A serendipitous then & now comparison, though not very exciting, I’m afraid.
While using Yandex maps to find/confirm the location of a series of photos, a modern photo uploaded by a Russian user showed almost the exact spot where this heavy MG was set up. Thanks to this otherwise unremarkable modern snap, the WW2 photos can now be accurately captioned. Also, by cross-checking with aerial photos and maps, we now know what the MG-34 was being lined up on: a creek on the opposite bank, where encircled Red Army troops may try to escape.
This is the Dniepr River in late July 1941 and the German troops are facing west (north-west, in the case of this gun).
