German Soldiers Pose with Captured Portrait of Joseph Stalin, Summer 1941
October 9, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes
German soldiers posing with a captured portrait of Joseph Stalin in occupied Soviet territory, summer 1941.
This World War II photograph shows German Wehrmacht soldiers posing with what they jokingly called their “main trophy” — a captured portrait of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, taken in the early months of Operation Barbarossa, during the Wehrmacht’s rapid advance through the western regions of the USSR in summer 1941.
The image captures not only propaganda symbolism but also a glimpse of soldiers’ everyday field life. In the background, there is a large cooking pot used for preparing meals in makeshift conditions, a galvanized basin with soapy water for washing uniforms, and even a puppy, a small yet human detail amid the harsh reality of war.
As German forces advanced deep into Soviet territory, they frequently photographed such scenes with captured Soviet symbols — flags, portraits, and propaganda posters — intending to demonstrate the “collapse of Bolshevism.” Ironically, within months, the front would freeze in place, and the Blitzkrieg would falter in the vastness of Russia.
Technical photo data:
📍 Location: USSR (western regions)
📅 Date: Summer 1941
🎯 Context: Operation Barbarossa, Wehrmacht field life
📷 Author: Unknown German soldier