Afrikakorps Soldiers Eating

DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps) soldiers eating their rations in the desert of North Africa. The very important issue of rations had to be addressed as well and was not just a matter of transferring the European diet and applying it the the Tropical theatre. The hot climate would turn many foods inedible in a relatively short space of time and foods such as potatoes and bread were replaced with black bread in a carton and dried peas and beans. Rice was also issued but the main food was bread which was either German Kommisbrot or Italian Maisbrot with olive oil instead of butter which would go off rapidly in the heat of the desert but the olive oil proved very unpopular with German troops. The Italians were forced to provide foodstuffs for the Germans which included coffee beans, cooking oil, marmalade and tins of preserved meat which was also very unpopular with both German and Italian troops. The tins were stamped with the initials AM which stood for "Administrazione Militare" but the Germans always refereed to this as Alte Mann (Old Man) or as some Italians called it "Asinus Mussolini" (Mussolini's Arse) due to it's rancid taste but they  went one better calling it Arabio Morte (Dead Arab). Captured tins of British corned beef, white bread, jam, hard tack biscuits and tinned fruit were considered a luxury and was most a most welcome supplement to the bland tasting rations issued to the Afrika Korps. The British thought their rations were terrible and welcomed captured German foodstuffs as well! Fresh meat was sometimes procured in the shape of a goat or pig but this was a rare occurrence as livestock was relatively hard to come by and the preservation of fresh meat in the desert was difficult to say the least. Perhaps the most important commodity in the desert was water. Vital for sustaining life and keeping vehicles moving it was important to preserve it as best as possible. The "Jerrycan" as it was nicknamed by the British could hold 4.5 gallons of either water, fuel or lubricants and was much preferred to the British petrol can which would often leak and much of its precious cargo of fuel or water would be lost, a very serious situation as being stranded in the desert miles from friendly or even hostile lines could prove fatal. Both sides marked their respective water cans with a white cross to denote it was carrying water and  this would mean that the particular can in question would never hold the wrong substance as water stored in a can that previously contained petrol would be undrinkable ( a lesson found out by the United Nations troops stationed in the congo during the 1960's).

Source :
http://deutsches-afrikakorps.blogspot.com/2010/12/life-in-afrika-korps.html
https://id.pinterest.com/davidmichaeld/dak/

Afrikakorps Soldiers Sleeping

These young Afrikakorps troopers are resting somewhere in the Western Desert, probably during 1942. Their uniforms need to be suitable for the hot days and cool nights.

Source :
https://www.histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/camp/eur/na/wd/wd-ak.html

German Camo Nets in Africa

German Afrikakorps soldiers under camouflage net in African Campaign, Northern Africa, 1942. Like other militaries, the Wehrmacht understood that concealing war machines or HQ in either defensive or offensive manoeuvres would increase the likelihood to survived in the encounter. In addition to camouflage painted on to the machines itself, they would also use foliage (branches from bushes and trees, grass or hay from fields, river-side reeds, even stacks of wood) to cover the machines, usually from the front to make it even harder to spot and differintiate from its surroundings. They would also, on occassion, use camouflage tarps and canvases, as well as camouflage netting to further conceal the machines from being spotted. As the war became more defensive for the Germans, the frequency of war machines being camouflaged in this way, waiting in ambush for the enemy, also increasingly common. Retreating units would often cut out foliage and leave it along the roads to help other retreating units conceal their vehicles as they fell back and to make setting up the next ambush that much faster. There were also ocassions where crews would apply a thin layer of mud or snow to the vehicle to help camouflage it with its surroundings. The picture was taken by Reinhard Schultz

