GX - captured German PR photos in NARA

[Daniel Uziel]

Hi,
Recently I posted a query in which I casually mentioned the GX collection in NARA. I thought that this is a well known material but Richard suggested that I should write more about it.

GX was the codename allocated to captured German photoreconnaissance (PR) imagery captured at the end of WWII. Around 1.250.000 such photos were taken by the allies and were studied during the late 40s-early 50s by intelligence experts in order to gain information about East Europe. Today most of the GX material is stored in NARA II near DC, where its current signature is RG 373. You can find out more about it by going to the NARA search engine
http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/basic_search.jsp

Simply type “GX” in the main text box and then select “Photographs and other Graphic Materials” from the “Type of Archival Material” drop box beneath. It should be the 5th item in the results list.
I never searched this collection by my own, but my colleagues in the US and the UK tell me that today the research there is a self-service matter, including the printing of previews with ordinary printer. Some of the GX imagery is also stored in the Keele University Library, where the RAF’s PR material is currently stored.
http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/is/airphoto/index.htm

(A short article about the British collections can be found here)
http://www.caliach.com/paulr/articles/html/keele.html

Anyway, THE place for German imagery is NARA. Keele is also practically a one woman operation, so service there can be quite problematic.
The potential of the GX collection is quite obvious and I hope that this information will help someone out there.
Yours,
Daniel Uziel

[Richard T Eger]

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for posting this very useful information for our membership. For reference, here is your earlier posting:

"Daniel Uziel
[email protected]
Member
Posted: 16 November 2026 01:43
Post subject: 94/SK - unknown PR unit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hallo,
I recently got images of Cracow, Poland found among the GX (captured German imagery) collections in NARA. Some of them include the original German interpretation and technical details, among others the following line crediting the photographing unit:
“Film: 94/SK (F.Lg.Kdo XXV)”
Now, Feld-Luftgaukommando XXV is mentioned in Tessin and other sources, but I found nothing about 94/SK. I guess SK=Sonderkommando, which suggests that it was one of those small late war PR detachments.
The photos were taken on 3/5/1944, but the interpretation was made in August and November 1944. It is quite unique, because the interpreters marked on the photos several potential targets, probably in preparation for the Soviet occupation of the area (which happened only in January 1945). One of these targets was the well known Oskar Schindler’s enamel factory.
Does anybody know this 94/SK and its whereabouts? I’ll appreciate any info.
Thanx,
Daniel Uziel"

Regarding photo copying at NARA II, there is now a Kodak Picture Maker available in the still photo department on the 5th floor and another in the textual reading room on the 2nd floor. The aerial reconnaissance photos are located in the cartography department on the 3rd floor and can be taken via escort to one of the Kodak Picture Makers for copying. Also available are color laser and electrostatic copiers, which produce lower quality images, but are also much less expensive.

Regards,
Richard