Images of POWs, 1940

British prisoners, Abbeville

 

British prisoners, Abbeville. Looks like they’ve only just surrendered and are in process of being searched.

 

Scots pows. photo from epay.

 

I’m guessing officers by the look of them. Anyone got a notion as to which Regiment?

 

some of these perhaps? RSF captured near Ypres May 28 1940

 

Could be. Chap with moustache in the middle looks similar.

 

“British troops in Flanders are searched for weapons”

 

Captured British soldiers in a French market place

 

BEF prisoners at Cherbourg taken by a member of the 7th Panzer Division.

 

From the estate of a veteran of the 12th (MG) Company of the Infantry Regiment 15 (mot.), Part of the 29th Infantry Division. Listed as French prisoners taken at Hazebrouck. However, while it’s very blurred I think you can see some British prisoners on the far right of the last photo.

 

Hard to see but British troops in front of a house in France.

 

Captured British troops France. Any ideas what the WH painted on the car stands for?

 

WH = Wehrmacht Heer.
Wehrmacht was the name of the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. The Wehrmacht consisted of the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and the Luftwaffe (air force).
Keith

 

Thanks Keith. The caption on the eBay auction seemed to suggest that the car was captured but if it’s got Wehrmacht marking that wouldn’t be the case.

 

The car is a Peugeot 201M. As it's civilian, 'stolen' is probably a better descrition than 'captured' ! The rapidly painted 'WH' (or to a lesser extent 'WL') was frequently applied on appropriated vehicles before they were officially taken on strength.

 

Stella Artois from Leuven remains well-known and Carbonelle Dumortier was a Tournai brewer. I thought that it was Tournai but it doesn't quite fit - probably more likely to be Belgium though.

 

Great photos Incredibledisc, thanks for sharing.

Graham.

 

The car would have been captured. see photo of Bedford truck. photo from my book.

 

Ok, I got it now - car was captured and pressed into service of the Reich. When you first responded I took it to mean that it was a German vehicle but you meant the WH had been added after capture.

 

Apologies if this has come up before but I find this a most interesting picture of some BEF troops who appear to have just driven into a German roadblock. I have not got Andrews book to hand so can't name the unit that has AOS 178 with white bar below. The Austin car and Scammell lorry ( Gladys!) behind are both of civilian pattern and are probably impressed . The BEF chap on the right looks remarkably tall!
Craig