This photo dates from 1942 in the Ukraine and is a stunning example of the 'war tourism' practiced by the advancing German Troops during Operation Barbarossa, Case Blue, and similar offensive operations.

This is a member of an "Einsatzgruppe" (literally: "Action Group"), most likely Group C or D, whose areas of responsibility overlapped in the Central and Southern Ukraine. The role of the Einsatzgruppen was to advance behind the main units and systemically round up, persecute and ultimately kill persons of Jewish 'heritage' and 'race', and any other groups considered unsavory (such as Partisans, Commisars, and other known communists), unwanted or not-fitting into NDSAP racial ideology. In short, they were death squads, large, organized, and well lead death squads made for this purpose alone.

These photos were taken by members of the Einsatzgruppen, and were not always discouraged. Some, like the now-famous "Last Jew in Vinnista" were even lauded by the German regime. Hitler reportedly reacted with great joy upon hearing that Latvia was in fact considered 'Leer von Juden' ("Cleared of Jews - literal empty of jews"). War tourism, especially when concerning executions of partisans or the killing of male jews was common. The German regime cared little for outside opinion, they were not out to win the hearts or minds of occupied territories, they were there to annihilate what they viewed as subhuman peoples misusing good land.

The Wehrmacht attempted to curb members not of an Einsatzgruppe from going when on rest to photograph these, and explicitly forbade Officers from 'shaming themselves' by attending these executions. However, Wehrmacht soldiery helped organize, transport and facilitate these war crimes and could not simply absolve themselves of blame by blithely ignoring the goings-ons.

Did these people who participated go largely unpunished? Or did they fall to Soviet/Allied forces "retribution "?