The photograph shows a Heer Oberfeldwebel and an Officer in a barn. The Oberfeldwebel can notably be seen wearing an M36 Tunic as well having a Sudetenland ribbon in the form of a bar. The doors to seen slightly open to the right, just allowing some natural light in. In the centre a table can be seen filled with a mixture of books, papers and a typewriter seen to the right. The table covered with a tablecloth and organised piles of papers. The type of admin work seen here was essential for the Wehrmacht as it kept documents and information in order. The type of admin information done here was also seen in other branches of the Wehrmacht. Works consisted of Personal documents for Soldaten this including documents such as, wound and hospital papers, Death reports of fallen Soldaten as well as notices that were addressed to Soldaten and their families. Field posts were often written by typewriters when available but when not they were written by hand. Reports were also concluded by the administrative sections, each company would have one, they were used out at locations that were under occupation, possibly as seen here commandeering a captured building. The typewriter helped in the speed and efficiency of output of documents, some documents still being written by hand.
The Oberfeldwebel seen taking a break, smoking a cigarette, the natural light in contrast with the dark is allowing for the smoke to be seen which is amazing considering that most of the people who took photographs (Non Kriegsberichters) were not professionals, this may be good exposure by the printing company but still some photographic flare can be admired in these kinds of photographs. Behind the Oberfeldwebel is an officer looking up for the photograph. Seen with the back to the photographer leaning over the chair is likely to be a Soldat or valet cleaning the boots of officer. Seen in the shot to the left of him is a cart wheel and covering, this being a part of the barns original storage and purpose. But also could be what the rest of the columns kit is in. The un-matching chairs shows that possibly the table and chairs were quickly grabbed and placed to allow for the admin to be performed, the stacks of papers shows that they have been busy, just seen in shot at the end of the table near the white cloth on the door handle is an open crate that would have contained much of the admins equipment. The photograph thought to be early war, roughly early 1940. This is a crisp Photograph, is a key example of Administrative work that doesn't usually get covered or represented, that in itself was just as important as other forms of maintenance. Photographs of administrative tasks are not usually seen, so for this one to be as detailed as it is quite interesting.
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