 Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
|
| Weapons are tested; troops from the battalion are rushed through to beef up the defences. Time is of the essence. The divisional command shortens the line, amalgamates battalions and forms alarm companies... | |
 |
 Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
‘Ours or theirs?’ The ever present Soviet Air Force has caused numerous casualties in both men and equipment; the troops hope they will not be seen. Not for nothing are the enemy ground attack aircraft known as ‘butchers’... |
|
|
 Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
Positions are briefed by squad leaders, close combat grenades are placed near to hand. |
|
|
 Photograph by Simon Patrick © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
...alongside a captured Soviet PPSh41 sub-machine gun, a most useful weapon in close-quarter fighting. |
|
|
 Photograph by Simon Patrick © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
A photographer from the Division’s propaganda company moves along the positions capturing the assured looks of confidence from men seemingly unconcerned at the Soviet presence on Germany’s North-eastern border. |
|
|
 Photograph by Simon Patrick © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
The photos in the press back home will show the public that all is well, that the troops at the front are calm, steadfast, and in control of the situation... |
|
|
 Photograph by Simon Patrick © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
|
|
|
 Photograph by Simon Patrick © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
|||||
|
|||||
 Photograph by Simon Patrick © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
|
|
|
 Photograph by Simon Patrick © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
|
|
|
 Photograph by Simon Patrick © 2009. No un-authorised use. |
|
| A moment for reflection... | |
|
 |