The First Visit of Marshal Zukhov to Berlin

Video size: 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) - 64.6 MB
Date: Thursday, 3 May 1945
Place: Berlin, Germany
Cameraman: various cameraman

On 3 May 1945, Marshal Georgy Zhukov, the celebrated Soviet commander who had led the Red Army to its decisive victory in the Battle of Berlin, made his historic visit to the German capital. Just three days after Adolf Hitler’s suicide and one day after Berlin’s surrender, Zhukov arrived in the devastated city as the supreme representative of Soviet military power. His inspection underscored the triumph of the USSR over Nazi Germany and marked the consolidation of Soviet control in the city. Riding through streets littered with rubble, Zhukov observed the destruction wrought by weeks of fierce fighting, while also coordinating the occupation zones with Allied representatives. His presence not only symbolized the Soviet role in defeating the Third Reich, but also foreshadowed the political reordering of Europe that would soon crystallize in the postwar division of Berlin. In this visit, he was accompanied by Arthur Pieck - the later general director of the East-German airline Interflug and son of the first president of the GDR, Wilhelm Pieck. In addition, the clip also shows the celebrations of the Red Army in front of the Brandenburg Gate, the Victory Column and the Lustgarten, which are shown with rare original sound.

Locations chronologically: 
0:00 Reichtsag
0:26 Brandenburg Gate
1:34 Reich Chancellery (dead Hitler lookalike and dead Goebbels family)
3:15 Victory Column
4:06 Georgen Church (blown up in 1949)
4:40 City Palace - Kaiser Wilhelm National Monument (demolished 1949/1950)
4:55 Lustgarten and Altes Museum.

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

Generalmajor Ramcke with His Family in the Christmas of 1941

Image size: 2048 x 1312 pixel. 578 KB
Date: Thursday, 25 December 1941
Place: Germany
Photographer: Unknown

Generalmajor Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (Kommandeur Ergänzungseinheiten und Schulen des XI. Fliegerkorps) in a formal picture with his family on Christmas Day of 1941. The mother of the children is Ruth Göldner - daughter of Generalleutnant Paul Göldner - who is 20 years younger than her husband. The couple had eight children, with the youngest being Volker Ramcke, who was born in 1952, a year after his father was released from an Allied prison camp. In the photo itself General Ramcke is wearing a Luftwaffe kleinerrock suit, with a bunch of medals pinned to the chest. Of course the most prestigious medal is the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in his neck, which he got on August 21, 1941, four months before this photo was taken. Ramcke himself then completed his Ritterkreuz "collection" with three more of even higher tiers: Eichenlaub (13 November 1942), Schwerter (19 September 1944), and Brillanten (19 September 1944). The latter made him one of only 27 soldiers in the entire Wehrmacht and SS to have it! The couple's six children make the mother, Ruth Ramcke, eligible for the Mutterkreuz (Mother's Cross), a special medal bestowed by the German government on every mother who gives birth to five or more children, as a token of appreciation for their dedication and sacrifices in raising so many children.


Source:
https://twitter.com/x3892555/status/1220459234988646411

American, Soviet and British Soldiers at Elbe

Image size: 1432 x 1600 pixel. 695 KB
Date: Wednesday, 25 April 1945
Place: Torgau an der Elbe, Germany
Photographer: Unknown

An American, a Soviet and a British soldier share Camel Cigarettes, at Torgau an der Elbe, April, 25th 1945. On that day American and Soviet - even some British troops - decided to meet each other at the Elbe River near Torgau, Germany. It took some work, translators, and lots of discussion through the translators and officers on the radio but, the now famous meeting was put together. Soviet, British, and American forces embraced each other, some even kissed one another, out of joy that Germany had been split in two and the war was finally coming to a close. However, the war was not yet won and many would still be killed. Some were not even killed in combat but by drunks, accidents, etc. The Meeting at the Elbe became a popular example of peace once had and chances of peace during the Cold War. Several songs were written about it and its date, April 25th, was even considered being made a “World Peace Day” but unfortunately it was rejected by the UN. However, those who were there never forgot it and for many it touched them deeply. The picture was colorised by Paul Kerestes from Romania.

