Andy, here's what I got: Angriff über SOmme - le Quesnoy (?) auf C... Gefechtspause bei Erreichen des 1. Angriffszieles bei Matagne [?]. Betrunkener frz. Gefangener und ein Neger. Attack over Somme - Le Quesnoy to C[...]. Break during the battle when reaching the first goal of the attack at Matagne [?]. Drunken French prisoner and a negro.
Andy, here's what I got: 'Matagne' is doubtless Montagne - in fact Montagne-Fayel in the Somme - in Rommel's papers he refers several times to the battles fought in this area against tenacious defence from French colonial units. The fighting for the Chateau le-Quesnoy was particularly fierce and in places such as Hangest and Airaines, the Germans of Rommel's division were responsible for several massacres of hundreds or even thousands of west and north African troops. Many of them are buried in a communal grave in Conde Folie -~I've been there and it's quite sobering. There are lots of accounts of this fighting - Rafael Scheck's excellent book Hitler's African Victims is very good and well worth a look. Drew, Diane, I'm just sorry that I only found these pictures now - as you know I'm researching similar material about a black British soldier and these photographs really gave me a jolt. Will PM you both as soon as I can. Many thanks.
This book may be of interest, in relation to the French colonial POWs: Recollections of WWII: Soldiers of Misfortune - lvoirien Tirailleurs of World War II
Mathsmal - pardon my bad manners and not keeping up with replies - I got hold of that book and it was a worthwhile read, many thanks.
There has recently been a collection of negatives broken up on eBay, including many of colonial troops. It seemed a shame not to record them in context. There are some quality images. This one seems to be Private Pike's West African cousin...
Interesting pictures Rich. When they weren't massacring them, the Germans found west and north African troops a curiosity. Of course , their front-line units were accompanied by PropagandaKompanie troops, who were embedded as the current phrase might be. Drew printed a bunch from the Bundesarchiv earlier in the year and there are a whole load similar to this one that ended up in the collection of Adolf von Bommel, an ex Orpo Chief of Police from the Ukraine - they appear to be ethnographic in that again, the troops are photographed in a straightforward manner, looking at the camera - but then the same image may appear used in a propaganda context to mock the colonial French or British for using such 'inferior races' to fight their wars for them. In fact, the position of black Germans and later on colonial POW's was that the Germans tried to improve their conditions and repatriate them because they had colonial ambitions in Africa of their own and they used such photographs to show their 'fair treatment' of African POW's.
In amongst the French and colonial French units, there seem to be some of a BEF Indian Mule Company. If this last image was intended to contrast the Aryan master-race with inferior beings then I'd suggest that it missed its purpose. Quite frankly, the sneering captor doesn't compare well with the other ass in the photograph.
French POW's from the 60th and 68th Division d'Infanterie taken prisoner by the SS Germania taskforce in the Dutch province Zeeland, 15-18 May 1940. The picture was taken at the main school in Yerseke (Netherlands). http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=968&pictureid=5853
I received this picture a few days ago, apparently it came from the World War II Database (http://ww2db.com/index.php), I can’t find it with their search tool but I’m sure it’s on there. The photo’s original data file stated that they were of a British unit taken POW in Belgium (they look like some sort of Pioneer / Service Corps unit - Engl. Gefangene)
I've posted it before-They are Indian troops serving with the BEF in France captured with 51 Division. The original picture can be found on Bundesarchives.
Drew, do we know whose RSM they're forming up behind ? I'd guess from one of 51st Div's Scots battalions, looking at his features. He's certainly not from the sub-continent.
I always assumed he was their RSM and white like most of the officers? I did ask for any info/thoughts on the thread I started with the pick but IIRC it only went as far as confirming they were Indian troops.
I don't know Drew, he's got a coloured FS Cap and he's wearing battledress and gaiters whilst the men are in their long-coated version of service dress with putties. He doesn't quite look as if he belongs. Do the mule companies have accessible diaries ?
There's a lot on them in WO 167 but most of the diaries for May/June are missing. I'm rubbish with uniforms. I'll see if I can find the original thread.
