German soldiers take boots and other equipment from dead American soldiers at a crossroads in Belgium, 1944

German soldiers take boots and other equipment from dead American soldiers at a crossroads in Belgium, 1944

German soldiers strip boots and other equipment from dead American soldiers, 1944

These American soldiers probably got ambushed by German machine guns when they were attempting a routine street crossing at the wrong time. They’re at a crossroads, a good spot to ambush an advancing army. This photo is taken during the early hours of the Battle of the Bulge, 1944.
Pen marks indicate things Army censors redacted after the film was captured. The censorship shown on the photo was just an initial note that publishers would more thoroughly take out. They didn’t want people to be able to identify where the picture was taken.
That’s why they were crossing out only the things that would identify the spot, even religious markings (the crucifix in the corner of the image). It was likely the result of routine censorship.
For the Battle of the Bulge, the best units and equipment of the German military were concentrated for the push to the West. The battle was a last ditch attempt by Hitler to split the Allies in two in their drive towards Germany and destroy their ability to supply themselves. This was Germany’s last substantial mobile reserve, and it ended up detracting from Germany’s ability to defend against the Soviet winter offensives beginning in January 1945.

The picture is an indicator that the German supply line must have been breaking down for them to be pulling boots off the dead. Also, it’s not a good sign when an “advancing” army has to stop and steal shoes.
The soldiers most likely did not have boots in very good condition, especially at this point in the war. By that time (late 1944), German boots were poor.
They no longer issued “jack boots” but had introduced ankle high ones made from inferior materials. While the Americans had rubber-soled, higher-quality leather ones.
During and after the Battle of the Bulge, German prisoners caught with American equipment on their person were usually shot out of hand. Pictures like this probably encouraged the American response.
(Photo credit: US Army Archives