GAR20 Marvelous large set of original photos of the Heer 5. Leichte-Division/21. Panzer-Division in North Africa

Marvelous large set of original photos of the Heer 5. Leichte-Division/21. Panzer-Division in North Africa, the 21. Panzer-Division was formed in Africa from 5. Leichte-Division in August 1941, it is believed that the photographs were made by a crew member of Panzer III number 13, photos document the opening months of the campaign concluding around Nov. 1941 with Operation Crusader, photos begin with a large class portrait photograph made on the steps of the Sanssouci palace at Potsdam, the next photos depict the entrained unit on passage through the Alpine region and the Brenner Pass, into Italy and the staging area in Naples, photos showing Rommel in conversation with officers and watching the unloading of Panzers and other vehicles, photos show vehicles with 5. Leichte-Division and, later, 21. Panzer-Division markings, further photos depict movement of Panzers to the front and there are several shots showing Panzer IIIs stuck in the sand, most photos show the route of march and battle from Tobruk, along the Via Balbia, Halfaya Pass, Fort Capuzzo, Sollum, the Church of Bardia, etc., there are battle shots take from the turret with rising columns of smoke in the distance, other photos depict disabled and destroyed Matildas, other British vehicles and British prisoners under guard, additional photos depict vehicle maintenance activities, soldiers at play and rest, bathing and shaving and so on, photos are quite clear and uniform and vehicle details are plain, a high proportion of the photos are armor-related, only a few representative of the 188 photos are displayed here, most photos measure 7x5cm although quite a few are 9x6cm in size, most have penciled numbers on the back and there are quite a few with notations in German and some in English, the photos are in fine condition being protected by plastic sleeves and stored in a ringed binder, approximately 5-6 of the photos were published collectively in the books Afrikakorps: Self Portrait by Dal McGuirk and Afrikakorps by Robert Kurtz, one of the most famous photo groups from the North African campaign, USD $1200 SOLD