Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts

German soldiers posing with gas masks in the Vosges Mountains in 1918.

Recalling the 'man-eating mountain' during World War I, the Battle of Hartmannswillerkopf (French: bataille du Vieil-Armand) was a series of battles during the First World War, in which they fought for the control of the Hartmannswillerkopf peak in Alsace in 1914 and 1915.

The peak was a pyramidal rocky spur in the Vosges mountains. From the top of the 956-meter-high (3,136-foot) Hartmannswillerkopf mountain, known as "Vieil Armand" in French, both the German and French military declared the mountain a summit of its strategic importance. Both sides had to "stay" in that position no matter what the cost. The Germans and French dug almost 90 kilometers (56 miles) of trenches and established positions on the mountain. In some places, the enemies were only a few meters away, they could look into each other's eyes and hear what the other side was saying.

Thirty thousand soldiers died in a hideous static war Futile attempts were made to drive the opponent off the mountain. It took four years and earned the mountain its terrible nickname: "They called it a man-eating mountain," Alsatian writer Pierre Kretz told DW as he climbed the white cross on the summit.

In December of 1944, soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division pause for a rest during the Battle of the Bulge, near Malmédy in Belgium. They would soon discover the atrocities committed by the Germans that would become known as the “Malmédy Massacre.”


As the Division battled the enemy and the elements, snow was ankle to knee deep, and temperatures were well below freezing. They were poorly equipped with only their leather combat boots and thin socks. According to infantryman George Schneider, “One of our generals rounded up all of the GI blankets he could find and sent them back to the Netherlands or Belgium where he had local women make booties from the blankets. We wore them inside a pair of overshoes and managed to keep our feet from freezing as we plodded on to the south.”


After warming their feet, the men moved on to the area of Malmédy. The frigid winter air shrouded the area as the 30th witnessed the site of the worst massacre of American troops by the Germans in WWII. In the snow-covered field adjacent to Five Points lay 86 frozen bodies, the only evidence of the atrocity manifested by humps in the snow and occasional exposed body parts and clothing. Each mound was a soldier. Although the soldiers of the 30th didn’t know any of these men, they felt a bond with their fallen comrades, and a renewed hatred was revived for the SS.
The Division would leave the bodies undisturbed and Graves Registration would later identify and remove them from the field. From then on, the area of Five Points would forever be remembered as the site of the infamous “Malmédy Massacre”

World record reconnaissance aircrew Flight Lieutenant Jack Irvine and Walter Bannister in the cockpit of their No. 684 Squadron Mosquito. India. 1945.


On 10 March 1945, NS675, 'Z', flown by Flt Lt J. Irvine and Flt Sgt W Bannister flew through frontal cloud to Phuket to obtain beach cover. There was broken cloud over the target but, by diverting to each separate area as it became clear, almost complete cover was obtained although this entailed three full circuits of the island. The total flying time for 2,848 miles was 8hr 48min, a new distance and endurance record.
Citation DFC:

Jack Irvine is a pilot of outstanding enthusiasm and determination. He has completed several ultra-long range sorties during adverse weather. On one occasion he was detailed to cover an emergency target over 1000 miles from the nearest base and spent 75 minutes over the target to complete all his tasks.


Jack Irvine flew the first flight over Mt Everest to gain movie film and photos of peak 1945, this flight was arranged by the RAF film unit to enable planning of a possible post-war route to the summit. They spent an hour and 20 minutes over and around it.
Their films and still photographs were sent to Britain and were carefully studied by the team led by Sir John Hunt with which Sir Edmund did his climb.


At the time Irvine thought it would be impossible to climb to the peak.
"I’d no idea then there was a young man called Edmund Hillary in the audience and certainly not that within a few years he’d be proving me wrong." Said Irvine.


Jack Irvine passed away on the 4th December 2007 at age 89 in Albany, North Shore City, New Zealand.

Private First Class Edward J. Foley of the 143rd Infantry, 36th Infantry Division, cleans his Remington M1903A4 sniper rifle near Velletri, Italy, 1943.

In 1942, Remington developed the M1903A3 version of the rifle, distinguished by extensive use of stamped parts and altered sight. During World War II in 1943 on the basis of the Remington rifle firm M1903A3 creates the first specialized American sniper rifle, designated M1903A4 was specially selected trunk increased quality workmanship and multiplicity of 2.5x optical sight, and open sights and bayonet mounts outside.

