Ritterkreuzträger with Schutzbrille (Goggle)

Wehrmacht goggles were an important piece of protective equipment used by German military personnel during the Second World War, particularly by motorcycle dispatch riders, armored vehicle crews, reconnaissance troops, and soldiers operating in dusty, snowy, or high-speed environments. Manufactured by several German firms, these goggles typically featured metal or leather frames fitted with shatter-resistant glass or celluloid lenses and were secured by adjustable elastic straps designed to fit over field caps, helmets, or Panzer headgear. Motorcycle troops relied on them to shield their eyes from wind, dust, rain, and insects while traveling at high speeds, while Panzer crews used them during operations conducted with open hatches or when exposed to smoke and debris on the battlefield. Specialized versions were also employed by Gebirgsjäger units in alpine conditions and by troops serving on the Eastern Front, where snow glare and extreme weather posed additional hazards. The design emphasized durability, comfort, and practicality, often incorporating ventilation openings to reduce lens fogging. Wartime photographs frequently show Wehrmacht soldiers wearing goggles around their necks when not in use, making them one of the most recognizable accessories of German field equipment. Today, original Wehrmacht goggles are highly sought after by military collectors and historians because they illustrate the German military's attention to specialized equipment for different combat roles and environmental conditions.

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WINDSCHUTZBRILLE

Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Walther (1910-2010), born on 27 January 1910 in Dresden, Sachsen (German Empire), was one of the most notable officers of the German special operations forces during the Second World War and became the first member of the famous Bau-Lehr-Bataillon z.b.V. 800 “Brandenburg” to receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. Originally serving with Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 of the 2. Panzer-Division, Walther transferred to the secretive Brandenburg commando formation in March 1940 and was soon entrusted with a daring mission during the invasion of the Netherlands. On 10 May 1940, as an Oberleutnant and Stoßtruppführer of the 4. Kompanie, Bau-Lehr-Bataillon z.b.V. 800 “Brandenburg”, he led a small assault team disguised as Dutch military police escorting German prisoners in order to infiltrate and seize the strategically vital railway bridge over the Maas River near Gennep. Despite being heavily outnumbered, facing armed Dutch guards, and operating deep behind enemy security positions, Walther displayed exceptional initiative and courage, improvising under pressure when the mission appeared compromised. During the fierce struggle for control of the bridge, he and his men cut communication lines, prevented demolition preparations, and secured the crossing long enough for German armoured forces to advance. Walther himself was wounded when a bullet struck his helmet, but he continued directing the operation until the bridge and surrounding defenses were fully captured. The successful seizure of the Gennep bridge opened a crucial route for advancing German forces toward the Dutch defensive lines and contributed significantly to the rapid breakthrough into the Netherlands. In recognition of his leadership, personal bravery, and the strategic importance of the operation, Wilhelm Walther was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 24 June 1940, beginning a distinguished wartime career that later saw him command formations within the Division “Brandenburg” and participate in operations across the Balkans, Greece, and the Eastern Front.

 

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CAPTURED BRITISH GAS GOGGLES


General der Panzertruppe Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg (1886-1974), born on 2 March 1886 in Potsdam into a Prussian military aristocratic family with a legacy of producing Field Marshals, was a highly regarded German officer who rose to the rank of General der Panzertruppe and became one of the Wehrmacht's foremost experts in armoured warfare. Joining the German Army in 1904, he served with distinction in World War I on multiple fronts as a Rittmeister, remained in the Reichswehr during the interwar period, advanced to Oberst in 1932 and Generalmajor in 1935, and served as military attaché to the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands from 1933 to 1937 while based in London. Promoted to Generalleutnant, he assumed command of the 3. Panzer-Division in 1937, leading it effectively during the 1939 invasion of Poland as its most powerful armoured formation with 391 tanks, earning battlefield praise from Hitler for actions at Kulm. In February 1940 he took command of the XXIV. Armeekorps (motorisiert), directing it through the 1940 Battle of France before spearheading advances in Operation Barbarossa as part of Generaloberst Heinz Guderian's 2. Panzerarmee in Army Group Centre. On 9 July 1941, as General der Panzertruppe and Kommandierender General of the XXIV. Armeekorps (motorisiert), Geyr von Schweppenburg was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for his masterful leadership during the initial phases of the invasion of the Soviet Union: he skillfully planned his Panzerkorps' crossing of the Bug river, then drove energetically through the challenging terrain of Polesia to Kobryn, directing an unstoppable five-day advance to Bereza Kartuska and Sluck that resulted in the capture or destruction of approximately 150 enemy tanks and a similar number of artillery pieces, while personally exemplifying devotion to duty in the foremost combat zones and contributing decisively to the broader objectives of the Panzergruppe. Later commands included the XXXX. Panzerkorps in the Caucasus, Panzergruppe West (formalised as 5. Panzerarmee) in France where he prepared armoured reserves and attempted counteractions during the 1944 Normandy invasion until wounded in an Allied air attack on his headquarters at La Caine, followed by service as Inspector General of Armoured Troops until 1945. Postwar, after American captivity, he contributed to historical studies and the formation of the Bundeswehr before his death on 27 January 1974 in Irschenhausen.

Source :
"Brandenburger: Wartime Photographs of Wilhelm Walther" by Anthony Rogers
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2013/07/album-foto-schutzbrille-kacamata.html