Beards or goatees anyone?

[Sepp45]

More Paras.

[Sepp45]

From Slovakia, RKT Augustín Malár

[Larrister]

Another.

[pzrwest]

Here's a beard & a half. Stewy

Did you notice this guy has Luftwaffe collar tabs but Heer breast and cap eagles

[Adam S.]

.

[WEISNER]

Any idea what that is on his right sleeve? nice photo Adam, I would sure like to have that tunic and cap!

Kevin

[Kiwipom]

Its the Edelweiss patch of the mountain troops

[W Petz]

Dec13 - Two unshaven soldaten in their position on the russian front

[PaulW]

Sadly no picture with this one (!) but I thought it might be of interest. From the book "Russian Asphalt" by Hazel Toon-Thorn (2014 LAH publishing):-

The LAH veteran George Ott recounts his experiences in Russia in December 1943 (p.61):-

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"Each new day brought a new plague of snow, ice and bitter cold. Our appearance became worse with every day which passed, so that one could not differentiate between us and the Ivan - unwashed from lack of time, torn and dirty with no time to darn and mend, beards like U-boat captains - lack of razor blades and soap, and we were always scratching because of the lice, from which some of us had open wounds on our legs/ bodies, the result being in more than one case of being hospitalised with 'Fleck-fever' from these parasites. Without having been through the same experience, then no-one can imagine what this was like!"
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I wonder if this is a subject not well covered by photographic evidence, perhaps propaganda photographers would not want to take pictures of unshaven troops, or soldiers might not want pictures of themselves breaking military rules. Also, at the 'sharp end' where things were truly grim, perhaps no time for pictures and no cameras around anyway? Beards may have been more common than many think, at the front that is?

[Larrister]

5 Geb. Division portrait.

Cheers,
Larry

[i.spring]

one from me

207 Infantry Division Major Scheer - Infantry soldier Russia snow winter Beard facial hair - tired - 1942

http://pixpast.com/stock-photo/207-i...1942-9068.html

Ian

[steyrer]

Wow, 1914 EKII ribbon on the ribbon bar, 1914 EKII ribbon with '39 clasp in lapel, and 1939 EKII ribbon in front tunic button. I think he has wears EKII variation possible!

IMO that is NOT a EK 1939 ribbon in the front tunic button.

[Hundestaffel]

.

[ReiseReise]

I know they are not common, but not sure if they were forbidden ?

Certainly wasn't uncommon or an issue at sea, at least! Here Scheer crew members proudly show off their "Überseebärte"!

[Larrister]

Just remembered this one.

Cheers,
Larry