Wehrmacht Soldier and His Son in Christmas

Berlin, family at home, celebrating Christmas, father and son playing with toy train at the table.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=9766168046803254&set=gm.2421573974694678&idorvanity=237076659811098

Bio of Eichenlaubträger Wilhelm Drewes (1907-1982)

Wilhelm Drewes (26 May 1907 - 14 July 1982) came from the police to III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 65 in 1935 as a Unterfeldwebel. On November 22, 1938, he was transferred to the 6th Company of the Schützen-Regiment 14 as a Oberfeldwebel. As a company troop and platoon leader, he took part in the Polish and Western campaigns and was promoted to Leutnant on May 15, 1940. He was then transferred to Divisions-Nachschubführer 85 and took part in the Balkan campaign. From June 1941 he fought in Russia, where he was promoted to Hauptmann on August 1, 1942. From September 1942 he led the Kradschützen-Bataillon 55, and from November 1942 he was chief of the 4th company of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13. In January 1943 he became leader of the Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 85 and on March 12, 1943 commander of the I. Battalion of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13. For his leadership achievements in the Chernigov area in September 1943, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz as a Hauptmann on October 27, 1943. On November 1, 1943 he was promoted to major. For his decisive contribution to the liberation of Kovel at the beginning of April 1944, he was awarded the Eichenlaub on April 20, 1944. From July 1944 he was commander of the Feldersatz-Bataillon 85, and from February 6, 1945, after a regimental commander's course, he led the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73. On March 18, 1945, he was seriously wounded in Silesia. At the end of the war he was in the hospital in Prague. After 1945, Wilhelm Drewes served as Polizeihauptkommissar in Bremen.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/07/album-foto-berwarna-perwira-dan.html
http://thirdreichcolorpictures.blogspot.com/2010/02/major-wilhelm-drewes.html

Gauleiter Robert Wagner Speaks in the Podium

The Nazi Party-related events were highlight of those days, therefore numerous color slides remain. Robert Heinrich Wagner stands at the podium. Robert Heinrich Wagner, born as Robert Heinrich Backfisch (13 October 1895 – 14 August 1946) was a Nazi Party official and politician who served as Gauleiter and Reichsstatthalter of Baden, and Chief of Civil Administration for Alsace during the German occupation of France in World War II. This slide is a part of circa 40 color frames, and it is clear that they were taken by an assigned photographer. The number 65, indicating the 65. SS-Standarte, can be clearly seen on the collar of the black SS. The person in the back wearing black pants with a white line on his armband is a member of the Hitler Youth (the participation of various organizations of the Nazi Party can be seen more clearly in color).

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Heinrich_Wagner
https://twitter.com/atakiguchi/status/1709181588960158025/photo/1

Funeral of Gauleiter Alfred Meyer

Nazi party member holds a wreath of SA-Obergruppenführer Alfred Meyer, who was the Gauleiter of the North Westphalian District and the General of the Sturmabteilung (Stormtroopers). Meyer was found dead on 11 April 1945, by the River Weser. The cause of death was suicide, most likely prompted by Germany's impending defeat in the war. By the time of his death, he was a State Secretary and Deputy Reichsminister in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories (Reichsministerium für die Besetzten Ostgebiete or Ostministerium).

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Meyer
https://twitter.com/atakiguchi/status/1711226010023411989/photo/1

6th German Shooting Competition in Tyrol (September 1943)

Video and caption from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZPiUjVhj0Q

During the Third Reich, shooting as a sport, and shooting competitions, were promoted by the Regime, with huge state-wide shooting competitions being held in various regions.
The goal was to get people, especially young boys and men, interested into shooting, to prepare them for their future life as soldiers.

These festivals and competitions, because they were considered important for the war effort, continued well into 1945.

This is a short film about the 6th State Shooting Competition in Tyrol, which was held from 4th to 18th July 1943. The film itself was released in September 1943.

