24 December 2016

0201 | Photo | Grenadier-Regiment 92 (mot.)



At a Bosnian bazaar, three German soldiers, members of the 92nd Grenadier Regiment, search for Christmas presents for their girlfriends. They are dressed in tropical uniforms, and, on their right sleeves, they are wearing the insignia of their former unit, the German-Arabian Legion (287th Special Unit); shining on their lapels are the Death's Heads, badges of armoured troops. The photograph belongs to a report which follows the three soldiers up and down the bazaar, in search of presents. One of them chose a tea set and sent it to his beloved one by train. He bought it from a Muslim, described in the report as a Turkish seller who wears his fez inside the store too (i.e. he is indecent, according to European etiquette) and praises his merchandise with many words and gestures, before allowing the customer a detailed review of the item (simplified: a dodgy character). The report ends with an image of a girl reading soldier's letter, next to an opened present. (Note: Most of the wartime Christmas photographs were actually taken several weeks before the holiday itself, so that there would be enough time for the inevitable censorship before publication.)

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Westermann, SS Regiment "Kurt Eggers".
Date: November 1943.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: "Christmas joy – from a Balkan bazaar. [...]"

File source: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, 2-531.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.



Na jednom bosanskom bazaru, trojica nemačkih vojnika, pripadnika 92. grenadirskog puka, traže božićne poklone za svoje devojke. Obučeni su u tropske uniforme, a na desnim rukavima nose oznaku svoje bivše jedinice, nemačko-arapske legije (287. specijalna jedinica); na njihovim reverima sjaje se mrtvačke glave, značke oklopnih jedinica. Fotografija je deo reportaže koja prati trojicu vojnika po bazaru, u potrazi za poklonima. Jedan od njih je odabrao servis za čaj i poslao ga vozom svojoj dragoj. Kupio ga je kod jednog muslimana, u reportaži opisanog kao turskog prodavca koji nosi fes i u radnji (odnosno nepristojan je, po evropskom bontonu) i mnoštvom reči i gestikulacijom hvali svoju robu, pre nego što dozvoli kupcu da je detaljno pregleda (narodski rečeno: nešto muti). Reportaža se završava snimkom devojke koja čita vojničko pismo, pored otvorenog poklona. (Napomena: većina ratnih božićnih fotografija snimljena je zapravo više nedelja pre samog praznika, da bi ostalo dovoljno vremena za nezaobilaznu cenzuru pred objavljivanje.)

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Vesterman, SS-puk "Kurt Egers".
Datum: novembar 1943.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: "Božićne radosti – sa balkanskog bazara. [...]"

Izvor fajla: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, 2-531.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

19 December 2016

0200 | Photo | 369. (kroatische) Infanterie-Division



Ljubomir Glavaš, one of the first volunteers of the "Devil's Division" (369th Infantry Division) and father of the famous Croatian politician and general Branimir Glavaš. When the war broke out, the young Ljubomir volunteered to the Croatian Home Guard, and then joined the legionnaire "Devil's Division", in which he served until capitulation. He surrendered to the new authorities pretending to be a Home Guard, hiding his legionnaire service. After half a year spent in a POW camp, he was recruited into the Yugoslav Army, against which he fought for two and a half years during the war. He was born in the village of Drinovci, near Grude; there are two more members of the Glavaš family (or families) from the same village known to have served in the German armed forces during World War II: Ante Glavaš, a member of the "Prinz Eugen" Division (born 1907, killed in February 1943), and Mato Glavaš, a member of the German-Croatian Police (born 1921, killed in April 1944). On the other hand, one Luka Glavaš (born in 1915), also from Drinovci, was killed (in April 1945) as a member of the Partisan XIII Proletarian Brigade.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: 1942/1943.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Branimir Glavaš (family archive).

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.



Ljubomir Glavaš, jedan od prvih dobrovoljaca "Vražje divizije" (369. pešadijska divizija) i otac poznatog hrvatskog političara i generala Branimira Glavaša. Po izbijanju rata, mladi Ljubomir se dobrovoljno prijavio u Hrvatsko domobranstvo, a zatim i u legionarsku "Vražju diviziju", u kojoj je služio sve do kapitulacije. Novim vlastima se predao pretvarajući se da je domobran, skrivajući svoju legionarsku službu. Posle pola godine provedene u zarobljeničkom logoru, regrutovan je u Jugoslovensku armiju, protiv koje se dve i po godine za vreme rata borio. Bio je rodom iz sela Drinovaca, kod Gruda; poznata su još dva člana familije (ili familija) Glavaš iz istog sela koja su služila u nemačkim oružanim snagama za vreme II svetskog rata: Ante Glavaš, pripadnik divizije "Princ Ojgen" (rođ. 1907, poginuo februara 1943), i Mato Glavaš, pripadnik nemačko-hrvatske policije (rođ. 1921, poginuo aprila 1944). S druge strane, jedan Luka Glavaš (rođ. 1915), takođe iz Drinovaca, poginuo je (aprila 1945) kao pripadnik partizanske XIII proleterske brigade.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: 1942/1943.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Branimir Glavaš (porodična arhiva).

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

01 December 2016

0199 | Photo | Kroatische SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division



SS-Obergruppenführer Phleps visits the Croatian SS Division. The commander of the V SS Mountain Corps, SS-Obergruppenführer Artur Phleps (centre), inspects the 2nd regiment's II battalion on the Larzac (standing on the left is the battalion commander, SS-Sturmbannführer Egon Zill, and on the right there is the regimental commander, SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Matheis). The corps commander was (seemingly) satisfied with the division's progress; however, after the mutiny, which broke out just a couple of weeks after his departure, the experienced general wrote in his diary that "there was a squad of Titoists infiltrated into every unit in the division".

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown, Croatian SS Volunteer Mountain Division.
Date: 1 September 1943.
Location: Larzac (district of Millau), France.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Bundesarchiv, RS 3-13/2, 86/12/9 / Yad Vashem, 1797/59.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.



SS-obergrupenfirer Fleps u poseti Hrvatskoj SS-diviziji. Komandant V brdskog SS-korpusa, SS-obergrupenfirer Artur Fleps (sredina), u inspekciji II bataljona 2. puka na Larzaku (levo stoji komandant bataljona, SS-šturmbanfirer Egon Cil, a desno komandant puka, SS-oberšturmbanfirer Franc Matajs). Komandant korpusa je bio (naizgled) zadovoljan napredovanjem nove SS-divizije; međutim, posle pobune, koja je izbila samo par nedelja po njegovom odlasku, iskusni general je u svom dnevniku zapisao da je "u svaku jedinicu u diviziji bio ubačen po jedan titoistički odred".

