27 May 2017

0221 | Photo | Division Nr. 188



Operation 25. In order to secure the assembling of his forces on the German-Yugoslav border prior to the invasion, the commander of the German 2nd Army (von Weichs) issued an order for the formation of units for border protection and the organisation of communications. The task was entrusted to the 538th Division for Special Use (composed of border troops) and elements of the 188th Division temporarily subordinated to it (replacement mountain troops). Responsible for the defence against a potential enemy attack were units of the 188th Division – named "Magic Fire" (Feuerzauber) for this occasion, referring to Germanic mythology and the impenetrable fire that guarded valkyrie Brynhildr. Even though the role of these troops was purely defensive and their use outside the borders of the Reich was not planned, the "Magic Fire", however, flared up – and the protectors soon turned into attackers... Pictured, mountain troopers of the 188th Division disarming Yugoslav soldiers at the Seeberg Saddle border crossing, on the first day of the invasion.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Leander Gofferjé, 649th Propaganda Company.
Date: 6 April 1941.
Location: Seeberg Saddle (district of Kranj), Yugoslavia.
Original caption: "Serbian prisoners deliver weapons upon their capture."

File source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1975-036-24.

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 25. Da bi osigurao prikupljanje svojih snaga na nemačko-jugoslovenskoj granici pred invaziju, komandant nemačke 2. armije (fon Vajhs) izdao je zapovest o formiranju jedinica za zaštitu granice i organizaciju veze. Ovaj zadatak je poveren 538. diviziji za posebne namene (koju su činile pogranične jedinice) i privremeno joj potčinjenim delovima 188. divizije (dopunske brdske jedinice). Za odbranu od eventualnog neprijateljskog napada bile su zadužene jedinice 188. divizije – koje su ovom prilikom nosile naziv "Čarobni plamen" (Feuerzauber), aludirajući na germansku mitologiju i neprobojni plamen koji je čuvao valkiru Brunhildu. Međutim, iako je uloga ovih jedinica bila isključivo odbrambena i njihova upotreba van granica Rajha nije bila planirana, "Čarobni plamen" se rasplamsao – i zaštitnici su se ubrzo pretvorili u napadače... Na slici, brdski lovci 188. divizije razoružavaju jugoslovenske vojnike na graničnom prelazu Jezerski vrh, prvog dana invazije.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Leander Goferje, 649. propagandna četa.
Datum: 6. april 1941.
Mesto: Jezerski vrh (srez Kranjski), Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: "Srpski zarobljenici po zarobljavanju predaju oružje."

Izvor fajla: Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1975-036-24.

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

22 May 2017

0220 | Photo | Soldatensender Belgrad



Soldiers' Radio Belgrade. German soldiers, members of Propaganda Battalion South-East, empty another sack of mail from all over Europe on a desk in the Belgrade Radio's office. Thanks to the hit song "Lili Marleen" and the show "Young Belgrade Guard" (Der junge Belgrader Wachtposten), which connected the front and the fatherland, the Belgrade radio station quickly became favourite among German – and even Allied troops. Browsing through the pile of newly-arrived letters are female military auxiliaries (Helferinnen der Wehrmacht), so-called Blitz girls (Blitzmädel). They were nicknamed after the insignia of German signal units, a lightning (Blitz), which they wore on their uniforms (usually on a sleeve, tie and cap; the pictured girls wear it on their collars, instead of a tie).

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: Homann, SS War Correspondent Battalion.
Date: August/September 1942.
Location: Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: National Archives, 242-JRP-34-7-11A.

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.



Vojnički radio Beograd. Nemački vojnici, pripadnici Propagandnog bataljona Jugoistok, istresaju još jedan džak pošte iz čitave Evrope na sto u kancelariji beogradskog radija. Zahvaljujući hit-pesmi "Lili Marlen" i emisiji "Mladi beogradski stražar" (Der junge Belgrader Wachtposten), koja je spajala front i otadžbinu, beogradska radio-stanica je za kratko vreme postala omiljena među nemačkim – pa čak i savezničkim trupama. Po hrpi novopristiglih pisama prebiraju vojne pomoćnice (Helferinnen der Wehrmacht), tzv. blic-devojke (Blitzmädel). Nadimak su dobile po oznaci nemačkih jedinica veze, munji (Blitz), koju su nosile na svojim uniformama (obično na rukavu, kravati i kapi; devojke na slici je nose na kragni, umesto kravate).

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: Homan, Ratnodopisnički bataljon SS-a.
Datum: avgust/septembar 1942.
Mesto: Beograd, Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: National Archives, 242-JRP-34-7-11A.

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

03 May 2017

0219 | Photo | SS-Freiwilligen-Division "Prinz Eugen"



Operation "Black". Members of the SS Division "Prinz Eugen" liquidate captured Partisans on the slopes of Zelengora, in the Sutjeska valley, at the very end of the operation. Stepping on corpses, an officer finishes the survivors off after the shooting, as usual, with a bullet in the nape of the neck.

Text: Ivan Ž.

Photographer: unknown.
Date: June 1943.
Location: unknown (district of Foča), Yugoslavia.
Original caption: unknown.

File source: Muzej Jugoslavije / Znaci, 8144.

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". Pripadnici SS-divizije "Princ Ojgen" likvidiraju zarobljene partizane na padinama Zelengore, u dolini Sutjeske, na samom kraju operacije. Gazeći po leševima, oficir nakon streljanja po običaju dokrajčuje preživele, metkom u potiljak.

Tekst: Ivan Ž.

Fotograf: nepoznat.
Datum: jun 1943.
Mesto: nepoznato (srez Fočanski), Jugoslavija.
Originalni natpis: nepoznat.

Izvor fajla: Muzej Jugoslavije / Znaci, 8144.

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