Adolf Hitler and Ion Antonescu at the Schloss Kleßheim (1943)

Image size: 1248 x 832 pixel. 268 KB
Date: Monday, 12 April 1943
Place: Schloss Kleßheim, Salzburg, Austria
Photographer: Walter Frentz

This picture was taken by Walter Frentz at the Schloss Kleßheim in Salzburg, 12 April 1943. From left to right: Otto Meißner (Leiter der Präsidialkanzlei), Generalleutnant Walter Warlimont (Stellvertretender Chef des Wehrmachtführungsstabes), Paul Otto Schmidt (interpreter), Marshal Ion Antonescu (Romanian dictator and Prime Minister), unknown Romanian official, Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), and Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef der Oberkommando der Wehrmacht).

By April 1943, World War II had reached a turning point on the Eastern Front following the devastating German defeat at Stalingrad earlier that year. Romania, under Marshal Ion Antonescu's authoritarian rule since 1940, remained a vital Axis ally, supplying troops, oil, and resources to Nazi Germany. However, mounting losses and the advancing Soviet forces strained the partnership. Antonescu sought reassurances from Adolf Hitler regarding Romania's territorial integrity, particularly the return of Northern Transylvania, ceded to Hungary via the 1940 Vienna Award. Hitler, facing wavering commitment from his satellites, convened a series of bilateral summits at Schloss Klessheim, a Baroque palace near Salzburg, Austria, renovated in 1940 as a luxurious guest house for diplomatic receptions. The palace, originally built in the 18th century by Prince-Archbishop Firmian, featured opulent halls, gardens, and conference rooms equipped for high-level discussions, including strategic planning with maps.

These meetings included Italian leader Benito Mussolini, Romanian Marshal Ion Antonescu, and Hungarian Regent Miklós Horthy, each held separately to bolster Axis unity. For Antonescu, the visit on April 12-13, 1943, was an opportunity to address military cooperation, economic strains, and the sensitive "Jewish question," where Germany pressured Romania to accelerate deportations as part of the Final Solution. Despite earlier alignments, Antonescu resisted full compliance, prioritizing Romanian sovereignty.

Marshal Ion Antonescu arrived at Schloss Klessheim on April 12, 1943, amid a backdrop of spring landscapes and heightened security. The palace, serving as a neutral yet grandiose venue for Axis diplomacy, was guarded by SS personnel and equipped with anti-aircraft defenses. Hitler personally welcomed Antonescu, a gesture reflecting the Romanian leader's importance as a key supplier of oil and manpower. Accompanied by German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and other officials, the two leaders exchanged formal salutes and handshakes before proceeding to the palace's interior. Newsreel footage and photographs captured the arrival, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the visit.

The two-day summit included private discussions and formal receptions, with Antonescu's delegation including advisors focused on military and economic matters. The atmosphere was tense, as both sides grappled with the war's deteriorating outlook.

The centerpiece of the visit was a strategic conference held in one of Schloss Klessheim's equipped rooms, where Hitler and Antonescu reviewed military maps spread across a large table. Joined by high-ranking officers such as Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel and Walter Warlimont, the leaders discussed the Eastern Front's challenges, Romania's ongoing contributions, and future operations. Hitler urged Antonescu to maintain commitment despite recent setbacks, criticizing other allies for insufficient effort while praising Romania's role.

A significant portion of the talks addressed the "Jewish question." Germany intensified pressure on Antonescu to deport Romanian Jews to extermination camps in occupied Poland, following earlier plans discussed in 1942. Antonescu, aware of the deportations' lethal implications, resisted, citing Romania's independent approach and refusing to yield without concessions like the return of Northern Transylvania. The discussions also touched on economic cooperation, with Romania's oil fields critical to the German war machine, and territorial assurances against Hungarian and Bulgarian claims.

