HellaPictureSeeing
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I have a small collection of my Great-grandfathers items and photos from his time in Germany. Not sure, but I believe this says we will win. I don't know enough to give much detailed info on how he got these things or where he took these photos. I apologize. He was part of a bridge building crew and photographer/surveyor or at least maybe as a hobby?
Thank you for your service, C. Thompson.
Again sorry for anything misleading as I'm making guesses, please help if you know anything!!
Coins
Coins and a badge
Still coins
Book he knew the author I believe?
Lucky coin.
...
Boat
Bridge building
Boats
Not really sure where but unfortunate town.
These had to get approved to take I believe.
Tank.exe has crashed
Floating things
Functional bridge, I think they carried a lot of this equipment with them and could make these all over for convoys to cross.
This is brutal
Pretty, I hope it's still standing
...
?
Badge and other thing
?
Some of these to counter the glare have been filtered
Don't know what happened here
Sorry for the glare. We cannot forget the sacrifice troops make for their countries, it's the most honorably selfless job a man or woman can have.
Money
Monies
I am very excited to see about developing these? Suggestions anyone?
Macro perspective
Holster but of the other team
-Right (was in the previous holster and is hand carved)
-Left (the US issued sidearm)
Again but up close US
Nazi issued pistol, but the story is my grandpa was in battle and stole it from an officer. Not really a primary source here so I don't want to guess.
The other side (not in my possession
statsquo
The church is the Cologne Cathedral and yes it still stands!
onlyveganreplys
quality oc. THIS should be front page material
HoriOri
I wanted this to turn into a firearms post and it did. Thanks for sharing OP.
HellaPictureSeeing
:) I have a cool SKS from the Yugoslavian conflict
Burnymacc
That badge is not a badge, it's a medal. Your grandpa has some cool stuff! Please don't fold the bills, $2 bills that old are valuable!
HellaPictureSeeing
Duly noted
yamatto
The pin isn't SS, it's panzer heer. Those poor dumb shits had black uniforms and totenkopf insignia as well, which routinely got them (1)
yamatto
(2) shot when they attempted to surrender, due to being mistaken for Waffen SS.
MemeStealingSkeleton
I am jelly of your great grandfather's gats there, they are pretty collectable.
jatsou
Nice pictures! I wonder how much money is that on todays currency
HellaPictureSeeing
I've been told from a lot of people on here those could be worth something substantial but I'm not about to get rid of it :/
fathamster
Also being burned alive was the big fear of the tank troops since since the most common death for the panzer troops was to be engulfed in
fathamster
From inside the tank or if you were lucky enough to get out you would likely be standing face to face to someone dead set on killing you.
Sheiryn
Passed pictures usually mean they don't hold any secret stuff so can be sent through the mail. Great pictures.
Sheiryn
Lovely collection, if you don't want to donate the pictures at least find someone to explain them to you.
HellaPictureSeeing
My family helps a bit, we were fairly good at keeping Records
DShieldren
Thx @op
Nadas
Really good! Felt organic. Thank you @OP
HellaPictureSeeing
Oh Jeeze I'd be sad if someone just took photos like these and had no clue where they came from. But I guess now they're public :/ shit.
HellaPictureSeeing
You're welcome, glad this is interesting to others besides just my dad and I.
Moobbles
Very interesting. And thank you.
DontworryMrBlackadderIhaveacunningplan
#16 is a VW schwimmwagen. Those fuckers float!
HellaPictureSeeing
Those are legit burnt humans zoom in on the face. Sad :/
omglandshark
#23 the 6 wheel car is a Praga AV http://www.kfzderwehrmacht.de/Homepage_english/Motor_Vehicles/Czechoslovakia/Praga/Praga_AV/praga_av.html
omglandshark
Rather obscure and took me bloody ages to find. Here's another picture of one http://www.vojenskatechnika.sk/praga_av/praga_av01.jpg
HellaPictureSeeing
I want this higher up
DocB630
Interesting pistol. It's a Polish made Radom Vis mod. 35, 9mm. German paratroopers and special police used them. Those grips are awesome.
