Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts
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F4U Corsairs NZ5326, NZ5315 and NZ5307 of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in flight with the island of Guadalcanal in the background. Likely flown by pilots of No. 26 Squadron with the photo dating from April 1945 or later.
Source: Air Force Museum of New Zealand, file PR4972.
Source: Air Force Museum of New Zealand, file PR4972.
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Soviet T-34-85 tanks with troops from 3rd Ukrainian Front during the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive,Odessa region,April 1944.
The Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive,also known in Soviet historical sources as the liberation of right-bank Ukraine,fought from 24 December 1943–17 April 1944.It was a strategic offensive executed by the 1st,2nd,3rd,and 4th Ukrainian Fronts,along with the 1st Belorussian Front,against the German Army Group South,intended to retake all of the Ukrainian and Moldovian territories occupied by Axis forces.The operation brought the Red Army forces into Poland and Romania,completely destroyed 18 Wehrmacht and Romanian divisions,and reduced another 68 to below half of their establishment strength.
By March 25,the 3rd Ukrainian Front was dispatched to secure Odessa.On April 2,the Eighth Guards Army,40th and 60th Army attacked and by April 6 had driven the defenders past the Dniester River and isolated Odessa.Odessa capitulated on April 10,and Soviet troops began entering in Romania.
Photo source unknown
The Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive,also known in Soviet historical sources as the liberation of right-bank Ukraine,fought from 24 December 1943–17 April 1944.It was a strategic offensive executed by the 1st,2nd,3rd,and 4th Ukrainian Fronts,along with the 1st Belorussian Front,against the German Army Group South,intended to retake all of the Ukrainian and Moldovian territories occupied by Axis forces.The operation brought the Red Army forces into Poland and Romania,completely destroyed 18 Wehrmacht and Romanian divisions,and reduced another 68 to below half of their establishment strength.
By March 25,the 3rd Ukrainian Front was dispatched to secure Odessa.On April 2,the Eighth Guards Army,40th and 60th Army attacked and by April 6 had driven the defenders past the Dniester River and isolated Odessa.Odessa capitulated on April 10,and Soviet troops began entering in Romania.
Photo source unknown
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Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero "Sparrowhawk" torpedo - bomber aircraft of 281 squadron,132 Gruppo Autonoma Aerosiluranti,belonged to Captain Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia,based in the airfield of Gadurra,island of Rhodes,Greece,1941.
Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia (1915 – 1944) was one of the most famous Italian pilots of World War II.On July,1940 he volunteered to join the Reparto Speciale Aerosiluranti (Special Torpedo-Bomber Detachment) of the Regia Aeronautica.In 1941 he promoted to Captain and became commander of the 281 squadron.By 1942 Buscaglia had obtained the Silver Medal of Military Valor five times,and the German Iron Cross second class and promoted to Major.
The airfield of Gadurra (near Kalathos) was built in World War II by the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Italian Air Force) as airfield 806 and it was one of the most important torpedo-bomber airfields of the war.It was used by the Luftwaffe in May 1941 during the battle of Crete. The airfield was located only meters away from the sea and close to Crete and the coast of Lebanon.In September,1943 the airfield saw battle between the former Allies.After the war the airfield was abandoned.
Photo source unknown.
Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia (1915 – 1944) was one of the most famous Italian pilots of World War II.On July,1940 he volunteered to join the Reparto Speciale Aerosiluranti (Special Torpedo-Bomber Detachment) of the Regia Aeronautica.In 1941 he promoted to Captain and became commander of the 281 squadron.By 1942 Buscaglia had obtained the Silver Medal of Military Valor five times,and the German Iron Cross second class and promoted to Major.
The airfield of Gadurra (near Kalathos) was built in World War II by the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Italian Air Force) as airfield 806 and it was one of the most important torpedo-bomber airfields of the war.It was used by the Luftwaffe in May 1941 during the battle of Crete. The airfield was located only meters away from the sea and close to Crete and the coast of Lebanon.In September,1943 the airfield saw battle between the former Allies.After the war the airfield was abandoned.
Photo source unknown.
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Sd.Kfz. 164 Panzerjager (tank destroyer) Nashorn of Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung (heavy antitank battalion) 655 on the Eastern Front,1943.