Source :

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkC3G6GnsG8/

https://www.world-at-war.co.uk/?p=57&

Captured German Kübelwagen in the Liberation of Paris

Image size: 1079 x 1600 pixel. 604 KB
Date: Saturday, 26 August 1944
Place: Paris, France
Photographer: Frank Scherschel

Paris, France, 26 August 1944: Car carrying journalists and photographers of YANK magazine give a ride to French partisan and unidentified woman during parade held the day after the liberation of Paris by Allied troops. They are using a captured VW Kübelwagen Typ 82, a light military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military (both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS). Based heavily on the Volkswagen Beetle, it was prototyped as the Type 62, but eventually became known internally as the Type 82. Kübelwagen is an abbreviation of Kübelsitzwagen, meaning "bucket-seat car" because all German light military vehicles that had no doors were fitted with bucket seats to prevent passengers from falling out. The first VW test vehicles had no doors and were therefore fitted with bucket seats, so acquiring the name VW Kübelsitzwagen that was later shortened to Kübelwagen. Mercedes, Opel and Tatra also built Kübel(sitz)wagens. The picture was taken by Frank Scherschel from LIFE magazine.

Source :
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100326/Stunning-rare-colour-images-World-War-II.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_K%C3%BCbelwagen
https://www.gettyimages.com/license/72430265
https://ww2colorfarbe.blogspot.co.id/2018/04/captured-german-kubelwagen-in.html

The First Christmas of SS Division "Prinz Eugen"

Image size: 1600 x 1118 pixel. 437 KB
Date: Friday, 25 December 1942
Place: Yugoslavia
Photographer: Unknown

The first Christmas of the SS Volunteer Division "Prinz Eugen". Although the SS, being a pagan organisation, was essentially an opponent of Christianity – celebrating Christian holidays was nevertheless allowed within the organisation, because of the deep roots of this religion in Europe (that is, to avoid turning off the potential manpower). In the photo, the Banat ethnic Germans modestly celebrate their first and only peaceful wartime Christmas, before marching off to bloody battles across Yugoslavia. Their faces are already nostalgic and their thoughts directed towards home, to which most of them will never return.

Source :

http://bandenkampf.blogspot.co.id/2015/12/bk0118.html

US Army 37th Infantry "Buckeye" Division Returns to the United States

Image size: 1600 x 1274 pixel. 492 KB
Date: Thursday, 6 December 1945
Place: San Francisco, California, United States of America
Photographer: Unknown

The 37th Infantry (Ohio National Guard "Buckeye") Division returns to the United States on USS General William Mitchell (AP-114). The 37th arrived in the Fiji Islands in June 1942 to fortify the islands against possible invasion. The division moved to Guadalcanal in April 1943. Two battalions joined the Marines on Munda, New Georgia, July 5, 1943, while the remainder of the division landed, July 22, and assisted the 43d Infantry Division in taking Munda airfield in heavy fighting. After mopping up on New Georgia, the division returned to Guadalcanal, September 9, 1943, for rest and rehabilitation. Relieving Marine units on Bougainville, November 8-19, 1943, the 37th took over the perimeter defense of the area, constructed roads and bridges and engaged in extensive patrol activity. In March 1944, two Japanese divisions made eight major attacks, but division lines held. In April patrols cleared the Laruma Valley area of major enemy units. The division remained on Bougainville and trained for the Luzon campaign. Landing with the Sixth Army on the beaches of Lingayen Gulf, January 9, 1945, the 37th raced inland against slight resistance to Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg where fierce resistance delayed capture of those objectives until January 31. The division continued to drive to Manila against small delaying forces, and entered the city's outskirts, February 4. Upon crossing the Pasig River, it ran into bitter Japanese opposition, and it took heavy street fighting to clear the city by March 3, 1945. After garrison duty in Manila, March 5-26, the division shifted to the hills of Northwest Luzon, where heavy fighting culminated in the capture of Baguio on April 26. Rest and rehabilitation during May were followed by action in June in the Cagayan Valley against deteriorating Japanese resistance. With the end of hostilities on August 15, the division was concerned with the collection and processing of prisoners of war, leaving November 1945 for the States and demobilization on December 18. 

Source:

http://www.libraries.wright.edu/special/ddn_archive/2011/11/10/veterans-day/

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1149

American Prisoners of War Celebrate the Fourth of July at Camp Casisang

Image size: 1600 x 1067 pixel. 576 KB
Date: Saturday, 4 July 1942
Place: Camp Casisang, Malaybalay, Philippines
Photographer: Unknown

