Puzzle: can you identify this 1942 photo?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by rhiwfield, Dec 15, 2016.

  1. rhiwfield

    rhiwfield Well-Known Member

    This 1942 photo was the main reason I recently bought a large album. Can you identify the (1) group of fighters, (2) the countries involved and (3) the background to this particular action?

    These are tough questions, and given I have the photo caption, very unfair since I already know the answers and they are not straightforward!

    And to complicate matters, the answer to 3 is important!

    If this proves too hard, I will post a second photo that should lead you to a solution.

    Happy head scratching!

    ps sorry about the copyright watermark, (pinterest spoiler)

    [​IMG] )
     
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  2. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    #1.
    Greek Partisan resistance fighters ?
    #2.
    Greece, Germany, Italy.?
     
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  3. rhiwfield

    rhiwfield Well-Known Member

    Not Greek, no.
     
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  4. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

  5. Mansons2005

    Mansons2005 Nasty by Nature, Curmudgeon by Choice

    Italy?

    Except for the date, I would have said Spanish Civil War
     
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  6. rhiwfield

    rhiwfield Well-Known Member

    I'll post the other photo tomorrow, but won't narrow the field further (except to confirm a set of 3 correct answers) by answering too often other to say that it was not Italy nor Albania.

    Date is definitely 1942.
     
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  7. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

  8. Ladybranch

    Ladybranch Well-Known Member

    Ottoman Turks or Russians during the Russo Turkish War of 1877? I think a few units of each worn these fur tall hats like the Russian Cossacks?

    --- Susan
     
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  9. Joshua Brown

    Joshua Brown Decently-Known-Member

    I am going to have to say they are soviets because they are wearing papakhas which were used by the soviets during WWI and WWII, they were first used in europe way before photography and most other countries stopped using them because they were associated with the soviets.
     
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  10. rhiwfield

    rhiwfield Well-Known Member

    Sorry Susan, date is definitely 1942
     
  11. Ladybranch

    Ladybranch Well-Known Member

    Well then probably Albanians like Davy's guess. Another guess Croatians at the 1942 Battle of Kupres?

    --- Susan
     
  12. rhiwfield

    rhiwfield Well-Known Member

    Hi Susan,

    Albania is ruled out.

    I think that you need to wait for the next photo, there have been some superb answers , including yours, that deserve to be right but are not. The key is in question 3, even if questions 1 & 2 seem easier.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2016
  13. rhiwfield

    rhiwfield Well-Known Member

    Joshua, you are educating me! Please wait for the next photo tomorrow which should help with all three questions. Btw, your logic is impeccable, even if the conclusion is wrong.
     
  14. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    Is this taking place in Poland?
    Russian Cossaks? Part of the Resistance?
    Just a very wild guess. I know naathink.
     
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  15. rhiwfield

    rhiwfield Well-Known Member

    Nope, sorry!!!
     
  16. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Cirque de Soleil troop , caught in Cyprus .....:playful:
     
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  17. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    There seems to be 3 different types of dress among the fighters.
    Romanians, Ukraines ?

    It can`t be Italy because no one seems to be running away:D
     
  18. Intriguing. My guess would be, as the year is 1942, that one side are Germans and the other Jewish partisans.
     
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  19. rhiwfield

    rhiwfield Well-Known Member

    Ok, thanks for your patience.

    I can confirm neither Ukranians or Romanians. Nor any Jewish partisans afaik.

    Here is a second photo taken at same time of a bayonet wound being treated.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    The aid worker's sleeve patch logo should help a lot. The central logo matches the Belgian version of the famous military decoration Croix de Guerre but missing the crown of the latter. Look for a Belgian aid society perhaps named Croix ...". Anyway I'd say we're looking at Belgian resistance fighters or something similar, or could be elsewhere if that society sent workers out of country.
     
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