Panzerwrecks-2

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Transcript of Panzerwrecks-2

Page 1: Panzerwrecks-2

I FEATU RES

Panzer wrecks in Vienna 1

War booty in Yugoslavia 28

Panzer wrecks in Znojmo 58

Endkampfe in Berlin 82

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Many of the images in this book were taken by servicemen using basic equipment they are included for their interest and historical value not necessarily their photographic quality

For the use of their photos we would like to thank 0yvind Leonsen David Parker Don Campbell Jeff Plowman Chris Leeman Karlheinz Munch Christian Ankerstjerne Dennis Trowbridge Patrick Wolowiecki CarlFMcDaniel Jeff Scott Marek Solar Milos Ludvik Pavel Nejedly Robert Rowland Ian Kinnear George Petersen Joe Cates and Jon Stubbs US National Archives Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek (ONB) Vojensky Historicky Ustav (VHA) Imperial War Museum (IWM) Deutsches Historisches Museum (DHM) Public Archives of Canada (PAC) Military Photo Archive of Bulgaria (MPAB) The Tank Museum (TIM) Muzej novejse zgodovine Siovenije (MNZS) ECPA Ullstein Bild and AKG Images We would also like to thank the following for their help Hans Weber Martin Block Barry Crook Daniele Guglielmi Stefano di Giusto Jurgen Wilhelm Werner Geier Kamen Nevenkin Ivo Vranicar Detlev Terlisten and Bobby Blackstock Particular thanks to Beth amp Georgia for their encouragement and patience

This volume traces the denouement of World War 2 from the besieged cities of Vienna and Berlin to the rail yards of Slovenia and Znojmo Here are locations where the struggle finally ended where exhausted forces lay spent and overtaxed infrastructures simply ground to a halt Whether the prize was a world capital or simple station the ground was contested the same way with every means available and no quarter given It is hard to imagine the scale of total war the sheer loss of men and material and the staggering effort involved As you look at the photos think of the costs involved in engineering and manufacturing these vehicles the logistics involved in transporting and supplying them the difficulties involved in commanding and controlling them and the pressures involved in manning and maintaining them

And then ask yourself how did they wind up where they did Where were they going What was their mission What became of their crews

We at Panzerwrecks do our best to sort out the details of who what when and where We have enlisted some of the most knowledgeable people in the field to weigh the known facts and present their cases for a particular unit identification and for many vehicles we are reasonably certain of the unit involved For others we can only narrow down the possibilities If we had all the answers it would be a dull book indeed

Truth be told had it not been for the warm welcome given to Panzerwrecks 1 we would not have been able to present this our second volume of twisted shattered and surrendered steel We appreciated each and every response from our readers and did our best to deliver on our promise of big photos and interesting subjects While it takes a lot of work the reward comes when someone points to a photo in Panzerwrecks and exclaims See Right there

Thanks are due to all involved in this volume but special thanks are due my coshyauthor Lee Archer who sought out and acquired many of these never-before-seen photos when others would have made do with much less The man loves what he does and enriches us all

WAuerbach Monroe February 2006

copy2006 Lee Archer and William Auerbach Created by Lee Archer in the UK printed by Gutenberg Press in Malta All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopy recording or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher

Published by William Auerbach Panzerwrecks PO Box 2332 Monroe New York 10949-2332 USA bill panzerwrecks com leepanzerwrecks com httpwwwpanzerwreckscom

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I ~ military policeman stationed at 110th Station Hospital poses in a Russian middotone of the hatches on it glacis the gun travel lock and has a rather disheveled loQkitlj 11 lI od PzIV70(A) atthe Military Arsenal in Vienna RussianforCe$captured large engine deck It is interesting to note that the fourth roadwheet is of the resilient

II I il II lis of German equipment after the battles in Hungary and putit to use against type Vehicles in the background include a SturmgeschOtz III AusfG PzKPfw II I I Jllller owners This example has the tracks on backward$ is lacking a roofall but 735(f) a Tiger I and a Hummel 0

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of a somewhat ingtomplete Hummel which does vehicle with the remnants of the boxing around the side engine air intakes The the driving compartment In the background are vehicle has had metal loops welded onto the side after receiving its coat of Soviet I

plus a stripped PzKpfw1 AusfB M4A2 PzKpfw II I green paint like the PzlV70(A) on the previous page chassis on its side The Hummel is a late production 0Leonsen

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Moving to the right we see more Panthers and the front of photograph The plate leaning against the Panthers front Is The grilles behind the playful MPs are covers from PnthOrjKMI

1 11 MP takes aim at his buddies from the safety of one of the many Panther hulls il lmiddot 1 visible in the background is a wrecked Hummel The large bag like objects on

11 11 1 I J~lIlther turret ring are unknown 0 Leonsen

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of AusfD and AusfA The hull on the left and the more tow coupling The hull on the left has a Bosch headlamp fitted to the right of the middot the background are both AusfD the one on the right glaCis piateindicating thatitw8s produced before June 1943

manifnlrf cooling pipes and holes for mounting the centred middot

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Ihe I 1 111 ililcr 422 was produced before April 1943 as there is no rainguard over the cupola bear witness The vehicle would have had spare t~IJIi I ll llll llUnication hatch It has seen some action as the scars on the commanders hooks on the turret sides

en

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A PanzerbeobachtungswagenlVAusfJ knocked out by a few shots in the rear plate no gunners vision port amp wire mesh side skirts What appears to be the barrel of the on theAussteliungsstraBe in the Prater distri9t of Vienna in April 1945 Therotating middotcoaxiaJ MG34 ~ actually a dummy as space was needed for the extr(3 radio sets On StqrmgeschOz cupola is lying in the foreground having been blownfrornthe turret middot the rear plate just under the gun barrel is the armoiJredf110untfor a Sternantenne

roof The vehicle isa late production exaf1plewith extended sides as towing eyes ONB

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11J( li ller Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausfj knocked out on themiddot Praterstern rotating cupola which is lying next to the idler and III Vienna Units in the area were 88-PzArtRgt2 of 288 Panze( Oivision 88- operators hatches A close look at the 1 11I Rgt3 of 388 Panzer Division and PZArtRgt76 middotof6 Panzer D ivision Like and a 8turmgeschOtz III AusfG The inset photo 1111 1vehicle on the previous page an internal explosion has relieved the turret of its Panther some time later

7 ~~______bull bull bullbullbull b~___

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

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11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

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Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

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ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

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Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

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A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

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I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

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A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

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1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

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A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

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111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

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A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

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iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

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Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

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1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

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to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

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All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

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4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

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IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

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middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

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AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

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314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

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1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

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vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

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With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

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photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

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$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

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Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

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rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

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II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

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modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

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middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

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Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

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A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

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middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

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Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

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1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

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Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

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Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

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A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

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raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

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1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

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having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

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I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

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~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

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lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

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These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

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The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 2: Panzerwrecks-2

I ~ military policeman stationed at 110th Station Hospital poses in a Russian middotone of the hatches on it glacis the gun travel lock and has a rather disheveled loQkitlj 11 lI od PzIV70(A) atthe Military Arsenal in Vienna RussianforCe$captured large engine deck It is interesting to note that the fourth roadwheet is of the resilient

II I il II lis of German equipment after the battles in Hungary and putit to use against type Vehicles in the background include a SturmgeschOtz III AusfG PzKPfw II I I Jllller owners This example has the tracks on backward$ is lacking a roofall but 735(f) a Tiger I and a Hummel 0

1

of a somewhat ingtomplete Hummel which does vehicle with the remnants of the boxing around the side engine air intakes The the driving compartment In the background are vehicle has had metal loops welded onto the side after receiving its coat of Soviet I

plus a stripped PzKpfw1 AusfB M4A2 PzKpfw II I green paint like the PzlV70(A) on the previous page chassis on its side The Hummel is a late production 0Leonsen

2

I

Moving to the right we see more Panthers and the front of photograph The plate leaning against the Panthers front Is The grilles behind the playful MPs are covers from PnthOrjKMI

1 11 MP takes aim at his buddies from the safety of one of the many Panther hulls il lmiddot 1 visible in the background is a wrecked Hummel The large bag like objects on