Remarks:
00:25 Innsbruck is a large city in Austria and capital of Tyrol.
00:33 Sadly, I wasn’t able to find many details about Uli Ritzer, except that he apparently continued producing films after the war, there are three movies listed for him in the IMDB database, all from the 1950s.
00:45 AGFACOLOR is the name of a series of color films produced by the Afga company in Germany, first introduced in 1932. Especially the 1936 variant of it, Afgacolor Neu (New) is considered one of the best color movie technology of its time.
00:53 The State Shooting Competition in Tyrol was held between 4th and 18th July 1943.
00:59 Tyrol-Vorarlberg was the official name of the region. The gau was in western Austria, bordering Switzerland and Italy. It consisted of (Northern) Tyrol and Voralberg, with the capital city being Innsbruck. In 1939, it had a population of 331,000 people.
01:13 The Standschützen were originally a kind of volunteer militia in Tyrol, formed in the 15th century out of members of shooting clubs and was used in various conflicts, such as the War of the First Coalition (1796-1797), the Franco-Austrian War (1859) or the Austro-Prussian War(1866). By the time of this movie, and nowadays, they are only used as representational formation and are no longer an active wartime unit.
01:46 Franz Hofer was Gauleiter (Regional Governor) of the Gau Tyrol-Vorarlberg during the Nazi era. He joined the (Austrian) Nazi Party in September 1931, and became Gauleiter of Tyrol-Vorarlberg in November 1932. Because the Nazi party was banned in Austria, he was sentenced to two years jail time in June 1933, however he escaped to Germany, where he spent the next few years. After the German annexation of Austria, he was again made Gauleiter of Tyrol-Vorarlberg in May 1938. In November 1944, he proposed the idea of the so-called “Alpine Fortress”, e.g. the creation of large fortifications in the Austrian alps. This was however largely just a fantasy, and when the American army closed in, he declared Innsbruck an open city; he was captured by the Americans on May 6th, 1945. After the war, he was sentenced to 3 years and 5 months imprisonment. He stayed in Germany where he died in February 1975, remaining a convinced National Socialist for the rest of his life.
02:00 Franz Defregger (1835-1921) was a famous Austrian artist, known for depicting everyday and historical scenes from his Tyrol native country. Because basically his entire art is focused on themes and persons from Tyrol, he is especially well known there.
04:00 These men are from the RAD, the Reich Labor Service. On parades, RAD men would usually carry their spades as a “parade weapon”
05:12 These are wounded soldiers, who were allowed to attend the parade.
05:37 Meran is a city in South Tyrol.
05:45 Despite South Tyrol being a part of Italy since after WWI, it was and is still part of the (Austrian) culture of Tyrol, and therefore delegations from South Tyrol are featured in this parade.
09:23 The “war of liberation” refers to the failed Tyrol rebellion against the French and Bavarian occupation of Tyrol from April-November 1809. This rebellion was later often glorified.
09:44 A Marketenderin is a female sutler.
11:04 Landesoberschützenmeister is the highest rank of the Standschützen, which was granted to Hofer as he was the Gauleiter of Tyrol.
11:45 The white-red flag with the eagle that flies in the wind on the right side here is the flag of Tyrol.
11:57 I have no idea what these people are doing, and honestly I don’t want to know

Heldengedenktag in Offenburg (12 March 1944)

In 1919, the German War Graves Commision proposed a national day of mourning to remember the fallen of WWI. This day was called Volkstrauertag ("peoples day of mourning") and was first celebrated in 1922 with a remembrance ceremony in the German Parliament. It was held two Sundays before the first day of Advent, so usually in November.

When the Nazis came to power, they completely changed the meaning of the day, shifting towards hero worshipping instead of a sober remembrance ceremony. The day was made a national holiday, nig parades and rallies were held, and the day was instrumentalized for Nazi Propaganda. Its name was changed to Heldengedenktag ("Day of Commemoration of Heroes"), and it important dates were often held closely to it, for example, in 1936, German troops entered the Rhineland one day after this day.
In 1939, Hitler ordered the day to be celebrated on March 16th or the Sunday before March 16th, the day of re-introduction of conscription in 1936, removing any religious connection.

The day was held throughout the war, the last time on March 11th, 1945, were it was used one last time to urge people to continue fighting, despite the war situation already being hopelessly turned against Germany.

This video shows some raw color Propaganda footage from the Heldengedenktag 1944 held in Offenburg, a city in southwest Germany, close to the French border.

It shows as Wehrmacht parade, as well as the marching by of various NSDAP party organization, Hitler Youth etc.
It also shows what appears to be the swearing in of new recruits.

As this is raw, unprocessed footage, there is no sound or narration, and therefore no subtitles.

