World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
10 Sep 2011 01:13:51 PM

I could be mistaken but, these soldiers look like they are Luftwaffe Ground Troops the eagle is in a flowing design and worn on the right breast, and looks like it is of the Luftwaffe design.

Waffen-SS troops had a different design for the eagle, with staggered wing-tips, worn as a cap badge and worn on the upper left sleeve.
I don't see any rank/cuffbands, the German
army eagle or national emblem, was worn over the right breast pocket. The wings of the eagle were spread flat and different from the flowing design of the Luftwaffe and the staggered design of the Waffen-SS.

Troops have been issued camouflage pattern
smocks and helmet covers, with one troop carrying field glasses. In this photo, we see the Mauser 98K, 7.92mm ammo pouches that were used to carry 5-round stripper clips for the semi-automatic G-41 that had a fixed ten round magazine, scope is the the ZF4.

Did you know...
An updated version of the WW2 camouflage design is still used by the German Bundeswehr

2.  Bill says:
17 Oct 2012 10:10:07 AM

Luftwaffe Ground Divisions, were formed to fill in the losses, these men weren't trained as infantrymen and had to learn OJT or, on the job training.

The Luftwaffe raised about 22 divisions,that operated under army command some units were posted to rear areas, to free combat troops other units fought as regular infantry their lack of training and battle experience resulted in heavy losses most of the divisions were sent to the Russinan Front, while other divisions were sent to France and Italy.
The first soldier looks older he could be a veteran of the Russian Front, the solder behind him, looks like a replacement those kids kept getting younger all the time.

I remember picking up replacements in Vietnam as a 22 year old sergeant, I was the old man, they all looked so young. Everything about them was new, the uniforms and boots they showed no strain of a war, that would later, make them older than their years...now we've become old men and glad we survived, and live a peaceful life.

I thank the editor/ww2db for allowing me to leave my personal comments. I believe its important for veterans to leave some sort of record both oral or in writing.
I volunteered for Vietnam, and served two tours 9th Infantry Div.1967/68 and with IFFV 1969/70, served with the bravest group of men, I'll ever know in my lifetime, I've seen the toughest man breakdown and cry, the stress was at times too much to bare, if a man said he never cried, then he had no soul...