The map room setting allowed for detailed examination of frontline positions, supply lines, and potential counteroffensives, underscoring the military dimension of the alliance. Follow-up talks on April 14 involved Ribbentrop and Mihai Antonescu, Romania's Foreign Minister, further emphasizing resistance to German demands on deportations.

The April 1943 summit at Schloss Klessheim highlighted the fragility of the Axis coalition. While Hitler sought to rally his allies, Antonescu's visit revealed growing Romanian disillusionment with the war. Antonescu secured no firm commitments on Transylvania but maintained Romania's autonomy on internal policies, notably halting Jewish deportations from core territories. This resistance marked a divergence from full Nazi compliance, influenced by shifting war fortunes.

In the ensuing months, Romania's position worsened, leading to secret overtures to the Allies. By August 1944, King Michael orchestrated a coup, arresting Antonescu and switching sides to the Allies. Antonescu was tried and executed in 1946 for war crimes. Schloss Klessheim, once a hub of Axis diplomacy, now houses a casino and serves as a reminder of wartime intrigue. The meeting exemplifies the personal dynamics between Hitler and his allies, blending strategy, ideology, and pragmatism in the face of impending defeat.


Source:
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-a-b/

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Wilhelm Eggemann

Image size: 1362 x 2048 pixel. 356 KB
Date: Tuesday, 20 April 1943
Place: Staraya Russa, Novgorod, Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Major Wilhelm Eggemann (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 94 / 32.Infanterie-Division), which was held on 20 April 1943 at Staraya Russa, Novgorod, Soviet Union. The one draping the medal on the right is Generalleutnant Wilhelm Wegener (Kommandeur 32. Infanterie-Division), while the one helping to drape it in the center is most likely Rittmeister Hans-Joachim von Koeckritz (Kommandeur Aufklärungs-Abteilung 32 / 32.Infanterie-Division). In this photo, Koekritz is seen wearing a schirmmütze (visor hat) with the totenkopf crest on the front. This is because he is a former member of the Reiter-Regiment 5, one of Germany's leading cavalry units with a long history, which members - or former members - proudly displays the skull symbol in their caps.

Eggemann’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows:

“During the great defensive battle in the time period 26.02.-18.03.1943 the 32. Infanterie-Division defended the area between Borossino and Lowat, with its frontline facing southwards. In this time Major Eggemann and his Bataillon (which was involved in all the major combat from the start and had by now become badly depleted) were deployed to a thick, coverless swampy area east of Koslowo. Following endless artillery fire of all kinds the enemy struck against the front of this Bataillon on the 15.03.1943 with the support of tanks.

On the morning of that day an enemy tank-supported penetration on the left wing of the Bataillon threatened to turn into a breakthrough. A Kompanie which had been temporarily attached to the Bataillon was supposed to withdraw to the positions of the heavy Pak in an orderly fashion. However it was instead threatening to fall into confusion, and had lost contact with its neighbours. The enemy sent in tanks and infantry through the extant frontline gap. An enemy breakthrough seemed inevitable. Such a move would seriously compromise the Regiment, which had by now used up its last reserves. It would probably also make it impossible for the Division to carry out its planned withdrawal to the Redja river during the following night.

In this situation Major Eggemann chose the reckless and yet only feasible option given the circumstances. Using the remnants of his staff and individual soldiers who happened to be in the vicinity, he formed the core of an offensive group. He personally dashed from squad to squad, directing the men of the left Kompanie and compelling them to hold out. He also gathered up individual squads in order to strengthen his own assault group. Now leading at the head of this group, he threw himself at the head of the enemy. He did this despite the exhausted state of his men and having personally been wounded twice in this fighting. With his machine-pistol in hand he was a model for his Grenadiers in the ensuing close combat. Along with his assault group he was able to eliminate the battalion sized enemy force that had penetrated the lines down to the last man. Two enemy tanks also ended up destroyed behind friendly lines. This restored the old combat situation, and the front could now be held until after nightfall, when the planned withdrawal was commenced.