American prisoners of war celebrate the 4th of July in the Japanese prison camp of Casisange in Malaybalay, on Mindanao, P.I. It was against Japanese regulations and discover would have meant death, but the men celebrated the occasion anyway. The Visayan-Mindanao Force under US Army Brigadier General William F. Sharp was composed of the 61st, 81st, and 101st Infantry Divisions of the Philippine Army. Major General Jonathan M. Wainwright, in nominal command of all the Allied Forces in the Philippines, ordered Sharp to surrender on May 9. Sharp complied and most of his men entered captivity at Camp Casisang, Malaybalay, on May 10. Camp Casisang had been a training ground for the Philippine Constabulary. The barracks were of crude construction, some with corrugated steel roofs but most were made of either thatched wood or nipa palm fronds. Water was a scarce commodity and the prisoners were limited to one canteen of water per day for all purposes. One pump was the sole source of water for about 1,000 Americans and 11,000 Filipinos. On August 15, 1942, All Generals, Full Colonels and their orderlies left Camp Casisang. There had been a large number of full Colonels plus five Generals at the camp. One of them was Philippine General Manuel Roxas, who after the war became the President of the Philippines in 1946. The Japanese gathered 268 men and marched them to Bugo where they boarded the Tamahoko Maru on October 3, 1942 for a 3-day voyage to Manila. At Manila they were marched to Bilibid Prison to wait for transportation to Japan. Many did not survive the war. On October 15, 1942 Camp Casisang was closed. All remaining prisoners were moved on the Japanese frieghter Maru 760 to Davao. 

Source:

NARA (National Archives)  #: 111-SC-333290
WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 1301

http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imageRetrieve.action?guid=7d7f71b7d98e8bc85447a111385d630a9e72363d&t=2

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1150

Marines and Civilians Celebrate V-J Day in Times Square

Image size: 1600 x 1281 pixel. 432 KB
Date: Tuesday, 14 August 1945
Place: New York City, United States of America
Photographer: Matty Zimmerman

Starting on August 10, 1945, false reports of the end of the war caused premature celebrations across Canada and the United States. Most waited for the official word from US President Harry S Truman at the White House. As the negotiations progressed through early Tuesday morning, August 14. Throughout the day, thousands, then hundreds of thousands, gathered in Times Square to watch the "zipper" that gave updated information about the surrender. by 1900 750,000 people were pressing into 40th to 52nd Streets between 6th and 8th Avenues. At 1933 the official word of the acceptance of the Japanese surrender was flashed across the "zipper" and the crowd began to party. Some two million people crowded into Times Square. "Individual movement was virtually impossible; one moved not in the crowd but with it." said the New York Times. Women were forcibly kissed, barely able to recover from one soldier's affection before another embraced or kissed her. The party continued long into the night. The next day, over one million people again gathered in Times Square, continuing to revel in the surrender of Japan. 

Source:

http://www.replayphotos.com/usamilitaryphotostore/world-war-ii-print/vj-day-times-square_189862.cfm

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1138

Crowds Celebrate V-J Day in Times Square

Image size: 1600 x 1269 pixel. 731 KB
Date: Tuesday, 14 August 1945
Place: New York City, United States of America
Photographer: Sergeant Reg Kenny from US Army Signal Corps

View of Times Square looking north to Broadway and 7th Avenue. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in Times Square to wait for news of the Japanese surrender. Note line of film camera trucks in a line in the center of the photo; statue of Iwo Jima flag raisers; film camera in lower left. The marquee for the Hotel Astor had an NBC television crew shooting live video from it. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of photographers circulated around the crowd. The euphoria of the victory over Japan led to partying long into the night. 

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1139

V-J Day on Market Street San Francisco

Image size: 1600 x 1290 pixel. 599 KB
Date: Tuesday, 14 August 1945
Place: San Francisco, California, United States of America
Photographer: Ernest K. Bennett

San Franciscans crowd 4th Street and Market Street on Victory Over Japan Day. Overnight the crowd, fueled by liquor and hysteria, would riot, leaving eleven dead, and 1,000 injured! Many of the injuries involved broken limbs and cracked noggins from fights and falls. The riot, which followed the Japanese surrender announcement by a day, was mostly confined to downtown San Francisco and involved thousands of drunken soldiers and sailors, most of them teenagers. They smashed store windows, attacked women, halted all traffic, wrecked Municipal streetcars. 30 streetcars were disabled, and one streetcar worker was killed. The rioters took over Market Street and refused to leave until military and civilian police drove them away long after nightfall following hours of chaos. At 11 o'clock that night, the authorities finally moved in on Market Street. The police and military moved up Market, sweeping the rioters before them. Hours later, the rioters dispersed. The State Theatre at 787 Market Street, designed by Alfred Henry Jacobs, closed in 1954. 

