Echoes from the Past

Echoes of the Past World War Two website features both the Echoes from the Past blog covering news in relation to the period before during and after the Second world War. It is also the home to my collection of German Axis military photos from the period 1935 to 1945.

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THE TRAIN 1964 - My Must Watch Films

Good story, great cinema photography and well worth watching if you have never seen it. Wiki Link - The Train [DVD] [1964]

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Four Radiophoto press photographs showing the German advance into Russia. Sent to a US press agency from Europe during the war - they show as grainy as they were sent by radio to a photo teletype machine that would generate a print, which was then copied.

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Wired Magazine has an article on Photographer Jonathan Andrew who has documented  bunkers in Holland, France and Belgium. Using a old 4×5 camera that he outfitted with a Phase One digital back, Some great photos.

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PzKpfw 38(t)'s (Ausf. E or F) on the Russian steppe- 1942.

Original Press Photo - My collection - Original translated credit from the reverse side of the photo- German armour in Crimea. German tanks roll across the vast barren plains to the front.

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Approaching Stalingrad

The outer approaches to Stalingrad 1942 a group of German infantry pass Russian prisoners carrying a wounded comrade to the rear.

Translation - Original Press credit: 23-9-1942 -Infantry of Stalingrad - Infantrymen have attacked and taken Kuhnem  the heavily defended Hill 102 between the city centre and the industrial quarter Barikady.

Original Press Photo - my collection

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Moving in

The move of the website is almost complete, a few things to sort out and it's almost there. Need to get the images in the gallery moved across, and clean up some of the old Posterous links in a few of the post, but its pretty much moved now and has a splendid new look. Enjoy!

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Vehicle & ordnance photos from the Imperial War Museum Duxford

Various photos from the Land Warfare hall at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) Duxford, Cambridgeshire UK.

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German Paratrooper weapons box

Photograph from British military intelligence, showing the arrangement of a German paratrooper storage box, which was dropped by parachute alongside soldiers when they jumped into combat. This one contains parts for a 7.5cm Infantry gun, along with a Kr98 rifle.

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70th anniversary of La rafle du Vél’ d’Hiv

In June 1942, 12,000 Jewish adults and children were removed from their homes in Paris and sent to Nazi death camps. It was the largest mass arrest in wartime France. The film Sarah’s Key follows one woman’s fight against French society’s post-war attitude of silence and denial over its role in the roundup. Here, writer Adrian Gilbert describes the terrible events that cast a shadow of guilt over the country for more than half a century https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/21/opinion/la-rafle-vel-dhiv-anniversary-exhibition.html

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Russian panorama photograph knocked out Stug III G with crashed Stuka

Russian press photograph showing soldiers inspecting a knocked out Stug III G (Sturmgeschütz III) with the wreck of a shot down Stuka dive bomber next to it (I think undercarriage looks like Stuka but someone else may know better - as it may be retractable). The panorama is made from two photos that have been taped together to give the panorama effect showing the aftermath of a battle sometime in the summer of 1944. Source: Scan from my collection. Colour close up of Stug using https://colourise.sg/.

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German soldiers in France

Set of five photos from the same soldier, showing 3.7cm Pak crews washing their guns down in a small coastal fishing town - possibly France. The other photos in the set also appear to be France. The photos show soldiers marching, embarking on a troop train, and a squad resting up in full gear. The final shot graves of fallen comrades.

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Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland - Original Press Photograph

German press photo taken 16.7.1942 (original print in my collection) -showing the Großdeutschland division vehicles pausing during the advance into Russia during the 42 summer offensive. Pictured is a comand Panzerkampfwagen II & Panzerkampfwagen IV's & various staff cars.

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DECISION BEFORE DAWN 1951 - My Must Watch Films

One of the best feature films from the period immediately after the war. DECISION BEFORE DAWN (Ruining Time 119-120 minutes) premiered in the US 1951, directed by Anatole Litvak; staring Oskar Werner & Richard Basehart. It is one of the most authentic-looking World War II films produced since the war. Depicting a spy story set against the last days of the war in Europe. Shot on location in 1950 in Germany including Geiselgasteig, Mannheim, Munich, Nuremberg & Wrzberg. The film takes place against the backdrop of the still bomb-damaged city’s of Germany and using: authentic uniforms, equipment & actors who had been on both sides of the conflict. It has a wonderful atmosphere that captures the period & mood of the times which few other films have equalled.

Oscar Werner: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Werner

The film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_Before_Dawn

Watch:  https://youtu.be/-pEfCo5uZLM

Buy: Decision Before Dawn [DVD] [1951]

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German Field Fortifications and Bunker Construction on the Atlantic Wall

3 original photographs I recently acquired - showing feild work fortifications and the construction of a concrete bunker on the Atlantic Wall. The wooden frame and steel reinforcing rods can be seen prior to pouring the concrete in one image. The photographs appear to be taken in northern France west of the Normandy landing area - the only clue to the area, might be written on one of the ammunition boxes pictured is the word ‘Bandes’; which is an area south of Saint Brieuc, France, also the country side seems consistent with that area of France, however this is just my best guess and may not be correct. The photos themselves were probably taken by members of Organisation Todt tasked with construction of the defences for the Atlantic Wall in northern France.

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Panzer IV Ausf. D moves through a village in Russia 1941/42 - Photograph

New edition to my photo collection, bought from Germany - looking in more detail, it is either Panzer IV Ausf. D or Ausf. F and I am leaning toward the D as the front gunner/drivers armour plate is stepped and with protected drivers slit block. However one odd  thing is the bow machine gun appears to have the rounder surround of the Ausf A

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view from Fort Eben Emael of the Albert Canal in 1940

Map Location link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Eben-Emael

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German Occupation of Norway 1940.

Occupation of Norway 1940, German troops assembled in port area unknown town. This is part of a small set of four photos taken by the same solider.

Occupation of Norway 1940, German rifle squad take a break on the street.

German MG34 Crew on a training exercise possibly 1939.

This one additional photo in the set appears to be Volkssturm troops, taken by the owner of the camera on a home visit later in the war. As Volkssturm units were only raised in October 1944 it might be safe to assume it's after that date. The owner of the camera we can further speculate stayed on in Norway on occupation duties if he was involved in its occupation from the earlier photos. It will be the no doubt a relative who is pictured in this shot that will be now in the greater danger as a member of the Volkssturm with the war in its final stages.