Unterscharfuhrer of the 21st Waffen-Gebirgs Division der SS "Skanderbeg", playing a traditional musical instrument.  This strange unit was composed of men of Albanian ethnicity (mainly from Kosovo), supplemented by drafts of Volksdeutsch from Austria and from the Balkan Volksdeutsch SS Mountain Division, "Prinz Eugen".  The NCO wears the early type of the SS issue traditional Albanian skull cap.  One would have thought that Albanians were pretty far out on a limb as far as SS racial categorisations were concerned; however, Himmler relied on wacky Italian racial "research" (suggesting that Albanians were really "Pure Aryans") to justify the recruitment of an Albanian SS division.

"Skanderbeg's" record as a military unit (mainly in 1944) was not at all good; however, they proved extremely effective in conducting what were essentially murderous "ethnic cleansing" operations in Kosovo and Serbia proper.  Wracked by desertions and disciplinary problems, the remains of the division was absorbed into "Prinz Eugen" early in 1945.  Best regards, JR.

Albanian melody.

German troops removing roadblock in the Ardennes

Roadblock

Group photo of officers of the 12 SS Panzerdivision, "Hitlerjugend", at the birthday celebration laid on by his brother officers for the Divisional commander, Fritz Witt, Tillieres-sur-Arne, Normandy, 27 May, 1944.  Facing Witt at centre front is Standartenfuhrer Kurt ("Panzer") Meyer, Witt's effective Number Two and successor as Divisional commander.  Between Witt and Meyer (in Panzer Black) is Obersturmbannfuhrer Max Wunsche, commander of the Division's Panzer Regiment; behind Meyer is Sturmbannfuhrer Heinrich Springer, Divisional Adjutant.  Behind Witt, looking straight at camera, is Obersturmbannfuhrer Wilhelm Mohnke, commander of SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 26, and destined to be "Hitler's Last General" (or at least "fighting general) amidst the ruins of Berlin a year later.  These officers were all distinguished veterans of 1st SS Panzer Division, "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", of which "Hitlerjugend was a "child division".  All survived the war apart from Fritz Witt himself, who was fatally wounded in the head by naval gunfire in the early stage of Operation Market Garden, only a few weeks later.  Best regards, JR.