Sailors of the Nazi German Navy (Kriegsmarine), Germany, 1939

November 22, 2025 - Reading time: 3 minutes

German Kriegsmarine sailors posing for a casual photo in Germany, 1939.

This historical photograph shows sailors of the Kriegsmarine — the naval forces of Nazi Germany — during the early years of World War II in Europe. The image dates to 1939 and captures a group of German sailors in a relaxed, informal moment away from active combat duty.

A striking detail of the photo is the presence of a young woman wearing a Kriegsmarine uniform. While the German navy was a predominantly male institution, women were increasingly involved in auxiliary and support roles, especially at the beginning of the war. Their duties often included communications, clerical work, logistics, and coastal support services.

The smiles and casual posture of the sailors sharply contrast with the brutal reality that would soon unfold across Europe’s seas. Just months after images like this were taken, the naval war would escalate into one of the most ruthless battles of the conflict — with submarine warfare, convoy battles, and massive losses on both sides of the Atlantic.

Photographs like this are valuable not because they glorify the German military, but because they show the human side of people who would soon become part of a catastrophic global war. It reflects how, on the eve of destruction, life still looked ordinary — even cheerful — before the storm hit full force.

Technical Photo Data:

📍 Location: Germany
📅 Date: 1939
📝 Subject: Sailors of the Nazi German Navy (Kriegsmarine), including a female servicemember
📷 Photographer: Unknown

• German naval personnel WWII
• Early World War II Germany
• Female naval auxiliaries
• Kriegsmarine uniform
• Pre-war military photographs