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat, Hrvatska dobrovoljačka brdska SS-divizija.
Datum: 1. septembar 1943.
Mesto: Larzak (okrug Mijo), Francuska.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Bundesarchiv, RS 3-13/2, 86/12/9 / Yad Vashem, 1797/59.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

25 November 2016

0198 | Photo | SS-Freiwilligen-Division "Prinz Eugen"



Operation "White". On the morning of 3 March 1943, the entire SS Division "Prinz Eugen" headed towards Bosansko Grahovo, which was resiliently, yet hopelessly, defended by the newly-formed Partisan X Krajina Brigade (of the X Krajina Division). The Germans attacked with artillery, tanks and mortars, while many of the Partisans had only rifles – with about fifteen bullets at their disposal, which had to be used wisely. The city was captured on the same day by the division's 2nd regiment, led by SS-Obersturmbannführer Schmidhuber (however, already at the end of the same month, after the departure of the German troops, the Partisans returned to Grahovo). Pictured, an endless column of the "Prinz Eugen" Division advances towards Bosansko Grahovo; seen in the background is one of the staff cars (BMW 321), with the divisional insignia on its left fender (an Odal rune in a circle) and the insignia of motorised mountain division headquarters on the right one (a division headquarters flag, mountain and wheels).

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Kuch, SS Volunteer Division "Prinz Eugen".
Date: 3 March 1943.
Location: unknown (district of Bosansko Grahovo), Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 69859.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.



Operacija "Belo". Ujutro 3. marta 1943. godine, cela SS-divizija "Princ Ojgen" se uputila prema Bosanskom Grahovu, koje je žilavo, mada beznadežno, branila novoformirana partizanska X krajiška brigada (X krajiške divizije). Nemci su napadali artiljerijom, tenkovima i minobacačima, dok su mnogi od partizana imali samo puške – sa petnaestak metaka na raspolaganju, koje su morali mudro trošiti. Grad je istog dana zauzeo 2. puk divizije, pod vođstvom SS-oberšturmbanfirera Šmidhubera (međutim, već krajem istog meseca, po odlasku nemačkih trupa, u Grahovo su se vratili partizani). Na slici, nepregledna kolona divizije "Princ Ojgen" nastupa prema Bosanskom Grahovu; u drugom planu se vidi jedan od štabnih automobila (BMW 321), sa oznakom divizije na levom krilu (zaokružena runa odal), i oznakom motorizovanih štabova brdskih divizija na desnom (divizijska štabna zastavica, planina i točkovi).

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Kuh, Dobrovoljačka SS-divizija "Princ Ojgen".
Datum: 3. mart 1943.
Mesto: nepoznato (srez Bosanskograhovski), Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 69859.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

17 November 2016

0197 | Photo | Beauftragter des Reichsführers-SS für Kroatien



Man, Don't Get Angry. Of course, the topic is not a military operation but a famous game – which, actually, might be referred to as (initially) soldiers' after all. "Man, Don't Get Angry" (Mensch, ärgere Dich nicht) was invented by a German Josef Friedrich Schmidt during the winter of 1907/08, for his children, based on the Swiss-German "One Step at a Time" (Eile mit Weile) and British "Ludo" (I Play), both of which originate from the Indian "Pachisi" (Twenty-Five). The commercial production of the "Man, Don't Get Angry" game began in 1914, before the outbreak of World War I. Since it was customary to send donations and gifts (which included games) to the troops at the front, Schmidt decided to send 3000 copies of his game to the army and military hospitals. The previously unknown board game quickly became popular among soldiers and, only two years after the war ended, it reached one million sales (it was estimated that about 70 million copies were sold by the end of the century). Pictured, Croatian volunteers, members of the German-Croatian Police, play "Man, Don't Get Angry" in their barracks. There are four players participating in the game (the photographer was probably the fourth one), while the board itself was designed for six. On the table in the corner, on the right side of the photo, there is a so-called Games Box (Spiele-Magazin), which, to this day, always contained "Man, Don't Get Angry" – one of the most popular games of the 20th century, which became famous during the Great War, in German hospitals and trenches.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Kramer, SS Regiment "Kurt Eggers".
Date: November 1943.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: National Archives, 242-JRP-46-14-22.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.



Čoveče, ne ljuti se. Naravno, ovde nije reč o vojnoj operaciji već o čuvenoj igri – koja bi se, doduše, i mogla nazvati (prvobitno) vojničkom. "Čoveče, ne ljuti se" (Mensch, ärgere Dich nicht) izmislio je Nemac Jozef Fridrih Šmit u zimu 1907/08, za svoju decu, po uzoru na švajcarsko-nemačku "Korak po korak" (Eile mit Weile) i englesku "Igram se" (Ludo), koje obe vode poreklo od indijske "Dvadesetpetice" (Pachisi). Komercijalna proizvodnja igre "Čoveče, ne ljuti se" otpočela je tek 1914. godine, pred I svetski rat. Pošto je običaj bio da se trupama na frontu šalju prilozi i pokloni (koji su uključivali i igre), Šmit je odlučio da vojsci i vojnim bolnicama pošalje 3000 primeraka svoje igre. Ova do tada nepoznata društvena igra vrlo je brzo postala popularna među vojnicima i samo dve godine po završetku rata dostigla je milion prodatih primeraka (procenjuje se da je oko 70 miliona prodato do kraja veka). Na slici, hrvatski dobrovoljci, pripadnici nemačko-hrvatske policije, igraju "Čoveče, ne ljuti se" u svojoj baraci. U igri učestvuju četvorica (četvrti je verovatno bio fotograf), a sama tabla je predviđena za šest igrača. Na ćošku stola, sa desne strane fotografije, nalazi se tzv. kutija za igre (Spiele-Magazin), koja i danas obavezno sadrži "Čoveče, ne ljuti se" – jednu od najpopularnijih igara XX veka, proslavljenu za vreme Velikog rata, u nemačkim bolnicama i rovovima.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Kramer, SS-puk "Kurt Egers".
Datum: novembar 1943.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: National Archives, 242-JRP-46-14-22.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

14 November 2016

0196 | Photo | 1. Gebirgs-Division



Operation "Black". Machine gunners of the 1st Mountain Division advance through the forests of Yugoslavia, using sticks and bent by the weight of their equipment; each carries more than 10 kg in armament only, in full gear and with an overflowing rucksack. They are armed with the latest German machine gun – the MG 42 – a weapon which, because of its exceptionally high rate of fire (1200 rounds per minute) and characteristic sound, earned a terrifying nickname: "Hitler's buzzsaw" (besides human bones, the MG 42 could easily cut smaller trees). The production of "Hitler's buzzsaw" continued after the war, in several countries, including Yugoslavia. This efficient machine gun is still being used today (with minor changes) in many armies throughout the world.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: May/June 1943.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Ahmed Nazečić, Ivan Čehić, "Sutjeska" (p. 108).

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.