This battlefield success was achieved with energy, boldness and fearless devotion to duty. Furthermore it was the prerequisite for the successful withdrawal of friendly lines to the Redja position. Eggemann’s Bataillon enabled the Regiment to carry out its withdrawal movement without leaving behind any heavy weapons, equipment or ammunition in spite of the extreme difficulties associated with the terrain.”

Source :
Leander Haslerud photo collection
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2013/07/album-foto-32-infanterie-division.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/3888/Eggemann-Wilhelm.htm
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/1939-eisernes-kreuz-forum/minty-ek1-wear-105499/

Giraud and de Gaulle Shaking Hands at Casablanca Conference

Image size: 1600 x 1308 pixel. 666 KB
Date: Sunday, 24 January 1943
Place: Casablanca, Morocco
Artist: Lieutenant H.A. Mason

On 24 January 1943, the final day of Casablanca Conference, Morocco, the journalists assembled on the lawn behind Roosevelt’s villa. Four white chairs sat empty before the scrum of reporters. Shortly after noon, the door to the villa opened, and Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, and Henri Giraud walked out, while Franklin Roosevelt was carried to his chair. The whirling of film and clicking of cameras quickly replaced the murmurs of disbelief.

“When the Press reporters saw us both they could scarcely believe their eyes, or, when they were told we had been there for nearly a fortnight, their ears,” wrote Churchill.

Roosevelt and Churchill hoped to bring the competing factions of the French resistance together in Casablanca, but their attempt proved futile. There would be no headlines touting a new, unified French war effort. But photographs showing American, British, and French leaders together would galvanize Allied propaganda efforts. As Giraud, Roosevelt, and Churchill traded small talk and offered occasional smiles for the cameras, a solemn-faced de Gaulle smoked a cigarette. A photographer wanted more—something that didn’t smack of a command performance—and urged Giraud and de Gaulle to shake hands. The generals ignored the suggestion, until the president prodded them. “Why not shake hands?” said Roosevelt. “You two Frenchmen are loyal to your country, and that warrants a cordial handshake anytime.”

They stood, de Gaulle pulling the cigarette from his mouth and holding it to the side, and managed a fleeting handshake. Unable to capture the moment, the photographers called for them to do it again. The second shake was no less awkward. After Giraud and de Gaulle departed, Churchill moved over to sit by Roosevelt and talk further with the reporters and war correspondents gathered before them. Roosevelt began by reading a background statement and then spoke from some notes for about fifteen minutes.

Source :
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/1943_en_France
https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?family=editorial&phrase=giraud+de+gaulle
https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/casablanca-film-mit-humphrey-bogart-und-ingrid-bergman-a-1170512.html
https://time.com/5101354/churchill-fdr-casablanca-photo/

German Generals Captured in Tunisia

Video size: 00:00:48 - 5.40 MB
Date: Thursday, 13 May 1943
Place: Maison Blanche aerodrome, southeast of Algiers, Algeria
Cameraman: J.F. Gunn of U.K. War Office Film Unit

German high ranking officers arrested by the Allies in Tunisia were seen as having just arrived at Maison Blanche aerodrome, Algeria, on 13 May 1943. Their identities were later checked by the authorities. Afterwards, these generals boarded the plane that would take them to a temporary POW camp in England. Some faces that can be recognized include: General der Panzertruppe Gustav von Vaerst (Oberbefehlshaber 5. Panzerarmee. Arrested on 9 May 1943 in Bizerte), Generalleutnant Karl Bülowius (General der Pioniere Heeresgruppe "Africa" ​​und Kommandeur Panzer-Division "Von Manteuffel". Arrested on 9 May 1943 in Tunis), Generalleutnant Willibald Borowietz (Kommandeur 15. Panzer-Division. Arrested on 10 May 1943 in Tunis), Generalmajor Fritz Krause (Kommandeur 334. Infanterie-Division. Arrested on 9 May 1943 in Bizerte), Generalmajor der Luftwaffe Dipl.Ing. Gerhard Bassenge (Kommandant Festungsbezirks Tunis-Bizerte. Arrested on 9 May 1943 in Methelin), Generalmajor der Luftwaffe Georg Neuffer (Kommandeur 20. Flak-Division. Arrested on 10 May 1943 in Tunis), and Oberst im Generalstab August-Viktor von Quast (Chef des Generalstabes 5. Panzerarmee. Arrested on 9 May 1943 in Bizerte). Three of them were Ritterkreuzträger: Gustav von Vaerst, Willibald Borowietz and Georg Neuffer, while only one is Eichenlaubträger: Willibald Borowietz.