Remarks: As written above, this is raw camera footage, so there is no sound or narration. Back then, many cameras had no microphones, and sound would only be added later in the studio. This is also true for many Wochenschau issues.

00:19 I don’t know where exactly this is, but it looks like some kind of military barracks ground.
00:23 This officer is wearing his full parade uniform, which includes a white belt and all of his decorations. This was common on this day, as you will see later on this footage.
00:35 This is a delegation of WWI veterans. The officers in the brown uniform with the tricorne hat are WWI Africa veterans.
00:39 This is a delegation of various party officials, an RAD-officer and some civilian politicians.
00:50 This appears to be the swearing-in of new recruits.
01:01 This is a troop flag, the white color symbolizing infantry. Here is a link to a Wikimedia image showing how it looks: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Heeresfahne_Infanterie.svg/323px-Heeresfahne_Infanterie.svg.png
01:29 The guns next to the podium are 3,7cm PaK 36, a light AT-gun.
01:53 While I’m not 100% sure, I believe the two flags on the left are old Imperial German army flags, possibly from WWI or even before, which were often flown/shown on Heldengedenktag.
03:02 The wreath-laying process for the fallen war deaths.
03:32 This is a unit of Hitler Youth boys.
03:48 This is a unit of Deutsches Jungvolk, recognizable by the single “S” rune. The Deutsches Jungvolk was the organization before the Hitler Youth, for boys aged 10-14 (Hitler Youth was for boys aged (14-18).
04:25 These are again various SS, Wehrmacht and Party Officials in their full-dress uniforms. The person on the far right is the Mayor of Offenburg, Wolfram Rombach (1897-1987), wearing the mayoral insignias.
04:34 I’m not sure what these flags are, but probably some kind of WWI veterans organization.

Source :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pewg9saKOMk

Bio of U-Boat Captain Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann (1917-2010)

U-boat commander Oberleutnant zur See Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann with his submarine U 137 of the type II-D, which served as a training boat, in the spring/summer of 1941 in Danzig harbor. Born on June 25, 1917 in Kiel, he was taken prisoner of war after his boat U 409 was sunk in the Mediterranean in July 1943, from which he was released on February 27, 1948. Massmann died on October 2, 2010 in Bremen. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger.

Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann

Date of Birth: 25.06.1917 - Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein (German Empire)
Date of Death: 02.12.2010 - Bremen (Germany)

Promotions:
03.04.1936 Offiziersanwärter
10.09.1936 Seekadett
01.05.1937 Fähnrich zur See
01.07.1938 Oberfähnrich zur See
01.10.1938 Leutnant zur See
01.10.1940 Oberleutnant zur See
01.08.1943 Kapitänleutnant

Career:
03.04.1936 Entered the Kriegsmarine as Offiziersanwärter (Crew 36)
03.04.1936 - 13.06.1936 Basic training at the II. Schiffsstammabteilung der Ostsee in Stralsund
14.06.1936 - 21.09.1936 On-board training at the sailing training ship GORCH FOCK.
22.09.1936 - 29.04.1937  On-board training at the training ship SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.
30.04.1937 - 27.11.1937 Main course for ensigns with subsequent officer main examination at the Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwik
28.11.1937 - 02.04.1938 Fähnrichslehrgänge (Ensign courses)
03.04.1938 - 02.04.1939 Not determined
03.04.1939 - 00.01.1940 Zugoffizier (Platoon Officer) in the 7. Schiffsstammabteilung in Stralsund
00.01.1940 - 00.01.1940 Adjutant beim Befehlshaber der U-Boote in Kiel
00.01.1940 - 00.05.1940 Wachoffizier in U 17
05.06.1940 - 14.06.1940 Construction instructions for U 137 at the U-Boote Ostsee in Kiel
15.06.1940 - 14.12.1940 I. Wachoffizier in U 137
15.12.1940 - 07.12.1941 Kommandant U 137
08.12.1941 - 20.01.1942 Construction instruction for U 409 at 7. Kriegsschiffbaulehrabteilung Danzig
21.01.1942 - 12.07.1943 Kommandant U 409
12.07.1943 - 27.02.1948 After the loss of U 409 in the Mediterranean sea northeast of Algiers, he was taken prisoner of war
12.07.1943 - 27.02.1948 POW in England

Awards and Decorations:
08.03.1940 U-Bootskriegsabzeichen 1939
00.04.1940 Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse
00.09.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.04.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse

Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Ferdinand Massmann

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/hitler-jaeger-file/5AGL8Mq8csRg6A?hl=en&ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A8.694963005207958%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A2.976126926214648%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375%7D%7D
https://uboat.net/men/commanders/791.html
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/Hanns-Ferdinand_Massmann
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

Bio of Ritterkreuzträger Rudolf Krüger

Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Krüger (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 32 / 24.Infanterie-Division) during home leave in Germany, a couple of days after he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, October 1941.