When Nashorn issued to the heavy antitank battalions six of them would eventually be equipped: schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 560, 655, 525, 93, 519 and 88. Each battalion was equipped with 45 Nashorns.
The gun's (8.8 cm Pak 43/1) performance enabled Nashorn to penetrate the front plating of any Allied armoured vehicle.
Photo source unknown.
When Nashorn issued to the heavy antitank battalions six of them would eventually be equipped: schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 560, 655, 525, 93, 519 and 88. Each battalion was equipped with 45 Nashorns.
The gun's (8.8 cm Pak 43/1) performance enabled Nashorn to penetrate the front plating of any Allied armoured vehicle.
Photo source unknown.
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A soldier of the British Army training with an M1928 Thompson sub-machine gun in a gas mask during World War II, UK, June 1941.
The Thompson was used in World War II in the hands of Allied troops as a weapon for scouts, non-commissioned officers (corporal, sergeant, and higher), and patrol leaders, as well as commissioned officers, tank crewmen, and soldiers performing raids on German positions. In the European theatre, the gun was widely utilized in British and Canadian commando units, as well as in the U.S. Army paratrooper and Ranger battalions, where it was issued more frequently than inline infantry units because of its high rate of fire and its stopping power, which made it very effective in the kinds of close combat these special operations troops were expected to undertake.
Military Police were fond of it, as were paratroopers, who "borrowed" Thompsons from members of mortar squads for use on patrols behind enemy lines. The gun was prized by those lucky enough to get one and proved itself in the close street fighting that was encountered frequently during the invasion of France. Through the Lend-Lease act, the Soviet Union also received the Thompson, but due to a shortage of appropriate ammunition, its use was not widespread.
Colourised by Joseph WW2 colouring the eastern front
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Soviet sappers show defused German anti-tank mines. The sapper holds a T.Mi.42 mine in his right hand and T.Mi. in his left. "Pilz" 43. 1944.
The Teller mine was a German-made antitank mine common during World War II. With explosives sealed inside a sheet metal casing and fitted with a pressure-actuated fuze, Teller mines had a built-in carrying handle on the side. As the name suggests (Teller is the German word for dish or plate) the mines were plate-shaped.
Containing little more than 5.5 kilograms of TNT and a fuze activation pressure of approximately 200 lb (91 kg), the Teller mine was capable of blasting the tracks off any World War II-era tank or destroying a lightly armoured vehicle. Because of its rather high operating pressure, only a vehicle or heavy object passing over the Teller mine would set it off.
Of the two types of pressure-fuze available for Teller mines, the T.Mi.Z.43 fuze was notable for featuring an integral anti-handling device as standard: when the T.Mi.Z.43 fuze is inserted and the pressure plate (or screw cap) is screwed down into place, it shears a weak arming pin inside the fuze with an audible "snap". This action arms the anti-handling device. Thereafter, any attempt to disarm the mine by unscrewing the pressure plate (or screw cap) to remove the fuze will automatically release the spring-loaded firing pin inside it, triggering detonation.
Since it is impossible to determine which fuze type has been installed, no pressure plate or screw cap can ever be safely removed from a Teller mine. The T.Mi.Z.43 fuze can be fitted to the Teller mine 35, 42 and 43 series.
To hinder demining, all Teller mines featured two additional fuze wells (located on the side and underneath) to enable anti-handling devices to be attached, typically some form of pull-fuze.
There were four models of Teller mine made during World War II:
Teller mine 43
Teller mine 42
Teller mine 35
Teller mine 29
Approximately 3,622,900 of these mines were produced by Germany for the Wehrmacht from 1943 to 1944.
The Teller mine was a German-made antitank mine common during World War II. With explosives sealed inside a sheet metal casing and fitted with a pressure-actuated fuze, Teller mines had a built-in carrying handle on the side. As the name suggests (Teller is the German word for dish or plate) the mines were plate-shaped.
Containing little more than 5.5 kilograms of TNT and a fuze activation pressure of approximately 200 lb (91 kg), the Teller mine was capable of blasting the tracks off any World War II-era tank or destroying a lightly armoured vehicle. Because of its rather high operating pressure, only a vehicle or heavy object passing over the Teller mine would set it off.