Source :
http://www.warcolorphotos.com/war-in-africa

Afrikakorps MG 34 Crew in the Desert Nest

Afrikakorps Panzergrenadiere from Schützen-Regiment 115 / 15.Panzer-Division with an MG34 in the desert nest during Operation Scorpion. They were part of Kampfgruppe von Herff, commanded by Oberst Maximilian von Herff. Operation Scorpion or Unternehmen Skorpion, from 26–27 May 1941, was a military operation during the North African Campaign of World War II, fought between Axis forces under Oberst Herff and British forces under Lieutenant-General William "Strafer" Gott. A counter-attack was made on British positions at Halfaya Pass in north-western Egypt, which had been captured during Operation Brevity (15–16 May 1941). Skorpion was the second offensive operation commanded by Rommel in Africa (apart from the Siege of Tobruk) and pushed the British out of Halfaya Pass, back to the area from Buq Buq to Sofafi. The Germans and Italians fortified the pass and built other strong points back towards Sidi Azeiz as tank killing zones, ready to meet another British attack. The British continued preparations for Operation Battleaxe (15–17 June 1941). Battleaxe was another costly British failure that led to the sacking of General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief Middle East and other senior officers.

Source :
https://de.allbuch.online/wiki/Maschinengewehr_34
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Skorpion

Luftwaffe Soldiers Near the Burning Wreck of American P-38 Lightning

German Luftwaffe soldiers near the burning wreck of an American Lockheed P-38 Lightning "ES-J" fighter aircraft that shot down in Tunisia, early 1943. The plane belong to the USAAF's 48th Fighter-Squadron / 14th Fighter Group. This picture was first published in the SIGNAL magazine, May 1943 edition. Operation Torch (the invasion of North West Africa) was the first major Anglo-American operation of the Second World War. It was also the first time the P-38 saw significant action against the Luftwaffe. The only indication of how the P-38 would cope against German fighter aircraft came from a test flight against a captured Fw 190. Two P-38 equipped Fighter Groups – the 1st and 14th – were allocated to Operation Torch, with a third (the 78th) kept in reserve in Britain. They did not play a part in the initial landings on 8 November 1942 – the 14th FG did not go operational in North Africa until 11th November. At first they were based in western Algeria, as part of the Central Task Force that had occupied by Oran, but in the days that followed the Germans built up an impressive presence in Tunisia, and the P-38 groups were moved east, initially to Algiers. The 14th FG was first, moving to the recently captured airbase at Youks-les-Bains, with the first squadron moving on 21 November. This base was close to the Tunisian border, and the P-38s soon found themselves coming up against the increasingly strong Luftwaffe presence in North Africa. Over the next two months the 14th FG carried out a mix of ground attack, bomber escort and air superiority missions. At first they had been involved in supporting the first, unsuccessful, attempt to capture Tunis, which had occupied most of late November 1942. The front line was 150 miles east of Youks, not a problem for the P-38, but there were never enough aircraft. P-38 formations on fighter sweeps over Tunisia were often outnumbered by formations of Bf 109s and Fw 190s. The 14th FG suffered very heavy losses during this period. Between November 1942 and 28 January 1943 the group lost 32 pilots (out of an original complement of 54) and had been reduced to only seven operational aircraft. During its first period of service in North Africa, the 14th FG claimed 62 victories. Even though North Africa had been given the highest possible priority for new P-38s, there simply weren’t enough aircraft being produced in late 1942 to sustain such heavy losses. On 28 January the 14th FG was withdrawn, and replaced by the 82nd Fighter Group, also equipped with the P-38.

Source :
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_P-38_NorthAfrica.html
http://militaryhistory.x10.mx/ww2colorphotos/afrika_02.htm

Motorcycle with Sidecar of Afrikakorps

BMW R 75 of DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps) in the North African desert. Motorcycle showing symbols for 1.(leichte)Batterie / I.Abteilung / Artillerie-Regiment 155 / 21.Panzer-Division (also symbol on sidecar mudguard is for motorized infantry). Motorcycles equipped with sidecar and machine gun just like in this picture were widely used by the german messengers along the various war fronts.

