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DOSSIER Start of the Battle of France 10.05.1940 253 Images

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Series: Start of the Battle of France 10.05.1940

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Series:

Start of the Battle of France 10.05.1940

German soldiers and destroyed French tanks, 1940

German soldiers examine a shot down French heavy tank of the type "Renault Char B1".

German Stukas during the western campaign, 1940

A formation of German Junkers Ju 87-B "Stuka" in France.

German artillery in combat in France, 1940

A German "10,5-cm-leichte Feldhaubitze 18" opens fire over an open visor. Since the regular German anti-tank gun could not destroy most of the Allied tanks, army artillery was often used for direct tank fighting.

German soldiers in a destroyed village, May 1940

German soldiers marching through a ruined French village. In the foreground, motorcyclists. Scene from the propaganda film "Sieg im Westen" ("Victory in the West") entitled "Die grosse Entscheidungsschlacht im Westen" ("The Great Decisive Battle in the West").

Destroyed French bunker, May 1940

View of a ruined French fortification, May 1940. Scene from the propaganda film "Sieg im Westen" ("Victory in the West") entitled "Die grosse Entscheidungsschlacht im Westen" ("The Great Decisive Battle in the West").

Panzer II in France, 1940

A Panzer II (also PzKpfw II) on the march in France, May 1940. Scene from the propaganda film "Sieg im Westen" ("Victory in the West") entitled "Die grosse Entscheidungsschlacht im Westen" ("The Great Decisive Battle in the West").

Destroyed French fortification, May 1940

View of a ruined French fortification. Scene from the propaganda film "Sieg im Westen" ("Victory in the West") entitled "Die grosse Entscheidungsschlacht im Westen" ("The Great Decisive Battle in the West").

German infantry in combat in France, 1940

A group of German infantrymen are walking along a street during the fighting for a French village.

German machine gunners in France, 1940

Two German infantrymen with an Mg-34 in a street fight at a French village.

Advancing German troops in France, 1940

A German 3.7cm Pak 36 secures a road of advance through the Argonne at Montfauon.

Advancing German troops during the campaign, 1940 , German soldier in combat during the war in France, 1940

A German infantryman under cover in a cemetery in France. Advancing German troops during the campaign, 1940, World War, Western Front, French campaign Germany 1933-1945, National Socialism

General Staff Meeting of a German Army Group in France, 1940

General Eugen von Schobert (right at the table) talking with another German general, probably Gerd von Rundstedt, Commander of Army Group A.

German infantry with mortar in France, 1940

German infantrymen put a mortar in position on a railway dam, probably a "Granatwerfer 34". Filmstill from Sieg im Westen (Victory in the West).

German motorized infantry in France, 1940

German motorcycle troops cross a meadow in France.

Pak-position of the Waffen SS in France, 1940

Soldiers of the Waffen-SS with a 3.7-cm Pak 36 secure a road in France.

German motorcyclists in France, 1940

A German motorcyclist tries to orient using a map. The motorcycle is a BMW R12.

German infantry with anti-tank gun in northern France, 1940

A German infantry squad takes a 3.7-cm Pak 36 in position on the north French coast.

German troops in Nancy, 1940

German soldiers in front of the town hall of Nancy, on which already waves the swastika flag.

German infantrymen are transported to the front in France, 1940

German infantrymen are brought to the front on trucks during the fights at the Maginot Line.

German advance party at Verdun, 1940

German vehicles cross the railway embankment of Verdun. Left a half-track vehicle, probably of the type "Sd.Kfz. 6" right motorcycle infantrymen on their motorcycles.

Camouflaged bunker in France, 1940

A well camouflaged French bunker, probably part of the Maginot line.

German troops marching in France, 1940

A German column with "Heeresfeldwagen" (Army Field Cart) on the way to the Seine. In the foreground there is a motorcycle with sidecar.

