Hello.
I am attaching copies of WWII pictures that I found in my father's files. My father lived in Poland and was in forced labor under Hitler.
Any thoughts on the pictures would be appreciated!
1) WWII soldiers being led by soldier on horseback
2) WWII soldiers in discussion on street
3) WWII soldiers standing in line on field
Mar 29, 2019 12:43 PM
Dear Ms. Dash,
Thank you for posting your question on the History Hub!
If it was part of the “captured” records in the National Archives Collection of Foreign Records Seized (Record Group 242), the photograph of record would be considered permanent and in the custody of the National Archives at College Park -Still Picture (RDSS). Please contact RDSS via email at stillpix@nara.gov. Their web site is https://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/college-park/photographs-dc.html.
We also suggest that you contact the State Archives of Poland via https://www.archiwa.gov.pl/pl/ for Polish military information. For German military information, you may wish to contact the Bundesarchiv Abt. VI - Militärarchiv, Wiesentalstraße 10, 79115 Freiburg, Germany.
We hope this information is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!
Mar 29, 2019 3:05 PM
Ms. Dash,
The first and third photos in your query appear to be troops of the Polish 1st or 2nd Army, troop formations equipped and commanded by the Red Army during their westward movement toward the heart of the Third Reich in 1944 and 1945. The clues in the images include the rogatywka field cap with Polish eagle insignia and the mixture of Soviet, German, and British weapons--in the first picture the troops are carrying Soviet PPSH-41 and British Sten submachine guns, along with a fairly rare German Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle. In the third picture, at least one soldiers is carrying a German Karabiner 98k rifle.
The second image is bit more sobering as I believe it was taken during the Warsaw Uprising in the summer of 1944. The uniforms here appear to be all German, and the presence of women in uniform would be consistent with the diversity of the fighters in the Warsaw ghetto during the uprising. Finally, the building debris in the background of the photo as well as the atmosphere of the scene tells me that fighting is happening close by.
I hope you will find these observations helpful.
Ms. Dash
All photos show the (NSZ, Narodowe Siły Zbrojne) National Armed Forces. Polish underground organization that fought against the Germans and communists during World War II.
The first photo is the units of the NSZ Świętokrzyska Brigade (Holy Cross Mountains Brigade) passing through the village in the Czech Republic in spring 1945 during a parade - front view. In the foreground, 2 officers on horseback, 2 horse carts in the back. In the background, in front of the building, in the gate, [Polish?] Soldiers, author: unknown, April 1, 1945 - June 30, 1945. Source: AIPN
The second photo is a photo from the Warsaw Uprising w 1944. Southern Downtown. A group of platoon soldiers. platoon. NSZ "Sikora" composed of 2 comp. "Ziuk" of the "Miłosz" Battalion. In the background on the right, Cpl. cadet Henryk Dutkowski "Kosowski" Collection: Henryk Świercz "Świerszcz", Inventory number: MPW-IN / 3526, Date taken: end of September 1944, Author of the photo: Henryk Świercz "Świerszcz", Source: MPW
The third photo is also 99% of the Holy Cross Brigade.
The soldiers of the Świętokrzyska Brigade (Holy Cross Mountains Brigade) escaped to the American occupation zone in Germany, liberating the concentration camp in Holiszów on the way.
A large part of the soldiers was formed into a guard company in the American base, and later some of them emigrated to the USA.
Did these photos belong to a relative? He was probably associated with the NSZ.
I hope I helped.
greetings
Tomasz Kaczyński
P.S.
Sorry for my english