Figure 8.--We are unable to identify this World War II-era photograph. The boys are clearly in a youth group. We wonder if it might be Belgian, but we are mot sure. We are unsure who the lady is. She seems to be a nurse, suggesting an orphanage or camp. Click on the image for a close-up.

This is an interesting World War II image which has us confused. It is being handled by a Ukranian dealer. This normaslly means that it is a photograph found on a captured or killed German soldier or Axis ally soldier involved in the Eastern front or war booty brought back to the Ukraine during the Soviet occupation of Germany. The boys pictured, however, are clearly not Hitler Youth boys, meaning that they are not Germans. The NAZI allies on the Eastern Front, especially in the Ukraine, are other possibilities (primarily Hungary, Italy, and Romania). A Hungarian youth group seems possible. We wonder if they might be members of nationalist youth organizations in NAZI occupied Europe. As far as we know, the NAZI authorities did not permit youth organizations to operate in the Ukraine during the German occupation (1941-43). NAZI authorities did permit these groups in the occupied countries of Western Europe (Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway). These countries of course were not occupied by the Soviets after the War, but small continents of volunteers from these countries did serve with the SS and Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front. It seems to us that the children could be from any of those countries. Here the uniform may offer some clues. Note that the boys are wearing berets and long stockings. They are also wearing colored shirts, but as it is a black and white photograph we can not tell the color. We think it might be green. We think Belgium seems a likely possibility. We are also not sure about the lady with the boys. She seems to be some sort of nurse, suggesting an orphanage or camp. Another clue is that the photograph was printed on Agfa paper, providing another German connection. Perhaps our European readers will have some insights here.