Photograph Geman KIA.

[RobertCOUTTS]

I thought Id posted this yesterday but I must have mistaken. Saw this for sale and I grabbed it. Shows dead soldiers I assume was taken in France 1940. I can see 1 German dead and several French. At this stage of the War I was surprised to see German dead thrown in with the enemy. Would he have been removed later for a proper burial. I say his German because of the ammunition pouches and bayonet frog. Bayonet has been removed and no weapons present so obviously they were all put in the hole after being killed.
cheers Robert

[HouweTrouwe]

I don't see a KIA German soldier.

[jmark]

I don't see a KIA German soldier.

Robert is referring to the guy at the top, wearing the three rifle ammo pouches. However, I'm no expert on equipment, so it is up to others to decide if it is German or not.

Jason

[RobertCOUTTS]

German KIA

The ammunition pouches look German to me I thought French were different shape and made up of 2 pouches each side?. The entrenchintg too I have pegged as german.
Robert

[HouweTrouwe]

Sleeve doenst look German to me nor the backpack. Next to that, this is in the very beginning, you may be sure that a fallen German Soldier would have had a (proper) burial.

[urbanczyk]

Hello Robert,

The KIA soldier you think is German is in fact a Belgian soldier, he is wearing a cavalry trenchcoat.

U

[Simon O.]

I'm not sure those are even French dead. I know other countries used the German like 3 pouch system, Hungary i believe?

[urbanczyk]

The soldier that is wearing the helmet isn't French.
That isn't an adrian type helmet.
I'am thinking that the soldier with the helmet is in fact a Dutch soldier, I'll double check it.

U

[urbanczyk]

Hello Robert,

The trenchcoat of the KIA soldier with the helmet isn't Dutch imo.
Perhaps like S.O. said it are Hungarians?
Mysterious picture.

U

[RobertCOUTTS]

Kia

Unfortunately this is what happens when photographs are removed from albums or split up. What was once part of a story is now a meaningless snapshot. Meaningless in that it cannot be accurately dated, its location revealed or the photographers identity known. Splitting up Albums is one of my pet hates.
cheers Robert

[Eric JB]

Unfortunately this is what happens when photographs are removed from albums or split up. What was once part of a story is now a meaningless snapshot. Meaningless in that it cannot be accurately dated, its location revealed or the photographers identity known. Splitting up Albums is one of my pet hates.
cheers Robert

Robert,

I can only second that !!!

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[urbanczyk]

Hi Robert,

Indeed when you remove a photo from his album, one only is left with a snap shot and it is very difficult to understand the context of it.

All is not lost.
I concentrated on the soldier you thought was German.
But one shoul start to indentify the uniform (helmet & coat) of the soldier in the middle.
Succes!

U

[19BARBAROSSA41]

This KIA soldiers seems to be Polish soldiers from Polish campain. Our, Polish, troops used exacly the same ammo pouches Germans ,as well as french Adrin type helmets. Also shovel with cover seems to have triagle shape as those used by our troops. Greatcoats seems to be also polish.

[19BARBAROSSA41]

Now I'm absolutely sure that photo is showing KIA Polish soldiers - there is m24 polish bayonet frog and m33 polish breadbag ( there is also, if I'm not wrong , polish m33 backpack).

[RobertCOUTTS]

Thanks

Thanks for clarifying the photograph. The thought they may have been Polish didnt occur to me. History glosses over the Polish campaign probably because the West did nothing and even left them in the lurch at wars end. The seller had a number of photographs a few of Russian prisoners packed on flatcars etc. He described this as French and German which increased its value I believe. Judging from the other photographs it would have been one nice collection before he pulled it apart.
cheers Robert