Passing a knocked-out allied tank Grenadiers of 12th SS "Hitlerjugend" bringing ammo up front. Normandy, summer of 1944.

Ammo up front

SS-Untersturmführer Willi Klein, adjutant in 1st Battalion/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 (12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") in his foxhole near Cambes/Normandy, summer of 1944.

SS-Untersturmführer Willi Klein

Always a bit mystified by this, and similar 'photos of Weidinger, wearing RK with Oakleaves and Swords.  The Swords were gazetted to Weidinger on 6 May 1945 by 6 SS-Panzerarmee on foot of an "unconfirmed" award by Sepp Dietrich.  Was there time to have posed studio portraits like this taken at this stage ?  Did Weidinger have to borrow the Swords for the portrait ?  Or were earlier portraits "touched up" with the Swords (as discussed here recently) ?  If the latter, it looks a pretty good job ... Best regards, JR