German infantry with souvenirs in France, 1940

Two German non-commissioned officers in a French city who stocked up with war souvenirs, among others. a steel helmet and a police kepi (left). Note also the hand grenades put into the boots.

German war correspondent in France, 1940

A camera team of a propaganda company behind the battle line on the Somme.

German shock troop on the Somme, 1940

An assault party of the infantry penetrates through a roadblock in a town on the Somme.

Taking the Kemmelberg, 1940

German soldiers hoist the swastika flag on the Kemmelberg, which was the scene of heavy fighting in 1918.

Camouflaged French bunker, 1940

A bunker camouflaged as a garage on the Maas, probably a part of the extended Maginot Line.

German general in France, 1940

A German general (probably Hermann Hoth) at a staff meeting with commanders of infantry units at the Yser Canal just before Dunkirk.

German motorcycle riflemen in France, 1940

A detachment of the German motorized infantry on the march through the Mass valley.

German Panzer Division advancing in France, 1940

Vehicles of a German Panzer Division during a march break. In the foreground on the road there are motorcycles of the motorized infantry, left in the field a group of Panzer II.

German column in France, 1940

A German column with "Heeresfeldwagen" (Army Field Cart) on the march through France. On the left a group of civilians can be seen.

Advancing German troops during the campaign, 1940

A column of German vehicles in Avesnes. The vehicles left is of the type "schwerer Einheits-Pkw" (heavy passenger car). On the right an Sd.Kfz. 6 "mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5 t" half-track military vehicle with attached "15-cm-schwere Feldhaubitze 18" heavy field howitzer.

German motorcycle rifleman in France, 1940

A German dispatch rider on the way to the command post in a village on the Chemin de Dames.

German infantry artillery in France, 1940

A German "7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschuetz 18" infantry support gun secures the route of advance at La Jaille. In the background, a mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5 t "Sd.Kfz. 6". The attached equipment is either an assault boat or bridge building material.

German troops on the Somme, 1940

German motorcade during the advance on the Somme. The attached gun is a 3.7-cm Pak 36.

Advance of the German troops during the camapaign, 1940

Advance of the German troops during the camapaign, 1940, Second World War, western front, Battle France, Germany 1933-1945 National Socialism

Advancing German troops in France, 1940

German infantry on the march through France.

German troops cross a destroyed French town,1940

German infantry crosses a street that was heavily damaged by the previous battles.

Advancing German troops in France, 1940

A German colony advancing toward Duey. The motorcycle in the center is likely to be a requisitioned civilian vehicle. The gun on the left is a 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschuetz 18, an infantry support gun.

Destroyed French fortification, 1940

Destroyed part of Ouvrage Bersillies, part of the fortifications of Maubeuge.

German antitank gun in France, 1940

A German advance detachment went in position with a 3.7-cm-PaK 36 as defence against enemy tanks.

German propaganda caricature, 1940

A German caricature during the time of the French campaign, entitled "150 years or transformations of a republic".

German bicycle battalion in France, 1940

A German bicycle battalion drives along the Loire to the next unoccupied place.

German troops in Colmar, 1940

Rest period of German troops at the market square of Colmar in Alsace.

German infantry during a march break in France, 1940

A German infantry division while taking a break during the advance to Montcornet.

Adolf Hitler visiting the Western Front, 1940

Adolf Hitler crosses a pontoon bridge at Breisach during a tour of Belgium and France. He is accompanied by a motorcycle detachment.

German infantry gun in France, 1940

A gun of the type "15-cm-schweres Infanteriegeschuetz 33" (15 -cm-heavy infantry gun 33) in firing position on the Somme at Amiens.

Destroyed by German artillery during the Western campaign, 1940

A destroyed "3,7-cm-PaK 36" is burning at a roadside. Because of their small effect the gun quickly became known as Heeresanklopfgeraet (literally "army door-knocking device").

Advancing German troops in France, 1940

German infantry during the advance through France.

