WWII German Wehrmacht Soldier Cutting Stick Grenade From Barbed Wire Photo

Outstanding and unusual original WWII German military photograph showing a Wehrmacht soldier working in deep snow at a barbed-wire obstacle. The soldier appears to be using wire cutters/snips to remove a German Stielhandgranate (stick grenade) that has become caught or attached to the wire.

This is an especially interesting image because it appears to document field-engineering / obstacle-clearing or training activity involving a grenade and barbed-wire entanglement, rather than the more commonly encountered posed soldier photograph.

The German Stielhandgranate 24 was one of the principal hand grenades used by the Wehrmacht during WWII. German forces also employed grenade charges specifically in connection with barbed-wire obstacles, including arrangements intended to blast openings through wire entanglements.

Even more interesting is the original handwritten German caption on the reverse. I read the beginning as approximately:

“Ausbau einer Handgranatensperre …”

That translates approximately to:

“Dismantling/removal of a hand-grenade barrier …”

The remaining handwriting appears to contain additional location or descriptive information, but portions are difficult to decipher confidently. Importantly, the word “Handgranatensperre” supports what is actually visible in the photograph: this appears to be the deliberate dismantling or clearing of a grenade-protected wire obstacle, rather than simply a grenade accidentally caught in barbed wire.

The photograph measures approximately 3¾ x 2¾ inches (about 9.5 x 7 cm). The reverse retains the period handwritten caption and additional collector/catalog notation.

Condition: Original period photograph with normal age and handling wear. Image has good contrast and clearly shows the soldier, wire obstacle and winter setting. Original handwriting remains on the reverse. Please examine all photographs for exact condition.

This is a particularly desirable subject for a collection focusing on Wehrmacht combat engineers, field fortifications, demolition, Stielhandgranaten, winter warfare or German military training.

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