Operacija "Crno". Mitraljesci 1. brdske divizije napreduju kroz šume Jugoslavije, poštapajući se, pogrbljeni od težine svoje opreme; svaki nosi preko 10 kg samo u naoružanju, pod punom ratnom opremom i sa krcatim rancem na leđima. Naoružani su najnovijim nemačkim mitraljezima – MG 42 – oružjem koje je zbog svoje vanredno velike brzine paljbe (1200 metaka u minutu) i karakterističnog zvuka dobilo zastrašujući nadimak: "Hitlerova testera" (osim ljudskih kostiju, MG 42 je lako sekao i manje drveće). Proizvodnja "Hitlerove testere" je posle rata nastavljena, u više zemalja, među kojima je bila i Jugoslavija. Ovaj efikasni mitraljez i danas se koristi (uz manje izmene) u mnogobrojnim vojskama širom sveta.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: maj/jun 1943.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Ahmed Nazečić, Ivan Čehić, "Sutjeska" (str. 108).

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

03 November 2016

0195 | Photo | Narodnooslobodilačka vojska Jugoslavije



Partisan attack on Lopare and Operation "Full Moon". On the night between 8 and 9 June 1944, the Partisan XVI Vojvodina Division fiercely attacked Lopare, Zajednice and Brezovača, where it was awaited by the I Battalion of the 28th Regiment and the 7th and 6th batteries of the Artillery Regiment, 13th SS Mountain Division "Handschar". The fighting lasted all night, from the early evening until the early morning hours – when the decisive charge was made, and when howitzers, bombs and machine guns got replaced with rifle butts and bayonets (the following quotes were taken from books "Youth Given for Freedom" by Nikola Božić and "Himmler's Bosnian Division" by George Lepre). A memoir by Partisan Milenko Novaković Brale (a political commissar): "The confused 'fez-wearers' were jumping out of the burning houses, half-dressed, bitterly fighting to save their lives. It was one of the most horrific night combats, hand-to-hand, that I experienced during the war. There were houses, vehicles and trench roofs burning everywhere. The centre of Lopare turned into a real battlefield. Rifle butts and knives were primarily used. I came out of a clash with a skinned cheek. Some tall SS guy hit me with the butt of a German Mauser rifle, but only a moment later he fell too, pierced by the bayonet of a fighter next to me." A memoir by SS soldier Eduard Roth (a German, radioman): "I was engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with fixed bayonet when one of my comrades was shot through the throat. I carried him to the first-aid tent. Upon my arrival, the medical orderly received a gunshot wound in the arm, which I bandaged. I then crawled back to my radio position [...]. I was alone. In the meantime, a wild shootout had broken out at the pack animal collection point [...]. As we later learned, the enemy killed most of our mules and horses. The Partisans were virtually on top of my position, but as I had only four rounds of ammunition left, I could do little. Had I fired even once I would not be alive today. To be honest, I didn't think that I would make it through that night." Partisan Milenko Novaković also wrote: "Indignant by all the things that they heard about the outrageous crimes committed by members of this division in the southwestern Syrmia and Majevica, the Syrmians simply burned with impatience to grab the villains by their throats [...]" (The SS men who defended Lopare were in fact mostly inexperienced, newly-mustered recruits.) SS NCO Heinz Stratmann (a German, artilleryman) hinted: "I won't go into detail about how gruesomely our dead had been mutilated by the enemy, but I will say that even during my two years of combat in Russia I had never experienced anything so horrible." A memoir by Partisan Ante Bralić (a political commissar): "I spotted a Kraut under a truck pointing his rifle at me. I yelled at him to come out or I'll shoot him. He got up, raising his hands in tears, and started begging in Serbian language not to shoot him. He claimed he was Bosnian, that he was conscripted into the army and that he would like to stay with us and fight against the occupiers. After consulting with comrades, we decided to accept this German soldier, a Muslim from the 13th SS Division, into our ranks. We assigned several members of the Party and SKOJ to keep an eye on him. In the battles that followed, he even carried a German MG 34 and proved to be a good fighter. However, we were wrong, he took the first opportunity to desert and flee back to the Germans." Milenko Novaković Brale continues: "During our first withdrawal to the starting positions, in all that mess and hand-to-hand combat, I had a mishap. I don't know how nor when, in all the confusion I lost my commissar bag with confidential political material and lists of fighters [...]. Feeling a great responsibility and guilt, I went back to search for it. The comrades tried in vain to hold me back and talk me out of such a crazy idea. Soon I realised that they were right. Only a few hundred metres from our positions, I ran into an enemy rifle squad that took cover. 'Get him, Mujo!'... 'Catch him, Alaga!' – I heard them shout and simultaneously saw several 'fez-wearers' jumping out in front of me, trying to catch me alive. I barely managed to escape them, by jumping into a gully, and to return to my comrades again." SS NCO Stratmann mentioned another comrade who survived the attack: "He was unwilling to discuss that horrible night. He was only eighteen years old at the time and suffered from nightmares for over a decade thereafter. He feared that talking about it would bring back all of those terrible memories." Pictured, Ilija Bogdanović Čiča, commander of the I Vojvodina Brigade, (XVI Division,) with hands behind his back and a cigarette in his mouth, passes by the destroyed Kübelwagen cars of the 7th Battery, Artillery Regiment, "Handschar" Division, near the village of Zajednice (in the vicinity of Lopare).

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: 9 June 1944.
Location: Zajednice (district of Tuzla), Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Nikola Božić, "Mladost slobodi darovana" (p. 96/97)

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.


