Captured Soviet Banners

[MarkJ]

Here is another unusual captured banner image from my collection. I consulted with a native Russian speaker (mixed Russian and Ukrainian parentage) and he provided this commentary:

Text on the banner (in Ukrainian): "Union of Baker's Industry, Prilutsk Group Committee". Location -- Ukraine, the town of Prilutsk, Chernigov Region (Northwest of Ukraine, close to Kiev). The photo is apparently made not long ago after Belarus had been invaded by the Army Group South in 1941. Chances are the photo was taken around the time of the Big Kiev Defense Operation in August-September 1941.

The troops mugging for the camera are obviously Waffen-SS. However, I haven't yet been able to determine precisely which SS division passed through the Prilutsk locale in late summer 1941. Nevertheless the two front-runners are either 2.SS-Division "Reich" (later "Das Reich") or 5.SS-Division "Wiking", both of which were involved in the huge encirclement of Soviet troops during the Kiev operation. "Leibstandandarte" and "Polizei" were attached to Armeegruppe Nord while the men shown in the photo do not appear to be wearing the distinctive insignia of "Totenkopf".

If anyone can provide further details, I'd be grateful for them!

Regards,

Mark Jaeger