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1133

Crowds in Times Square Celebrate V-J Day

Image size: 1600 x 1350 pixel. 463 KB
Date: Tuesday, 14 August 1945
Place: New York, USA
Photographer: Unknown

Crowds in Times Square Celebrate V-J Day on August 14, 1945 following announcement of Japan's acceptance of Postdam Declaration of unconditional surrender. A crowd of 750,000 people, buzzing with hope and excitement, had gathered in Times Square, eyes fixed on the Times Tower. At 7:03pm, the words finally blazed across the news zipper: “OFFICIAL – TRUMAN ANNOUNCES JAPANESE SURRENDER.” Times Square exploded in a collective cry of joy and relief. By 10pm, the crowd had swelled to more than 2 million, as New Yorkers flooded the Square. Dancing and celebrations went on into the night. Note mockup of Statue of Liberty and below that an effigy of the Iwo Jima Flag raising. 

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1009

Croatian Air Force Legion (HZL) Aircrew Celebrating the Unit's 1,000th Sortie Over the Eastern Front

Image size: 1140 x 1600 pixel. 404 KB
Date: Wednesday, 16 September 1942
Place: Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

Croatian Air Force Legion (HZL) aircrew pose in front of their Dornier Do 17Z bomber in recognition of the unit's 1,000th sortie over the Eastern Front, 16 September 1942. The unit returned to the NDH in December 1942. The Dornier Do 17 was numerically the most important bomber type used by the ZNDH. The Croatian Air Force (Croatian: Hrvatsko bojno zrakoplovstvo), originally the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia (Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske, ZNDH), was the air force of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), a puppet state established with the support of the Axis Powers during World War II. The ZNDH was founded under German authority in April 1941. Although it could not be considered a large air arm in the wider context of World War II, the ZNDH nonetheless had on its charge at one time or another some 650 aircraft between April 1941 and May 1945, as well as anti-aircraft and paratroop units. From humble beginnings in 1941, the ZNDH was still providing some measure of air-support (fighter, attack and transport) until the last days of World War II in Europe. During the middle part of 1941, some of the ZNDH's man-power capacity was sent to the Eastern Front as part of the Luftwaffe, the Croatian Air Force Legion (Hrvatska Zrakoplovna Legija, HZL; Kroatische Luftwaffen Legion). Most of the Croatian Air Force Legion's personnel were back on NDH territory by late 1943-early 1944 to help counter the growing Allied air threat. A Croatian Anti-Aircraft Legion was also deployed. The ZNDH maintained a flying school, originally at Rajlovac airfield near Sarajevo and then at Velika Gorica and Pleso airfields in Zagreb. Its parachute and paratroop school was located in Koprivnica, and its scout (fighter) school was located in Zagreb.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_Air_Force_%28Independent_State_of_Croatia%29

Banzai Celebration of Japanese Forces at Bataan

Image size: 1063 x 1600 pixel. 498 KB
Date: Thursday, 9 April 1942
Place: Orion, Bataan, Philippines
Photographer: Unknown

Imperial Japanese Army soldiers, probably of the Nagano Detachment, cheer the capture of Orion, Bataan, sometime around April 9, 1942. Orion, on the shore of Bataan facing Manila Bay, formed the east anchor of the main line of resistance opposite Bagac on the western shore. After falling back from from Layac Line in early January 1942, the Abucay Line on January 22, and the Mauban Line after that, the United States Army Far East (USAFFE) established the Orion-Bagac Line in late January. Japanese thrusts in February 1942 occurred even before the defensive positions were completed. The offensive was contained and destroyed in battles known as the "pockets." Few Japanese escaped back to their lines. Imperial Japanese Army General Masaharu Homma, commander of the 14th Army, was forced to ask for reinforcements. A lull in the fighting resulted; during that time USAFFE food and medicine supplies dwindled and both the soldiers and the civilians began to starve. During the latter part of February and throughout the month of March Japanese reinforcements poured into the Philippines. Orion, in George Marshall Parker, Jr.'s (April 17, 1889–October 25, 1968) II Corps area, was defended by the 31st Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Army (PA) in Sector A from the beach to 2,500 yards (2300 meters) inland, and by the American Provisional Air Corps Regiment made up of ground personnel from the Army Air Forces in Sector B just southeast of Orion. Japanese forces launched an attack against the Bagac–Orion Line at 0900hrs on April 3 with a massive artillery barrage. Homma hoped the six-hour barrage would smash American defensive positions and artillery batteries.On April 4, 1942, Homma alerted Major General Kameichiro Nagano's Detachment of the 21st Division to prepare to assault Orion. The Japanese infantry and armor moved out on the heels of the artillery preparation, hitting the Filipino troops before they could recover from the effect of the shelling. First to cross the San Vicente River was the Nagano Detachment which, at 0730 Hours, struck the 32nd Infantry (PA) on the right of Sector C west of Orion, then turned east to strike the Provisional Air Corps Regiment in Sector B. Supported by tanks, Nagano's men advanced rapidly into the area held by the grounded airmen who, lacking antitank weapons to oppose the armored point of the attack, fell back without a fight. The 31st Infantry (PA) in Sector A withdrew in disorder after a heavy air and artillery attack, leaving the Japanese in control of the last remaining portion of II Corps' original main line of resistance. On April 7, General Jonathan M. Wainwright, on Corregidor and commander of the United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) ordered General Edward P. King Jr. (July 4, 1884 - August 31, 1958), in command on Bataan, to counterattack and regain the Orion-Bagac Line. General King regretfully had to disobey the order as his men were not only starved and out of medical supplies and ammunition but he no longer had any room to maneuver. King's soldiers were demoralized; counterattacks failed and without antitank weapons, Allied units withdrew south. General Douglas MacArthur, exercising overall command from Australia, urged I and II Corps to counterattack, and Wainwright transmitted those orders to King. It was too late. At 0300 Hours Colonel Everett C. Williams (May 9, 1891 - June 20, 1972) of the 45th Infantry (PA) and Major Marshall H. Hurt, Jr. (June 26, 1908 - April 3, 1945) volunteered to go forward under a white flag to request an interview for General King with the Japanese commander. This photograph was from a newsreel still that was probably taken after the surrender. Later, this image appeared in Hito Hakengun ("Philippine Expeditionary Force") a publication celebrating the Japanese victory. 