Napad NOVJ na Lopare i operacija "Pun mesec". U noći između 8. i 9. juna 1944. godine, partizanska XVI vojvođanska divizija silovito je napala Lopare, Zajednice i Brezovaču, gde su je čekali I bataljon 28. puka i 7. i 6. baterija artiljerijskog puka 13. brdske SS-divizije "Handžar". Borbe su trajale celu noć, od ranih večernjih do ranih jutarnjih časova – kada je izvršen odlučujući juriš, i kada su haubice, bombe i mitraljeze zamenili kundaci i bajoneti (sledeći citati preuzeti su iz knjiga "Mladost slobodi darovana" Nikole Božića i "Himlerova bosanska divizija" Džordža Leprea). Sećanje partizana Milenka Novakovića Braleta (političkog komesara): "Zbunjeni 'fesaroši' iskakali su iz zapaljenih kuća poluodeveni i ogorčeno branili svoje gole živote. Bila je to jedna od najstravičnijih noćnih borbi, prsa u prsa, koju sam doživeo u ratu. Na sve strane gorele su kuće, vozila, nastrešnice u rovovima. Centar Lopara pretvoren je u pravo razbojište. Najviše su radili kundaci i noževi. Iz jednog takvog udara i makljaže izašao sam oguljenog obraza. Neki dugajlija esesovac zakačio me je kundakom nemačke mauzerke, ali je već u sledećem trenutku i on pao proboden bajonetom borca do mene." Sećanje SS-vojnika Eduarda Rota (Nemca, veziste): "Bio sam usred borbe prsa u prsa, sa bajonetom na pušci, kada je jedan od mojih drugova prostreljen kroz grlo. Odneo sam ga u šator za prvu pomoć. Tek što sam stigao, bolničar je pogođen u ruku, koju sam previo. Potom sam otpuzao nazad do svog položaja [...]. Bio sam sam. U međuvremenu je nastala divlja pucnjava na mestu na kojem su bila sabrana naša tovarna grla [...]. Kako smo kasnije saznali, neprijatelj je pobio većinu naših mula i konja. Partizani su bili bukvalno iznad moje glave, ali, pošto mi je bilo preostalo još samo četiri okvira municije, nisam mogao mnogo da učinim. Da sam samo jednom opalio, ne bih bio živ danas. Da budem iskren, nisam mislio da ću preživeti tu noć." Partizan Milenko Novaković takođe je zapisao: "Ozlojeđeni na sve što su čuli o nečuvenim zločinima pripadnika ove divizije u jugozapadnom Sremu i na Majevici, Sremci su prosto goreli od nestrpljenja da dohvate za guše ove zlikovce [...]" (Esesovci koji su branili Lopare većinom su zapravo bili neiskusni, tek pristigli regruti.) SS-podoficir Hajnc Štratman (Nemac, artiljerac) je nagovestio: "Neću detaljisati koliko su jezivo naši poginuli bili unakaženi od strane neprijatelja, samo ću reći da ni za dve godine provedene u borbama u Rusiji nisam iskusio nešto tako užasno." Sećanje partizana Ante Bralića (političkog komesara): "Ispod jednog kamiona spazih Švabu sa puškom uperenom prema meni. Dreknem na njega da izlazi inače ću ga ubiti. On izlazi, diže ruke plačući i na srpskom jeziku poče moliti da ga ne ubijem. Tvrdi da je Bosanac, da je mobilisan u vojsku i da bi ostao kod nas i borio se protiv okupatora. Posle dogovora sa mojim drugovima, rešili smo da ovog nemačkog vojnika, muslimana iz 13. SS-divizije, primimo u naše jedinice. Zadužili smo nekoliko članova Partije i SKOJ-a da pripaze na njega. U sledećim borbama nosio je čak nemački 'šarac' i pokazao da je dobar borac. Ipak, prevarili smo se, prvom prilikom je dezertirao i ponovo prebegao Nemcima." Milenko Novaković Brale nastavlja: "Prilikom prvog našeg povlačenja na polazne položaje, u onoj gužvi i borbi prsa u prsa, desio mi se i jedan maler. Ne znam kako i kada, u tom metežu otkinula mi se komesarska torbica sa poverljivim političkim materijalom i spiskovima boraca [...]. Osećajući veliku odgovornost i grižu savesti, pođem nazad da je tražim. Drugovi su uzalud pokušavali da me odvrate i zadrže od takve besmislene namere. Brzo sam se i sam u to uverio. Već na nekoliko stotina metara od naših položaja naleteo sam na zalegli neprijateljski streljački stroj. 'Drži ga, Mujo!'... 'Hvataj ga, Alaga!' – začuo sam i ugledao istovremeno nekoliko 'fesaroša' kako iskaču pred mene i pokušavaju da me uhvate živa. Jedva sam uspeo da im se izmigoljim, uskočivši u neku vododerinu, i ponovo [da] se vratim među svoje drugove." SS-podoficir Štratman je pomenuo još jednog druga koji je preživeo napad: "Nije želeo da razgovara o toj užasnoj noći. Imao je tada samo 18 godina i posle je više od decenije patio od noćnih mora. Plašio se da bi razgovor o tome vratio sva ta strašna sećanja." Na slici, Ilija Bogdanović Čiča, komandant I vojvođanske brigade (XVI divizije), sa rukama na leđima i cigaretom u ustima, prolazi pored uništenih kibelvagena 7. baterije artiljerijskog puka divizije "Handžar", kod sela Zajednica (pored Lopara).

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: 9. jun 1944.
Mesto: Zajednice (srez Tuzlanski), Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Nikola Božić, "Mladost slobodi darovana" (str. 96/97)

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

30 October 2016

0194 | Photo | Reserve-Jäger-Regiment 1



Operation "Dunkirk". Members of the 1st Reserve Jäger Regiment posing on their motorcycle with sidecar (Zündapp KS 750) looking at a Partisan deserter (a member of either the VIII Kordun or the XXXIV Croatian Division), in the Žumberak area. Sitting on the front seat of the motorcycle is one of the company commanders, Lieutenant Richter. Unlike most Partisans captured at the same time previous year, who were mostly wearing military rags and civilian clothes, this captive wears a full military uniform – a gift of the British army. The photograph is also a fine illustration of some of the impressions written in the German corps command report on experiences from this (failed) operation: "During Operation 'Dunkirk', confronting our units were no longer bandit groups of lower or higher combat value, as always before, but troops whom the term 'bandit gangs' no longer fits, which should rather be called 'resistance troops', since they fought back, were well led and were well and sufficiently armed. [...] [The enemy were] opponents who should be taken completely seriously. As for the combat morale, they were certainly no match for our units."

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: June 1944.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: "Action on Žumberak. Lieutenant Richter, company commander."

File source: eBay / buymuc.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.


Operacija "Denkerk". Pripadnici 1. rezervnog lovačkog puka poziraju na motoru s prikolicom (Cindap KS 750) posmatrajući partizanskog dezertera (pripadnika ili VIII kordunaške ili XXXIV hrvatske divizije), u rejonu Žumberka. Na prednjem sedištu motora sedi komandir jedne od četa, poručnik Rihter. Za razliku od većine partizana zarobljavanih u isto vreme prethodne godine, koji su najčešće bili u vojničkim ritama i civilu, ovaj zarobljenik nosi punu vojnu uniformu – poklon britanske vojske. Fotografija je i dobra ilustracija nekih od utisaka zapisanih u izveštaju komande nemačkog korpusa o iskustvima iz ove (neuspele) operacije: "Za vreme operacije 'Denkerk', našim jedinicama nisu se više, kao uvek do sada, suprotstavljale grupe bandi sa manjom ili većom borbenom vrednošću, već trupe kojima više ne odgovara izraz 'bande', koje bi se pre morale zvati 'ustaničke trupe', pošto su prihvatile borbu, vojnički su dobro vođene i raspolažu dobrim i dovoljnim naoružanjem. [...] [Neprijatelj je bio] protivnik koga treba potpuno ozbiljno shvatiti. Što se tiče borbenog morala, svakako nije dorastao našim jedinicama."

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: jun 1944.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: "Akcija na Žumberku. Poručnik Rihter, komandir čete."

