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.