Source:

NARA (National Archives) NWDNS-111-SC-334265 

http://www.allworldwars.com/The-War-Against-Japan-Pictorial-Record.html

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1045

Crew of U-198 Before Her Second Patrol

Image size: 1600 x 1079 pixel. 380 KB
Date: Thursday, 20 April 1944
Place: La Pallice, La Rochelle, Bay of Biscay, France
Photographer: Unknown

Some of the brave crew of the type IX D2 German submarine U-198 (commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Burkhard Heusinger von Waldegg) before her second war patrol at La Pallice, France, 20 April 1944. From left to right: unknown; Obermaschinist Otto Pick (17 March 1913 - 12 August 1944), DKiG 22 December 1943; unknown; Obermaschinist Hans Gottermeyer (29 December 1916), DKiG 22 December 1943; and another unknown. The two friends Otto Pick and Hans Gottermeyer both served together on U-103, and again on U-198, Hans was Diesel-Obermaschinist and Otto Engine-Obermaschinist, after U-198's first war patrol both received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (German Cross in Gold). Due to skin problems (contained during the first war patrol) Hans couldn't join U-198 on her second war patrol. U-198 was then sunk on 12 August 1944 near the Seychelles, in position 03.35S, 52.49E, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Findhorn and the Indian sloop HMIS Godavari. 66 dead (all hands lost), but Hans Gottermeyer survived the war!

Source:

Eric-Jan Bakker photo collection

http://www.historicalwarmilitariaforum.com/topic/3079-dkig-in-wear-kriegsmarine/page-2

U-455 Return From Her Patrol At St. Nazaire

Image size: 1600 x 1058 pixel. 357 KB
Date: Tuesday, 16 June 1942
Place: Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Atlantique department, France
Photographer: Kriegsberichter Vater

Kapitänleutnant Hans-Heinrich Giessler (center) with the type VIIC German submarine U-455 (under 7. Unterseebootsflottille) just back from war patrol at St. Nazaire, 16 June 1942, and then welcomed by the commander of 7. Unterseebootsflottille (7th U-boat Flotilla), Kapitänleutnant Herbert Sohler. In his third patrol (lasting 62 days from 16 April 1942), Giessler sunk two British ships, "British Workman" (3 May 1942, weight 6,994 tons from ON-89 Convoy) and "Geo H. Jones" (11 June 1942, weight 6,914 tons from SL-111 Convoy) with the total tonnage 13,908 tons. These would be his only victim on his entire career as a U-boat captain. U-455 listed as missing in the Mediterranean after 6 April, 1944, probably in or around the Ligurian Sea. No record of any action by any of the belligerents is listed and it is suspected that she may have been lost due to an accident! 51 crew dead (all hands lost) including her captain at that time, Kapitänleutnant Hans-Martin Scheibe.

Source:

Bundesarchiv Bild 101II-MW-6434-20

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:U-455_%28submarine,_1941%29