German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel carrying his Leica camera on the front (this photo was most likely shot during the campaign in France in the summer of 1940 when Rommel was still a genral). Rommel was an avid enthusiast photographer who must have amassed a significant number of WW2 photos, whose fate is still undetermined.

Nice Camera!

Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering (left) and Baldur von Schirach exchange ... recipes ? on the Obersalzburg, ?1935.  Schirach was, at this time, Reich Youth Leader, notably the man who "presented" Germany's Youth to Hitler at the 1934 Reich Party Day, recorded in Leni Riefenstahl's landmark documentary, "Triumph of the Will".  He was later dethroned from this post in a typically Nazi internal coup, possibly facilitated by his wife's falling-out with Hitler over an injudicious comment regarding mass murder, to be replaced by Arthur Axmann.  This left Axmann in the position, ultimately, of helping to feed his young and unprepared charges into the 1944-'45 Nazi "Gotterdammerung" machine of self-destruction.  Von Schirach was, perhaps, more fortunate, at least in the short term.  He got the "consolation prize" of the Gauleitership of Vienna, where he could attend any number of agreeable art exhibitions, concerts, operas and so on, leaving the SD to get on with the serious business of running things generally and, in particular, deporting Jews and other undesirables eastwards, an activity of which Vienna was a key centre.  Best regards, JR.

"Who ate the pies ?"

Studio portrait of General Rudolf Schmundt.  Schmundt was a highly decorated combat soldier in WW1.  By WW2, his career had moved entirely into the realm of Staff.  He spent a long period as the Fuhrer's Heer adjutant, and might just have come into the group of people (not many) who could be described as a friend of Hitler.  This friendship came to an explosive end as a result of the July Plot.  Schmundt was present at the fatal meeting and was seriously injured, dying about three months later as a result of his wounds.

Hitler seems to have been affected by his loss.  Uniquely among the "Bomb Plot" victims, Schmundt was awarded the German Order, First Class (the only class in which it was, in the event, awarded) posthumously.  The German Order was perhaps the highest State/Party decoration, considered by the Fuhrer as being in his personal gift.  It was known to many as the "Dead Heroes Order" because, of the eleven confirmed persons in receipt of it, seven received it posthumously, and a further two were killed shortly after.  One of these, SA-Brigadefuhrer Karl Holz, Gauleiter of Franconia (in succession to Julius Streicher) was killed (or committed suicide) in Nuremberg during that city's "final battle" against US troops, just one day after being awarded the German Order.  Best regards, JR.