German Trench

I bought this photo at an online auction. It is a very small photo (2"x2") and appears to have had been once glued in an album. Although the glue distorted what was written on back , the written date "1940" can be seen. The other writing is too incomplete to make out.

Both soldiers are of the regular German army (Heer). The soldier in the foreground, based on the collar patches & shoulder tabs, is the rank equivalent to a private. In front of him, resting in the dirt, is his K98 Mauser rifle. On his belt (left side), you can just make out his K98 bayonet. He is wearing one of the early designed Heer helmets, the M1935, which was one of the first helmets to feature the Heer eagle holding the swastika.

The soldier in the background is looking through binoculars. He is wearing a coat which hides any information about rank. He appears to be standing in front of a corrugated pipe that has been set in the trench (perhaps a makeshift bunker?)

Based on the dirt pile in the far background, this trench must have been fairly long in size. In the background to the left, there appears to be a fence of some sort. If you look closely, there appear to be several "lumps" in front of the fence. I cannot tell if this is earth or perhaps livestock.