Gauge, mm 7.62h63 0.30-06 Curb weight, kg 4.34 Length mm 1098 Barrel length, mm 610 Effective range, m 550 Effective range, m 690 counting capacity. cartridges 5

USAAF Lockheed P-38’s with the 367th Fighter Group at Criqueville Airfield A-2 near Cricqueville-en-Bessin Normandy France - August 1944

Medics of the second battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division near the Norman town of Iville, June 1944.

Private Harvey Brotman on the hood, survived the war.

Behind him, Corporal Ernest Labadie, survived the war. Private James Milne, the tallest, with glasses, was captured in September 1944. Driving Sergeant John Derka, killed June 11th 1944.

View of a massive piece of German coastal artillery in a concrete casement on the Atlantic Wall, France.

A German soldier stands in front of the artillery piece

As they look to take up a new position during the Battle of the Bulge, men of the 82nd Airborne move through the fog in the Ardennes in December of 1944.


Lasting six brutal weeks from December 1944 to January 1945, the Battle of the Bulge took place during frigid weather conditions, with some 30 German divisions attacking battle-fatigued Allied troops across 85 miles of the densely wooded Ardennes Forest in Belgium.
Called “the greatest American battle of the war” by Winston Churchill, the clash was Hitler’s last major offensive in World War II against the Western Front. It would prove to be costly for the US Army, which suffered roughly 90,000 casualties and lost 19,000 men killed in action.

Former German Reichsmarschall and Commander of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring - a.k.a. "The Bad Nazi" - during cross examination at his trial for war crimes in Room 600 at the Palace of Justice during the International Military Tribunal (IMT), Nuremberg, Germany, 15th March 1946.

Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Reichenau (right, Oberbefehlshaber 6. Armee) during the Russian Campaign, accompanied by Wehrmacht officers.


Behind Reichenau is Generalleutnant Max Pfeffer (Kommandeur 297. Infanterie-Division) which subordinated to 6. Armee.
During its offensive into Russia, the German army was confronted with a number of superior tank designs. Reichenau inspected the Soviet tanks he came across, entering each tank and measuring its armour plate.


According to general staff officer Paul Jordan, after examining a T-34, Reichenau told his officers "If the Russians ever produce it on an assembly line we will have lost the war."


On 19th December 1941, Hitler sacked Walther von Brauchitsch as Commander-in-Chief and tried to appoint Reichenau to the post.
But the senior Army leaders rejected Reichenau as being "too political", and Hitler appointed himself instead. The picture was taken in autumn 1941 by Alois Beck

Portrait of an "Aussie sniper" (Australian sniper), easily recognized by his unmistakable "slouch hat", during World War II. He is armed with a SMLE Mk III (short magazine Lee Enfield) rifle, 10-round .303 British ammunition magazine, with a 3.5x telescopic sight. The shooter carries a canvas bandolier to carry "charger clips" of 5 cartridges each.
An English "Bomb Mills" fragmentation grenade can also be seen.





(FGF Colourised)

A soldier of the Japanese Imperial Army and his horse, WW2.

Adolf Hitler chats with members of the Luftwaffe after the award ceremony (Eichenlaub and Schwertern) at Berghof Obersalzberg on April 4, 1944.

From left to right: Major Werner Streib (Commodoro 1. Swords Night Fighter Squadron #54, March 11, 1944), Capt. Gerhard Barkhorn (Commander II. Fighter Group/Squadron 52 Swords #52, March 2, 1944 ), Colonel Erich Walther (Commander of Parachute Regiment 4/1. Parachute Division Oak Leaf #411, March 2, 1944), Major Kurt Bühligen (Commander of Group II. Group / fighter squadron 2 "Ricthofen". Oak Leaf # 413, March 2, 1944), Captain Hans-Joachim Jabs (Commander of Group IV. Group / night fighter squadron 1 Oak Leaf #430, March 24, 1944), Major Bernhard Jope (Commodore Squadron Combat Squadron 100. Oak Leaf #431, March 24, 1944), Major Reinhard Seiler (Commander I. Squadron / Fighter Squadron 54 Oak Leaf #419, March 4, 1944), Major Hansgeorg Bätcher (blocked by Hitler. Commander of group I combat group/squadron 4 "General Wever" Oak Leaf #434, March 24, 1944), Adolf Hitler (leader and chancellor ler of the Reich), Reserve Captain Horst Ademeit (Commander of Group I. Squadron / Fighter Squadron 54 Oak Leaf #414, March 2, 1944), Major Johannes Wiese (Commander I. Group / Fighter Squadron 52 Leaf oak #418, March 2, 1944), Warden Fritz Petersen (6th Warden). Battery/Flak Regiment 4 [Motorized] Oakleaf #438, 26 Mar 1944), Major Dr. Jur. Maximilian Otte (Commander of Group II. Group/Battle Squadron 2 "Immelmann" Oakleaf #433, 24 Mar 1944), and Lt. Walter Krupinski (relief captain 7. Relief/Fighter Squadron 52 Oak Leaf #415, 2 March 1944). There is actually one more recipient: Lieutenant Erich Hartmann (captain of 9. Relief / Fighter Squadron 52 Oakleaf #420, March 2, 1944), but he is not seen in this photo!

