A soldier of the 24th Panzer Division on a BMW R75 sidecar, Southern Russia, August–September 1942

A soldier of the 24th Panzer Division rests on the sidecar of a BMW R75 motorcycle as the division moves through the vastness of southern Russia. It is late summer 1942, in the midst of the German offensive against the Soviet forces as part of Operation Blue . The hot steppe, the endless horizon, and the dusty roads characterize the landscape of the war in this region.

The BMW R75 , one of the Wehrmacht’s most widely used military machines, was equipped with a robust sidecar that not only provided additional storage space but often also carried a mounted MG34 machine gun for fire support. It was used as a fast and reliable reconnaissance and liaison aircraft, capable of easily traversing even difficult terrain.

The 24th Panzer Division , originally formed from the 1st Cavalry Division, was an essential part of the German 6th Army , which at that time was advancing deep into southern Russia. Its goal: the capture of Stalingrad , one of the decisive battles of World War II.

The soldier depicted here is using this brief moment of respite to recover from the rigors of the advance. The scorching sun, the swirling dust, and the long marches have left their mark. Perhaps it is just a fleeting pause before the fighting resumes—a rare moment of respite amidst the brutal reality of the Eastern Campaign.