disfigurement – wia on The eastern front

1941

A soldier of the 20th Infantry with a bandaged facial wound poses for his portrait in a Vienna photographer’s studio. His collar insignia indicates his NCO rank, while the tunic ribbon records his awarding of the Iron Cross Second Class. A large percentage of even seriously wounded German soldiers resumed their duties: during 1942-43, for example, a reported 47.7 per cent returned to combat. Badges in black, silver and gold reflected various numbers of wounds, from one to several.