From the Kriegsberichter's Eyes: A study in German Press Photos

[Todd Gylsen]

H3065/ The squadron dog.
Bonzo, the pet of the squadron, is rummaging through the JU-88 searching for a good view.
9 December 1941 Weltbild PK-Petertil

[Todd Gylsen]

2647e/ The Soviets destroyed this with dynamite.
Everywhere the Bolsheviks retreated, they systematically destroyed the rail lines every 30 to 50 meters with high explosives.
10 December 1941 Atlantic PK-Rebhahn

[Todd Gylsen]

H3096/ Panzers carrying Infantrymen roll forward in a mopping-up operation.
10 December 1941 Weltbild PK-Qual

[Todd Gylsen]

Can anyone ID this officer??



H3187/ The decoration of the German Cross in Gold for an African pilot.
Hauptmann K., a Staffel Captain in a dive-bomber squadron, is the first officer in a German Luftwaffe unit employed in Africa to have received this high award on account of his repeated extraordinary bravery. Hauptmann K. has seen action on all fronts of the war.
12 December 1941 Weltbild PK-Jung

[Todd Gylsen]

2691/ Important traffic roads are constantly being constructed directly behind the Eastern Front.
The German Pioneer is constructing a bridge near Grodno.
14 December 1941 Atlantic PK-Jäger

[Todd Gylsen]

2720a/ In the snow covered Karelian Forest.
Men of the Waffen-SS stand shoulder to shoulder with the Finnish allied
fighters. Snow camouflage is excellent against being spotted by the enemy.
16 December 1941 Atlantic SS-PK-Gösling

[MarcRikmenspoel]

2720a/ In the snow covered Karelian Forest.
Men of the Waffen-SS stand shoulder to shoulder with the Finnish allied
fighters. Snow camouflage is excellent against being spotted by the enemy.
16 December 1941 Atlantic SS-PK-Gösling

Did we discuss Jobst Gösling yet? He was an administrator as well as a reporter. He served on the northern front, commanding the Nord Division's KB platoon. He later commanded the reporters with the Latvian 15. WGD. By late 1943 or early 1944, he headed an office in Riga, coordinating the efforts of other reporters in the Baltic/Finland area. Gösling became a Hstuf. (Captain) on June 21, 1944, making him one of the highest ranking Waffen-SS men who spent time as a combat photographer. He held the Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze and the General Assault Bage in Silver.

On a different note, notice that these men already have winter camouflage in time for a photo released on December 16, and taken a few days or weeks earlier. The weather was brutal in northern Finland, and the Heer Gebirgsjaeger there suffered terribly with inadequate clothing, their status as mountain troops not withstanding. However, I was privy to some private correspondence from a Nord Division veteran, some years ago, and he indicated that the SS-FHA made sure that suitable arctic gear was provided to the Nord men for the winter, a fact not generally recorded in the history of German operations in Finland.

[foundy]

Jobst Gosling

Did we discuss Jobst Gösling yet? He was an administrator as well as a reporter. He served on the northern front, commanding the Nord Division's KB platoon. He later commanded the reporters with the Latvian 15. WGD. By late 1943 or early 1944, he headed an office in Riga, coordinating the efforts of other reporters in the Baltic/Finland area. Gösling became a Hstuf. (Captain) on June 21, 1944, making him one of the highest ranking Waffen-SS men who spent time as a combat photographer. He held the Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze and the General Assault Bage in Silver.

On a different note, notice that these men already have winter camouflage in time for a photo released on December 16, and taken a few days or weeks earlier. The weather was brutal in northern Finland, and the Heer Gebirgsjaeger there suffered terribly with inadequate clothing, their status as mountain troops not withstanding. However, I was privy to some private correspondence from a Nord Division veteran, some years ago, and he indicated that the SS-FHA made sure that suitable arctic gear was provided to the Nord men for the winter, a fact not generally recorded in the history of German operations in Finland.

Hi Marc

Looks like you have beaten me to the punch regarding Jobst Gosling.
Here is some additional information.

Born 26.08.1902 in Osnabruck
Served with SSKB Zug 4 Nord in Karelia during 1941 until sometime December 1941-January 1942( Not sure when or if he was the Zugfuhrer,as the Zugfuhrer of the 4th Zug was Oberstumfuhrer Alfed Boettcher August 1941 and still shown as Zugfuhrer in february 1942
He could have been the Bildberichter Trupp Fuhrer)


Then became the Kurt Eggers Verbindungsfuhrer.Leg from february 1942 until february 1943.

He was then Zugfuhrer of the 10th SS KB Zug march 1943- october 1943 which was with units of 2 SS Inf.Brigade.
Being promoted to Obersturmfuhrer on 20.04.1942.

As Kurt Eggers was expanded and reorganised he became Zugfuhrer of the 2nd SS KB Zug of 3rd SSKB Kompanie from around November 1943 until early January 1944.

When he became the Kompaniefuhrer of the 6th Lett. SSKB Kompanie.
January 1944 until around May-June 1944.

Then promoted to Haupsturmfuhrer and taking up the position of Propaganda-Abschnittsfuhrer Lettland und Lettische Einheiten from June 1944 until at least january-february 1945.

After that ??

Regards

Andy

[Todd Gylsen]

You guys are a great wealth of information. Thanks for sharing this with us.

I wish we had this kind of information on all of the KB men.

[Todd Gylsen]

A94890/ Bombs and more bombs!
The bombs are brought to the loading platform with a tractor.
10 May 1941 Presse Bild Zentrale

[Bill Murray]

Interesting photo of the Cat, Todd:

Any idea where it was taken?

And, thanks for throwing Uncle Bill a bone with the vehicle photo

Bill

[Todd Gylsen]

Hi Bill,

My best guess based on the other photos from my collection around this date is from the Southeast Front (perhaps Greece).

[John Toner]

The man in #3111 is Kurt Kuhlmey, later Knights Cross winner.

John

[Todd Gylsen]

Thanks John for the identification of this officer!

H3312/ At the front near Moscow.
The Infantry are in the protection of a Sturmgeschütze.
16 December 1941 Weltbild PK-Böhmer

[Todd Gylsen]

2737d/ What happened in 1941?
King Boris of Bulgaria visited the German troops at the front.
17 December 1941 Atlantic PK-Görner

(Notice the flamethrowers lying on the ground)