Ideas: Eastern Front 1941 - 1942 (1 Viewer)

[Gebhard]

Terry, the first picture I posted was taken August 23, 1942 which was the day the bombing started (in the afternoon). This area looks untouched at this point.

Here is a picture later in the battle. You can see considerable damage. The low angle of the sun highlights the height of various structures. Perhaps the building in the left side of the frame is the one I indicated with the arrow. It looks quite tall.

As for color photography I have found far more early war German color photographs than late war, probably a reflection of the deteriorating situation for Germany. I have seen the photo above in both color and black and white.

Agfa was producing some of the earliest color film in Germany back as early as the early thirties . I really enjoy seeing some of the early german color photography both still and movies it really has a certain feel to it :salute::. I'm really enjoying these shot's Frank thanks for taking your time to share ....your spot on with regards to the deteriorating situation in Germany .. Regards Gebhard

 

[daruss]

Geb is right on point! AGFA was producing color film in the the thirties. Many of the people who owned the film were civilians and regular soldiers, they took a vast majority of the color footage... The vast majority of the B&W footage was taken by the war correspondents.. Though there was a correspondant in Africa that took many color photos.. There is actually a ton of color footage of the parades during the 30's,, and much color footage of the eastern front from 41 to 43..
While it has been a trend to "colorize" film, much of the German color footage is genuine. And the shot i posted is a darn good photo!
Some of you may be wondering about the "tan" Stugs. When AFV's came out of the factory, most had a tan/yellow base.. They were usually painted later,, grey, green, etc..

 

[Blowtorch]

What are people's thoughts regarding the location of this picture?

Is it here?

Don't know...never thought about it before. One interesting tidbit is that Jason Mark identified those two Stugs in the background of the troop photo as grey short barrels. I think he's right. I wonder if that open lot to 10 o'clock to your arrow is a yard of unfinished T-34s.

Updated comment: I don't think your arrows are pointing to the spot. The building on the right of the troops is a very small building, not one of the big halls. Also, judging by the size of those assumed T-34s, the whole area the two pics cover is very tiny & compact.

newerer update: you can tell by the size of the cars at how vast these buildings are (you have to admit the 6th Army did a really good job at rebuilding that plant)

 

[fmethorst]

One of the aerial photos conveniently features a scale reference which I have moved to the location in question.

The troops are assembled in the vicinity of the fourth roof peak. If this is the correct location then that places them approximately half way along the width of that work hall. I estimate the width of that building to be ~90m. Distance to the factory main gate is ~200m.

As to the heights of the various work halls there was a wide variation. The lighting in this picture helps to illustrate how some, including the building in question, were quite low.

If we look at the assembled troops from a slightly different angle...

...the wreckage bears a striking resemblance to this picture taken prior to the war.

So here is my theory starting with the Stug III pic.

The red arrows roughly represent the field of view of the image.

Certain aspects of the building behind the Stug appear to match with the aerial photo.

• Yellow arrow - staircase in the same location
• Blue arrow - stepped feature on the roof
• Green arrow - shorter section of building

If the photographer was to move ~50m towards the river it would place him where I propose the shot with the assembled troops was taken.

The red arrows roughly represent the field of view of the image

Again certain aspects of the photo appear to match.

• Yellow arrow - the side of the building seen in the Stug picture
• Blue arrow - The tractor factory main gate (~200m)

Based on this I think the Stugs stayed put and it was the photographer that moved in this sequence.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

That clears up the left hand building for me. the field of view arrows differentiate between the end of the left hand building in the photo containing the German troops and the longer side of the left hand building when the photographer moved up close to the 2 stugs and took the second photo at a much sharper angle.

As for the stug colour, if it is the actual colour and not colourized, it's similar (but lighter) to the colour of an Afrika Korps AFV.

Terry

 

[Blowtorch]

I like it except for the structure circled in orange. Looks like a building with a shattered roof that is allowing light to pass through the windows (judging from shadows on the ground). Or do you not think it is a building?

 

[fmethorst]

I don't see a structure there although shadows are definitely being cast by something. My guess would be the remnants of the trees that lined both sides of the street.

I realize I've taken this thread off course a bit so here is a few pics to get it back on track.

...and a favorite of mine. We need an Sd.Kfz.251

 

[Vezzolf]

Frank....Great Photos and Great Subject matter.....I would love to see a German Motorcycle with side car with long coated German soldiers...The Halftrack is also something that would be great to see from First Legion Stalingrad.........Is that a Panzer II tank?

 

[Gazza]

I think some of these might be interesting and would mean that I might open up a second front to my crusaders :smile2::smile2:

 

[tommy416]

Love the pic's !!

 

[Blowtorch]

My guess would be the remnants of the trees that lined both sides of the street.

I realize I've taken this thread off course a bit so here is a few pics to get it back on track.

trees it is.

A DP LMG is needed for Ivan. Also Molotov cocktailists, a HQ unit getting overrun (could make for some interesting uniform possibilities), a dismounted tanker in black leather jacket fighting as infantry, militia, hot women snipers, and...

"for every German soldier, there is an Iron Cross; for every Soviet soldier, there is a mortar" -Stalin?

 

[Gebhard]

I think some of these might be interesting and would mean that I might open up a second front to my crusaders :smile2::smile2:

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Great shots :wink2: .. even though all the German snipers pictured are Waffen SS it still gives a nice vision of what they might look like . I would love to see First legion do snipers both German and Soviet for Stalingrad that would be FANTASTIC {bravo}} Very nice shots .. Regards Gebhard

 

[Vezzolf]

Completely Agree Gebhard...Russian Snipers are a must for Stalingrad.....Excellent Photos

 

[Gazza]

Great shots :wink2: .. even though all the German snipers pictured are Waffen SS it still gives a nice vision of what they might look like . I would love to see First legion do snipers both German and Soviet for Stalingrad that would be FANTASTIC {bravo}} Very nice shots .. Regards Gebhard

Gebhard

I did not realise that they were SS - just think snipers are an interesting aspect of war.

Here is another one (hopefully not SS) :smile2::smile2: - I think this would look great with the current releases

Cheers

Gazza

 

[Gebhard]

Gebhard

I did not realise that they were SS - just think snipers are an interesting aspect of war.

Here is another one (hopefully not SS) :smile2::smile2: - I think this would look great with the current releases

Cheers

Gazza

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Gazza,
Nice shot and this time not SS :wink2: how about these :wink2:
Sorry SS but winter is what I was going for

This is a cool^&cool one using burlap as camo , those crafty Germans

and for something different .. all aboard next stop Stalingrad ^&grin

Regards Gebhard

 

[Vezzolf]

We need Stalingrad Snipers....and Oh yes......a winter T-34..:wink2:

 

[lancer]

Gebhard

I did not realise that they were SS - just think snipers are an interesting aspect of war.

Here is another one (hopefully not SS) :smile2::smile2: - I think this would look great with the current releases

Cheers

Gazza

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Great photo. Interesting that he is using what appears to be a Russian Moisen-Nagant rifle. -- Al

 

[Andanna]

Now that we got the snipers and the T-34, time to revisit the ideas for the WWII range. Ignoring the original title of the thread, I added photos of the Western Front, early Western Front, though.

I am for FL doing some cavalry.

 

[Andanna]

Some additional camp life:

 

[Andanna]

I also found these (for me) unusual vehicles. I would not mind seeing them as a model, in particular in combination in a "camp life" scenario:

I do not think this is German. Russian?

This would go great with the Blitz: