Original large-format wartime press photograph documenting SS-Obersturmbannführer Léon Degrelle, commander of the Walloon Legion, signing autographs for volunteers during a public ceremony in Namur on 29 July 1943. This well-known image captures Degrelle surrounded by members of the Brigade Wallonie, providing a vivid and historically significant snapshot of Waffen-SS propaganda and morale activity in occupied Belgium.

The photograph retains its original press caption in French, affixed to the lower margin, clearly identifying the event, date, location, and subject. The reverse bears the original SIPHO S.A. (Service International Photographique, Brussels) copyright stamp, confirming its authenticity as a contemporary press-issued photograph. Additional period handling marks, tape remnants, and editorial annotations are present, all consistent with genuine newsroom use.

Condition:
Good overall vintage condition. Typical press handling wear, including edge wear, tape remnants, and minor surface marks. Image remains sharp with strong contrast and excellent clarity for its age. No significant damage affecting display or historical value.

Historical Significance:
Léon Degrelle was one of the most prominent non-German Waffen-SS figures and a key collaborator leader in occupied Belgium. Original press photographs depicting him during wartime events are increasingly scarce, particularly large-format examples with intact captions and agency markings. This image offers strong documentary and research value, illustrating recruitment, propaganda, and the cult of personality surrounding Degrelle and the Walloon volunteers.

Collector’s Note:
A highly desirable and authentic WWII press photograph, ideal for advanced collections focused on Waffen-SS history, collaborationist movements, or original wartime photojournalism. The combination of large format, clear identification, period caption, and press agency stamp makes this an excellent display and reference piece.

Excellent original wartime photo grouping showing a decorated Heer (German Army) officer wearing two Panzervernichtungsabzeichen (tank destruction badges) on his right sleeve and the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on right pocket, with numerous other combat decorations including the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, and Verwundetenabzeichen.

The grouping includes studio portraits and field photographs, all depicting the same officer, both in uniform close-ups and during an outdoor award ceremony with Hitlerjugend members. Several of the images show him in discussion with senior officers and HJ leaders, presenting awards and documents — a rarely documented interaction between Wehrmacht and Hitler Youth units in the final war years.

Two high-quality studio portraits show the officer wearing the Panzervernichtungsabzeichen, clearly visible, while the field images capture him in active service uniform with the same decorations and ribbon bar.

Item Details

• Size: Varies, approx. 13 × 18 cm each (Press) and Postcardformat

• Condition: Excellent tonal contrast, crisp details, light handling marks only

• All original period prints, not reprints or reproductions

• This is sold on commission!

Original set of five wartime photographs depicting a young soldier of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division “Hitlerjugend”, showing the same individual in several poses and uniforms during his service.

In one of the studio portraits, the soldier clearly wears the rare “Hitlerjugend” cufftitle, specific to this Waffen-SS division. Another photo shows him in an SS Sturmgeschütz wrapper, while an additional image captures him in his winter HJ uniform, likely taken during training or early service. The set documents his progression from youth training to front-line Waffen-SS assignment.

The reverse of one card bears a handwritten dedication:

“Weihnachten 1943 – Euer Friedhelm” in Heidelager Dec 1943!
indicating a personal wartime message home around Christmas 1943 in Heidelager!

Four of the photographs are postcard-size (approx. 9 × 14 cm), and one smaller identification-size portrait is included. All are printed on period Agfa or Mimosa photographic paper, with period wear and light toning consistent with wartime handling.

Item Details

• Original WWII German photo set (5 pieces)

• Unit: 12. SS-Panzer-Division “Hitlerjugend”

• Uniforms shown: SS field uniform with “Hitlerjugend” cufftitle, SS Sturmgeschütz wrapper, HJ winter clothing

• Sizes: 4 × postcard size, 1 × ID size

• Condition: Very good; strong contrast, minimal wear, original period prints

Collector’s Note

A seldom-seen and historically significant personal photo grouping from a member of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division “Hitlerjugend”, notable for showing the division cufftitle in wear and a rare combination of uniforms. Such sets, preserved together with personal inscriptions, are highly desirable to Waffen-SS and photo historians alike.

Original postcard-size studio portrait depicting SA-Brigadeführer Richard Wagenbauer (30 June 1896 – 20 October 1942) in full uniform. The photograph shows Wagenbauer wearing the insignia of his rank on both collar tabs and shoulder boards, posed in a formal studio setting typical of high-ranking SA officers during the late 1930s. The image is sharply focused with excellent contrast, clearly displaying details of his service uniform and decorations.

The portrait bears Richard Wagenbauer’s original signature at the lower margin.

Biographical Note

Richard Wagenbauer was a German politician (NSDAP) and senior SA leader. A veteran of the First World War, he served in the 1st and 2nd Bavarian Foot Artillery Regiments and later joined Freikorps Epp and Detachment Hierl during the postwar years.

He became a member of the NSDAP in October 1930 (Party No. 502,919) and initially joined the SS, transferring to the SA in 1932. From 1933 to 1934, he briefly served as Police President of Karlsruhe, before assuming a leading post within the SA structure, eventually reaching the rank of Gruppenführer (later equivalent to Brigadeführer).

After the outbreak of the Second World War, Wagenbauer requested transfer to the Wehrmacht, serving as a Major and Abteilungs-Kommandeur. In February 1942, he was appointed Reichstag deputy for Electoral District 26 (Franken), a position he held until his death later that year.

Wagenbauer served as SA leader of the SA-Gruppe Bayernwald in Bayreuth and was due to assume command of the SA-Gruppe Hochland in Munich in October 1942. On 20 October 1942, he died in Coburg under unclear circumstances following a fall from a hotel window. He was buried in the Bayreuth Stadtfriedhof.

Item Details

• Original signed studio portrait of SA-Brigadeführer Richard Wagenbauer.

• Size: Postcard format (approx. 3.5 × 5.5 in / 9 × 14 cm).

• Medium: Glossy photographic paper, blank reverse.

• Condition: Very good; light edge toning and minimal handling wear. Signature remains clean and legible.

Collector’s Note

An uncommon original signed portrait of SA-Brigadeführer Richard Wagenbauer, who held both political and command positions within the SA and briefly in the Reichstag. Authentic signed photographs of SA officers at this rank are scarce, and this example offers strong historical and research value.

Original wartime photograph titled “Unser Kübel” (“Our Kübel”), showing a group of German Wehrmacht soldiers seated in a Wanderer W23 Kübelwagen (?) on a rural road, with farm buildings in the background. The vehicle, featuring field camouflage and distinctive front grille design, is characteristic of the early-war period.

Printed on period photo paper with scalloped edges and light silvering typical of 1940s prints. Excellent tonal contrast and clear detail; overall very good condition.

A fine and authentic field image depicting one of the less common pre-standardized Kübelwagen types used by German forces during the early stages of WWII.

This is an original vintage photograph, postcard-sized, depicting two unidentified high-ranking officers of the Allgemeine SS in full uniform. The image is sharp and well-composed, showing clear detail of insignia, medals, and uniform features typical of the pre-war SS organization.

Printed on period photographic paper with light age toning and minimal edge wear, this photograph remains in very good condition for its age.

A rare and historically significant image offering insight into SS leadership and uniform variations during the early Third Reich era.

Remarkable and diverse original photograph collection belonging to a Kriegsmarine U-Boat crew member, possibly of the famed U-48, the most successful German submarine of the Second World War. The set comprises 14 period photographs, showing the sailor’s career progression, service aboard a U-Boat, and several earlier images from his Imperial German Navy (WWI) service.

The highlight of the grouping are multiple photographs depicting U-Boat conning tower artwork and crew scenes on deck, including a clearly visible tower painting matching that of U-48 — the “laughing swordfish” motif associated with this legendary vessel. Several photos show officers and enlisted men posing beside the decorated U-Boat hull, along with portraits both in uniform and casual settings.

The remaining images document a rich personal and military history, featuring:

• Crew group portraits taken both at sea and on land

• Tower close-ups and harbor scenes, showing Kriegsmarine flags and deck fittings

• Individual studio portraits in U-Boat dress uniforms, with badges and insignia visible

• Earlier WWI-era naval photos, likely of the same man during his first period of service

Historical Context:
U-48 was commissioned in 1939 and became the most successful submarine of the Second World War, credited with sinking over 50 Allied ships (approximately 306,000 tons) before being scuttled in 1945. The presence of tower art and uniform details consistent with early-war Kriegsmarine U-Boat units strongly suggests these images relate to personnel of this elite vessel or one within its flotilla.

Collector’s Note:
Authentic U-Boat photographs — particularly those showing tower art — are exceptionally rare and highly sought after among Kriegsmarine collectors. This set offers not only identifiable imagery from an early and highly successful U-Boat but also a personalized service record across both World Wars, adding significant historical depth.
The prints are period originals on wartime photographic paper, several with studio stamps or annotations on reverse.

Original postcard-size photograph depicting a Luftwaffe officer wearing the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz), seated at a table sharing a toast with a civilian companion. The officer’s uniform displays additional decorations, including the Pilot’s Badge and ribbon bar, indicating frontline flying service. The relaxed atmosphere and candid composition suggest the image was taken during a moment of rest or post-award celebration.

