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** translation of describtion ** Second World War. A group of (German) soldiers has found a temporary restingplace at an olive-orchard. In the front a machinegun. Greece, Crete, 1941.

The soldiers are German paratroopers, since the white canisters are airborne containers. These containers carried weapons, ammo and other supplies. The weapons in the front are (obsolete) anti-tank rifles.

The use of these containers often led into unnecessary losses, as the paras only carried small weapons - usually pistols - and little amounts of ammo on their body, when they jumped from the plane. If they didn´t find the containers or were unable to reach them because of enemy fire, they weren´t able to fight for long.

i believe that that olive orchard is near where the nz troops on crete had their main concerntration, as have seen a very similar background to pictures of the kiwi troops.

there are millions of olive groves in Crete and they all look like this!

HMS Warspite under attack in Mediterranean. Foto from HMS Illustrious.

** translation of describtion **

Second World War. Soldiers in the trunk of a truck. One of them has a headwound. Greece, Crete, 1941.

These guys are probably captured Greek soldiers. Some of them are wearing the old French-style helmet. The guy in the background is a German.

And the German in the background is a paratrooper (fallschirmjäger)

Hartelijk dank. We zijn bezig met het verwerken van de reactie(s), ook op onze beeldbank.
Hains Hamelink, Spaarnestad Photo (partner Nationaal Archief)

Nationaal Archief, very good work.!