Key figures

Adolf Hitler with Romanian Prime Minister, Marshal Ion Antonescu (center, saluting), at the Wolf’s Lair (Wolfsschanze) in February 1942. On the left of the image is Dr. Paul Schmidt, chief interpreter of the German Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, Adolf Hitler assured Marshal Antonescu that he personally guarantees Hungary and …

The Battle of the Kerch Peninsula was a conflict between Axis Forces (Germany and Romania) and the Soviet Union, which took place between December 1941 – May 1942. Germany’s victory in May 1942 allowed them to focus on the ongoing siege of Sevastopol (which was captured one month later), and …

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian, a World War I veteran, was one of the pioneers of tank warfare in Germany. Guderian studied this concept between 1922 and 1928, becoming a leading expert on tanks despite not setting foot into one before 1929 (due to the Versailles treaty restrictions). Because of the same …

On August 23rd 1944, King Michael I of Romania (pictured here with Adolf Hitler at the New Reich Chancellery in Berlin, 1940) staged a coup to overthrow Romania’s head of state and Hitler supporter, Marshal Ion Antonescu. With the tides of the war turning and with the Soviets already inside …

Hermann Goering, Reichsmarschall and Supreme Luftwaffe Commander, with flying ace Adolf Galland, Lieutenant General of the Luftwaffe, reviewing documents. Date and location of the picture are unclear, although the photo was likely taken in 1941. Galland was one of the legendary pilots of WW2. He survived being shot down four …

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (the “Desert Fox”) with British POW’s at the French port of St Valery-en-Caux during the Dunkirk evacuation (1940). Erwin Rommel was a distinguished officer in World War One and one of the central figures of World War Two. In WW2, Rommel earned a reputation as one …

US President Franklin Roosevelt smoking and drinking white wine, as he is listening to a speech during a Democratic Party fundraiser on November 1st, 1938. Franklin Roosevelt was also known to enjoy Martinis, as well as cocktails and mixed drinks. Book suggestion ⤵️ 📖 No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor …

Benito Mussolini meets Adolf Hitler in Munich, with the Italian leader having traveled to discuss the French armistice request on June 18th, 1940. Although Mussolini intended to gain a hefty share of spoils from the French, Hitler did not want to discuss it. What’s more, the Fuhrer declared that he …

King Christian X of Denmark, riding through Copenhagen on September 26th 1940, on his 70th birthday. Denmark was previously occupied by Germany on April 9th 1940, and was only liberated at the end of the war, although there has been very strong resistance by the Danish people against the German …

Mauthausen Camp Commandant Franz Ziereis with SS Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler and SS Obergruppenfuhrer Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner on April 27th, 1941. The photo is taken at the “Wiener Graben” stone quarry, where the camp inmates were worked tirelessly. The quarry was one of the main reasons for the location of the …