German forces were famous for their use of bike sidecar combinations. In 1935 BMW began work on their R12 model. Intended as a touring design for the civilian market, it featured for the first time on any bike telescopic front forks with hydraulic damping. The German motorcycle industry had long been prepared for the outbreak of worldwide conflict lead by innovation created in the world of motor sport. BMW, DKW and NSU competed in the 500cc racing class in the late 1930s, and in the smaller 250cc DKW dominated. Underlying these sporting successes was the propaganda pushing the image of Germany as world leader. On the home front in Germany large numbers of smaller motorcycles were being produced and made available to the public and thus in return the nation was gaining a populace experienced at both riding and maintaining these machines. In 1938 further preparations were stepped up with the rationalisation of manufacturing industries. The multiple motorcycle types and variants on offer numbered somewhere in the region of 150 and these were reduced to just 30 types; the array of engines on offer were standardised so that just a few were offered to power these thirty models. Many manufacturers had the type of motorcycle they would produce enforced upon them, but parts production saw the greatest reduction in surplus labour effort and over-complication. Items such as saddles, number plate stamping plants, and electric horns were reduced to a single design type of which chosen companies were allowed to produce. The process was successful, simplifying the stores management, the re-supply of parts quickly, and allowing saved funding to be redirected into the war effort elsewhere.

Like all the participants of the Second World War, the German army's views towards two-wheeled warfare also covered several trends. Commencing the war with a vast majority of solo machines, from two-stroke to robust flat twins paired with sidecars a change of preference occurred after 1940. A move then leant toward the complex and expensive BMW and Zundapp combinations in the midwar period but with industry pressed by the Allied bombing campaigns production of these machines was phased out through 1944 and Germany returned to production of I25cc and 350cc machines in the last year of the war, DKW being the sole German manufacturer to continue motorcycle production between 1939-1945.

Source :
http://africaaxisandallied.blogspot.co.id/2015/03/bikes-in-desert.html
http://militaryhistory.x10.mx/ww2colorphotos/afrika_01.htm

Afrikakorps Soldiers Reading Magazines

German Afrikakorps soldiers reading "Deutsche Illustrierte" and "Die Woche" magazines in their staff car that parked in the barren North African desert, while a Kar98k rifle protruding in the back seat. "Deutsche Illustrierte" was a large-format weekly magazine, while "Die Woche" was a weekly issued family magazine. These magazines are packed with photos and home front activities. It also depicts news, art, culture etc.

Source :
Book "Afrikakorps: Rommel’s Tropical Army in Original Color" by Bernd Peitz and Gary Wilkins

Afrikakorps Soldiers Inspected Package from Home

Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) soldiers on the open rear gate of a truck. One has received a field main package from home. The contents are eagerly inspected - cigarettes, a piece of ham and a sausage. Behind the side one can see two drinking water canisters. Gasoline and water canisters had the same appearance, and so in order to prevent accidental mix-ups, a white cross was painted on both sides of the water canisters.

Source :
Book "Afrikakorps: Rommel’s Tropical Army in Original Color" by Bernd Peitz and Gary Wilkins

US Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Preparing for a Jump in Italy

US Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne preparing for a jump on Salerno (Italy) in September 1943. The distinctive color of the parachutist's utilities and the brown jump boots are clearly seen. Note also the CCKW 2 1/2-ton 6x6 transport truck with color bar marking on the door. These color bar coding used as a representation of army unit numbers used for shipping vehicles on a sea voyage (probably because it would be easier to put the vehicles of a certain unit together on the same boat that way, but you see different versions of the bars, with and without a letter next to it).

