Portrait – Walloon Volunteer “Jean Maroy” – Légion Wallonie

Original Private Portrait – French Volunteer “Jean Maroy”, Légion Wallonie / Walloon Legion

Original wartime private studio portrait of a Walloon volunteer serving with the Légion Wallonie (Walloon Legion), a unit of French-speaking volunteers fighting on the Eastern Front alongside German forces.

The photograph shows the soldier in his field-gray uniform, wearing the arm shield for the Walloon Legion, with the early-style side cap (Einheitsfeldmütze) and REX award! The front bears a personal handwritten dedication in French:

“Pour ma jolie femme adorée de moi qui l’aime — Jean”
(For my lovely wife, adored by me who loves her — Jean.)

The reverse identifies the man as “Maroy Jean – Lég. Wall.” and carries the studio stamp of photographer E. Nehring, Minden, confirming it as a period private photo likely taken during training or while on leave in Germany.

Item Details

• Original WWII private studio photograph of a Walloon Legion volunteer

• Named: Maroy Jean

• Unit: Légion Wallonie (Walloon Legion)

• Photographer: E. Nehring, M… (stamped)

• Handwritten dedication in French on the front

• Size: Approx. 9 × 6 cm

• Condition: Very good; light handling marks and toning, pin hole from original display

Collector’s Note

A rare and highly personal portrait of a Walloon Legion soldier, signed and inscribed to his wife. Named examples of Francophone volunteers in Wehrmacht service are scarce, especially with direct unit identification (“Lég. Wall.”).