Of the two types of pressure-fuze available for Teller mines, the T.Mi.Z.43 fuze was notable for featuring an integral anti-handling device as standard: when the T.Mi.Z.43 fuze is inserted and the pressure plate (or screw cap) is screwed down into place, it shears a weak arming pin inside the fuze with an audible "snap". This action arms the anti-handling device. Thereafter, any attempt to disarm the mine by unscrewing the pressure plate (or screw cap) to remove the fuze will automatically release the spring-loaded firing pin inside it, triggering detonation.
Since it is impossible to determine which fuze type has been installed, no pressure plate or screw cap can ever be safely removed from a Teller mine. The T.Mi.Z.43 fuze can be fitted to the Teller mine 35, 42 and 43 series.
To hinder demining, all Teller mines featured two additional fuze wells (located on the side and underneath) to enable anti-handling devices to be attached, typically some form of pull-fuze.
There were four models of Teller mine made during World War II:
Teller mine 43
Teller mine 42
Teller mine 35
Teller mine 29
Approximately 3,622,900 of these mines were produced by Germany for the Wehrmacht from 1943 to 1944.
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B-17F "Wabash Cannonball" Photo by Robert Capa
Production-block:
B-17F-1-BO: 41-24340 to 41-24389
Manufacturer:
Boeing
Bomb Group:
2nd Bomb Group
301st Bomb Group
483rd Bomb Group
99th Bomb Group
Bomb Squadron:
348th Bomb Squadron
840th Bomb Squadron
96th Bomb Squadron
Fate:
Returned to the USA
(11 June 1944)
Missions: 98
Production-block:
B-17F-1-BO: 41-24340 to 41-24389
Manufacturer:
Boeing
Bomb Group:
2nd Bomb Group
301st Bomb Group
483rd Bomb Group
99th Bomb Group
Bomb Squadron:
348th Bomb Squadron
840th Bomb Squadron
96th Bomb Squadron
Fate:
Returned to the USA
(11 June 1944)
Missions: 98
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A US soldier holds a Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 automatic rifle (FG 42) at a weapons collection point said to be in the Saint-Lô area. Normandy, summer 1944.
The gas operated, air-cooled, selective fire FG 42 was the end result of a RLM (Reich’s Air Ministry) request for a universal hand held weapon for the fallschirmjägers which would be a combination of bolt-action rifle, submachine gun and machine gun and effectively replace them all in one package.
Early in 1942 two companies, Rheinmetall-Borsig and Krieghoff began the development of the requested weapon. First prototypes from both companies were submitted for initial tests by mid-1942, after which the Rheinmetall prototype was selected as the winner. Since Rheinmetall was already very busy delivering other weapons to the armed forces, the production contract was handed over to Krieghoff.
Two models entered final production: The Model I (also referred to as Ausführung E in literature), of which about 2,000 were built, had an oddly-angled grip that was supposed to make it easier for the paratrooper to shoot downward at ground targets on his way down.
It soon became apparent that the lightweight rifle lacked the necessary robustness to handle powerful rifle ammunition in full automatic mode. There were injuries and a catastrophic failure of at least one weapon. It was also too expensive to manufacture. Recognizing that, Krieghoff engineers by early 1944 redesigned the FG 42. The new model (II or ‘Ausführung G’) had, among other minor improvements, a conventional, more suited for ground combat grip, a redesigned muzzle break and the bipod repositioned closer to the muzzle for improved stability. Although heavier and slightly longer than its predecessor, the new FG 42 was still too light to be effectively fired in full auto, even from its integral bipod, and still too expensive, especially compared to the Stg.44 assault rifle. Around 5,000 of the new model were produced.
The rifle in this photo is the early model. The angled grip clearly visible.
Sources, among others: militaryfactory.com and modernfirearms.net
The gas operated, air-cooled, selective fire FG 42 was the end result of a RLM (Reich’s Air Ministry) request for a universal hand held weapon for the fallschirmjägers which would be a combination of bolt-action rifle, submachine gun and machine gun and effectively replace them all in one package.
Early in 1942 two companies, Rheinmetall-Borsig and Krieghoff began the development of the requested weapon. First prototypes from both companies were submitted for initial tests by mid-1942, after which the Rheinmetall prototype was selected as the winner. Since Rheinmetall was already very busy delivering other weapons to the armed forces, the production contract was handed over to Krieghoff.
