Second World War German photograph album documenting campaigns in Russia and France

A World War II German photograph album, circa 1939-41
A very good collection of photographs, compiled by a soldier serving in a Bridge Construction unit of the Engineers (Brückenbau Bataillon 84). The album contains approximately 240 black and white photographs, consisting of mostly active service shots taken in Russia and France documenting bridge construction, fellow soldiers, captured tanks, Russian or Ukrainian locals and bombed landscapes. Further photographs include members of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) who operated attached to the German Army in occupied countries, SS and other Axis soldiers together with captured French Colonial troops. (album 24cm x 35cm).

Note: Construction Battalion 84 was first set up during the mobilisation of August 26, 1939. Originally, the battalion was formed from RAD units as an army force and deployed in the west. On March 22, 1940, the battalion was re-classified to the control of the Wehrmacht before being renamed as the Bridge Building Battalion 84 on December 27, 1940. This album covers their period of deployment in Russia during the Eastern Campaign and shows the rebuilding of German-occupied Smolensk, including construction over the River Dnieper to replace the bridge previously blown up by USSR sappers upon their retreat.