Izvor fajla: eBay / buymuc.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

0193 | Photo | 373. (kroatische) Infanterie-Division



A rare photograph of members of the German-Croatian "Tiger Division" (373rd Infantry Division), taken in the vicinity of Dvor, where their unit was stationed. The last parts of the "Tiger Division" were driven out of this town at the very end of the war, on 1 May 1945, by the Partisan XX Krajina Brigade (of the XXXIX Krajina Division).

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: 1944.
Location: Dvor, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Muzej istorije Jugoslavije / Znaci, 11515.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.


Retka fotografija pripadnika nemačko-hrvatske "Tigar-divizije" (373. pešadijska divizija), snimljena u okolini Dvora, u kojem je njihova jedinica bila smeštena. Poslednji delovi "Tigar-divizije" iz ovog grada su isterani tek pred sam kraj rata, 1. maja 1945. godine, od strane partizanske XX krajiške brigade (XXXIX krajiške divizije).

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: 1944.
Mesto: Dvor, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Muzej istorije Jugoslavije / Znaci, 11515.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

17 October 2016

0192 | Photo | SS-Freiwilligen-Division "Prinz Eugen"



Operation "Black". The founders of the SS Division "Prinz Eugen", SS-Gruppenführer Artur Phleps (on the right) and SS-Standartenführer Stefan Hedrich (both Transylvanian Germans and former officers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Romania), at a lunch on the occasion of the visit by General Lüters (operation leader) and State Secretary Benak, in a tent at the division's headquarters in the Gacko Field. Sitting on the far left (partially visible) is the third of the division's highest-ranking officers and its chief physician, SS-Oberführer Dr Kurt-Peter Müller. On their left sleeves, all three wear the rarely seen circular insignia of the "Prinz Eugen" Division. (Unlike Phleps, who would be killed by Soviet soldiers the following year, tough Hedrich would live for many more years, and die a month and a half before his 95th birthday. The doctor would outlive both his comrades and die only a month before his 99th birthday.)

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Hugo Kemps, SS War Correspondent Battalion.
Date: 7 June 1943.
Location: Gacko Field (district of Gacko), Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: National Archives, 242-JRP-41-15-20.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Operacija "Crno". Osnivači SS-divizije "Princ Ojgen", SS-grupenfirer Artur Fleps (desno) i SS-štandartenfirer Štefan Hedrih (obojica transilvanijski Nemci i bivši oficiri Austrougarske monarhije i Kraljevine Rumunije), na ručku povodom posete generala Litersa (vođe operacije) i državnog sekretara Benaka, pod šatorom u štabu divizije u Gatačkom polju. Sasvim levo (delimično vidljiv) sedi i treći od najviših oficira divizije i njen glavni lekar, SS-oberfirer dr Kurt-Peter Miler. Na levim rukavima sva trojica nose retko viđenu kružnu oznaku divizije "Princ Ojgen". (Za razliku od Flepsa, koga će naredne godine ubiti sovjetski vojnici, žilavi Hedrih će još dugo poživeti, i umreti mesec i po dana pred svoj 95. rođendan. Doktor će nadživeti obojicu saboraca i umreti samo mesec dana pred svoj 99. rođendan.)

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Hugo Kemps, Ratnodopisnički bataljon SS-a.
Datum: 7. jun 1943.
Mesto: Gatačko polje (srez Gatački), Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: National Archives, 242-JRP-41-15-20.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

15 September 2016

0191 | Photo | SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen"



A kind-hearted village woman serves milk to a (rather unkempt) member of the SS Division "Prinz Eugen", somewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Germans often took similar photographs with the people, for propaganda purposes, in order to present their soldiers as protectors and liberators. In reality, the kindness of civilians was generally a product of fear – and of upbringing as well (it was polite to serve the guest, whoever he may be), and there certainly were some individuals who even saw the Germans as liberators (the people abused by members of some of the other armed groups, on religious, ethnic, political, gender or material basis). In the general chaos caused by the war, there were also many unusual encounters; one of them was described by history professor Jovan Milinković, based on a memoir of his father (an eyewitness), whose family (being Serbian) was expelled at the beginning of the war from Bačka to their native Herzegovina (two years later, some of the Bačka Germans also found themselves in Herzegovina, but on a mission, as members of the "Prinz Eugen" Division): "After the war broke out in Yugoslavia, my ancestors were expelled from Temerin by Hungarian fascists, and they returned to Herzegovina. During the Battle of Sutjeska (Operation 'Schwarz'), in my ancestors' home village (called Lipnik, near Gacko), there was a German field hospital (they moved their wounded from there down to the Gacko Field and then transported them by planes to Sarajevo, Mostar or elsewhere). When the Germans arrived, all able-bodied men from the village had taken refuge, so my grandmother remained alone with the children. One day, in the midst of fighting, someone knocked on the house door, and grandmother Vasilija opened. It was a German soldier. He greeted my grandmother in Serbian and introduced himself, saying that he was from Bački Jarak and explaining whose son he was. His father was friends with my grandfather Jovan before the war (they presumably traded cattle together). Both he and his father visited our home many times. When the grandmother asked him how he found them, he replied that he recognised the cart next to the house, that he knew they were my grandfather's and that he assumed they were living there now, since he knew they were refugees and Herzegovinian by origin. He left all the food he had to the grandmother, including cigarettes for 'uncle Jovan' and some chocolate for the children (incidentally, when the Hungarians expelled my ancestors from Temerin, as they were passing through Bački Jarak, German women approached the refugee women, weeping and giving them bundles of food for their children). He advised the villagers not to disturb the Germans so that they wouldn't burn the village down, and said that they would soon leave. And so it was, they did no harm to the village and left after the Chetniks were pushed back to Montenegro and the Partisans to Bosnia." Stationed in the Gacko area at the time (early June 1943) was the SS Division "Prinz Eugen". Just a few weeks later, the division continued torching villages. At the end of the same month, near Nevesinje (50 km from Gacko), villages of Donji Drežanj and Ljeskov Dub were burnt down, and 244 civilians were killed – including women and children.

Text: Ivan Ž. / Jovan Milinković.