Source :
Book "US Special Forces of World War II" by Leroy Thompson
http://cckw.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2683

A Pair of Bf 109 in the Barren North African Desert

This photo, that was taken from a propaganda film from 1941, showing a pair of Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4/Trop fighters from 8.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 27 flying over the Cyrenaica/Libya in April 1941, shortly after the arrival of Afrikakorps in North Africa. If a pilot was forced down, he could die from the heat of the desert. Pilots carried extra water, food and survival items. JG 27 kept a number of Fieseler Storch aircraft on alert, to rescue downed pilots. The pilots wore light weight tropical clothing comfort being important, when coping with the daytime heat. He would be armed with a Luger, or Walther P-38 pistol. Apart from the tropical uniform, when flying is the standard weight flying suit, some pilots flew in khaki shorts and shirts, flying helmet with goggles and silk scarf to prevent neck chafing, or loose fitting. They also wore trousers that would be tucked into the flying boots, would carry a rubber bandolier of signal flares, and if it still had enough room, to carry a knife, extra ammo and maps. When flying near or overwater, the pilots wore standard lifejackets. The Germans camouflaged their aircraft to match the desert terrain, as the locations of Luftwaffe airfields was known to the enemy. Fuel, oil, lubricants were shipped from Germany and were not obtained locally except from captured British supplies. Fuel and other supplies, were stockpiled at airfields and hidden under camouflage or stored underground. Many of the personnel bunkers were built underground to keep away from the heat.

Source :
http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/aircrafts-2/messerschmitt_bf109/messerschmitt-bf-109e-7-trop-color-jg27-over-desert/
http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=10564

Generalmajor Von Liebenstein in Kübelwagen Speaks with One of his Men

An Afrikakorps’ VW KdF Kübelwagen Typ 82 near the Akarit defensive line, the last natural barrier preventing access to the coastal plain of Tunisia from the South. In the passenger seat, Generalmajor Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein (2nd from left), the commanding officer of 164. Leichte Afrika-Division (note the pennant denoted his command ), speaks with one of his men. Note also the oversize tires that offered better performance on soft surfaces like sand. The picture was taken in late March/early April 1943. On May 10, 1943, he was decorated with Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross). Three days later he surrendered to the British in Tunisia, with the 164th Infantry earning the distinction of being "the last major German formation in North Africa to lay down its arms". He was sent to Trent Park , a special camp for generals north of London. In 1955, he joined the Bundeswehr. In 1960, he retired as Generalmajor.

Sources :
Book "Das Afrikakorps: In Original-Farbfotografien" by Bernd Peitz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Freiherr_von_Liebenstein
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/514.html

Luftwaffe Soldiers in North Africa with Tropical Helmet

 Luftwaffe aircrew from Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26) "Horst Wessel" wearing tropenhelm (tropical/sun helmet) in the makeshift airfield of North African desert, 1942. In the background are Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighter-bomber. When the German army headed to North Africa and other tropical regions during the Second World War it utilized the sun helmet. The Luftwaffe, Germany’s air arm, followed ground units to the Mediterranean theater where it made up a significant portion of the “Afrika Korps,” and included the Fliegerführer Afrika. The Luftwafffe personnel, who included air crews, Flak troops and support units were equipped with a variation of the Model 1940 sun helmet. The first version of the helmet was the French-made version – which was based on the French Model 1931 cork sun helmet. These were a four panel helmet, which was covered in a blue-brown fabric. It has been suggested that there were French Air Force helmets, but there is no evidence to support this claim. On the contrary French Air Force uniforms of the period were brown (like the French Army’s), so it is more likely these helmets were meant to be the same color as the German Luftwaffe uniforms. Period photos suggest that these helmets were issued with and without the tri-color shield and Luftwaffe eagle. The shield and eagle were made from a zinc alloy and attached to the helmet with prongs that penetrated the cork body. What is also known is that the blue-brown helmet was not widely issued and should be considered quite rare today. The helmet was replaced by a green canvas/twill version. These helmets were six panels and are of the same pattern as those used by the ground forces. The liner system of this helmet was held to the outside ring of material by six cotter type pins. The green canvas helmets were also apparently short lived and replaced by the tan/khaki colored version – and is thus far more prevalent than the green canvas type. Both the green and khaki versions used the same insignia as the previous blue-brown helmet. While a felt version of the tropical helmet was produced it was only issued to ground forces and there is no evidence that it was used by the Luftwaffe.

