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Brandenburg Fallschirmjägers
German "Oberjäger" (Corporals) and an "Obergefreiter" (senior Private) of Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 'Brandenburg' posing for a photo. The name 'Brandenburg' originating from the units garrison in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. (Identities unknown, Eastern Front, 1944).
The 'Brandenburg' division formed in 1939 was a special forces unit of the German "Oberkommando der Wehrmacht" (High-command of the Defence-Forces) counter-intelligence "Abwehr" (Defence) service. The unit specialized in behind-the-lines operations usually conducting sabotage, anti-partisan and reconnaissance missions sometimes wearing civilian or enemy uniforms over the top of their issued Wehrmacht uniforms. The unit also consisted of specialist battalions of 'Küstenjäger' (Coastal Hunters) for seaborne operations and 'Fallschirmjäger' (Paratroopers) for behind-the-lines insertion and air assault missions.
The Abwehr however was considered mostly ineffective in operations due to political conflicts in the higher command as well as competition with the SS intelligence services and was dissolved in February 1944 with its units handed over to SS "Ausland-Sicherheitsdienst" (Foreign Security Service). Furthermore in July of 1944 the Abwehr's leader Wilhelm Canaris was found guilty of being part of the “July Plot” to assassinate Hitler and was sentenced to death.
In September 1944 the special operations were no longer necessary and the Brandenburg unit was formed into Panzergrenadier-Division "Brandenburg" returning to the Eastern Front late 1944 where they were eventually destroyed during the Siege of Memel in Lithuania. Those that survived the siege fled west where they surrendered to the British in Schleswig-Holstein Germany.
The Brandenburgers Fallschirm-Bataillon 'Jungwirth' unit was found guilty of war crimes during an operation to take a partisan held airfield near Vassieux-en-Vercors, France in July of 1944. Murdering 71 local civilians in reprisal.
Original Image Source: (unknown)
Crop, repair, upscale, colorize: RyanN81
Information Source: External link
[The World War 2 colorized photos are apolitical, and are simply for historical interest and research purposes only. Any comments relating to politics, racism or other inappropriate/offensive subjects will be removed].
Brandenburg Fallschirmjägers
German "Oberjäger" (Corporals) and an "Obergefreiter" (senior Private) of Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 'Brandenburg' posing for a photo. The name 'Brandenburg' originating from the units garrison in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. (Identities unknown, Eastern Front, 1944).
The 'Brandenburg' division formed in 1939 was a special forces unit of the German "Oberkommando der Wehrmacht" (High-command of the Defence-Forces) counter-intelligence "Abwehr" (Defence) service. The unit specialized in behind-the-lines operations usually conducting sabotage, anti-partisan and reconnaissance missions sometimes wearing civilian or enemy uniforms over the top of their issued Wehrmacht uniforms. The unit also consisted of specialist battalions of 'Küstenjäger' (Coastal Hunters) for seaborne operations and 'Fallschirmjäger' (Paratroopers) for behind-the-lines insertion and air assault missions.
The Abwehr however was considered mostly ineffective in operations due to political conflicts in the higher command as well as competition with the SS intelligence services and was dissolved in February 1944 with its units handed over to SS "Ausland-Sicherheitsdienst" (Foreign Security Service). Furthermore in July of 1944 the Abwehr's leader Wilhelm Canaris was found guilty of being part of the “July Plot” to assassinate Hitler and was sentenced to death.
In September 1944 the special operations were no longer necessary and the Brandenburg unit was formed into Panzergrenadier-Division "Brandenburg" returning to the Eastern Front late 1944 where they were eventually destroyed during the Siege of Memel in Lithuania. Those that survived the siege fled west where they surrendered to the British in Schleswig-Holstein Germany.
The Brandenburgers Fallschirm-Bataillon 'Jungwirth' unit was found guilty of war crimes during an operation to take a partisan held airfield near Vassieux-en-Vercors, France in July of 1944. Murdering 71 local civilians in reprisal.
Original Image Source: (unknown)
Crop, repair, upscale, colorize: RyanN81
Information Source: External link
[The World War 2 colorized photos are apolitical, and are simply for historical interest and research purposes only. Any comments relating to politics, racism or other inappropriate/offensive subjects will be removed].