Dead SS-Scharführer

[HouweTrouwe]

one thing i noticed, if he is pretending to be dead, he seems to have his hand gently left under his head to protect his face from the cold snow?
Ian

Why is his wrist in such a position then, that isn't gently under his head.

[PZIV]

Why would a Scharführer in the SS run away? I don't think he is a deserter.

Strange though.

[Brendan Hunt]

Interesting photo. Even with all the evidence pointing towards death...I strongly think he's just goofing off. Originally someone mentioned he could be a Grepo (I know they're insignia is similiar to SS, but we can't see the other collar tab). Why would a boarder guard be caught in barbed wire and be dead?

-Brendan

[Adrian]

My first thoughts were that it was a posed photo but if you look at the knuckles of his exposed hand, hung on the barbed wire you will see what I can only guess to be blood running from where his finger is apparently caught down and over his knuckles. If this is the case, who would do that to themselves just for a lark?

[Simon O.]

His uniform shows he is or was in barracks and not in the field. If it's on a border then the photo has been taken on the other side, ie. from where ever he was trying to reach.

If he has been shot then i think desertion comes low down on the list of possibilities. For example, the guy might have commited a criminal offence. The MPs or police come for him, sees the game is up and makes a break for it.


It could also be that the photo was taken in an instant that makes it look as if he's motionless with eyes shut.

[Don D.]

He has his bayonet on and apparently was crawling through the wire. He could not have fallen unto it and left the top two strands above him.

[Adrian]

I believe it is a pre-war photo.
Max.

Hello Max,
What makes you think it might be pre war?

[Dolph]

The groin area of his uniform looks dark, blood? It's too dark to be a shadow - look at the fence post shadow.

There also looks to be a dark patch seeping into the snow around the groin area and a dark patch coming out from under his boot around the shin area. I bet when he was picked up there was a large area of blood in the snow beneath the body.

Just my 10 cents worth.
Steve

[besslein]

maybe he is only drunk,and some one take a photo of him for fun

[outcast]

dead or living, each way why mans arm over wire if shot and fell onto this? maybe to lie this way must have dived through, me thinks posing, sorrys. paul

[HouweTrouwe]

No, then the snow wasn't that beautiful IMO.

[Hank C.]

Consider also, if there was only a bit of blood, it would seep DOWN into the snow a bit, instead of instantly out away from the body.

My thoughts: Maybe he got VERY drunk, disoriented, tangled then passed out, froze to death?

best
Hank

[afrikasandman]

er is tot.

[Larrister]

I cannot decide whether this soldier is goofing off or really dead.
Whatever happened must have happened recently prior to when the photo happened.

I noticed (arrow A) that his right knee which is under his left leg has pushed the snow forward.

His left knee (arrow B) has done the same which has raised the snow under it.

If this had been done much earlier the snow would have settled.

There seems to be snow on his left leg below the knee and on the toe of his left boot but not elsewhere.

Cheers
Larry

[Wijtman01]

were is his sleeve eagle?