Photographer: Hermann Heiß, SS War Correspondent Battalion.
Date: summer 1943.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: National Archives, 242-JRP-30-13-26A.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Dobrodušna seljanka poslužuje mlekom jednog (prilično zapuštenog) pripadnika SS-divizije "Princ Ojgen", negde u Bosni i Hercegovini. Nemci su često pravili slične fotografije sa narodom, u propagandne svrhe, ne bi li svoju vojsku prikazali kao zaštitničku i oslobodilačku. U stvarnosti, ljubaznost civila bila je najčešće plod straha – ali i kućnog vaspitanja (red je poslužiti gosta, ko god on bio), a svakako je bilo i pojedinaca koji su čak i Nemce doživeli kao oslobodioce (ljudi koje su pripadnici neke od ostalih oružanih grupacija zlostavljali na verskoj, nacionalnoj, političkoj, polnoj ili materijalnoj osnovi). U opštem ratnom haosu dešavali su se i mnogi neobični susreti; jedan od njih je opisao profesor istorije Jovan Milinković, po sećanju svoga oca (očevica), čija je porodica (kao srpska) početkom rata proterana iz Bačke u rodnu Hercegovinu (dve godine kasnije, i pojedini bački Nemci su se obreli u Hercegovini, ali na zadatku, kao pripadnici divizije "Princ Ojgen"): "Kada je počeo rat u Jugoslaviji, moji su proterani iz Temerina od strane mađarskih fašista, i vratili su se u Hercegovinu. U vreme bitke na Sutjesci (operacija 'Švarc'), u selu odakle su moji (zove se Lipnik, kod Gacka) bila je prihvatna nemačka bolnica (odatle su ranjenike spuštali u Gatačko polje i avionima prebacivali za Sarajevo, Mostar ili drugde). Pošto su došli Nemci, svi vojno sposobni muškarci iz sela su se sklonili, tako da je moja baba ostala sama sa decom. Jednog dana, u jeku borbe, neko je zakucao na vrata kuće, i baba Vasilija je otvorila. Kad ispred vrata – nemački vojnik. Pozdravlja moju babu na srpskom jeziku i predstavlja se, kaže da je iz Bačkog Jarka i govori čiji je sin. Njegov otac je sa mojim dedom Jovanom bio prijatelj pre rata (valjda su trgovali stokom zajedno). I on i otac su u našu kuću dolazili više puta. Kada ga je baba upitala kako ih je pronašao, odgovorio je da je prepoznao zaprežna kola pored kuće, da je znao da su mog dede i da je pretpostavio da oni sada tu borave, jer je znao da su izbegli i da su poreklom Hercegovci. Babi je dao šta je imao od hrane i cigar za 'čika Jovana', a za decu je ostavio čokolade (inače, kada su moje proterivali Mađari iz Temerina, dok su prolazili kroz Bački Jarak, Nemice su plačući prilazile i davale ženama zavežljaje sa hranom da imaju za decu). Savetovao je da seljani ne diraju Nemce da ne bi selo popalili, i rekao da će oni brzo otići. Tako je i bilo, ništa nisu selu nažao učinili i otišli su kako su četnici potisnuti ka Crnoj Gori, a partizani ka Bosni." Kod Gacka se u to vreme (početak juna 1943) nalazila SS-divizija "Princ Ojgen". Samo par nedelja kasnije, divizija je nastavila sa paljenjima sela. Krajem istog meseca, kod Nevesinja (50 km od Gacka), spaljena su sela Donji Drežanj i Ljeskov Dub, i ubijena su 244 civila – uključujući žene i decu. 

Tekst: Ivan Ž. / Jovan Milinković.

Fotograf: Herman Hajs, Ratnodopisnički bataljon SS-a.
Datum: leto 1943.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: National Archives, 242-JRP-30-13-26A.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

12 September 2016

0190 | Photo | 23. Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS "Kama" (kroatische Nr. 2)



Formation of the 23rd SS Mountain Division "Kama". This unit was intended to be the second SS division composed of Bosnian Muslims, but its formation had to be cancelled after only a few months, due to the advancing Soviets and the very poor state the first division was in (loss of manpower and morale, along with more frequent desertions). Pictured, two officers and an NCO, probably Germans (the division command personnel was German), pose dressed in tropical uniforms in a farmyard, in front of corn crib, during their training in Bačka. German officers didn't have an easy job with the Bosnians; although, on one hand, the Bosnians often appeared quite likeable, on the other hand, because of their unrestrained (wild) nature, obstinacy and customs, they often shocked the Germans and even frightened them. An anecdote from training, a memoir of a German company commander (a quote from the book "For the Homeland!" by Rudolf Pencz): "On one occasion, my Muslims entered a village and shot all the pigs! The Hungarian farmers were furious. I too was angry and raised hell with them about it. Ali, my interpreter, told me that this was normal, and that pigs were dirty animals anyway." And when the formation of the second Bosnian-Herzegovinian SS division was cancelled and it was time for its Bosnian members to return to their homeland, into the first division, because of the increasingly tense and uncertain situation, the behaviour of individuals got drastically worse – and even a mutiny occurred. A memoir of a German soldier (from the aforementioned source): "Some of the Bosnians attempted to desert. Untersturmführer Fiedler tried to stop them and stood in their way. They just shot him and threw his body in the water! Sturmbannführer Syr believed himself forced to let them go. They took a large number of weapons, including machine guns, and a considerable amount of ammunition with them."

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: summer 1944.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: no caption.

File source: Wehrmacht Awards Forum / RD Rygaard.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Formiranje 23. brdske SS-divizije "Kama". Ova jedinica je trebalo da bude druga SS-divizija sastavljena od bosanskih muslimana, ali je njeno formiranje posle samo nekoliko meseci moralo biti otkazano, zbog nadirućih Sovjeta i veoma lošeg stanja u prvoj diviziji (gubitak ljudstva i morala, uz sve češća dezertiranja). Na slici, dva oficira i podoficir, verovatno Nemci (komandni kadar divizije je bio nemački), poziraju u tropskim uniformama u jednom seoskom dvorištu, ispred kotobanje, tokom obuke u Bačkoj. Nemačkim oficirima nije bilo lako sa Bosancima; iako su, s jedne strane, Bosanci često bivali vrlo simpatični, s druge strane su svojom neukrotivom (divljom) prirodom, svojeglavošću i običajima Nemce često šokirali, pa i plašili. Anegdota sa obuke, sećanje jednog nemačkog komandira čete (citat iz knjige "Za domovinu!" Rudolfa Penca): "Jednom prilikom moji su muslimani ušli u jedno selo i pobili sve svinje! Mađarski seljaci su pobesneli. Ja sam takođe bio besan i izdrao sam se na njih zbog toga. Moj prevodilac Ali mi je rekao da je to za njih normalno, i da su svinje ionako nečiste životinje." A kada je formiranje druge bosansko-hercegovačke SS-divizije otkazano i bilo vreme da se njeni bosanski pripadnici vrate u domovinu, u prvu diviziju, usled sve napetije i neizvesnije situacije, ponašanje pojedinaca drastično se pogoršalo – pa je došlo i do pobune. Sećanje jednog nemačkog vojnika (iz prethodno pomenutog izvora): "Neki od Bosanaca su hteli da dezertiraju. Unteršturmfirer Fidler je pokušao da ih zaustavi i stajao im je na putu. Jednostavno su ga upucali i bacili telo u vodu! Šturmbanfirer Sir se smatrao prisiljenim da ih pusti. Sa sobom su poneli veliki broj oružja, uključujući mitraljeze, i znatnu količinu municije."

Tekst: Ivan Ž. 

