German Forces

Russian Front - wrap own warm ...

Bundesarchiv (?)

Stardantufuhrer Fritz Witt on the Russian Front, directing LSSAH personnel. Everybody in this photo seems to be wearing "irregular" clothing in order to counter the Russian cold - including Witt himself, with his sheepskin jacket. A posed photo, no doubt - but not without lessons for the state of the Germans in the Russian winters of 1941 and 1942 in particular. Grannie's overcoat (or, indeed, a Soviet grannie's overcoat) could prove a lifesaver when the snow set in ... JR