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From the photo album of an SS recruit

Buchenwald as a training site for the SS, 1939/40. The original meaning of the pictures as private souvenir photos is what makes them seem remarkable from today's perspective. They show that they want to remember their service as a good time. Their task in the concentration camp by no means prevents the SS men from presenting themselves with a seemingly carefree cheerfulness. (From: Buchenwald Digital Photo Archive)

SS-members of a recruit unit of the SS-Totenkopfstandarte 14 marching back after their swearing in on the Blutstraße. In rows of three, a long line of uniformed men walks along the concrete slab road through the forest.
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SS members of a recruit unit marching back on the Blood Road after their swearing-in ceremony, 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart. ©Buchenwald Memorial
SS members of Totenkopf-Standarte 14 during a combat exercise on the southern slope of the Ettersberg. The uniformed men are standing in groups on the open meadow. The Bismarck Tower can be seen in the background.
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SS members of Totenkopf-Standarte 14 during a combat exercise on the southern slope of the Ettersberg. 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart. ©Buchenwald Memorial
SS members of Totenkopf-Standarte 14. Some uniformed men are standing in the quarry of Buchenwald concentration camp. The Hundertschaftskaserne Nr. 1 of the Waffen-SS, which is under construction, can be seen in the background.
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SS members of Totenkopf-Standarte 14 during a combat exercise in the quarry of Buchenwald concentration camp, 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart. ©Buchenwald Memorial
View of the Hundertschaftskaserne Nr. 2 of the Waffen-SS above the quarry. Trucks are parked in front of the barracks. Isolated SS men are standing around.
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View of the Hundertschaftskaserne No. 2 of the Waffen-SS above the quarry, 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart. ©Buchenwald Memorial
SS members of Totenkopf-Standarte 14 during drill exercises on the parade ground. The men are standing in rows. Rifles are leaning against each other on the ground and helmets are lying next to them. Three Hundertschaftskasernen can be seen in the background.
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SS members of Totenkopf-Standarte 14 during drill exercises on the parade ground, 1940. Photo:
Adolf Flasbart.
©Buchenwald Memorial
View over the parade ground to the SS casino. Occasionally SS men can be seen walking across the square. In the foreground 2 lorries on bills are recognizable.
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View across the parade ground to the SS casino, 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart.
©Buchenwald Memorial
Group picture of members of a recruit unit of the SS-Totenkopfstandarte 14 at the foot of the Bismarck Monument.
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Group photo of members of a recruit unit of SS-Totenkopfstandarte 14 at the foot of the Bismarck Monument, 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart. ©Buchenwald Memorial
View of Villenstraße in the SS-Führersiedlung, 1940. The street is wide, the two-story villas with balconies facing the street are separated by tall trees.
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View of Villenstraße in the SS-Führersiedlung, 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart.
©Buchenwald Memorial
A signpost to the Buchenwald SS barracks and Buchenwald concentration camp on Carachoweg, hand-carved by prisoner Bruno Apitz.
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Signpost to the Buchenwald SS barracks and Buchenwald concentration camp on Carachoweg, 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart. ©Buchenwald Memorial
A bear lies on its side on a stone floor.
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Lying bear in bear pen, 1940. Photo: Adolf Flasbart.
©Buchenwald Memorial
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