Frohe Ostern (Happy Easter) to those who celebrate it and "Chag Pesach kasher Versame'ach" for our Jewish Followers.
from all of us at KB41 Collection!
This photograph here shows Heer Gebirgsjäger (GJ) Soldaten at a monument that they have created at "Ostern" (Easter), in Finland, 1942. This photograph being taken in memorial of these Gebirgsjäger's time whilst in service in the Scandinavian region, whether this was a form of holiday or being based in the region. Such memorial's were often created in occupied countries and regions of the Third Reich, often in memorial of those who lost their lives from fighting in the regions from the Axis. This monument being somewhere in Finnland (Finland), in the snow covered grounds, at the edge of a pine Forrest.
The Gebirgsjäger Soldaten are seen here posing in the cold winter snow, weather that is synonymous with the region. The Gebirgsjäger are seen wearing M36 model tunics, seen by the bold and notable bottle green collar and middle pleats of the pockets. The Gebirgsjäger are also seen wearing M38 Bergmütze, these caps also being iconic to the Gebirgsjäger as most notably had smaller peaks in comparison to the standard M43 Ski-cap worn by the heer. The M38 Bergmütze were design to be warmer due to a Leather band inside and had the Edelweiß in metal cap insignia on the side. The Edelweiß was the adopted symbol of the Gebirgsjäger as the flower grows in the mountains at heights of 1,800–3,000 metres altitude. The Edelweiß can also be seen in arm insignia, as seen in wear on the left Jäger's right arm.
The Jäger's also wear a mixture of footwear, seen here are Jackboots and Low-boots. The Low-boots being more comfortable and versatile for the types of marching and climbing that Gebirgsjäger's would undertake in comparison to Jackboots that can be seen in wear in this photograph, used universally by members of the Wehrmacht, Waffen SS and other paramilitary and social organisations as standard footwear. The Low-boots were also seen worn with Gamaschen (Gaiters) or in this photograph seen in wear as "puttees", a form of wrap that is bound around the shin to ankle, acting as a form of bind to tuck in the flare at the base of the trousers.
Some other notable details worn by the Jäger's is some medals and one rank insignia. The ranks of these Jäger's appears to all be low due to the enlisted man shoulder boards and lack of tresse worn, the highest visible rank is the Obergefreiter as seen on the furthest right by the double chevron arm insignia. The Jäger's can also notably seen wearing awards of Verwundetenabzeichen (Wound badges) seen here in Schwarz class (Black Wound Badge). Seen notably in the middle pleat of the M36 tunics.
The monument reads
Kriegs + Ostern ,
19 42
In
Finnland
This translating as " War + Easter, 1942 in Finland" The "F" in "Finnland" being covered by the Jäger's sitting down to the left. The monument having a Iron Cross symbol in the centre of the monument that suggests possible memorial as previous mentioned to commemorate those who lost their lives in the region. Finland had previously just been at war with Russia from the 30 November 1939, just three months since the start of World War 2 when Germany and Russia invaded Poland. This was known as the First Soviet-Finnish war which was also known as the Winter War, where a peace treaty was signed between the two nations known as the Moscow Peace Treaty on the 13th March 1940. Russia was successful in taking roughly 11% of Finland's territories that became incorporated into the Soviet union.
Finland was an allied nation with Germany and joined them subsequently when Adolf Hitler declared war on the Soviet Union on 22nd June 1941, known as Operation Barbarossa. This allowed German forces that were stationed in Finnish territories to invade Russia which resulted in fighting through the regions that was lost during the Winter War.
This could possibly be in the Lapland region of Finland as this area was known to have many German forces based in the region prior to Operation Barbarossa. The monument is also seen detailed with a swastika under a peak detailed to resemble a pediment with detail inside off a structural building.
This monument being a stunning piece of architecture to commemorate the German forces at Ostern (Easter) in Finland with a beautiful backdrop of a pine forest coated in snow as the monument is which blends with the ground that these smartly dressed Gebirgsjäger Soldaten pose next to. A memory to be sent home showing them in Finland at Easter, a holiday celebrated by the nation by many since the 1500's. A tradition and holiday that would have a special meaning to the Soldaten seen pictured, sending this photograph, likely enclosed in a loving Feldpost back home before possibly being sent into Russia.