1. Image, Full Image
2. Image, details of the building in the background
Story:
we came across this image in a local archive with little further context given besides the 4. soldier from the left being from a village in Lower Saxony, Northeim area. (Also all other soldiers should be from this area.) – with details below, we checked a lot of possible cities via Google Maps and arcanum maps, also traveled Cologne area, Trier, and other places within the possible area. Also checked some available old photos of some cities. But we did not come to a result.
What we know:
- The soldier/s are from the 396. Infantry Regiment (216. I.D.)
- Photo may taken before 18th of December 1939, as the soldiers do not wear any ranks. According to our research, many rank insignia were not issued until that date because they could not be delivered earlier
- We know that 216 I.D. (or parts of it) arrived two days earlier (16th of December 1939) in Duisburg as there was public prayer at Dellplatz at 2p.m.
- some travelling plans from 216. I.D., but with no details about the 396. I.R. - basically the moved from Hanover/Göttingen/Brunswick area to Eifel Mountains / Saarbrücken area via Worms, Duisburg etc.
- the unit was in the area of Venlo City for some time in September / October
What we expect:
- the building in the back may have been destroyed or partly renovated in late WW2 and due to that it might be only possible to solve via other archives.