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: leto 1944.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: bez natpisa.

Izvor fajla: Wehrmacht Awards Forum / RD Rygaard.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

04 September 2016

0189 | Photo | Festungs-Brigade 963



Breakthrough of the Syrmian Front. Smiling fighters of the XIII Proletarian Brigade (of the I Division) escorting captured Germans near the village of Bapska. The prisoners are members of the 963rd Fortress Brigade, commanded by Colonel Clotz. This unit defended the area from the village of Mohovo to (the vicinity of) Bapska and fought as part of the 41st Infantry Division. It was composed of three battalions (two of its own plus the III Battalion of the 440th Grenadier Regiment), only one of which survived the breakthrough of the Syrmian Front.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: 12 April 1945.
Location: Bapska (district of Šid), Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Todor Radošević, "13. proleterska brigada 'Rade Končar'" (p. 318).

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Proboj Sremskog fronta. Nasmejani borci XIII proleterske brigade (I divizije) sprovode zarobljene Nemce kod sela Bapske. Zarobljenici su pripadnici 963. tvrđavske brigade, kojom je komandovao pukovnik Kloc. Ova jedinica je branila područje od sela Mohova do (blizine) Bapske i borila se u sastavu 41. pešadijske divizije. Sastojala se od tri bataljona (dva sopstvena i III bataljona 440. grenadirskog puka), od kojih je samo jedan preživeo proboj Sremskog fronta.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: 12. april 1945.
Mesto: Bapska (srez Šidski), Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Todor Radošević, "13. proleterska brigada 'Rade Končar'" (str. 318).

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

0188 | Photo | Kroatische Ausbildungs-Brigade



Parade of Croatian cadets in Zagreb. Cadets of the Officer and NCO School of the Croatian Training Brigade parade before the Poglavnik in the Croatian capital. (The brigade trained future members of the German-Croatian divisions, the 369th "Devil's" and the 373rd "Tiger". A couple of months later, a third division was formed, the 392nd "Blue".)

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: 8 June 1943.
Location: Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: "Poglavnik parade. [...]"

File source: eBay / baronwacker2013.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Parada hrvatskih pitomaca u Zagrebu. Pitomci oficirske i podoficirske škole Hrvatske brigade za obuku paradiraju pred poglavnikom u glavnom gradu Hrvatske. (Brigada je obučavala buduće pripadnike nemačko-hrvatskih divizija, 369. "Vražje" i 373. "Tigar". Par meseci kasnije formirana je i treća divizija, 392. "Plava".)

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: 8. jun 1943.
Mesto: Zagreb, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: "Poglavnikova parada. [...]"

Izvor fajla: eBay / baronwacker2013.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

30 August 2016

0187 | Photo | Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"



Operation 25. A Yugoslav symbolically surrenders his smashed rifle to a German. Although the seized war material was usually maximally exploited, the Germans would also occasionally crush the seized rifles, for propaganda purposes, in order to demonstrate the collapse of the enemy army symbolically as well. In the picture, the destroyed weapon is being received by a motorcyclist of the SS Bodyguard "Adolf Hitler", somewhere in Macedonia.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Franz Roth, SS War Correspondent Company.
Date: April 1941.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: "Operation [25]. A Serbian officer hands over his smashed rifle upon his capture on his way out of the barracks."

File source: NIOD / Beeldbank WO2, 20961.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Operacija 25. Jugosloven simbolično predaje svoju slomljenu pušku Nemcu. Iako je zaplenjeni ratni materijal obično bio maksimalno iskorišćavan, Nemci bi zaplenjene puške ponekad i lomili, u propagandne svrhe, ne bi li i simbolično prikazali slom neprijateljske vojske. Na slici, uništeno oružje prima jedan motociklista Telesne garde SS-a "Adolf Hitler", negde u Makedoniji.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Franc Rot, Ratnodopisnička četa SS-a.
Datum: april 1941.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: "Operacija [25]. Srpski oficir po zarobljavanju predaje svoju slomljenu pušku na izlasku iz kasarne."

Izvor fajla: NIOD / Beeldbank WO2, 20961.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

25 August 2016

0186 | Photo | 4. Gebirgs-Division



A smiling member of the "Gentian Division" (4th Mountain Division) posing with an "exotic" Roma family for a souvenir photo, somewhere in Serbia. What was particularly interesting to the soldiers of this division (which had its baptism of fire during the invasion of Yugoslavia) were the Roma women, who completely differed in appearance and temperament from most European women they were used to. There are many similar (jolly and friendly, but also mocking at the same time) photographs of German soldiers with Roma from the first days of the occupation; however, this seemingly cheerful atmosphere will soon change – and the bloody persecution of tens of thousands of Yugoslav Roma will begin.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown, 4th Mountain Division.
Date: April 1941.
Location: unknown, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: no caption.

File source: eBay / frankw.61.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Nasmejani pripadnik "Encijan-divizije" (4. brdska divizija) pozira sa jednom "egzotičnom" romskom porodicom za uspomenu, negde u Srbiji. Vojnicima ove divizije (kojoj je invazija na Jugoslaviju bila vatreno krštenje) posebno su bile zabavne romske žene, koje su se pojavom i temperamentom potpuno razlikovale od većine Evropljanki na koje su oni bili navikli. Mnogobrojne su slične (vesele i prijateljske, ali u isto vreme i podrugljive) fotografije nemačkih vojnika sa Romima iz prvih dana okupacije; međutim, ta naizgled vedra atmosfera će se ubrzo promeniti – i počeće krvavi progon desetina hiljada jugoslovenskih Roma.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat, 4. brdska divizija.
Datum: april 1941.
Mesto: nepoznato, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: bez natpisa.

Izvor fajla: eBay / frankw.61.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

15 August 2016

0185 | Music | Prewar




National Anthem of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. An extremely rare recording of the Yugoslav national anthem performed by a German military band (this is the first publication of the recording after 77 years, and its internet-premiere). It was made for the occasion of the upcoming visit of Prince Paul of Yugoslavia to Berlin (1–5 June 1939), for whom there was a great military parade also organised, on the same occasion – the last of its kind in the prewar Third Reich. The National Anthem of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia dates back to the time of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (from 1929: Kingdom of Yugoslavia), and it was composed of national anthems of its three nations (tribes): Serbian "God of Justice" (at the beginning and at the end), Croatian "Our Beautiful Homeland" and Slovenian "Forward, Flag of Glory". The enclosed text file is also unknown to the general public today; it was published at the beginning of 1938 in the most luxurious magazine of the Third Reich, called "Joy and Labour", with Miloš Crnjanski's (then Yugoslav press attaché in Berlin) text about the Yugoslav royal family, in a series of articles dedicated to the rapprochement of the two countries. In the enclosed sound file, the anthem is performed by a band of an air district signal regiment, led by Second Lieutenant Karl Rojahn; it was recorded in Stuttgart for the Greater German Radio [Großdeutscher Rundfunk], ten days before the arrival of Prince Paul in Germany and slightly over three months before the outbreak of World War II. Two years later, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia will be bombed, occupied, torn apart and erased from the map of the world. From then until the end of the war, for radio and commercial purposes, German soldiers will record only one of the anthems of the three tribes of Yugoslavia: "Our Beautiful Homeland".

