WWII German Photos Dunkirk Destroyed Bombed British Shipwreck & 25-Pounder Gun France 1940

Original pair of WWII German wartime photographs taken during the 1940 campaign in France, showing captured/destroyed British equipment and German soldiers sightseeing at a spectacular shipwreck at Dunkirk (Dünkirchen).

These are excellent combat-aftermath photographs associated with the Battle of France and Dunkirk campaign of 1940.

Photo 1 – British 25-Pounder Gun & Limber – France 1940

Excellent close-up photograph showing a British Ordnance QF 25-pounder field gun and limber among a large quantity of abandoned and destroyed equipment following the fighting in France in 1940.

The 25-pounder was the principal British field artillery weapon of WWII and became one of the most recognizable artillery pieces used by British and Commonwealth forces.

Visible throughout the background are numerous abandoned and damaged vehicles, trailers, wheels and other military equipment, creating an impressive view of the battlefield aftermath.

The close perspective gives an unusually good view of the gun, carriage, shield, wheels and surrounding equipment.

Photo 2 – Destroyed British Ship at Dunkirk

Dramatic photograph showing German soldiers sightseeing around the wreck of a destroyed British ship at Dunkirk following the 1940 fighting and evacuation.

Several German soldiers can be seen walking directly toward the enormous wreck. The vessel has suffered catastrophic damage, with a major section torn apart and its internal structure exposed, while several funnels remain standing.

The men provide an excellent sense of scale and make this a particularly striking Dunkirk aftermath photograph.

The handwritten German caption on the reverse references Dünkirchen, the German spelling of Dunkirk.

Historical Interest

Together the two photographs provide an excellent visual record of the aftermath of the German campaign in France and the Dunkirk fighting of 1940, including:

• British 25-Pounder field gun and limber
• Abandoned and destroyed British military equipment
• Destroyed British ship at Dunkirk / Dünkirchen
• German soldiers sightseeing at the shipwreck
• Battle of France 1940 subject matter
• Dunkirk evacuation aftermath
• Period handwritten German captions
• Original scalloped/deckle-edge photographs

Both photographs appear to have been removed from or preserved in a period photo album and retain portions of dark album backing around the edges.

Condition: Original vintage WWII photographs with expected age and handling wear. Some staining/blue discoloration is visible along the lower margins, together with album remnants and surface wear as shown. Please inspect all supplied photographs carefully for exact condition. Sold exactly as pictured.

A very desirable matched pair for collectors of Dunkirk photographs, Battle of France material, British 25-pounder artillery, German soldier photography, British military equipment, battlefield wreckage, shipwrecks and original WWII combat photographs.

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YB6 series