Belgium in May 1940, a view through the German camera

[Tim DC]

Ramon, thanks for the identification! I have searched for some more photos of Galeazzo Ciano and it indeed looks to be him. http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil...pics/ciano.jpg

Steiner, sorry to hear that. I have moved the photos to my personal webspace and all should work now. Thanks for noticing


Here's one more photo showing executed civilians in Vinkt. I have identified all 12 victims. Half of them are farmers from that village, the other half are civilians who were fleeing. Under the motto "Zivilisten haben geschossen", these innocent people were killed by members of the 225th Infanteriedivision because of the heavy opposition of the Belgian troops in that region. In total, 86 people were executed

[Douglas Jr.]

And last for now a photo of Generalmajor Moritz Andreas, Ritterkreuztrager and Commander of the 208th Infanteriedivision, who was very active in the fightings in Belgium. He is here having dinner in the seaside city De Panne, it looks like some Italian officers have joined him to celebrate the victory in the West.

Hi Tim,

Thanks for sharing these nice pictures! In regard of this particular picture, I think that the German General sit in the table is Bruno Loerzer (1891-1960), a very close friend of Goering and one of the great surviving aces from WWI (a RK and PLM winner).

It is also interesting to see some many M16/M18 WWI reissued helmets in use with front line units. I counted three soldier wearing them in the rubber raft crossing the channel, besides that soldier of the 307th Infanterie Regiment, with one attached to his belt.

Congratulations!

Douglas.

[-Michael]

Hi Tim, I thought I would add another pic to your thread. This one shows Belgian POWs in Genk, Belguim. The album has several nice pics taken in Belguim. Cheers, Larry

Hellow Larrister, I know that house!! I'll look for it later.

[Tim DC]

I finally managed to scan the huge pile of new photos that has been lying here for months. Here's a nice selection of 5

Two French tanks "Char B1bis", the "MEUSE" and the "BEARN II" in the streets of Beaumont. The "MEUSE" was originally abandonned next to the "BEARNII", but was moved by the Germans to clear the way.

[Tim DC]

The remains of the heavy fightings near Nieuwpoort, at the Belgian coast, on the day the Belgian army surrendered. A killed Belgian soldier is still lying on the footpath.

[Tim DC]

A neat technical photo of an anti-aircraft gun mounted on a halftrack in De Panne, also at the Belgian coast. The unit insignia is clearly visible and belonged to the Gen.Kdo. Flak-Korps II le.Flak-Abteilung 74.

[Tim DC]

A Belgian officer of the 22nd Infantry Regiment and his men have just surrendered in Ronsele, after defending the "Schipdonckkanaal", a small canal where heavy fightings occured.

[Tim DC]

And last for today, an English fighter plane has just been shot down near Antwerp. Some Luftwaffe guys are checking the remains.

[Todd Gylsen]

Tim,

Great photos. Thanks for sharing. If I may post a photo to your thread, here is one taken at the barracks in Ostende soon after its capture by German troops.

[Tim DC]

Thanks Todd, and of course all additional photos for this thread are welcome

[Todd Gylsen]

Thanks Tim. I'll dig around for some more to post.

[Todd Gylsen]

Here is another. This shows the destroyed Laeken Bridge in Brussels.

[Myth]

great thread and way
i'm making the same thing but few days after, the Sedan offensive.
If you have photo of Sedan mp me please

[Panzer Rob]

Tim-

Awesome thread, great pictures


By the way, this is one of the best period shots of a SdKfz.6/2 I have ever seen. What a beauty

Thanks for sharng

A neat technical photo of an anti-aircraft gun mounted on a halftrack in De Panne, also at the Belgian coast. The unit insignia is clearly visible and belonged to the Gen.Kdo. Flak-Korps II le.Flak-Abteilung 74.

[Tim DC]

Thanks for the input guys

Todd, nice photo! Indeed this is the Laken bridge in Brussels. It was destroyed in the afternoon of the 17th of May 1940 by members of the A Company of the British East Surrey Regiment. The bridge was not completely destroyed and the next morning some German pioneers could temporarily fix the bridge quite rapidly. I don't have any photos of this bridge yet, so if you'd want to sell it ..

Myth, I'll keep an eye open for you, I hope you'll do the same!

Here's one more sobering image of 2 Belgian graves in Doornzele, Flanders. These 2 guys of the 32nd Infantry Regiment died on the 23th of May while defending the canal Gent-Terneuzen. Their rifles and bayonets have been placed in the ground.