Afrika Korps photos from El Alamein

[Greg W.]

I just got in two postcard sized photos of DAK soldiers that were sent home from El Alamein by an Australian soldier. Neither of them have anything written on the back, but top one has Agfa printed on it while the photo with the backdrop has Ferrania printed on it. I was interested by the fact that they are posing with Carcanos and have Italian cartridge pouches. Any comments or learned observations welcome.

[byterock]

The second photo looks like it was taken by an Itinerant street photographer
with something like this Postcard Camera


From the look of the person in the background it could of been taken in Italy or Greece where these photographers were common (and still are in some places)

[milcollector]

hello, sorry to disappoint you, but I very much doubt these were sent home from Alamein. I am not a uniform expert, but arent they third pattern tropical tunics ?
- in which case that would totally rule them out of Alamein.

"it was bought home from Alamein" is typical salesmans bull. Never believe stories like that except if straight from a vets mouth.

Ferrania was a very common Italy developed postcard used by the troops stationed in Italy. As already stated, both of these scenes are probably taken in Italy late 1943-45. They are definitely not taken in Libya.

[NZMark]

I agree. The uniform tunic in the first photo is a third pattern. (Three in the second). As we have seen, the earliest were in N.Africa late Nov.42- also notice the caps minus soutache. From the printing details, I think these were taken in Italy.
Regards,
Mark.

[Jean-Loup]

I dont think these photos were taken in Italy, and then who knows where they were posted from. Apparently not El Alamein because of the late tunic...

[peter u]

Hello,

Perhaps southern France, the guns they are holding are French rifles the 1892 M16 carabine.
Ofcours that proofs nothing, just my guess.

Cheers,
Peter

[Greg W.]

Well, thanks for the info gentlemen. I got these from Australia from a man who claimed to be the vet's son. He could have been confused about where they came from. I got them cheap, so no serious harm done to the pocketbook.

[NZMark]

Still great photos, Greg
Mark.

[TerryG]

[quote=peter u;1879986

Perhaps southern France, the guns they are holding are French rifles the 1892 M16 carabine.[/quote]

I don't think so

[Greg W.]

I still think the rifles are Carcanos, although I'm not sure what model, and I feel pretty sure the cartridge pouches are Italian. As maligned as the Carcano is, its interesting to see German troops carrying them.

[Simon O.]

Agreed, those are Carcanos and Italian pouches.

[milcollector]

if the developer is Ferrania then I am quite sure the photo is from Italy.

All of the Ferrania pics in my collection are from Italy.

[gew98]

Agreed, those are Carcanos and Italian pouches.

Yessir ; These are M38 Carcano short rifles. The second one from the left has an long rifle straight bolt in it.Whether these are 7,35 or 6,5 caliber is anyone's guess.
And why would german soldiers have such non german arms. Quite frankly this was really common as 98k's and like german small arms always tended to be in short supply when needed at the sharp end. The germans were very adept at issueing such foriegn arms pressed into their use to supply and security troops to free up standard german arms for the combat formations. Virtually the same MO they used during the first world war.