Military Photographer of the Year Winner 1999 TITLE: "Return to Quiberon" CATEGORY: Portfolio PLACE: Third Place Portfolio CAPTION INFORMATION: Tuesday Sept. 21, 1999. During Operation Northern Light '99, NATO German Marines (in German Marineschutzkrafte) prepare to take a French fort in Quiberon, France. NATO troops are in France to practice invasion techniques with troops from different NATO countries. A U.S. Naval Coastal Warfare team is on deployment in France to act as opposition to NATO forces. IMAGE FILE #DD-SP-01-0054 (Released to Public)

Note to the Description: In fact in the history of German warfare, Germany never truly had a Marine Division. The German Navy has only Infantry (Marineschutzkräfte) trained for Amphibious Assault, they were never truly considered as the Marines. The Marineschutzkräfte operate under Bundeswehr Navy Jurisdictions and are not regarded as Marines, like the USMC.

Additional note: At least the soldier on the left hand side is probably not a soldier of Marineschutzkräfte, because the rank insign is white/silver instead of golden, as it is common to all soldiers of the German Navy. Insted he is more likely a member of the German Army. The green string attached to the rank inisgnia may more likely indicate that the soldier is part of the German (mechanised) infantry.