Reichsbahn Photos-Who, What, Where and When?

[cyberia]

OK, here's a bit more, but that's it until tomorrow.

A very famous German senior military leader, kicking back in a dinning car, puffing on a big old cigar.

I guarantee, you have not seen this on the History Channel.

[cyberia]

Pirate-Drakk and I put a lot if research and time into this photo, and yes, it is Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt, Generalfeldmarschall der Wehrmacht.

A Rundstedt caught in a very candid moment in a dinning car firing up a cigar. Considering the backs to the camera and the center of focus being slightly off, our guess if that this was a casual shot by someone close to Rundstedt, or at least with access to him, rather than a posed propaganda photo.

Rundstedt's decorations are not worn in this photo and his rank is obscured. However, working off a copy of Malcolm MaGregor's "Badges and Insignia of the Third Reich", we were able to ID the uniform of the man in the background as that of the Reichsbahn Security, and as his collar tabs are of the late redesigned issue, dating the photograph to 1943 or later.

Care to add anything, P-D?

[Jim O]

It looks as though someone said "Hey look!" or something (probably from the far side of the next table given the angle and the elements in the photo) as von Rundstedt and the Reichsbahn Security officer both are looking at the camera. The man to von Rundstedt's laeft (our right) was perhaps also smiling for the photo. Any idea as to his identity?

[Panzermacher]

From the extreme close-ups of two shoulders in the extreme forground, I would say our photographer was seated at another table beside the Herr Feldmaschall. And the man with his back to the camera, left foreground.....is that Cards? or a Cigarette packet he is holding?


Yet again Paul...the pictures have drug me in..... I still love the shot of the Young Landser off to war. That picture says so much, without even needing a caption......His look bespeaks Ostfront Bound......And I wonder what his fate may have been......

[Pirate-Drakk]

Originally Posted by Panzermacher

From the extreme close-ups of two shoulders in the extreme forground, I would say our photographer was seated at another table beside the Herr Feldmaschall. And the man with his back to the camera, left foreground.....is that Cards? or a Cigarette packet he is holding?

I believe it is a photograph the guy on the left is looking at (I concluded after much detailed scrutiny). It may be the amusing topic of conversation they appear to be having. One could imagine that the amusing(?) photo was property of the photographer and he used it to get the attention of those at the other table. Perhaps a ruse to get the candid shot?

[Panzermacher]

I Thought that too PD.....The Photographer obviously was amusing then enough to get them to relax for the pic. I was thrown off by the bottom of what he is holding. (It looks folded?)

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Jim O

It looks as though someone said "Hey look!" or something (probably from the far side of the next table given the angle and the elements in the photo) as von Rundstedt and the Reichsbahn Security officer both are looking at the camera. The man to von Rundstedt's laeft (our right) was perhaps also smiling for the photo. Any idea as to his identity?

None, Jim. Its always my hope whenever I post one of these that someone will spot something I missed or can't identify. We took great care to ID the von. I mean, how many times have you seen a Field Marshall smirk?

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Panzermacher

Yet again Paul...the pictures have drug me in..... I still love the shot of the Young Landser off to war. That picture says so much, without even needing a caption......His look bespeaks Ostfront Bound......And I wonder what his fate may have been......

Haunting, isn't it. As for his fate, perhaps another young life wasted, perhaps today someone's grandfather. Most likely, we will never know.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Pirate-Drakk

I believe it is a photograph the guy on the left is looking at (I concluded after much detailed scrutiny). It may be the amusing topic of conversation they appear to be having. One could imagine that the amusing(?) photo was property of the photographer and he used it to get the attention of those at the other table. Perhaps a ruse to get the candid shot?

You know, P-D, that could very well have been the case.

One good thing about photographs like these is that in lieu of captions, they open up our imaginations.

[cyberia]

A line of men with kits in hand queuing up track side for mess

One solider naps while two others amuse themselves with a harmonica.

Date and location of both photos unknown