Source :
http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2014/the-luftwaffe-sun-helmet

M4 Sherman Tanks in Manoeuvres in the American Desert

American tank crews bound for North Africa practicing their M4 Sherman for manoeuvres in the California desert, October 1942. Years before the tank forces of USA and Germany met for the first time in North Africa — indeed, years before Germany declared war on the United States — the outcome of the battles at Sidi bou Zid and Kasserine Pass (early 1943) had already been determined. Since the end of World War I, the United States had turned its back on its armed forces, particularly the army. While Germany developed state-of-the-art tanks and theory for using them in battle, the US Army did next to nothing of the sort. Americans by and large were in no frame of mind to have their tax money spent on the military when they had no intention of fighting a European war ever again. By the time Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, the United States had only the 17th largest army in the world, with about 190,000 troops. Worse, the US Army was one of the least modernized forces in the world. Army training had ground to a virtual halt in 1934. Army doctrine was mired in World War I thinking, and the materiel was of the same vintage. The army had little or no experience maneuvering or operating at brigade, division, or corps levels. It was scattered all over the United States and its territories, mostly at battalion strength. So, when US Army units finally met the Germans on the North African sand in February 1943, they would do so with weapons and tactics inferior to those of their battle-hardened enemy. The US Army’s main medium battle tank (classified by relative weight) was the M4 Sherman. The Sherman’s main gun was a 70mm cannon, which gave it at least a fighting chance against the German Mark IV tank. On the other hand, the gasoline-burning Sherman tended to catch fire when hit by an enemy shell, hence its rueful nickname among American troops: the Ronson, after a company that manufactured cigarette lighters.

Source:
http://www.americainwwii.com/articles/facing-the-fox/

Afrikakorps Soldiers with their Kübelwagen

Somewhere in the North African desert: DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps) soldier get ready to wear his shoes in a feldbett (field cot) near his Kübelwagen (number plate WH, Wehrmacht Heer, 936769) while his friend still wrapped in blanket. These feldbett could be a "liberated" cots - either British or American because it had a different style of cot than the one seen being used in Russia - more akin to US cots

Source:
http://thirdreichcolorpictures.blogspot.com/2010/11/cars-of-wehrmacht-in-color.html

A Lone Panzer III in the African Desert

A lone Panzerkampfwagen III in the African desert. The gun seems to be a "5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 38 L/42", so this may be a Pz.Kpfw.III F or J (any of them in this range). Photo taken by General Erwin Rommel during his Campaign in North Africa, 1941

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml
http://www.ww2incolor.com/tag/color?g2_itemId=224

Italian Vehicles in the North African Desert

Italian vehicles in the African desert. At the front is Fiat Balilla 1100 Furgoncino, while in the background is FIAT type 666. Photo taken by General Erwin Rommel during his Campaign in North Africa, 1941

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=73232&p=1875458&hilit=rommel#p1875458

Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch" of General Erwin Rommel in North Africa

The Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch" light transport aircraft used by General Erwin Rommel in the North Africa. Rommel was known to hop in his Storch and fly over the battlefront to get a clearer picture on operations. Photo taken by Rommel himself during his Campaign in North Africa, 1941

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml

German Afrikakorps Guard on Duty

German Afrikakorps guard on duty behind barbed wire overlooking a flat desert. He is wearing short pants, tropical uniform and pith helmet with goggles. Photo taken by General Erwin Rommel during his Campaign in North Africa, 1941. There is available about 169 color slides that Rommel took during his entire Africa campaign

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml

German Vehicles in the North African Desert

German vehicles in the North African desert. The picture was taken by General Erwin Rommel, commander of the Afrikakorps, from his Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch" during his reconnaisance mission to the front

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml

Zeltbahn as Cover in the Desert

Soldiers of the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) making a small trench as their home in the desert. They used Zeltbahn as cover and camouflage from the air and distance. Photo taken by General Erwin Rommel during his Campaign in North Africa, 1941

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml