Gefreiter von Schirach

[Jack]

The inscription says:
Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach, serving as a private in the army, spoke these days to soldiers on the Western Front [that must have been his main task].
Our picture: The division commander of the responsible section welcomes Baldur von Schirach. 25 April 1940.
Photo: PK (Propaganda Company), Rutkowski (Weltbild)

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[ewan0939]

Hi Jack,

Thanks for posting this great historical photo.

Best regards....Ewan

 

[volkund]

The inscription says:
Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach, serving as a private in the army, spoke these days to soldiers on the Western Front [that must have been his main task].
Our picture: The division commander of the responsible section welcomes Baldur von Schirach. 25 April 1940.
Photo: PK (Propaganda Company), Rutkowski (Weltbild)

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hello jack!
this is a very nice piece of history, thanks for posting!

cheers,

 

[Jack]

Thanks guys!

 

[Joshlee23]

Love the photo ! Does it come with anymore of his trip?

 

[Jack]

I'm afraid not, Josh. There is another similar photo from the same day in the holdings of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek with the same people (enter Gefreiter Schirach in Google Image Search, kulturpool) - that's all.
The facts about Schirach's military service are extremely thin. He was a messenger, then led a machine gun platoon as a NCO, received the EK II and was promoted to lieutenant. What for is pretty much in the dark, and he himself did not mention it.
Lauterbacher, on the other hand, underwent much tougher basic training with the Waffen-SS, and is said to have lived in a garage converted into mass accommodation during that time. His military career came to nothing, however, because he was hit in the shin by an iron bar during a fight during combat training, which inflamed his bone marrow and led to thrombosis - making him unfit for war.