HellaPictureSeeing
Is this the DocB630 I know and love? And looked up the make of this pistol together earlier tonight?
HellaPictureSeeing
Weird nvm
omglandshark
#8 (I'm pretty sure) is Higgins PT Boat http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=Higgins-PT-Boat
DaysofOld
Definitely not. Looks like a British Fairmile.
omglandshark
I disagree, check the gallery on http://www.nww2m.com/2016/03/pt-305-turns-73-on-march-30-2016/
omglandshark
specifically http://www.nww2m.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/305-dockside-ww2-1024x700.jpg
omglandshark
You can find out more about that type here http://www.nationalww2museum.org/see-hear/collections/artifacts/pt-305.html
Fenix04
@HellapictureSeeing #17 looks exactly like the Reims Cathedral in France, just outside Paris. It's still there today.
spicepoet
My thoughts too. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Reims_Kathedrale.jpg/450px-Reims_Kathedrale.jpg
Moobbles
I was thinking Notre Dame.
msturge
@op your translation of #1 is correct. It can also mean we will be victorious.
HellaPictureSeeing
Thanks, it was my best guess. From the limited German I know.
IExpectAKill
Those are probably German corpses. That's a Panzer Mk IV, I believe.
LannistersSendTheirRetards
Very cool. I love posts about WW2
afx82
Looks like the north of france, the cathedral is probably Notre Dame de Reims.
HellaPictureSeeing
Yup
ImgurianWorldWarHistorian
The "badge" is actually a German ribbon bar. The red, white and black ribbon denotes that whoever wore that won the Iron Cross 2nd Class 1/2
ImgurianWorldWarHistorian
The second ribbon denotes whoever wore this was awarded the Entry into Sudetenland medal.
joot
What does the metal bar across the Sudetenland ribbon indicate?
ImgurianWorldWarHistorian
That is the Prague Castle bar, for those who subsequently annexed Moravia and Bohemia I believe.
joot
Aha, Prager Burg Spange -- I found it just as you replied. Thanks :)
HellaPictureSeeing
Im following you now. I have more photos and memorabilia at my g-gma's in pretty sure. She's 98 and lives alone, I need to to hang w her...
ImgurianWorldWarHistorian
Definitely. I interview WWII Veterans. Their generation is finally giving way sadly. Talk to her while you still can.
johnvictor
1The burned body on the tank looks like a panzer 4 variant and that'd be one of the former crew members. The line of POW were German troops
johnvictor
captured by US troops and I'd guess somewhere near the Siegfried line given the dragon's teeth, heavy forested area, and the sheer number.
27yoUGLYvirgin
Pretty sure that's a mannequin. Look at the solid hair and the butt.
Sheiryn
Either way the burned body on the tank does not look like a panzer lol
afx82
#7, is that a ss pin upside down?
Moobbles
Yup.
puxorb
That poor tank crew. They were probably ejected by an explosion inside, or crawled out while burning to death.
27yoUGLYvirgin
Am I the only one who realizes this is a burned mannequin?
Feralkyn
I can't imagine someone hauling a dead mannequin out there but something about it doesn't look right, either. Like... legs too long and
Feralkyn
no real clothes idk
27yoUGLYvirgin
It's not that, look at the hair and the butt. The hair is a solid, full material and one with the head. That's not hair. Butt is wrong too.
Feralkyn
Yeah that's what I was thinking too, but it could have been burned into being solid? We can't really see the color so : /
HellaPictureSeeing
It pains me to see those every time. But wars today are not far off :/
Civikjm
Yeah, looks like a Panzer 4. Probably tried to get out after being scorched and didn't get far.
Deadlymoocow
as far as im aware there arent any tiger 1 models with turret schutzen so yeah its probably a panzer 4.
DaysofOld
Definitely. Must be an H or J model.
27yoUGLYvirgin
Uhm, this is a mannequin, not a real person. Look at the solid hair and the butt.
HoriOri
Are you sure you've seen enough charred corpses to make a call on that?
