Most of the photos of these tanks that have soldiers in them show troops (male and female) who are recognisably Soviets. But what about these?
Are they American? British? The tunics don't look Russian, and there are no boots. If they're not, then these photos must have been taken after July 1945, when western Allies were allowed into the city. Any ideas?
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The second photo is clearer, it looks like an American and he is holding a camera? He is not in combat gear, which suggests a while after the fighting stopped. I have got the impression that travel between the areas of Berlin occupied by the Western Allies and the Red Army was quite possible for a while.
I believe the 2 photos are the same tank from different angles. The guy in the lower photo is definitely American from the sleeve patches. I don't think he's holding a camera. Souvenir? PX goods to barter? Cigarettes were the universal currency for some time early in the occupation, and American cigarettes were especially sought-after.
The guy in the top photo could be US or British as the US adopted a short battledress-type tunic top as barrack dress late in WW2. By the darker colour I would suggest US as theirs was quite a dark green whereas the UK battledress remained khaki brown.
Yes, travel between the zones was essentially unrestricted for quite some time, IIRC until the airlift crisis and the subsequent closing of the borders to the Russian zones.
