November 2024 visit to the ECPA-D

 

The Luftwaffe blog is just back from a week at one of the world's great photographic archives - the ECPA-D in the southern Paris suburb of Ivry- sur-Seine. The ECPA-D houses an extensive collection of German PK photo albums captured by the French towards the end of WWII. This archive was reputedly being transferred from Berlin to some remote hideaway in southern Germany when it fell into French hands.  The collection comprises over 410,000 photos, films and sound recordings taken by German wartime PK 'Bildberichter' or photo reporters. Many of these are now digitised as part of the 'Fonds Allemand' or 'German collection' at the ECPA-D. This is the second time I've been to this incredible archive and - thanks in part to Del's work on an 'inventory' - I'm starting to feel like I know my way around this super collection of mostly unseen Luftwaffe/Wehrmacht photos. In total I've spent eight working days here now and probably only got to open around 50% of the albums. You are free to consult these and make low-res copies for personal use.You need to book a 'research' slot via the ECPA-D web site and hand over your passport as you go in as this is a department of the French military housed in the old Fort d'Ivry - built between 1841-45 - and part of the southern defensive belt of the city of Paris. 

Sadly the archive closed their photo-lab earlier this year so you can no longer order hard copies at 2 euros each. Digital copies can be ordered but the prices have increased to around 8 euros per image. However you can still take home low-res copies of any images for personal use - simply 'load' them into a 'basket' and the 'documentaliste' will send them to you in a pdf file. One of mine on day 3 of my visit comprised 902 pages and was sent to me via a file-sharing site. One tip from me - some reasonable results can be obtained by taking photos of the photos! If you want new photos or inspiration, whether you're a modeller or a 'researcher', you'll get a great welcome from the very helpful staff only too ready to help you explore their amazing collection of photo albums, both the physical and digital.  Thanks to Chris, Nico, Many and Del for making our visit a memorable one..

Below; a partial view of the 'physical' photo albums that comprise the 'German collection', followed by a 'mosaic' view on the screen of each 'reportage'. Each album contains a number of these. Each individual image can be enlarged to full screen size! These photos were all taken by professional photographers. 

Curator or 'documentaliste' Nicolas Férard has written a very nice book entitled "Propaganda Kompanien" about the work of the PK 'Bildberichter' photo reporters that appeared (in English) through publisher 'Histoire & Collections'. 

Ju 52 Transporter KG zbV 1 - ebay photo find #382

Crash-landed Ju 52 of KG z.b.V 1 with the Berlin bear as Geschwaderwappen (black on a yellow background). While there seems to be an issue with the starboard motor, the tarpaulin-shrouded engine is a good indication that this machine will be soon returned to service..

" ..eine Ju 52 fliegt nicht alleine..."  Possibly here en route to North Africa via Sicily "1Z+HV" according to the seller. Looks more like Russia. In his memoir (see below) KGzbV 1 pilot Horst Dinter relates that his resupply sorties to Rommel's DAK took place via Greece and Crete..and the Ju 52 has none of the yellow 'Balkans' scheme. Also is probably coded "1Z+HU".

The best view of the cockpit MG mount that I've been able to locate. An image from Dinter's book. About 18 months ago I was asked for a view of this part by the 'researcher' from a well-known local model kit company. To the disappointment of the guys in our model club, said researcher (hi Luke!)  has subsequently left the company. His replacement has yet to put in an appearance. (not that I particularly want him to...)

St.G 2 Ju 87 im Osten, October 1941 - ebay photo find #381

 

Soldaten des Pz.Rgt.29 bei Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" mit Truppenkennzeichen der Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 im Osten, 1941. 

 This is 'T6+GT', a 9. Staffel Ju 87 R-2 of III./St.G 2 (WNr. 5780) photographed during the late summer of 1941 following a forced-landing close to the Rollbahn, which occurred on 27 August 1941. The pilot may well have been attempting an emergency landing on the road. The emblem of III Gruppe visible forward of the cockpit was adopted in late 1939. The 'GT' appears on the yellow fuselage band on the port side, the 'G' being outline only. More images of this aircraft were published in the superlative book Stukageschwader 2 'Immelmann' authored by Marc Hazard. (Lela Presse, 2018). Additional caption info via GRM.

Eugen Gremelsbacher, Bildberichter Fallschirmjäger A.O.K (formerly XI. Flieger.Korps), Heinkel 'Zwilling' and Gotha Go 242 transfer flight from France to Sicily

 

To bolster their forces preparing to defend the Allied landings in Sicily, the Germans organised an ‘air bridge’ to bring in reinforcements. On 17 July 1943, 16 Gotha Go-242 gliders from Luftlandegeschwader 2 (with the heavy equipment of the 1st parachute division: 1.Fallschirm-Jäger.Division) departed the huge airfield at Istres in southern France for Italy, landing at Torre di Faro (Sicily) between 20 and 27 July 1943 after a stop in Naples. The photo-report in ECPA-D file 11FLG F 1396/7 by PK photographer Eugen Gremelsbacher depicts a Heinkel He-111 ‘Zwilling’ tug on the transfer flight between France (Istres) and Italy (Naples-Pomigliano). Each Heinkel towed two Gotha Go-242 gliders and carried the heavy equipment (eg 2cm Flak 38) of 1. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division.

Below; He 111 Z coded 'DG+DX' taxying in after landing in Naples. Note three of the five engines already shut down.

The reporter on board the Heinkel followed the progress of the mission from the empty starboard cockpit of the Zwilling and photographed the crew: bombardier, radio-navigator, pilot and co-pilot. As the transfer mission drew to a close, the aircraft flew over Vesuvius before landing on the runway at Naples-Pomigliano airfield. The port of Naples is not far from the airfield, and the reporter took a shot of the docks, cranes and a medieval tower. In the shade of the Naples airfield buildings, paratroopers from the 1 Fallschirm-Jäger-Division were photographed recovering after the trip. The glider pilots had to destroy the Gotha Go-242s in Sicily.

 

Eugen Gremelsbacher was an Uffz. and photographic reporter for the Fallschirmjäger A.O.K (formerly XI. Flieger Korps). He was born on 13 March 1911 in Elbing (Westpreußen) and died on 08 March 1944 on the Eastern Front (see report reference FALLAOK F2024 for his grave) after being wounded the previous day. He is buried in Perwomaisk cemetery, grave N°24, row 8 (source Bundesarchiv). He filed photo reports from France (Orange, Istres) and Italy (Naples, Torre di Faro in Sicily, Livourno region in Tuscany). As Gremelsbacher died over 80 years ago, his photographs are 'out of copyright' and are in the 'public domain'. See here for more on this.

RAD 'Arbeitsmann' on airfield guard duty -Instapic #18

  

RAD 'Reichsarbeitsdienst' (labour service) personnel were often employed as airfield 'guards'. Here an 'Arbeitsmann' on airfield guard duty somewhere in the West from an ECPA-D PK photo 'reportage' on the activities of the RAD. (from the DAA files). The second image shows a close-up of the 'Dienststellenabzeichen' on the left upper arm.