March break of a German cavalry unit in France, 1940

German cavalry while taking a break near Sumai.

German motorcyclists in France, 1940

Motorcycle infantry of the Wehrmacht crossing a destroyed village.

German machine gunner during the French campaign, 1940

A German infantryman with an Mg-34 during the Battle of Verdun, whose fortifications formed a part of the Maginot Line.

French fortification at Verdun, 1940

German artillery damaged a section of Fort Marre, which was made up partly of systems from the First World War and modern concrete bunkers and tank cupolas.

A German railway gun opens fire, 1940

A German railway gun opened fire during the French campaign. It is probably a "28 cm schwere Bruno Kanone (E)".

German invasion of St.Andre, 1940

German troops enter the city of St.Andre. The vehicle is the so-called "Einheits-PKW" (standard passenger car). The attached gun in the center is a 3.7-cm-Pak.

The advance of German artillery in France, 1940

Hauled German artillery crosses a destroyed French village during the offensive in the west. The gun is probably a field howitzer of the type "15-cm-schwere Feldhaubitze 18".

German Reichskriegsflagge (Imperial War Flag) at the Fort Fouras, 1940

The German Reichskriegsflagge (imperial war flag) over the old Fort Fouras on the western Atlantic coast.

German troops advance to a French fort, 1940

German infantrymen during the encirclement of a French fortification. Here the soldiers cross a demolished bridge over the Chiers. Left in the foreground an officer can be seen.

German armored infantrymen advancing in France, 1940

A column of German armored personnel carriers o the type "Sd.Kfz. 251" advance on the southern front in France.

German infantry on the march in France, 1940

German infantry on the advance in France. The tubular device of the soldier in the center is a rangefinder. The two soldiers on the right in the foreground carry well-visible map pockets. On the left and right are gunmen with Mg-34th

German motorcade in combat in France, 1940

German vehicles temporarily stopped their advance due to combat operations. You can also see motorcycle riflemen who have abandoned their motorbikes, probably to fight as infantrymen.

German Infantry in Lyon, 1940

German soldiers in the town square of Lyon at the end of the Western campaign.

German antitank gun position in France, 1940

German 3.7-cm Pak in position behind a block of stone and camouflaged with a shelter-half.

German motorcyclists in France, 1940

Two motorcyclists with "Zuendapp KS 750 Gespann" in Vailly. The drivers have to wait, since the road is still under machine gun fire.

Antiaircraft gun of the Luftwaffe in France, 1940

A light 2-cm-Flak 38 secures the attack points of the infantry. In the background a 3rd7 cm-PaK 36 of the Wehrmacht.

German infantry in France, 1940

A German infantry squad is waiting behind a cover for the order to proceed.

German infantry in a French city, 1940

Two German infantrymen go through a French town. A dead horse and abandoned steel helmets testify the retreat of the French troops.

German reconnaissance patrol in France, 1940

A German patrol consisting of a SdKfz 265 "Panzerbefehlswagen" (command tank) and some motorcycle riflemen traverse a village.

German infantry during the advance in France, 1940

German infantry marching through a French village. They laid their rifles in confiscated strollers.

German motorcycle infantry during the advance through France, 1940

German motorcycle infantry crossing a French town south of Amiens.

German convoy in France, 1940

A German armored reconnaissance car of the type Sd.Kfz.222 secures an antiaircraft column during the advance towards Ligny.

Entry of German troops in Tours, 1940

German infantrymen march into the city of Tours.

Entry of German troops in a town in Alsace, 1940

The mayor of the Alsatian town presents a German officer the key to the city hall. The black driver is probably a French prisoner from the African colonial regiment. Both the headgear, and the uniform collar support this conclusion.

German cavalry on the advance in France, 1940

German cavalrymen pass through a French village, right in the picture a destroyed vehicle and the dead crew. Although the Western campaign is more associated with tanks, the Wehrmacht also deployed a complete cavalry division.