Text: Ivan Ž.

Composer: Davorin Jenko – Josif Runjanin – Davorin Jenko.
Lyricist: Jovan Đorđević – Antun Mihanović – Simon Jenko.
Performer: band of an air district signal regiment, led by Second Lieutenant Karl Rojahn.
Date: 22 May 1939.
Location: Stuttgart, Germany.
Lyrics: 1) God of justice, You who saved us from damnation till this day, hear our voices and be our saviour from now on, as before! 2) Our beautiful homeland, oh, dear heroic country, ancient land of glory, may you be forever fortunate! 3) Forward, flag of glory, to battle, heroic blood, for the prosperity of the fatherland, let the rifle speak! 4) God, save, God, protect, our King and our nation, God, protect King Peter, our entire nation prays to You!

File source: a) "Freude und Arbeit" 2/1938 (p. 23); b) R. P. (private collection).

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Himna Kraljevine Jugoslavije. Izuzetno redak snimak jugoslovenske himne u izvedbi jednog nemačkog vojnog orkestra (ovo je prvo objavljivanje snimka posle 77 godina, i njegova internet-premijera). Napravljen je povodom nastupajuće posete kneza Pavla Karađorđevića Berlinu (1–5. juna 1939. godine), za koga je tom prilikom priređena i velika vojna parada – poslednja te veličine u predratnom Trećem Rajhu. Himna Kraljevine Jugoslavije potiče iz vremena Kraljevine Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca (od 1929. godine: Kraljevina Jugoslavija), a sastojala se od himni njena tri naroda (plemena): srpske "Bože pravde" (na početku i na kraju), hrvatske "Lijepa naša domovino" i slovenačke "Naprej, zastava slave". Priloženi tekstualni zapis je takođe danas široj javnosti nepoznat; objavljen je početkom 1938. godine u najluksuznijem časopisu Trećeg Rajha, zvanom "Radost i rad", uz tekst Miloša Crnjanskog (tada jugoslovenskog atašea za štampu u Berlinu) o dinastiji Karađorđevića, u nizu članaka posvećenih zbližavanju dvaju zemalja. Na priloženom zvučnom zapisu himnu izvodi orkestar jednog vazdušnooblasnog puka veze, pod upravom potporučnika Karla Rojana; snimljen je u Štutgartu za Velikonemački radio [Großdeutscher Rundfunk], deset dana pred dolazak kneza Pavla u Nemačku i nešto više od tri meseca pred izbijanje II svetskog rata. Dve godine kasnije, Kraljevina Jugoslavija će biti bombardovana, okupirana, rasparčana i obrisana sa karte sveta. Od tada pa do kraja rata, za potrebe radija i u komercijalne svrhe, nemačka vojska će snimati samo jednu od himni tri plemena Jugoslavije: "Lijepa naša domovino".

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Kompozitor: Davorin Jenko – Josif Runjanin – Davorin Jenko.
Tekstopisac: Jovan Đorđević – Antun Mihanović – Simon Jenko.
Izvođač: orkestar jednog vazdušnooblasnog puka veze, pod upravom potporučnika Karla Rojana.
Datum: 22. maj 1939.
Mesto: Štutgart, Nemačka.
Reči: 1) Bože pravde, Ti što spase od propasti do sad nas, čuj i od sad naše glase i od sad nam budi spas! 2) Lijepa naša domovino, oj, junačka zemljo mila, stare slave djedovino, da bi vazda sretna bila! 3) Naprej, zastava slave, na boj, junaška kri, za blagor očetnjave naj puška govori! 4) Bože, spasi, Bože, hrani našeg Kralja i naš rod, Kralja Petra, Bože, hrani, moli Ti se sav naš rod!

Izvor fajla: a) "Freude und Arbeit" 2/1938 (str. 23); b) R. P. (lična zbirka).

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

11 August 2016

0184 | Photo | Jugoslovenska armija



The end of the war. Smiling young Partisans posing proudly (and childishly happy) in Celje, holding German MP 40 submachine guns, in front of a seized tank destroyer "Hetzer" [Jagdpanzer 38(t)]. On the gun barrel, there are three rings (painted by the Germans), which indicate the number of destroyed enemy tanks. On top of the vehicle are two dishevelled Partisans, also armed with MP 40 submachine guns. On the far left, in Napoleonic pose, stands an armed person wearing a seized German tank uniform in combination with a civilian hat.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Josip Pelikan.
Date: May 1945.
Location: Celje, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Muzej novejše zgodovine Celje, 745:CEL;JP-0006640.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Kraj rata. Nasmejani mladi partizani poziraju ponosno (i detinje veselo) u Celju, sa nemačkim automatima MP 40 u rukama, ispred zaplenjenog lovca tenkova "Hecera" [Jagdpanzer 38(t)]. Na cevi topa se vide tri prstena (nacrtana od strane Nemaca), koji označavaju broj uništenih neprijateljskih tenkova. Na vozilu su dva razbarušena partizana, naoružana takođe automatima MP 40. Sasvim levo, u napoleonskoj pozi, stoji naoružana osoba koja nosi zaplenjenu nemačku tenkovsku uniformu u kombinaciji sa civilnim šeširom.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Josip Pelikan.
Datum: maj 1945.
Mesto: Celje, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Muzej novejše zgodovine Celje, 745:CEL;JP-0006640.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.

0183 | Photo | 2. Panzerarmee



An unusual photograph: commander of the 2nd Armoured Army, General Lothar Rendulić – seen through the lens of the famous photographer Walter Henisch, having fun taking a picture of an "exotic" Albanian, as a souvenir.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Walter Henisch, 693rd Propaganda Company.
Date: summer 1943.
Location: unknown, Albania.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-191-1656-14.

NOT ALLOWED: removing source credits from the files – using text without crediting the original author – using files and information for political propaganda and commercial purposes.

Index | Sources 


Jedna neuobičajena fotografija: komandant 2. oklopne armije, general Lotar Rendulić – viđen kroz objektiv proslavljenog fotografa Valtera Heniša, kako se zabavlja fotografišući jednog "egzotičnog" Albanca, za uspomenu.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Valter Heniš, 693. propagandna četa.
Datum: leto 1943.
Mesto: nepoznato, Albanija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-191-1656-14.

NIJE DOZVOLJENO: uklanjanje naziva izvora sa fajlova – korišćenje teksta bez navođenja izvornog autora – korišćenje fajlova i informacija u političko-propagandne i komercijalne svrhe.