German troops entering Russland Operation Barbarossa 1941.

The famous war film 'The Iron Cross' is based on the experiences of Oberfeldwebel Johann Schwerdfeger, a highly decorated German sergeant who inspired the character of 'Sergeant Steiner.'

This photograph is a formal study portrait of the Oberfeldwebel Johann Schwerdfeger, professional soldier before the war, probably created in connection with his concession of the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Oak Leaves) to the Knight of the Iron Cross), received 14 from May 1944 when he served as Zugführer (platton chief) in the 1. The company / I. Battalion / Hunter Regiment 228 / 101 Hunter Division.

Schwerdfeger served from 1935 to 1937 in the 84th Infantry Regiment, and in 1939 he was transferred to the third company of the 186th Infantry Division of the 73rd Infantry Division, at the start of the Polish campaign.

In 1940 and 1942 he won the 1st and 2nd Class Iron Crosses.

In June 1942, after serving in the Jägerersatzbataillon 75, Schwerdfeger joined the Jäger-Regiment 228 of the 101. Jäger-Division, which fought at the Don Bend, in Rostov, and at Maikop, in the Caucasus, and joined the retreat through the Kuban and the Taman Peninsula, where the film 'Iron Cross' is set.

On May 17, 1943, Schwerdfeger received the Knight's Cross for his extraordinary bravery on the battlefield.

During the German retreat to the head of the Kuban bridge, a strong group of Soviet soldiers established themselves just ahead of the lines of the Jäger-Regiment 228.

Recognizing the danger they posed to their position, Schwerdfeger led his platoon in a raid on the flank of this group.

Despite being very outnumbered, they were able to destroy him in hand-to-hand combat. By the time the fighting ended, the Soviets had suffered 93 dead and 86 prisoners.

Therefore, the Feldwebel Schwerdfeger was awarded the Knight's Cross for achieving such an outstanding victory with only one platoon under his command.

In April 1944, in the escape of the Hube Stock Exchange, he was seriously injured and given the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz; furthermore, the Oberfeldwebel Schwerdfeger also obtained two Panzervernichtungsabzeichen (tank destruction badges), as he helplessly destroyed two enemy tanks with his handgun.

Schwerdfeger was able to recover from his injuries sustained on the Hube Stock Exchange and served the rest of the war, ending the same with the rank of Oberleutnant.

He was injured a total of 4 times.

Schwerdfeger passed away on December 29th 2015, at the age of 101.

the USAAF honoured the then HRH Princess Elizabeth, by naming a B-17G heavy bomber after her (July 6, 1944).

This photograph is from the christening ceremony at RAF Thurleigh.

Interestingly, instead of being called "Princess Elizabeth Windsor" the aircraft was named the "Rose of York", as nobody wanted a bomber named after a member of the Royal Family be lost in combat!

10 September 1944

Churchill tank crews of 1st Corps 'B' Squadron, 34th Tank Brigade watch the RAF bombing the defences of Le Havre.

A Panzer III Ausf. G of the 21st Panzer Division, Afrika Korps accompanies the advancing infantry in Egypt, May 1942. (Colorized by Julius Jääskeläinen)

A Canadian Sherman Firefly of the 10th Armoured Regiment, The Fort Garry Horse, near the Canal through Zuid-Beveland, The Netherlands, October 1944.