Source :
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060034955 

Robert Rowan Explodes Off the Coast of Gela

Image size: 1600 x 1082 pixel. 803 KB
Date: Sunday, 11 July 1943
Place: Gela, Sicily, Italy
Photographer: Unknown

During the Allied invasion of Sicily, the Liberty ship Robert Rowan (K-40) explodes after being hit by a German Ju 88 bomber off of Gela, Sicily (Italy), on 11 July 1943. Robert Rowan was built at the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, Wilmington, North Carolina (USA). She was laid down on 3 March 1943, launched 6 April, and delivered to the Isthmain Steamship Company on 13 April. Her maiden voyage started on 14 May 1943 at Hampton Roads, Virginia (USA) to Oran (Algeria) as part of convoy UGS-8A. She was sent on to Gela, Sicily (Italy) to support the invasion of Sicily ("Operation Husky"). She arrived at Gela 11 July 1943 with a cargo of ammunition and 334 soldiers of the 18th Infantry. She also carried 14 U.S. Navy personnel, 32 U.S. Navy armed guards, and 41 crewmen. Just before 14:00 hrs German Junkers Ju 88 bombers appeared overhead and attacked the ships in the bay. During the attack the Rowan was hit by three 500 kg bombs. One bomb passed through the ship, but the other two exploded in the holds. Because of the nature of the cargo the ship was abandoned without any attempt to put the fire out. All 421 men on board safely evacuated the ship and were picked up by PT boats and transferred to nearby destroyers. Within twenty minutes the fire reached her munitions with a tremendous explosion tearing the ship in half. The burning ship came to rest on an even keel and burned for two days. The destroyer USS McLanahan (DD-615) tried to sink the ship because the fires lit up the area during the night, but this failed as the water was too shallow. The hulk lay in the waters off Gela until 1948 when it was sold and scrapped.

Source:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SC180476.jpg

German Prisoners at Enfidaville Tunisia

Image size: 1522 x 1600 pixel. 110 KB
Date: Wednesday, 12 May 1943
Place: Enfidaville, Tunisia
Photographer: Unknown

Photo from 12 May 1943, Enfidaville, Germans surrendering to New Zealand troops. Mixed emotions printed on the faces of the prisoners and their captors. For some anger and disappointment, for others relief "their war was over." The battle of Enfidaville (19-21 April 1943) was the Eighth Army's last significant battle in North Africa, and saw them fail to break through unexpectedly tough Axis resistance in the mountainous terrain around Enfidaville. After forcing the Axis troops to abandon the Gabes Gap (6 April 1943) the Eighth Army pushed north further into Tunisia. Sfax fell on 10 April, and in the process Monty won a bet with Eisenhower that the port would fall by 15 April. His prize was a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, which he insisted on collecting and used as his personal transport for the rest of the war. X Corps captured Sousee on 12 April and reached the outskirts of Enfidaville on 13 April. This was the eastern end of the Axis 'Last Stand' line, which ran north-west from Enfidaville towards Pon de Fahs, Medjez el Bab and Sedjenane. On 20 and 21 April there were heavy counterattacks, led by General Bayerlein, the commander of the German forces in the 1st Italian Army. The British were able to take Takrouna and part of Djebel Garci, twelve miles inland, but at heavy cost. The counterattacks and the heavy losses inland helped convince Montgomery that there was no point going on with the battle. The defenders had a series of strong positions, and were clearly willing to fight to hold onto them. On 21 April the Eighth Army attack was suspended, although at that point the plan was to renew the attack along the coast after four days.