Two models entered final production: The Model I (also referred to as Ausführung E in literature), of which about 2,000 were built, had an oddly-angled grip that was supposed to make it easier for the paratrooper to shoot downward at ground targets on his way down.
It soon became apparent that the lightweight rifle lacked the necessary robustness to handle powerful rifle ammunition in full automatic mode. There were injuries and a catastrophic failure of at least one weapon. It was also too expensive to manufacture. Recognizing that, Krieghoff engineers by early 1944 redesigned the FG 42. The new model (II or ‘Ausführung G’) had, among other minor improvements, a conventional, more suited for ground combat grip, a redesigned muzzle break and the bipod repositioned closer to the muzzle for improved stability. Although heavier and slightly longer than its predecessor, the new FG 42 was still too light to be effectively fired in full auto, even from its integral bipod, and still too expensive, especially compared to the Stg.44 assault rifle. Around 5,000 of the new model were produced.
The rifle in this photo is the early model. The angled grip clearly visible.
Sources, among others: militaryfactory.com and modernfirearms.net
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17 April 1945, Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Bulldog.
On May 9, 1941, escorting an OB 318 convoy, HMS Bulldog, with the support of HMS Aubretia and HMS Broadway, attacked and captured U-110 (type IX). British sailors were able to secure a secret machine Enigma and code books.
"HMS Bulldog was responsible for the capture of U-110, her Sub Lt David Balme finding the Enigma code machine ciphers and code books. U-110 was taken on tow and Bulldog kept her afloat for 17 hours then let the towline slip. The intention was to tow U-110 into Iceland but Admiralty realised this would have been a massive error of judgement. In the event, allegedly, U-110 resolved the matter herself by sinking."
"German U-boat U-110 was captured on 9 May 1941 in the North Atlantic south of Iceland by the British destroyers HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. A.J.B. Cresswell, RN) and HMS Broadway (Lt.Cdr. T. Taylor, RN) and the British corvette HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR). The U-boat was allowed to sink the day after to preserve the secret capture."
9 May 1945
"The surrender of the Channel Islands was signed on board her."
"She was sold to be broken up for scrap on 15 January 1946."
On May 9, 1941, escorting an OB 318 convoy, HMS Bulldog, with the support of HMS Aubretia and HMS Broadway, attacked and captured U-110 (type IX). British sailors were able to secure a secret machine Enigma and code books.
"HMS Bulldog was responsible for the capture of U-110, her Sub Lt David Balme finding the Enigma code machine ciphers and code books. U-110 was taken on tow and Bulldog kept her afloat for 17 hours then let the towline slip. The intention was to tow U-110 into Iceland but Admiralty realised this would have been a massive error of judgement. In the event, allegedly, U-110 resolved the matter herself by sinking."
"German U-boat U-110 was captured on 9 May 1941 in the North Atlantic south of Iceland by the British destroyers HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. A.J.B. Cresswell, RN) and HMS Broadway (Lt.Cdr. T. Taylor, RN) and the British corvette HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR). The U-boat was allowed to sink the day after to preserve the secret capture."
9 May 1945
"The surrender of the Channel Islands was signed on board her."
"She was sold to be broken up for scrap on 15 January 1946."
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A young Russian soldier serving with the Russian Women's "Battalion of Death", 1917.
Women's Battalions (Russia) were all-female combat units formed after the February Revolution by the Russian Provisional Government, in a last-ditch effort to inspire the mass of war-weary soldiers to continue fighting in World War I.
Fifteen formations were created in 1917, including the 1st Russian Women's Battalion of Death, a separate unit called the 1st Petrograd Women's Battalion formed a few weeks later in Petrograd, the 2nd Moscow Women's Battalion of Death created in Moscow, and the 3rd Kuban Women's Shock Battalion organized in Ekaterinodar. Four communications detachments were created in Moscow and Petrograd. Seven additional communications units were created in Kiev and Saratov employing privately organized women's units already in those cities. Additional unsanctioned battalions sprang up in cities across Russia. An all-female naval unit was created in Oranienbaum, the 1st Women's Naval Detachment, as part of the Naval Infantry Training Detachment.
