Recently paratrooper photograph collecting has taken on a life of its own. Quality original images have become quite popular, and unfortunately, quite expensive as well. For all those out there (like me) who are addicted to collecting paratrooper photos, I thought I would start this tread where we can show and discuss our new finds. My thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their new finds with us. I will start things off with my latest find.

Hello Eric,

That is a very nice photograph showing the army para bage in wear. Thank you or sharing this with us.

Best wishes,

Ian Tannahill

Thanks Ian. Here's another one I know you'll appreciate.

Hello!

Fantastic pictures as always Eric!

I�m not a photograph collector, but I�m always on the hunt for some nice postcard size para portraits. I had some luck in the last days....

1. studio pic taken Marienthal/Helmstedt

2. NCO with single decal and Fliegerbluse

3+4 Part of a little group, related to G�nther Steiger, II./FJR 6. pictures taken early 1944 in K�ln/Wahn, as Steiger started as a paratrooper. Brandnew smock!
Later in 1944 he was captured in the Normandy. Prisoner of war, first U.K. later transferred to the USA. He passed away 2 years ago.

Steiger (on the left) with an older para

Some very nice photos there Gerd. Thanks for posting those. Although I think many people would say that the first one you posted is the "sexiest", because of the pose and all the gear going on, I personally think the others are better because they're IMO much harder to find. I think I can count on one hand the number of studio portraits I have seen with the helmet/fliegerbluse combination. And photos, especially with this composition (nearly full frame), of the drawstring camo covers being worn have always been hard to find. Nice scores !!

EQ

I agree! What great photos! I especially like the two with the drawstring type camo helmet covers. The studio portrait raises the old question about collar tabs -- those certainly look too dark to be yellow, and too light to be medical blue. Artillery red?

Hello

I have not been very fortunate with Fj pictures, and with the likes of Gerd roaming free on ebay it's no wonder!! Hahaha!!
However, I was VERY lucky to get this one (NOT from ebay)and I'm very gratefull to the person who sold it to me as I was looking for one like it!Some of you may know it.

Very nice Yannis and more rare subject matter. Portrait photos of the FD/FJR1 sleevebands in wear are extremely rare. In the last 20 years, I don't think I have seen 20 original studio photos with these bands being worn. Chris what would you say on this?

* Although this one looks as though it was taken outside, it is definately a "studio" portrait. Notice the photographers signature and date.

I agree, Eric. Any photo showing the sleeveband is rare in my view, but studio portraits are rarer still. The latest one I have is from 1943. Yanis, I have the same photo of this man, without the photographer's signature, in a smaller format than postcard size.

Nice shot of the early olive bandoleers and RZ-16 parade harnesses being worn.

Officer with Fallschirm (composite) Kompanie from Geb.Jg.Rgt.137. There were 2 composite companies formed from volunteers from I./137 and III./137.

Ok here is one I picked up in Stuttgart. It belongs to a group I have from a soldier of the Korps-Fallschirm-Pionier Bat and later the I./Fallschirm-Pionier-Regiment 21. It's aunknwon german cross in Gold holder. Maybe someone can identify this man

Thanks Eric for the heads up on this new forum,I thought I would throw myself into this headfirst! I have just begun starting para photos exclusively for the last 6 months or so. Here are some examples.

Another:

Here is my last one for today, the pride of my collection!

another one some know it already

Not an original (wartime print), but a nice image of a SS paratrooper. Thanks for posting.

German paras on the Eastern Front. Nice sniper rifle.

Jimbob

Yeah, but if they're going to fight a duel, I think I'd rather have the tank.

quote:

Originally posted by Zepeleptic:
Thanks Eric for the heads up on this new forum,I thought I would throw myself into this headfirst! I have just begun starting para photos exclusively for the last 6 months or so. Here are some examples.

The man is Sanit�ts-Oberj�ger Willi Koch (*26 March 1918 + 26 March 2005), who belonged to "Fallschirm.Sanit�ts.Kompanie.7" in May 1940. He jumped on Wieldrechtse Zeedijk, between Dordrecht and Moerdijk, where they settled a hospital. An account about this unit can be found trying this link:
http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/sanitat.htm
Best regards. �scar

Wow, i never would have imagined this photo would be identified! Thanks so very much, I would love to find out if they originally owned this photo or have others from him

Thanks so much
Eric

here is one of mine.

Not new but recent, and I think my favorite portrait photo of all time. I think the idea of Fallschirmj�ger riding around in assault guns is just cool. I have seen one other period photo (a snapshot taken in the Normandy area) of another Fallschirm-Sturmgesch�tz crewman wearing a badge and a Kreta cufftitle. There can't have been too many of them...

Have already posted these pics some time ago but as we now have THE paratrooper forum I will show them here again
Stabsarzt (last rank) Dr.Pfifferling. Got the pics and several other items directly from his daughter after his death some years ago. Have sold Medals and docs as I am a strikt dagger collector (therefore held the dagger and these pics).
He had become POW at the Festung Brest.

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Eric, it is an original SS FJ Abz. wartime photo just new framed.

That is a well known reproduction. I have seen close to 20 of them in the last 5 years. Printed on postwar Agfa PC stock from the original negative.

Mine is not on an Agfa paper and I know from where it is my friend. Also I want to mention that there are more original photos out from this potrait what is common to find with soldier studio potraits. Don't think this is the only german WW2 picture I own Eric and I don't know what I am talking about.

Well, if you think its original and if you're happy with it, then that's all that matters.

quote:

Originally posted by Zepeleptic:
Wow, i never would have imagined this photo would be identified! Thanks so very much, I would love to find out if they originally owned this photo or have others from him

Thanks so much
Eric

Some pics from the Willih Koch-collection can be found here: http://www.dordtopenstad.nl/
Check beeldmateriaal, then Duitse opnamen.

Cheers,

HugovD

It is a shame that you split up the group.

Jim

I would love to speak to the current owner of photos from the Willi Koch Collection, if anybody could forward be an email address, it is a shame that this group has been split up! How about some more photos! Let's keep this thread going!

An otherwise ordinary studio portrait, but I like the shirt he is wearing -- made from Luftwaffe barracks mattress ticking.

Hi,
I'm a new member and it's my first post.
Here the only original photo in my collection of the training of the 1st FJD in my town: FLERS (Normandy FRANCE).
Thanks, David.