Captured

[cyberia]

[Wustenfuchs]

[quote=cyberia;25068][center]




Amazing stuff Paul. This first picture looks like the German soldiers are actually trying to help the Soviet soldier get behind the line to safety before he gets hit. The second picture is really kind of sad considering the POWs all appear healthy and fairly happy in their situation (their war is over) but unfortunately most Soviet POWs met a cruel fate.
PS- Thanks for the graphic photo warning, I can handle it but I think you did the right thing by letting folks decide for themselves if they want to see it.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Wustenfuchs

This first picture looks like the German soldiers are actually trying to help the Soviet soldier get behind the line to safety before he gets hit. The second picture is really kind of sad considering the POWs all appear healthy and fairly happy in their situation (their war is over) but unfortunately most Soviet POWs met a cruel fate.

Two opinions on that Bill.

First, This photo may be from the early stages of Barbarossa when front line troops of both sides had a grudging respect for each other. This changed when the war in the east turned into a battle of attrition and mandates on prisoners issued by the commands of both side changed.

Second, in most cases prisoners suffered worse treatment after capture when moved to rear areas. Tragically large numbers of German and Russian POWs who entered captivity in relatively good heath, did not survive to see the end of the war.

I posted a photograph in the "Fallen" thread of a Russian battlefield grave topped with helmets with an MG nearby. Look very closely at what else is in that photo. There is a interesting story there.

[cyberia]

[Jim O]

More great shots. Do you think the top one is early in the war, perhaps early autumn 1941 as a guess? The long column of Soviet prisoners are all still wearing boots. Later on it seems to me the soldiers were stripped of anything useful.

[cyberia]

That would be my guess, Jim. They also appear to be very healthy and well fed.

[Wustenfuchs]

And a pair of KV 2s, great shot!

[Wustenfuchs]

Originally Posted by cyberia

Two opinions on that Bill.

First, This photo may be from the early stages of Barbarossa when front line troops of both sides had a grudging respect for each other. This changed when the war in the east turned into a battle of attrition and mandates on prisoners issued by the commands of both side changed.

Second, in most cases prisoners suffered worse treatment after capture when moved to rear areas. Tragically large numbers of German and Russian POWs who entered captivity in relatively good heath, did not survive to see the end of the war.

I posted a photograph in the "Fallen" thread of a Russian battlefield grave topped with helmets with an MG nearby. Look very closely at what else is in that photo. There is a interesting story there.

I'm not sure but in that "Fallen" photo it looks like there is a line of graves in the rear, some with the German death rune grave markers, which would make this a Soviet/German burial ground.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Wustenfuchs

I'm not sure but in that "Fallen" photo it looks like there is a line of graves in the rear, some with the German death rune grave markers, which would make this a Soviet/German burial ground.

My appraisal is that the Germans gave the Russian and very decent burial. Once again, this must have been an early photograph.

[Wustenfuchs]

Yes I see what you mean Paul. Even the Maxim placed there shows a great deal of respect. I wonder if the three Russians were members of a machine gun crew.