Source :
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_enfidaville.html
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/history-research-third-reich-ww2/you-war-over-period-photos-german-pows-686919/

Captured Afrikakorps after the Battle of Sened

Image size: 1600 x 1041 pixel. 212 KB
Date: Saturday, 27 February 1943
Place: Sened Station, Gafsa Governorate, Tunisia
Photographer: Unknown

This photo shows four captive prisoners of the famed German Afrikakorps that caught in the attack of the US forces (from the 168th Infantry Regiment) to the German-Italian defense position around the Sened train station, southern Tunisia, on February 27, 1943. They are all under 25 years old, while unarmed soldiers told the Allied guards that he was only 20. The position of the Axis defense forces in Sened itself was finally captured by the American troops on March 21, 1943 after going through a fierce battle. In the end, 152 German and Italian soldiers became prisoners of war (including an Italian general). Meanwhile, the same number was also recorded for those who were killed and injured. The capture of Sened Station has paved the way for American forces to master the next larger target: City of Maknassy. In addition, this success was very meaningful for the 168th Infantry Regiment (led by Colonel Thomas Drake), because this were their very first battle against the Axis forces!

Source :
https://wehrmachtss.blogspot.com/2019/05/tawanan-afrikakorps-dalam-pertempuran.html

Tank of SS Prinz Eugen in Split Croatia

Image size: 1600 x 1018 pixel. 151 KB
Date: Monday, 27 September 1943
Place: Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia
Photographer: Dr. Gruber

Armoured units of the SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen" and the Grenadier-Regiment 92 passing through the streets of the newly-captured city of Split, Croatia, during Operation Achse. In the foreground: A French-built Hotchkiss H38 tank (captured by the Germans after 1940) of the "Prinz Eugen" Division's armoured company, photographed from a vehicle of the 92nd Grenadier Regiment. Operation Achse (German: Fall Achse, "Case Axis"), originally called Operation Alaric (German: Unternehmen Alarich), was the codename for the German plan to forcibly disarm the Italian armed forces after the armistice with the Allies in 1943. Several German divisions had entered Italy after the fall of Benito Mussolini in July 1943, while Italy was officially still an ally of Germany, despite the protests of the new Italian government under Pietro Badoglio. The Armistice of Cassibile was made public on 8 September. German forces moved rapidly to take over the Italian zones of occupation in the Balkans and southern France, and to disarm Italian forces in Italy. In some cases, the Italian troops, that had no superior orders and suffered many desertions, resisted the Germans, most notably in the Greek island of Cephalonia, where over 5,100 men of the 33rd Acqui Division were massacred after running out of ammunition and surrendering; in Rome, after the royal family and the government had fled, a disorganized defense by the Italian troops stationed around the capital was unable to defeat the German attack. Additionally, individual soldiers or whole units, like the 24th Pinerolo Division in Thessaly, went over to the local resistance movements. Only in Sardinia, Corsica, Calabria and in the southern part of Apulia were Italian troops able to offer successful resistance and hold off the Germans until relieved by the arrival of the Allies.

