Puzzle: can you identify this 1942 photo?

This 1942 photo was the main reason I recently bought a large album. Can you identify the (1) group of fighters, (2) the countries involved and (3) the background to this particular action?

These are tough questions, and given I have the photo caption, very unfair since I already know the answers and they are not straightforward!

And to complicate matters, the answer to 3 is important!

If this proves too hard, I will post a second photo that should lead you to a solution.

Happy head scratching!

ps sorry about the copyright watermark, (pinterest spoiler)

)

 

Not Greek, no.

 

Italy?

Except for the date, I would have said Spanish Civil War

 

I'll post the other photo tomorrow, but won't narrow the field further (except to confirm a set of 3 correct answers) by answering too often other to say that it was not Italy nor Albania.

Date is definitely 1942.

 

Russians?

 

Ottoman Turks or Russians during the Russo Turkish War of 1877? I think a few units of each worn these fur tall hats like the Russian Cossacks?

--- Susan

 

I am going to have to say they are soviets because they are wearing papakhas which were used by the soviets during WWI and WWII, they were first used in europe way before photography and most other countries stopped using them because they were associated with the soviets.

 

Sorry Susan, date is definitely 1942

 

Well then probably Albanians like Davy's guess. Another guess Croatians at the 1942 Battle of Kupres?

--- Susan

 

Hi Susan,

Albania is ruled out.

I think that you need to wait for the next photo, there have been some superb answers , including yours, that deserve to be right but are not. The key is in question 3, even if questions 1 & 2 seem easier.

 

Joshua, you are educating me! Please wait for the next photo tomorrow which should help with all three questions. Btw, your logic is impeccable, even if the conclusion is wrong.

 

Is this taking place in Poland?
Russian Cossaks? Part of the Resistance?
Just a very wild guess. I know naathink.

 

Nope, sorry!!!

 

Cirque de Soleil troop , caught in Cyprus .....

 

Intriguing. My guess would be, as the year is 1942, that one side are Germans and the other Jewish partisans.

 

Ok, thanks for your patience.

I can confirm neither Ukranians or Romanians. Nor any Jewish partisans afaik.

Here is a second photo taken at same time of a bayonet wound being treated.

 

The aid worker's sleeve patch logo should help a lot. The central logo matches the Belgian version of the famous military decoration Croix de Guerre but missing the crown of the latter. Look for a Belgian aid society perhaps named Croix ...". Anyway I'd say we're looking at Belgian resistance fighters or something similar, or could be elsewhere if that society sent workers out of country.