Rudolf Krüger (4 November 1911 - 28 October 1972) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 5 October 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 32 / 24.Infanterie-Division. The following newspaper excerpt (dated 11 October 1941) describes why Krüger received the Ritterkreuz:

“On 18 August 1941 the Bataillon of Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Krüger was among the units involved in the attack against the enemy bridgehead at Cherkassy. On this day it crossed the Irdyn river/swampland at a point north of the Budki brickyard (located west of Smela) in order to establish a bridgehead. Meanwhile the right neighbouring Bataillon was tasked with carrying out a similar objective 1.5 km to the east.

Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Krüger’s mission for this day was to establish contact with the right neighbouring Bataillon with his Zug. Such an objective was an unenviable one, as fulfilling it required moving through a 1.5 km stretch of forest adjacent to the swamp, all while contending with both an unclear enemy situation and an open left flank.

While advancing through this forest Oberfeldwebel Krüger encountered strong enemy forces that had the support of both heavy weapons and built-up field positions. From these positions they had already successfully prevented the right neighbouring Bataillon from crossing the river/swamp at this location. Oberfeldwebel Krüger swiftly resolved to attack these Bolshevik positions, and he skillfully employed his Zug for a surprise strike into the flank and rear of these defenses. Within a short time he and his troops had eliminated 18 enemy resistance nests in close combat (including 1 anti-tank gun and 1 mortar position).

This bold deed by Oberfeldwebel Krüger spared his Bataillon many potential casualties that would otherwise have been incurred whilst expanding its own bridgehead, and by clearing the way for the right-neighbouring Bataillon it also paved the way for the Regiment to carry on with its general attack.”

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1970-018-54,_Rudolf_Kr%C3%BCger.jpg
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/79866/Kr%C3%BCger-Rudolf-Infanterie-Regiment-32.htm

German Exchange POWs in Stuttgart

German exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) during welcoming ceremony in Stuttgart, summer of 1944. The Geneva Convention makes provision for the repatriation of all Prisoners of War, even during hostilities. During 1939-1945 it was only possible for the British and Germans to reach agreement over the seriously ill and disabled. For the majority of the 40,000 British servicemen who were taken prisoner in 1939 and 1940, the war was to be a very long and dispiriting experience. Negotiations, conducted through the Red Cross, over the repatriation of seriously wounded men, had begun in late 1940. They did not progress very far because there were far fewer German men in this category than British. It was only after substantial numbers of Germans were taken prisoner in the Desert campaign of 1942 that the talks resumed. The actual exchange of prisoners did not take place until October 1943. Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/history-research-third-reich-ww2/you-war-over-period-photos-german-pows-686919-76/

Afrikakorps Exchange POWs

Two German soldiers smiles to the camera. They were part of exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) who just returned from England. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger in Stuttgart, summer of 1944. Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en

Ritterkreuzträger Josef Dörfel and Hitlerjugend Member

Ritterkreuzträger Oberfeldwebel Josef Dörfel (2 March 1915 - 3 April 2002) chats with the youth member of Hitlerjugend. Dörfel received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 March 1942 as a Zugführer in Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division, but later transferred to Großdeutschland Division.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html

German Exchange POWs after Returning from England

Welcoming ceremony in Stuttgart for the German exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) who just returned from England. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger in the summer of 1944. Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.