Source :
http://bandenkampf.blogspot.com/2015/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Split
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Achse

KNIL Marching in Australia

Image size: 1600 x 1190 pixel. 427 KB
Date: Monday, 14 June 1943
Place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Photographer: Unknown photographer from Herald Newspaper

Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), 14 June 1943. Watched by a small boy waving an Australian flag, troops of the K.N.I.L. (Netherlands East Indies Army) move along Swanston Street during the United Nations Flag Day march through the city. During the Dutch East Indies campaign of 1941–42, most of the KNIL and other Allied forces were quickly defeated. Most European soldiers, which in practice included all able bodied Indo-European males, were interned by the Japanese as POWs. 25% of the POWs did not survive their internment. A handful of soldiers, mostly indigenous personnel, mounted guerilla campaigns against the Japanese. These were usually unknown to, and unassisted by, the Allies until the end of the war. During early 1942, some KNIL personnel escaped to Australia. Some indigenous personnel were interned in Australia under suspicion of sympathies with the Japanese. The remainder began a long process of re-grouping. In late 1942, a failed attempt to land in East Timor, to reinforce Australian commandos waging a guerrilla campaign ended with the loss of 60 Dutch personnel. Four "Netherlands East Indies" squadrons (the RAAF-NEI squadrons) were formed from ML-KNIL personnel, under the auspices of the Royal Australian Air Force, with Australian ground staff. KNIL infantry forces (much like their counterparts in the UK), were augmented by recruitment among Dutch expatriates around the world and by colonial troops from as far away as the Dutch West Indies. During 1944–45, some small units saw action in the New Guinea campaign and Borneo campaign.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_East_Indies_Army

Canadian Tanks Landed at Reggio Calabria

Image size: 1600 x 1482 pixel. 289 KB
Date: Saturday, 4 September 1943
Place: Reggio Calabria, Southern Italy
Photographer: Alex Stirton

4 September 1943. This picture by Alex Stirton shows a tank from C Squadron of The Canadian Calgary Regiment is unloaded from LST F16 at Reggio Calabria on D plus one. The diary from Doc Alexander - a member of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps - reported: "Sept. 4: Loaded on LCT at 5 p.m. And sailed up the Messina Straits about twenty-five miles, then turned due East and sailed into the beach just north of Reggio. Landed at 10 p.m., a perfectly peaceful landing. Moved into the Town and bedded down for the night". A day previously, the Calgary Regiment assaulted the beaches of Reggio Calabria to little resistance and moved northwards with notable engagements in Potenza, Motta and Campobasso while supporting the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. During the World War II, due to its strategic military position, Reggio Calabria suffered a devastating air raid and was used as the invasion target by the British Eighth Army in 1943 which led to the city's capture. After the war Reggio recovered considerably.

Source :
https://docalexander.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/sept-3-4-1943-invasion-of-italy/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Calabria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King%27s_Own_Calgary_Regiment_(RCAC)
http://mapleleafup.tumblr.com/page/7

Corporal Bull Allen Carrying Wounded Soldier at Mount Tambu

Image size: 1182 x 1600 pixel. 762 KB
Date: Friday, 30 July 1943
Place: Mount Tambu, Salamaua, New Guinea
Photographer: Gordon Short

