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GD and SS-TK exchange positions
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.

GD and SS-TK exchange positions. Inspired by the set of photographs that appear in ‘God, Honor, Fatherland’ (RZM books), we once again displayed at Beltring with our friends from ‘March-past’ to recreate a moment from history. While the officers pore over their new maps and hold order groups, the other ranks go about the actual business of handing over.
Vehicles are made ready for the move out
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.
Vehicles are made ready for the move out. Rumours fly around within GD of a ‘travel day’, a phrase that inferred a rest and refit. Having been in action since Kursk, the division was in some need of a break.
Two battle weary men of the SS-TK take time for a quick snapshot
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.
Two battle weary men of the SS-TK take time for a quick snapshot. They were not to get a real break until June 1944, and that was soon disturbed by the move to counter the Soviet destruction of Army Group Centre. SS-TK went on to fight with SS-Wiking around Warsaw.
An Obergefreiter of the Füsilier-Kompanie Stab
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.

An Obergefreiter of the Füsilier-Kompanie Stab celebrates recent victories with a (warm!) beer. He clutches the ubiquitous PPSh sub-machine gun. Such weapons were highly prized battlefield trophies and much sought after.
The SS-TK are in the process of sending out their first combat patrols
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.

In stark contrast, the SS-TK are in the process of sending out their first combat patrols.

It is not clear when the SS ‘Pea-pattern’ uniform first appeared in combat theatres, perhaps sometime from spring 1944 as winter uniforms were replaced with summer items?

Certainly by the high summer of 1944 this distinctive pattern was widely seen on all fronts frequented by the Waffen-SS.

A Stabsgefreiter of the Füsilier Stab exchanges news with his counterpart from the SS-TK
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.

Recent experiences are shared. A Stabsgefreiter of the Füsilier Stab exchanges news with his counterpart from the SS-TK.

An NCO from the ‘Eicke’ Regiment reports in
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.

An NCO from the ‘Eicke’ Regiment reports in. His collar displays the SS runes rather than the usual ‘Totenkopf’ insignia, a not unusual occurrence.

SS-TK received 6,000 new recruits in May/June 1944, two-thirds of them transferred from the ‘SS-Reichsfuehrer’ Division.

A battalion officer studies his new map at a temporary HQ
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.
A battalion officer studies his new map at a temporary HQ. Fire zones, minefields and heavy weapon positions have to be coordinated.
The driver and radio operator wait for their Gruppe to arrive
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.
The driver and radio operator wait for their Gruppe to arrive
Photograph by Fraser Gray © 2005. No un-authorised use.
The driver and radio operator wait for their Gruppe to arrive.

Upon its return, the SPW is to join a column and gain transport south for Bacau, 100km from the front. GD was finally being pulled out of the line.