Interesting photo...

[lohengrin]

Can anyone read the back of this photo and tell me anything about it (location etc...)?

Many thanks,

Mark

[kuratorium]

Can anyone read the back of this photo

2.Juli
Nach heißem Marschtag Rast in einem Bergdorf.
Bei reichlich Wein und Käse+Brot war alle Mühsal vergessen.
July 2
After hot's march day in a mountain village.
With plenty of wine and cheese + bread all the trouble was forgotten.

[waldkraiburg]

I think they are SS soldiers. From the vine bottles and architecture, they seem to be in Italy or Greece...

Peter

[waldkraiburg]

I just heard from a friend that claims that the photo was taken in Province of Reggio Emilia, in a small town called Toano...

They can also be Fallschirmjäger...

[Gerdan]

The bottle could be a Chianti bottle (Italy)

http://www.aproposgeschenk.de/images...ges/1778_0.jpg


Gerdan

[lohengrin]

Thanks for the reply guys...!! Much appreciated... I am little confused though, are they FJ or SS?

[chrischa]

Hello Mark.

The W-SS and the Hermann Goring Division (and Transport Speer, which these guys are not) wore the famed W-SS camouflage top.

There were W-SS units in Italy, more so after the armistice.

The HG Division were based in Sciliy for a time before retreating into Italy proper.

As the troops are not wearing tunics with collar tabs due to the heat, it's difficult to identify the men.

Regards,
Chris.

[lohengrin]

Thanks Chris...

It seems that these guys are in Northern Italy, near Bologna... I guess in July (43 or 44)... to me they look more like FJ than WSS...

Thanks,

Mark

When was this camo introduced?

[roncosano]

Hello Everybody.
That type of bottle is called "fiasco" and was very common all over Italy in the 40s, for almost all italian red wine (Chianti, Sangiovese, Lambrusco, etc). It was used for olive oil too.

Regards,
Corrado

[roncosano]

In July 1944, Toano was part of the partisan repubblic of Montefiorino. It was attaked in the first week of August by troops of Luftflotte II, during the anti-partisan operation called "Wallenstein III".

Regards,
Corrado

[lohengrin]

Thanks for the info...

Mark