Telecommunications post, Lkrekino, November 1941
This could be the house where a shell struck on September 23 while Gruber was inside. Although the photograph dates from November 1941, the two soldiers are clearly not posing for a souvenir snapshot. There is therefore a strong possibility that the primary subject of the image was this destroyed house near Lkrekino.
Here are a few points supporting the theory that the destroyed building is the actual subject of the photograph:
Soldiers’ behavior: The soldiers’ posture does not look like they are posing. One stands there somewhat distractedly with a cigarette, while the other appears to be inspecting the interior of the damaged house. This observational stance suggests they are assessing the condition of the structure or the extent of the damage, rather than posing for a portrait.
Documentary value: If Gruber identified this house as the location where he came under fire on September 23, 1941, it is highly plausible that he—or a comrade—photographed this specific building weeks later (once the situation in Lkrekino was stable enough for an inspection) to document the incident.
Condition of the structure: The roof destroyed by the shell impact and the exposed beams of the wooden house are depicted in great detail. The fact that the photo was taken in November 1941 suggests a return to the scene of the event to document the ruins or the area that had previously been a danger zone.
The visually distinct text was created in July 2026 with the help of the AI Gemini. - Page translated with Google.