American reporter Bessie Beatty estimated the total number of women serving in these gender-segregated units at 5,000 in the fall of 1917, but only the 1st Russian Women's Battalion of Death and the Perm Battalion were deployed to the front.
© IWM (Q 106251)/artistic rendition 2021.
Colourised by Julius Backman Jääskeläinen.
Women's Battalions (Russia) were all-female combat units formed after the February Revolution by the Russian Provisional Government, in a last-ditch effort to inspire the mass of war-weary soldiers to continue fighting in World War I.
Fifteen formations were created in 1917, including the 1st Russian Women's Battalion of Death, a separate unit called the 1st Petrograd Women's Battalion formed a few weeks later in Petrograd, the 2nd Moscow Women's Battalion of Death created in Moscow, and the 3rd Kuban Women's Shock Battalion organized in Ekaterinodar. Four communications detachments were created in Moscow and Petrograd. Seven additional communications units were created in Kiev and Saratov employing privately organized women's units already in those cities. Additional unsanctioned battalions sprang up in cities across Russia. An all-female naval unit was created in Oranienbaum, the 1st Women's Naval Detachment, as part of the Naval Infantry Training Detachment.
American reporter Bessie Beatty estimated the total number of women serving in these gender-segregated units at 5,000 in the fall of 1917, but only the 1st Russian Women's Battalion of Death and the Perm Battalion were deployed to the front.
© IWM (Q 106251)/artistic rendition 2021.
Colourised by Julius Backman Jääskeläinen.
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US soldiers training somewhere in Australia, c. 1942.
Shortly after the surprise attack on the US Naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, in December 1941, Australia became the home-base for the US forces in the Pacific.
From April 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, who became the Supreme Commander of South-West Pacific Area on 18 April 1942, initially established his headquarters in the southern city of Melbourne.
US soldiers would train in the rugged and varied Australian conditions, from dry scrub down south to the semi-tropical regions of far north Queensland; all in preparation for the push northwards to the Pacific island areas held by the Japanese.
American soldiers in the lower ranks earned twice the amount of their Australian counterparts and in the higher ranks the disparity was even more pronounced. These differences in pay scales, their stylish uniforms, and custom of tipping earned them a reputation as "big spenders".
Disagreements between Australian and American forces over rates of pay, food rations, women, race relations, and fighting skill caused major confrontations at times.
Australian soldiers would drily remark of their US counterparts that 'they were over-paid, over-sexed ... and over here!'
Shortly after the surprise attack on the US Naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, in December 1941, Australia became the home-base for the US forces in the Pacific.
From April 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, who became the Supreme Commander of South-West Pacific Area on 18 April 1942, initially established his headquarters in the southern city of Melbourne.
US soldiers would train in the rugged and varied Australian conditions, from dry scrub down south to the semi-tropical regions of far north Queensland; all in preparation for the push northwards to the Pacific island areas held by the Japanese.
American soldiers in the lower ranks earned twice the amount of their Australian counterparts and in the higher ranks the disparity was even more pronounced. These differences in pay scales, their stylish uniforms, and custom of tipping earned them a reputation as "big spenders".
Disagreements between Australian and American forces over rates of pay, food rations, women, race relations, and fighting skill caused major confrontations at times.
Australian soldiers would drily remark of their US counterparts that 'they were over-paid, over-sexed ... and over here!'
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The cruiser of the II rank "Novik" of the Russian Imperial Navy on the roadstead of Brest, October 1, 1902. Active participant in the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905, as part of the 1st Pacific Squadron.
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Today in 1943, Jews in the Warsaw ghetto rise up against the SS. Although the Nazis crackdown ruthlessly, the resistance holds out for 27 days. "We knew we were going to die," said one organizer. "We fought simply not to allow the Germans to pick the time and place of our deaths"
13,000 Jews were killed, 50,000 residents were captured and shipped to concentration camps.
13,000 Jews were killed, 50,000 residents were captured and shipped to concentration camps.
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On April 19, 1943, the action of the final liquidation of the ghetto in occupied Warsaw began. The liquidation was carried out by SS troops. The Jewish Military Union and the Jewish Combat Organization stood up to fight for dignity. The uprising lasted until mid-May 1943.
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