27yoUGLYvirgin
Dude, look at the hair, it's literally a solid mass, if it was burned it would be gone, not look like a chunk of solid char coal.
HoriOri
For all you know it was a cap that melted to his skull. 70 million dead but they had to fake this one for a photo op. 1/2
johnvictor
Definitely a Panzer 4 variant and the burned body is a crew crawling out of a hit that would have set it on fire.
dayofmone
#21 are most likely depth charges, timed explosives that detonate at a certain depth to damage submarines.
HellaPictureSeeing
+1. This is why I posted. I love Imgur. You all rock. Thanks @Sarah
spicepoet
That's what they are. British Mark VII. The nubs on top were to adjust the depth they went off. Those are storage rails leading to launcher.
spicepoet
In the background is a Royal Navy Supply or Hospital ship (same hull). I'm curious about the story behind these.
HellaPictureSeeing
I can do more research certainly if I just talk w my grandpa (his son). We just live so far apart.
spicepoet
Good deal. Well, get 10 good questions from here and on your own. Ask and --document the answers--. Even if just for yourself and family.
theblackhole08
#17 @HellaPictureSeeing Yep it has been partially destroyed but greatly restored. It's in Reims in France, I live near this city :)
theblackhole08
http://maps.google.com/?cid=9171582378009471970
HellaPictureSeeing
+1
UberWulf
Lmao "I hope it's still standing"....-_- please tell me you know what that building is
johnvictor
Yeah, I was like "That's Notre Dame. It's still there."
afx82
Notre Dame de Reims? It's not that famous.
HellaPictureSeeing
Yeah to be honest I didn't know, had I known him better I would've asked
UberWulf
That wasn't like me tryna be a dick, I'm just surprised people don't know it, that and Notre Dame de Paris
HellaPictureSeeing
Yeah no I actually was waiting for someone to comment so I could know. I'm sure it would've been significant to him or someone back home.
SauronsLeftNut
There is a famous photo with a knocked out Tiger? in front of it. Cool to see another angle of the place.
afx82
No shame in that. There are many gothic Cathedrals in france.
indiefab
Use the PhotoScan app to take pictures of glossy photos without glare.
HellaPictureSeeing
How does that work?! I am quite interested +1
indiefab
Just use it and you'll understand. It takes 4 pics and stitched them together without the glare spots.
HellaPictureSeeing
You rock.
indiefab
And that roll of film has already been developed, it just needs to be printed. Find a media conversion company that will digitize them.
HellaPictureSeeing
Thanks.
Mansooratyale
Perfect timing, just bought WWII the complete history, 30 hrs DVD's from Goodwill for $0.99
HellaPictureSeeing
No shit? Can you upload and email to me? I'm broke as fuck :/
Mansooratyale
I wish I can, no idea how to create gif or upload videos
threadbareunderwear
Good find!
DarkSock
Is it the "world at war" series from the 70s? If so it is excellent
Mansooratyale
It's 2004 production with old voice narration, it might be from the 70's. The collection is beautiful, 10 DVD's in total
DarkSock
If you're lucky it is the world at war series; what was so great about it are the interviews with veterans who were only in their 40s & 50s
DankSatan
The skull and crossed-bones "thing" with the badge is a symbol for the SS. Maybe from a hat or a jacket
AVeryTallGlassOfIToldYouSo
Might be an early type of skull-badge if I'm not mistaken. As all of these things quite valuable. check for markings on the backside
dac0rny
The skull is from the german tankers not ss, they had a different looking skull
FireBelliedNewt
Looks like a WW2 German Nazi SS silver skull Totenkopf (Death Head) badge from a hat.
imgurandchill
I was thinking ops great grandfather saw some serious stuff if he had an SS symbol.
HellaPictureSeeing
Oh the war fucked him up good apparently, but the hearing loss was prob the worst side effect for him. When he got hearing aids for the 1st
HellaPictureSeeing
Time he went around his company's office rubbing sheets of paper together because he forgot how that used to sound.
imgurandchill
my father lost his hearing in the Navy working on aircraft carriers such as the enterprise.
