Ardennesoffensive '44

[besslein]

OK, let´s find out: which Luftwaffe unit can be identified by the tactical sign of that limousine . and why do they use a private gasolin station for filling up their car?

Was that common habit because they were the victors in 1940 or because they were desperately in need of fuel in winter 1944?

What do you think?

da hast Du recht mit Benzin

[revi]

Very nice picture B.V., thanks for sharing! Well equipped and ready to go .. Thing on the left man's chest looks more like a pair of binoculars than an US pineapple, imo. I am wondering what the person in the middle ( with the fieldgrey collar ) is wearing between his ammo and "document"pouch, the thing that is pointing downwarts?

Cheers,

Seth.

[Winkelman]

I think the 3 men in front are wearing the Maschinenpistole MP28 ( the " original " Schmeisser ) .
This would account for the stubby ventilated barrels - on the man far right the wooden stock shows ?

Those " second " mapcases carried by the 2 men on the left are IMHO simply the typical MP28 leather ammo pouches .

1940 already sounds far more likely then - so no U.S. pineapples ..

[Winkelman]

These ones ..

[Fritz]

and why do they use a private gasolin station for filling up their car?

Was that common habit because they were the victors in 1940 or because they were desperately in need of fuel in winter 1944?

What do you think?

Would you believe that the public gas stations had fuel in the ardennes in 1944?

And yes, it was normal that the wehrmacht/ss fueled their vehicles on public gas stations during the early years....and they paid for that.

Fritz

[boyouLaGleize.]

It's a great picture but not in the Ardennes area.
These ads are typically French.
That's the same with the house,typically french style house.
Maybe some more information with the license plate of the car.
WL-300000 ... WL-319999 - Luftgaukommando III

[HouweTrouwe]

Many thanks for all the replies. Well, that one is cleared also then. It is written in old german writing (most of the time, surely with these photos I don't take authentication by the writing) but the previous owner convinced me of it. Well I'm glad that is solved so the right information can be added. I'm not dissapointed as the photo was to nice to let it leave there.

Also everybody thank you for identifying the equipment! Could we maybe find out which division this is? As it is early, equipped with Schmeissers.. Anyone an idea?

Many regards,
B.V.

[Thorsten B.]

I agree that the look of the scene is typically french, I think about the area of Elsass-Lothringen in specific. But from what I know areas of Belgique have had the same look.

Then the next question: which Waffen-SS unit went for training in winter 1940/41 in any french area during that time?
Or could there be other reasons why they are fully equipped marching?

And how does the Luftwaffe car fit into the scene then?

The guns fit in the early period as well as in the late period because of the lack of material, I remember from other pics in the end of 1944 that the quality of equipment went rapidly downhill, so why not using older guns because new ones were just scarce material?

There are good reasons for dating this scene into an early period of wartime but I am still unsure.

[kammo man]

The lads are very healthy for 44 with no stress in their faces .
owen

[Fred S]

French Ardennes is a possibility as well.

[Thorsten B.]

Now the pic is gone - another loss!!

[Fred S]

That's ignoring!

[HouweTrouwe]

Hello,

I will upload again but I deleted it since it was in wrong album and caption was wrong. I think correct information is needed to place it online. I will upload it again.

Many thanks,
B.V.

[HouweTrouwe]

As promised. If you know any more information, please let me know.

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