Karl König - grandfather's pictures of WW2

[Keunert]

Hi guys,

my dad just gave me all the pictures that my granddad took during the war. I will post some of them. I enjoyed reading Deniss's war related stories and
maybe some of you will be interested to hear the little i know of my grandfather's story.

Karl König was born 1905 in Lustenau, Austrias west, besides Switzerland and Germany. He grow up as a son of a chimney sweeper. He went to a trade school during WWI and became a salesman.
Some of his cousins and one uncle left war torn Austria during the 20's and settled down in the US. He married my grandmother during the 30's. they rented a restaurant from 1938 on. In 1940,
the year my father was born, he got enlisted in the Wehrmacht. He became a Funker (radio operator) in the Luftwaffe and took part in Fall Gelb. I have pictures from France dating from September 1940.

In 1942 he was part of Case Blue, there are pictures from Voronezh. Later in 1942 he recieved quite severe wounds to his eyes and was sent back to Austria for surgery. Sometime in 1943 he was stationed in
Greece where he stayed until they fled back to Austria thorugh Yugoslavia in complete disorder. Almost at home he was caught by Allied troops and sent to a prisoner camp where he stayed for some months.
This was the moment my grandmother, having two babies by that time, got the first sign of life from him in months.

He later became a social democrat, worked in the insurance business and talked only reluctantly about his war experiences. One thing worth noting, was he explaining to my dad, that the Nazi regime's atrocities
were obvious to everyone that belonged to the Wehrmacht. He told that witnessing fully loaded trains at stations with the sound of people crying and dying was unavoidable. He once visited a veteran's meeting
and felt uncomfortable there.

[MIGMaster]

I take it he went back to Austria after he was in the US for a while?

[Keunert]

No he never left Austria, only some of his relatives. Looking through his family pictures i found it interesting to see that it would have been possible that cousins of his were fighting for the US in the same war.

[Keunert]

Here is a picture of him during 1940. The Luftwaffe emblem indicates that he could be a Flieger or a Funker. But i am not sure about it. Any help welcome!

[LongBlade]

Here is a picture of him during 1940. The Luftwaffe emblem indicates that he could be a Flieger or a Funker. But i am not sure about it. Any help welcome!


damn how can i directly show a flickr pic?

Not sure, but here's the link. Folks can just click it to view the image.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88127351@N05/8059680595

[Keunert]

Him sitting on a Char D2 in France. The tanks seems to have no damage. According to Wiki this tank suffered more from technical failures than from Pz III - maybe that was the case with this one too.
My grandfather in the middle, Hitler to his right.

Doing another Holmes reveals that this is most likely tank number 2013 (number on front) Austerlitz, destroyed on May 27, 1940, near Dury les Amiens, east of Dieppe, commanded by Capitaine Berthelot:
http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=548

[Keunert]

The same tank from a different angle. Again no signs of damage. Another picture supporting the cliché of the French fighting spirit.

[Keunert]

the notes on the back of the pictures:

Russian refugees fighting head louses, August 1942

[Keunert]

Another picture of an abandoned french tank, a Char B1. There is 'Rivoli' and '490' written on it. A quick google comes up with this:

Rivoli was abandoned June 5.th 1940, north of Beauvais (100-120 km north of Paris) because of engine damage. The tanks was commanded by Lieutenant Gazelle and was part of the,  47e BCC, 1ère compagnie.
heres a link with a combat report: http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=371

[Centurion40]

Thanks for sharing.

[Keunert]

A French Bloch MB.200B4



September 1942, captured russian armored train at Voronezh:




13.7.1942, Russian prisoners at Kursk



August 1942, russian refugees


In Greece, a visit to the Akropolis


A He-111 (i think) at the airfield he worked from 1943 on

[Steelgrave]

Cool stuff, Keunert! Thanks for sharing.

[LongBlade]

Awesome photos!

[TheCommandTent]

Thanks for sharing the pictures!

[steve58]

Keunert - looks like you've got a treasure trove of photos.  Thanks for sharing!