Meeting between German and Soviet officers at Bialystok, July 1941. Looking to the camera is Generaloberst Adolf Strauss (Oberbefehlshaber 9. Armee). The Battle of Białystok–Minsk was a German strategic operation conducted by the Wehrmacht's Army Group Centre under Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock during the penetration of the Soviet border region in the opening stage of Operation Barbarossa, lasting from 22 June to 9 July 1941. The Heeresgruppe's Panzergruppe 2 under Generaloberst Heinz Guderian and Panzergruppe 3 under Generaloberst Hermann Hoth decimated the Soviet frontier defenses, defeated all Soviet counter-attacks and encircled four Soviet Armies of the Red Army's Western Front near Bialystok and Minsk by 30 June. The majority of the Western Front was enclosed within, and the pockets were liquidated by 9 July. The Red Army lost 420,000 men against Wehrmacht casualties of somewhat over 12,157. The Germans destroyed the Soviet Western Front in 18 days and advanced 460 kilometers into the Soviet Union, causing many to believe that the Germans had effectively won the war against the Soviet Union.
Source :
Gregg Tolbert photo collection
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bia%C5%82ystok%E2%80%93Minsk
Wehrmacht officers crossing a makeshift bridge in France built by pioneers. The two men in the front row is, from left to right: Generalmajor Dr.rer.pol. Erich von Schaewen (Pionierführer der 4. Armee) and General der Infanterie Adolf Strauss (Kommandeirender General II. Armeekorps). Between them in the background is Generalmajor Erwin Rommel (Kommandeur 7. Panzer-Division). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke from PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 689.