 

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en

General Rudolf Veiel Inspecting Exchange POWs

General der Panzertruppe Rudolf Veiel (Kommandierenden General vom Stellvertretenden Generalkommando V. Armeekorps in Stuttgart und Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis V) inspecting German exchange POWs in Stuttgart who just returning from England, summer of 1944. His right pocket breast star should be the Bulgarian Military Merit Order 1. Class with War Decoration (which he received on 15 August 1941). Behind him is SA-Obergruppenführer Dr.jur. Jonathan Schmid (württembergischer Innenminister). Many of these prisoners are member of the Afrikakorps. They were exchanged with some British POWs. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger. Other pictures from the same series can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en
https://www.zinnfigur.com/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html#&gid=1&pid=5

German Exchange POWs in 1944

General der Panzertruppe Rudolf Veiel (Kommandierenden General vom Stellvertretenden Generalkommando V. Armeekorps in Stuttgart und Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis V) inspecting German exchange POWs in Stuttgart who just returning from England, summer of 1944. His right pocket breast star should be the Bulgarian Military Merit Order 1. Class with War Decoration (which he received on 15 August 1941). Behind him is SA-Obergruppenführer Dr.jur. Jonathan Schmid (württembergischer Innenminister). Many of these prisoners are member of the Afrikakorps. They were exchanged with some British POWs. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger.

The Geneva Convention makes provision for the repatriation of all Prisoners of War, even during hostilities. During 1939-1945 it was only possible for the British and Germans to reach agreement over the seriously ill and disabled. For the majority of the 40,000 British servicemen who were taken prisoner in 1939 and 1940, the war was to be a very long and dispiriting experience. Negotiations, conducted through the Red Cross, over the repatriation of seriously wounded men, had begun in late 1940. They did not progress very far because there were far fewer German men in this category than British. It was only after substantial numbers of Germans were taken prisoner in the Desert campaign of 1942 that the talks resumed. The actual exchange of prisoners did not take place until October 1943

Welcoming ceremony in Stuttgart for the German exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) who just returned from England. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger in the summer of 1944.



Two German soldiers smiles to the camera. They were part of exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) who just returned from England. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger in Stuttgart, summer of 1944.



German exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) during welcoming ceremony in Stuttgart, summer of 1944.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/history-research-third-reich-ww2/you-war-over-period-photos-german-pows-686919-76/#post1825154
https://www.zinnfigur.com/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html#&gid=1&pid=5

Erwin Niebling receives a Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star

Lieutenant Erwin W. Niebling receives a Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star from Rear Admiral Osborne B. Hardison ( Chief of Naval Air Primary Training) on May 17, 1945, at Naval Air Station New Orleans for his actions as a pilot in the Philippines.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 80-G-K-5302
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936
https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/80-G-K-05000/80-G-K-5302.html

A U.S. Army cavalry squadron trots past a Piper Cub

A mounted U.S. Army cavalry squadron trots past a fuels up J-3 Piper Cub and civilian onlookers being evaluated for aerial observation during the 1941 "Louisiana Maneuvers", the war game that were designed to evaluate the U.S. Army for World War II. The success of this demonstration led to the Army acquiring civilian lightplanes to be flown by Army artillery officers. These planes were known as “grasshoppers” – as can be seen with the yellow insignia – for their ability to get in and out of tight landing areas. Photo by Hans Groenhoff.

Source :
From the collection of the National Air and Space Museum Archives, Hans Groenhoff Photographic Collection, NASM 2004-51346
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936
https://twitter.com/Erikhistorian/status/1300554071091425280

“Five Grand” - the 5,000th B-17 off the Production Line

“Five Grand” (Boeing B-17G-70-BO Flying Fortress, Serial number 43-37716) is seen here before deploying to England where it survived 78 combat missions with the 338th Bomb Squadron, 96 Bomb Group.

The B-17G, named, 5 Grand, was constructed at the Boeing Plant 5 in Seattle, WA, in 1944. It was named, 5 Grand, because it was the 5,000th B-17 to come off the Boeing production line in Seattle, since Pearl Harbor. It was the only B-17 that was ever individually signed by all of the Plant 5 workers before leaving the Seattle factory. The largest signature on the airplane, which disappeared in later photos of the plane, was made by Boeing assembler/installer, Frank Novito, on the upper surface of one of it's wings, with large block letters that he made in black paint on the upper wing skin with a large push broom. He, apparently, wanted the German pilots, to think of him and the fine work he did building the plane, as they surely must have done so, while they were trying to shoot, 5 Grand, down !

To boost morale on the home front during the Second World War, aircraft manufacturers began to celebrate production aircraft milestones. Lockheed, for example, painted their 5,000th P-38 Lightning, red, and named it, Yipee. But Boeing wanted to do something different, as it approached delivering the 5,000th B-17 Flying Fortress to be built since the attack on Pearl Harbor, when the U.S. entered the war against the Axis powers. Aircraft number, 40-37716, a B-17G, was that aircraft, and, early on, it was marked with a notice on the fuselage that it was the 5,000th Flying Fortress to be built since the U.S. entered the war. Every worker, who played a part in the construction of this particular aircraft, was invited to sign the part of the aircraft they produced, as it advanced down the production lines in Seattle.