HellaPictureSeeing
Oh damn, nice thanks so much I love the added info, that's what I posted for.
Murica1986
@HellaPictureSeeing badge is a hitter ss death squad. It was found on hats. It was to individuals who's role involved "the final solution"
spitfire4135
Nah I think it's from the 2nd SS panzer division "Totenkopf" or death heads they where responsible for a lot of war crimes
SnoopPenguin
If you want extra info, the skull was the sign of 'specialist' SS regiments that basically spent all their time guarding concentration camps
CurbsideWizard
Yep probably an ss cap brass
HellaPictureSeeing
Thnx
dfx9900
Also, what you call a "bage" is actually 2 ribbons, which are awards.
HellaPictureSeeing
Damn did I spell badge bage? Fml lol
dfx9900
Nope, that was my crappy spelling haha.
dfx9900
Did some quick googling, the left one is for the Iron Cross second class, and the other one is the Czech Occupitation award
NSFWPOLICEFORCE
Its a totenkopf badge (deaths head)
HellaPictureSeeing
What does that mean??
GimlisaurusRex
"totenkopf" means "death's head".
gad885
It was a Prussian calvary insignia from the 1700's resurrected by the nazis who had an eye for cool ild symbols
Forge128
Tot = death kopf = head. en is a connecting fragment, like "of". So literally death's head. Common badge of the Schutzstaffel in WW2.
Forge128
SS were generally the dudes doing the terribly evil shit, they ran the death squads and camps. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schutzstaffel
Pizzaraptor479
Totenkopf (skull,dead's head) is the German word for the skull and crossbones and death's head symbols. Its suppose to mean death or danger
AnonOmis1000
"there is a skull on our hats.....are we the baddies?"
heavenlydesaster
Was just looking for this. Good job mate.
AnonOmis1000
:D
HellaPictureSeeing
*I don't get this reference meme*
AnonOmis1000
You are missing out.
YourMomIsEverything
Here you go, it's hilarious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1VxaMEjRU
IsaacZehPanda
You should get those pictures developed as soon as possible, they get worse and worse over time
Appel99
I recently watch a vid on live leaks about a guy who does just that, might try looking the vid up.
redheaddeb
Contact a local University. They have history programs with extensive resources. Show them your collection. Historical preservation.
HellaPictureSeeing
I'm a grad student at a university. I feel like an idiot for not doing this. His wife my g-gma worked here so I wonder if they have been
ToasterDent
Talk to a university artifact preservation specialist before doing anything - curled photos may crack if placed flat in a scanner.
AnotherBadArtist
yeah dude. talk to the history department and the library. the library should have specialists in archives
HellaPictureSeeing
I am friends w an archeologist (PhD and adjunct to be specific) and assume he may have some interest.
HellaPictureSeeing
Where is the best place? I'm not going to risk losing the film and failing. It's important to me, I want it done right. But am fairly broke.
Catsnakes4life
FYI don't store the printed pictures in the shoe box, ink from the box/money will cause them to degrade faster
superfunnel
I'd check with a museum
coaltrain1
I would suggest possibly getting in touch with a museum and seeing if they know with someone who specializes in historic photos and film.
IsaacZehPanda
Some foundations will do it online for free, then use photoshop to fix salvageable images/restore them, then they post the images online
IsaacZehPanda
And if I'm not mistaken, the foundations usually keep the originals, or just hire a business to do it for you
HellaPictureSeeing
It's kinda a nostalgia thing for my dad and out of respect for my great grandpa I'd definitely want to keep everything :/ is that bad?
TheAmbiguityShows
Its not bad. Its just not serving its purpose not being developed. Give it its purpose. Its been waiting long enough. It deserves as much
DoesItThough
Not bad at all. I'm sure any place would like copies though!
otebear
Hold on, did you mean developed or digitized? Can you already see an image on them?
HellaPictureSeeing
Yes
shimmernshine
You just need to get them scanned in that case, check with a local print shop, they should have a way of doing it.
otebear
North Coast Photo does great scans and should be about $20.
HellaPictureSeeing
Thx