The exploits of Corporal Leslie 'Bull' Allen, of the 2/5th Australian Infantry Battalion, produced one of the most remarkable photographs of the Wau-Salamaua campaign. On 30 July 1943, during an attack by American troops on Japanese positions up Mount Tambu, Allen carried to safety twelve wounded Americans. The man he was photographed carrying had been knocked unconscious by a mortar bomb. Like many men in the veteran 17th Australian Infantry Brigade, of which the 2/5th Battalion was part, 'Bull' had earlier served in the Middle East. He had come to notice there for determination and bravery as a stretcher-bearer, recovering wounded men during battles in Libya and Syria. Later, after being sent to New Guinea, during the defence of Wau in January 1943 he had rescued men under intense fire, and was awarded the Military Medal. Born at Ballarat, Victoria, in 1918, Les had a tough childhood – he and his sister were raised in an orphanage, and at about the age of 12 the boy had to start earning a living. By the outbreak of war in September 1939, he had been in the work force, mostly farm labouring, for almost a decade. Then in April 1940, aged 21, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He was reinforcement to the 2/5th Battalion, which was training in Palestine, and was made a stretcher-bearer in 'D' Company. Les acquired the nickname of 'Bull' in Palestine. A keen sportsman, with an imposing physical stature – 5 feet 11 inches (180cm) tall, solid and strong – he would charge down the opposition while playing Aussie Rules, hence 'Bull'. He also had a wicked sense of humour and a booming voice and laugh – one of his mates recalled, 'You could hear him a mile off!' 'Bull' was thus one of the battalion's most recognisable, and one of its most popular characters. 'Bull' was revered by the men he served alongside. He was said to be one of the very few who never showed fear. The citation for his Military Medal pointed to 'courage and untiring efforts'. Bill Carty, a cameraman who later witnessed 'Bull's rescue of the Americans recalled a 'gigantic man striding up Mount Tambu like he was on a Sunday jaunt', describing Allen as 'a huge man with obvious physical and emotional strength, perhaps borne of a difficult childhood'. But this was an incomplete picture of the man. While he did not display his fears, 'Bull' was inclined to bottle them up. Shortly after his first campaign, in Libya, in early 1941, 'Bull' had been admitted to hospital suffering from 'anxiety neurosis'. After treatment and rest, he returned to his battalion, and performed admirably in Syria and then at Wau, and throughout the Wau-Salamaua campaign that followed. Time and again, he gave his all to bring in wounded men. Mount Tambu was merely another episode. The strain began to show only when 'Bull' was out of the battle area. In late 1943, at the conclusion of the Wau-Salamaua campaign, the survivors of the 17th Infantry Brigade were withdrawn to Australia for recuperation, much needed leave, and the rebuilding of their units. Allen had always been in trouble in one way or another and he exhibited a certain disdain of authority. But now, while training in Queensland, his behaviour became erratic, and he ended up punching an officer. He was court martialled, and medically discharged in September 1944. So traumatised was this decorated veteran of three campaigns by the experience of war, he retreated to an uncle's farm, having lost his power of speech, and took many months to start returning to 'normal'. It was during this time that the Army posted Leslie 'Bull' Allen a second medal, the US Silver Star, awarded for his actions on that day up Mount Tambu.

Source :
https://www.ddoughty.com/ww2-les-bull-allen.html
http://windsky.com.au/the-making-of-in-memory-of-bull-allen/

Australian Soldiers at the Battle of Mount Tambu

Image size: 1600 x 1202 pixel. 284 KB
Date: Friday, 23 July 1943
Place: Mount Tambu, Salamaua, New Guinea
Photographer: Gordon Short

Australian soldiers of "D" Company, 2/5th Battalion, lay down fire onto Japanese forces while using an abandoned Japanese weapons pit just 50 yards from the Japanese line, near Mount Tambu in the Salamaua area, New Guinea, 23 July 1943. New Guinea was crucial for the Australian war effort and had they not repelled the Japanese forces there Australia would have a very large and looming threat of invasion. The Japanese could of used the island as a launching point for invasions all along the coast. The Japanese were a very elite and well trained fighting drove during World War II. Had they had more supplies and better gear they could of held at least some parts of their vast territory from Allied attack. Supply shortages stork end the country though and starved their military. The Battle of Mount Tambu itself was a series of actions fought in the Salamaua area of the Territory of New Guinea between Allied and Japanese forces, which took place between 16 July and 18 August 1943. The battle formed part of the wider Salamaua–Lae campaign and was fought in the final stages of the campaign, which had seen a combined Australian and US force advance from Wau towards Salamaua following the repulse of the Japanese attack on Wau in late January and early February 1943. After several frontal assaults on the position by Australian and US infantrymen were rebuffed by determined Japanese defenders, an indirect approach was sought and flanking moves were undertaken to cut off the Japanese supply route along the Komiatum Track. This succeeded in eventually forcing the Japanese off the position as they withdrew to avoid encirclement.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mount_Tambu
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhEUA5eH7yS/