German advance party in France, 1940

A German advance party on the advance through France. The vehicles are Sd.Kfz.10 / 4 Zugkraftwagen to which are mounted 2 cm Flak 30 antiaircraft guns.

Advancing German troops in France, 1940

German infantry marching through the busy city fortress Maubeuge.

Camouflaged French bunker, 1940

A bunker in France that was camouflaged as a residential building after the storming of German troops. Along the border post many bunkers of the Maginot Line were disguised this way.

German parade in Metz, 1940

A German unit marches through the conquered Metz.

A German military band marches through a French town, 1940

A German unit accompanied by their regimental band, marches through a city after the announcement of the truce.

German soldiers in Calais, 1940

A group of German soldiers approach a smoking building, possibly after an air attack. Since only one of the soldiers is carrying a gun, the proximity to the front seems unlikely.

The advance of German troops during the campaign, 1940

An armored anti-aircraft unit with 8.8 cm FlaK 18/36/37 on trailers during the advance in France. The vehicle is a "Gepanzerten Zugkraftwagen 8t", a version of the Sd.Kfz. 7. This type of vehicle combination was often used to combat bunkers.

Advancing German troops in France, 1940

German infantry on the march in France. The soldier in center right carries an Mg-34 with drum magazine.

German motorcyclists in France, 1940

Two German motorcyclists when studying maps in southern France. The motorcycle in the foreground is a "DKW NZ-350", the rear engine is a "NSU 201 ZDB".

German troops in Upper Alsace, 1940

A German soldier is talking to the village priest of Kruet. The steel helmet is a model 1918, which were actually already retired at that time.

Advancing German troops during the campaign, 1940 German troops in Bettancourt, 1940

After the German troops invaded the French town of Bettancourt: a German despatch rider on a road. Advancing German troops during the campaign, 1940, World War II, Western Front, French campaign Germany 1933-1945, National Socialism

German invasion of Dijon, 1940

The German infantry moves into Dijon, a mounted officer is riding ahead.

German infantry marching through a French town, 1940

A unit of the German infantry marches through a severely hit French city.

German motorcycle infantry in France, 1940

A detachment of the German motorcycle infantry during the advance along the Marne at Chateau Thierry.

Advancing German troops during the campaign, 1940

A German vehicle convoy between Rouen and Le Mans on the "route nationale". The vehicle in the foreground is an Audi.

German railway engineers in France, 1940

German railway engineers cross a free-floating rail track with a handcar. The original bridge was probably blown up during the retreat of the French.

German reconnaissance troop during urban warfare in France, 1940

A German reconnaissance troop (right) enters the French city of Ham.

German signal troops crossing a river in France, 1940

German signal troop (recognizable by the radio equipment of the men in center left) put a dinghy over a river. Probably a moviestill from Sieg im Westen (Victory in the West).

German assault detachment in France, 1940

A German battalion in action. With the light gun the sergeant (left) shows to his own combat leaders which position was reached.

Advance of the German troops during the camapaign, 1940

Advance of the German troops during the camapaign, 1940, Second World War, western front, Battle France, Germany 1933-1945 National Socialism

German soldiers in the burning Rouen, 1940

Two German soldiers sit on a destroyed French Renault FT tanks and watch the fires raging around them.

German soldier primes a grenades in France, 1940

A German gunner mounts the fuze of explosive grenades. Picture from the military film Sieg im Westen (Victory in the West).

Salvage of a German wounded in France, 1940

German soldiers are trying to drag a wounded man from the front lines to a dressing station.

German dispatch rider on a route of advance in France, 1940

A German motorcycle messenger passes by burning vehicles of the French army on a street in France.

German officers watch artillery fire in France, 1940

German officers watch the artillery operation from a house.

German assault boats cross a river in France, 1940

German infantrymen cross a river with assault boats. The front boat is equipped with an Mg-34th

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