So, these signatures celebrated the efforts of the thousands of workers, who immigrated to Seattle to escape the effects of the Great Depression, in order to work in Boeing's massive production facilities. The enthusiasm that workers applied to their signatures, surprised even the Boeing management, as even parts from the subcontractors' bound for, 40-37716, arrived signed, even though they would be hidden away deep inside the aircraft. Appropriately, the B-17G was named, 5 Grand, and before leaving the Renton plant, it was already being celebrated in newsreels and war bond drives. Instead of towing the B-17G out of Plant 5's front doors, as had always been done for the protocols of the day, upon completion, the workers, themselves, pushed, 5 Grand, out the factory doors to band music, cheers and great fanfare.

In May 1944, 5 Grand, was officially delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces, at Boeing Field, and a bottle of champagne was ceremonially broken over the aircraft's nose. The USAAF even made sure that the crew assigned to, 5 Grand, were made up of local flyers from the Puget Sound area, with Edward C. Unger of Seattle selected as the aircraft's command pilot. 5 Grand, was, then, flown to Kearney AAF Depot in Nebraska for further modifications to make her combat ready. When she left the United States for the Eighth Air Force's bomber bases in Britain, over 35,000 signatures adorned the bare metal finish of, 5 Grand. Some thought that the plane should be stripped of it's signatures, as they figured, rightfully so, that the Luftwaffe would make special efforts to shoot it down, which they dutifully did just so ! But, it was finally decided the signatures would stay.

On it's trans Atlantic flight to England, the air crew found the B-17G was about 7 mph slower in cruise than a stock B-17G due to the extra weight of the paint used on the signatures and, also, the extra drag of the surface roughness from the thousands of colorful signature applications ! Both of these factors increased fuel consumption, which was also higher than normal, with the lower speeds of the plane, also less than normally forecast for a trip across the Atlantic, resulting in one of, 5 Grand's, engines cutting out upon landing in the U.K. due to low fuel.

Once in the U.K., 5 Grand, was assigned to the 333rd Bomber Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group at Snetterton Heath in Norfolk, U.K. One of it's first local test flights, before any combat missions were flown, also ended in near disaster when, 5 Grand's, electrical system failed, preventing it's main landing gear from extending, causing, 5 Grand, to make a gear up landing after ejecting it's ball turret.

Finally, when ready for combat, 5 Grand, was assigned to the 338th Bomb Squadron, and the 96th Bomb Group, at BX-H, Snetterton, U.K. Once in combat, the plane quickly received a reputation with the American B-17 pilots for being a German fighter plane magnet, because, flying high, above the clouds, on it's many missions over Europe and Germany, the famous B-17, was an unusual looking sight in the air, glowing in the sun, with a sort of bright orange color on it's bare aluminum skin, peppered with yellow, white, red, and black speckled spots, which were the workers' painted signatures, with many of the workers having signed their names on, 5 Grand's, fuselage and wings. Appropriately, the German pilots certainly did take notice of this unique and unusually strange looking and brightly glowing B-17! And, possibly, figuring it for some kind of lead ship, they honored it with unusually fierce attention, by trying very hard, and repeatedly, to shoot it down, damaging it on several occasions with their cannons, so seriously, that it had to be taken out of service and sent back to repair stations for major repairs.

The plane was pulled from combat and delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming, 15 May 44; Kearney 30/6/44; Dow Field 13 Jul 44; Assigned to the 338th Bomb Squadron, and the 96th Bomb Group, at (BX-H) Snetterton, U.K. 14 Jul 44. During training, the plane's command pilot, Lt. Jack Bimemiller had an electrical failure and was unable to lower the landing gear. He was ordered to Honington, U.K. to land, wheels up. The airplane flew 78 missions after repairs were completed. Then, it was transferred to the 388th Bomb Group. May 1945. It returned to the USA Bradley Repair Depot, 14 Jun 45. After an overhaul, the plane left for Seattle and further refurbishment for a war bond tour in the U.S. from 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas, 29 Jul 45. After completion of the bond tour, 5 Grand, was sent to Lubbock, Texas, for refitting.

