Kids in the army-- the end???

[gtbpappy]

These all really look young, any idea on time??? They look scared!

[DBRoyal]

These all really look young, any idea on time??? They look scared!

All look like they are at least 18. Might be new inductees. I don't think this is necessarily a very late war photo.

[-Ray-]

Not a late war photo. Hat soutche still in use.

-Ray-

[Simon O.]

Agreed, early war or even pre-war

[Tom B]

I think they have that "boot camp" look on their faces ! Tom

[Nachrichten]

I think they have that "boot camp" look on their faces ! Tom

I would hazard the guess that these may be cadets (such academies existed in Germany).

The uniforms are early pattern (M36 tunics; early sidecaps with soutache).

I'm not convinced that this is a post 1942 photograph.

N

[Simon O.]

Also, note the lack of shoulderstraps

[mjfur]

1945

[gtbpappy]

Yes, your right..... Now I guess that is a "kid"!!

[feldpost 58]

Hi,

Interesting thread!
I agree that the photo in post 1 may be a pre-war induction of cadets to the German Army.
I love the picture in post 9 of a child (9-14 years old?) wearing an "early" tunic in 1945.
I believe the reason for this is that these early tunics were quite small due to the physical stature of recruits at the time, and many early tunics were left until the quartermaster found someone (kids) small enough to wear them in the very late stages of WW2.
Note also the two piece cap insignia which was phased out in 1943, only children would be small enough to wear these caps in 1944-45.
The child has been obviously pushing up the sleeves of an oversize tunic; as the lining material has been exposed over the cuffs of the sleeves - a child in the last stages of WW2.
Many thanks for showing these photos!

Best wishes,

John.

[seekwhence]

I have many color slides photographed by the Germans at the end of the war. This one is probably one of the most compelling. It shows a young boy of about 10-12 years old preparing himself for battle in April 1945.



Dave (seekwhence)