Historical Context:
The Knight’s Cross was one of the highest military awards of the Third Reich, recognizing exceptional bravery and leadership in combat. Luftwaffe officers who received it were often fighter aces, bomber commanders, or reconnaissance pilots distinguished by extraordinary achievement. Informal portraits like this one, taken outside the official propaganda framework, are comparatively rare, providing insight into the personal side of decorated officers away from the front.

Collector’s Note:
An excellent, high-quality wartime print of a Luftwaffe Knight’s Cross recipient in an intimate setting. While the officer’s identity remains undetermined, the sharp detail and visible decorations make this an appealing piece for collectors specializing in Luftwaffe or Knight’s Cross-related photography. The composition and expression convey a striking human moment amid wartime circumstances.

Condition: Superb contrast and clarity; light handling wear to edges.
Size: Approx. 9 × 14 cm (postcard format).

Original wartime German press photograph showing motorized Wehrmacht supply units moving through a bombed-out Norman town to deliver much-needed ammunition and provisions to the front. Despite constant Allied air attacks and the destruction of transport routes, the caption emphasizes the continued effort to maintain the German supply chain under fire.

Reverse caption reads:

“Nachschub rollt durch die zerstörten Städte der Normandie zur Front. Die Bomben- und Tiefflieger-Angriffe der Anglo-Amerikaner, die systematisch die zur Front führenden Straßen absuchen, können es nicht verhindern, daß rechtzeitig der für unsere kämpfende Truppe notwendige Nachschub herangebracht wird. Motorisierte Verbände fahren durch die zerstörte normannische Stadt. Die Kolonne ist wegen der Fliegergefahr weit auseinandergezogen.”
(Supply rolls through the destroyed towns of Normandy to the front. The bombing and low-level attacks by the Anglo-Americans, who systematically scour the roads leading to the front, cannot prevent the timely delivery of essential supplies to our fighting troops. Motorized columns drive through the shattered Norman town, spread out due to the danger from aircraft.)

• Caption Code: 65137

• Date: 20 July 1944

• Photographer / PK Unit: Kriegsberichter Umbach, 260 PK-Aufnahme

• Agency Stamp: Heinrich Hoffmann, Presse-Illustrationen, Berlin SW68 (on reverse)

• Size: approx. 18 × 13 cm

• Condition: Excellent – full typed caption label intact, clear Hoffmann agency stamp, minor period handling traces.

Historical Context

This photograph, taken during the Normandy Campaign, documents the logistical challenges faced by the Wehrmacht amid relentless Allied air supremacy. As German forces struggled to maintain supply lines through bombed-out towns and destroyed infrastructure, propaganda images like this underscored endurance and determination in the face of defeat.

Collector’s Note

An authentic and visually evocative Heinrich Hoffmann press photo from Normandy 1944, complete with original typed caption. Excellent provenance and a striking example of late-war German propaganda photography, ideal for collectors of Wehrmacht operations and Western Front imagery.

Original wartime German press photograph showing a Luftspäher (air observer) on a Wehrmacht vehicle scanning the skies for low-flying Allied aircraft during the Normandy campaign. The caption describes how German vehicles took extra precautions against sudden air attacks from Allied fighter-bombers that dominated the skies in the summer of 1944.

Reverse caption reads:

“Beobachter auf dem Pkw. Die starke Lufttätigkeit besonders der anglo-amerikanischen Tiefflieger macht es im Invasionsraum der Normandie notwendig, daß sich unsere Fahrzeuge gegen überraschende Angriffe sichern. ‘Luftspäher’ suchen während der Fahrt den Himmel nach eventuell auftauchenden Feindflugzeugen ab, um rechtzeitig das Fahrzeug und sich selbst in Deckung bringen zu können.”
(Observers on the car. The intense air activity, especially from Anglo-American low-flying aircraft, makes it necessary in the invasion area of Normandy for our vehicles to protect themselves against surprise attacks. ‘Air spotters’ scan the sky during movement to detect enemy planes in time and take cover.)

• Caption Code: 65180

• Date: 21 July 1944

• Photographer / PK Unit: Kriegsberichter Umbach, 260 PK-Aufnahme

• Agency Stamp: Heinrich Hoffmann, Presse-Illustrationen, Berlin SW68 (on reverse)

• Size: approx. 18 × 13 cm

• Condition: Very good – original typed caption label intact, light handling and period toning consistent with age.

Historical Context

Captured during the Normandy Campaign (July 1944), this photo reflects the growing threat posed by Allied air superiority. As German ground units retreated under near-constant air attacks, “Luftspäher” were deployed on vehicles to provide early warning, a vivid reminder of the Luftwaffe’s diminishing control of the skies.

Collector’s Note

An authentic Heinrich Hoffmann press photograph from the Normandy front, combining technical and human interest. The detailed caption provides insight into German defensive adaptations against Allied air dominance. A strong and atmospheric addition to any Wehrmacht or Normandy 1944 photo collection.