After one major repair, 5 Grand, was returned to service (RTS) and reassigned to the 388th Bomber Group kin Britain. It would fly a total of 78 missions over the German Reich adorned with her signatures and her gunners claiming two Luftwaffe fighters destroyed.

On 14 June 1945, 5 Grand, again returned home to the United States, first landing at Bradley Field in Connecticut before continuing on to Boeing Field in Seattle for refurbishment for a war bond tour. While in Seattle, many employees happily found most of their signatures still in place. Local officials wanted to preserve, 5 Grand, as a memorial to the city's home front war effort, but, while the Seattle politicians debated the cost, 5 Grand, was flown to Lubbock AAF Base in Texas for further repairs and refurbishment before being flown to storage at Kingman AAF Base in Arizona to be held in storage while Seattle officials decided how to proceed on the planned memorial, incorporating, 5 Grand. The U.S. Army Air Forces were willing to donate, 5 Grand, to Seattle for the memorial planned by the Seattle Historical Society, but on 3 January 1946, Seattle city officials declined the donation of, 5 Grand, on the grounds that building a memorial with the aircraft, represented too costly an endeavor.

Despite the efforts of Boeing employees who had signed, 5 Grand, and all of those wanting to preserve this piece of history, no one in the local government wished to take responsibility for the aircraft. So, still resplendent, with it's thousands of signatures, the plane was sold off by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and sent to Kingman, AZ, to the airplane scrappers, where, 5 Grand, was unceremoniously broken up and scrapped, forever lost to history. 22 Nov 1945

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 342-C-K-2442
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/43-37716
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/4127692270

Dresden Neues Rathaus (New Townhall)

View of the entrance doors of the Dresden Neues Rathaus (New Townhall). Built in 1904-1910 to a design of K.Roth, with tower 98m high culminating in the golden man statue of Hercules by Richard Guhr, with the adjacent yellow coloured Gewandhaus or robing house, of 1768-70. The latter building was designed by JG Schmidt, but reformed in the 1920s into the Stadtbank. In the bombing in February 1945, the building was heavily damaged and needed extensive reconstruction in a simplified form. After wartime destruction, it was recreated and in the mid 1960s turned into an hotel. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Otto Kaiser in 1942-1944.

Source :
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/search/?topicid=dcx-thes_fotograf_779xk33w21d1iarjt6kc&page=17#
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dresden_Neues_Rathaus,_with_unknown_Sculpture._March_1994_(4197813061).jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129231073@N06/26556568905

Pilots of North American A-36 Apaches

Pilots of North American A-36 'Apaches' (dive-bomber version of the P-51) return from a gunnery training mission in Louisiana, 1943. This aircraft - listed in some sources as "Apache" or "Invader", but generally called Mustang - was the ground-attack/dive bomber version of the North American P-51 Mustang, from which it could be distinguished by the presence of rectangular, slatted dive brakes above and below the wings. A total of 500 A-36 dive bombers served in the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia theaters during World War II before being withdrawn from operational use in 1944. The A-36 project was a stopgap measure intended to keep North American Aviation (NAA) assembly lines running during the first half of 1942 despite the US having exhausted its funds earmarked for fighter aircraft. When the order came for more P-51s in June 1942, the NAA workforce was thoroughly experienced.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 342-C-K-1039
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_A-36
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

Heldengedenktag (Heroes' Remembrance Day) 1943

On 21 March 1943, all of Germany commemorates 'Heldengedenktag' (Heroes' Remembrance Day). On this occasion, a state ceremony took place in the Berliner Zeughaus (Berlin armory), in which Hitler also took part. Seated in the front-left row, from left to right: Reichskriegsopferführer Hanns Oberlindober, Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock (Führerreserve), Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch (Generalinspekteur der Luftwaffe), Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Chef der SS und deutschen Polizei), Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), and Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht). Seated in the front-right row, from left to right: Reichsminister Joachim von Ribbentrop, Reichsminister Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Reichsminister Dr. Wilhelm Frick, SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Polizei Kurt Daluege, unknown, Reichsleiter Robert Ley, and SS-Obergruppenführer Dr. Philipp Bouhler.

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1983-0117-06
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/german-military-officers-including-hermann-goering-wilhelm-news-photo/493272171
https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=11336