built on the chassis of a zugkraftwagen 5t, the same chassis of a SdKfz.6 half-track, but with the engine mounted on the rear. Two of the prototypes were equipped with a 7.5cm L/40.8 Modell 2 anti-tank gun and sent to North Africa at the beginning of 1942 as part of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 605 (one arrived in January, the other in February).
Accurate information concerning the actions of these guns is scarce. Both vehicles appeared in German reports until the end of March 1942. During this time, they managed to take part in a counteroffensive, and, apparently, in the same period, the first Panzer Selbstfahrlafette II was lost. The second self-propelled gun continued to serve at least until May 25, 1942, when Operation Venice began near Bir Hakeim. The last report that mentions the Hornisse dates to June 5. It stated that one Panzer Selbstfahrlafette II was lost in battle, but had in turn been able to knock out three enemy tanks. At least two photos of a burned Hornisse exist.
At the end of the war, a 3rd prototype was captured in Germany. Instead of a gun, it had installed an armored command post for controlling the launching of V-2 missiles.
Note: Colour is thought to have been khaki grey (RAL 7008).
Source: Bundesarchiv
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Pvt. John David Kleinfelder (# 20117391) from Natick Town, Middlesex, Massachusetts of Company 'A' attached to RHQ, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
Photo after the dday near Carantan.
Life magazine picture
John Kleinfelder joined the National Guard in Natick, Massachusetts on 16 January 1941 ... He attended high school for 3 years and was a clerk before he enlisted.
John embarked during operation neptune in Shalk # 4 and was dropped in DZ “C” at 12:25 am
During his service in World War II, Army Private Kleinfelder experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life on December 31, 1944. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Killed in action. Incident location: Belgium.
Awarded
★ Bronze Star
★ Purple Heart
John David Kleinfelder is buried or memorialized at Plot I Row 9 Grave 3, Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.
Coloured by Johnny Sirlande
Photo after the dday near Carantan.
Life magazine picture
John Kleinfelder joined the National Guard in Natick, Massachusetts on 16 January 1941 ... He attended high school for 3 years and was a clerk before he enlisted.
John embarked during operation neptune in Shalk # 4 and was dropped in DZ “C” at 12:25 am
During his service in World War II, Army Private Kleinfelder experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life on December 31, 1944. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Killed in action. Incident location: Belgium.
Awarded
★ Bronze Star
★ Purple Heart
John David Kleinfelder is buried or memorialized at Plot I Row 9 Grave 3, Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.
Coloured by Johnny Sirlande
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The Commander in Chief Home Forces, General Sir Bernard Paget, watches a large-scale exercise near Malton in Yorkshire in 1942 in a Crusader tank of the 42nd Armoured Division.
Image: © IWM TR 157
Image: © IWM TR 157
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Armourers of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) re-arm a Hawker Hurricane aircraft at the Fleet Air Arm airfield at Yeovilton, Somerset, 2 September 1943.
WRNS officers are shown the sights of Quebec by a member of the Canadian Mounted Police Force after the first Quebec Conference, 23 August 1943.
WRNS officers are shown the sights of Quebec by a member of the Canadian Mounted Police Force after the first Quebec Conference, 23 August 1943.
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Sergeant William McGregor (Regimental Nº 2404), 1st Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards, July 1856
He was wounded during the Battle at the River Alma on 20th September 1854 and wears both the British Crimea and the Order of the Medjidie Turkish medals.
At the Crimean War's end, troops gathered in Aldershot for a London victory parade. McGregor was among the soldiers photographed in Aldershot by Robert Howlett and Joseph Cundall for their series of portraits entitled "Crimean Heroes 1856".
He was wounded during the Battle at the River Alma on 20th September 1854 and wears both the British Crimea and the Order of the Medjidie Turkish medals.
At the Crimean War's end, troops gathered in Aldershot for a London victory parade. McGregor was among the soldiers photographed in Aldershot by Robert Howlett and Joseph Cundall for their series of portraits entitled "Crimean Heroes 1856".
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