11 11 1 I J~lIlther turret ring are unknown 0 Leonsen

---- ----- --~---------

of AusfD and AusfA The hull on the left and the more tow coupling The hull on the left has a Bosch headlamp fitted to the right of the middot the background are both AusfD the one on the right glaCis piateindicating thatitw8s produced before June 1943

manifnlrf cooling pipes and holes for mounting the centred middot

4

Ihe I 1 111 ililcr 422 was produced before April 1943 as there is no rainguard over the cupola bear witness The vehicle would have had spare t~IJIi I ll llll llUnication hatch It has seen some action as the scars on the commanders hooks on the turret sides

en

5

A PanzerbeobachtungswagenlVAusfJ knocked out by a few shots in the rear plate no gunners vision port amp wire mesh side skirts What appears to be the barrel of the on theAussteliungsstraBe in the Prater distri9t of Vienna in April 1945 Therotating middotcoaxiaJ MG34 ~ actually a dummy as space was needed for the extr(3 radio sets On StqrmgeschOz cupola is lying in the foreground having been blownfrornthe turret middot the rear plate just under the gun barrel is the armoiJredf110untfor a Sternantenne

roof The vehicle isa late production exaf1plewith extended sides as towing eyes ONB

6

11J( li ller Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausfj knocked out on themiddot Praterstern rotating cupola which is lying next to the idler and III Vienna Units in the area were 88-PzArtRgt2 of 288 Panze( Oivision 88- operators hatches A close look at the 1 11I Rgt3 of 388 Panzer Division and PZArtRgt76 middotof6 Panzer D ivision Like and a 8turmgeschOtz III AusfG The inset photo 1111 1vehicle on the previous page an internal explosion has relieved the turret of its Panther some time later

7 ~~______bull bull bullbullbull b~___

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

8

I

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

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It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

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E

Page 3: Panzerwrecks-2

of a somewhat ingtomplete Hummel which does vehicle with the remnants of the boxing around the side engine air intakes The the driving compartment In the background are vehicle has had metal loops welded onto the side after receiving its coat of Soviet I

plus a stripped PzKpfw1 AusfB M4A2 PzKpfw II I green paint like the PzlV70(A) on the previous page chassis on its side The Hummel is a late production 0Leonsen

2

I

Moving to the right we see more Panthers and the front of photograph The plate leaning against the Panthers front Is The grilles behind the playful MPs are covers from PnthOrjKMI

1 11 MP takes aim at his buddies from the safety of one of the many Panther hulls il lmiddot 1 visible in the background is a wrecked Hummel The large bag like objects on

11 11 1 I J~lIlther turret ring are unknown 0 Leonsen

---- ----- --~---------

of AusfD and AusfA The hull on the left and the more tow coupling The hull on the left has a Bosch headlamp fitted to the right of the middot the background are both AusfD the one on the right glaCis piateindicating thatitw8s produced before June 1943

manifnlrf cooling pipes and holes for mounting the centred middot

4

Ihe I 1 111 ililcr 422 was produced before April 1943 as there is no rainguard over the cupola bear witness The vehicle would have had spare t~IJIi I ll llll llUnication hatch It has seen some action as the scars on the commanders hooks on the turret sides

en

5

A PanzerbeobachtungswagenlVAusfJ knocked out by a few shots in the rear plate no gunners vision port amp wire mesh side skirts What appears to be the barrel of the on theAussteliungsstraBe in the Prater distri9t of Vienna in April 1945 Therotating middotcoaxiaJ MG34 ~ actually a dummy as space was needed for the extr(3 radio sets On StqrmgeschOz cupola is lying in the foreground having been blownfrornthe turret middot the rear plate just under the gun barrel is the armoiJredf110untfor a Sternantenne

roof The vehicle isa late production exaf1plewith extended sides as towing eyes ONB

6

11J( li ller Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausfj knocked out on themiddot Praterstern rotating cupola which is lying next to the idler and III Vienna Units in the area were 88-PzArtRgt2 of 288 Panze( Oivision 88- operators hatches A close look at the 1 11I Rgt3 of 388 Panzer Division and PZArtRgt76 middotof6 Panzer D ivision Like and a 8turmgeschOtz III AusfG The inset photo 1111 1vehicle on the previous page an internal explosion has relieved the turret of its Panther some time later

7 ~~______bull bull bullbullbull b~___

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

8

I

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

Jilpe 22shy

()f B

middot~iII

f ~

~~~~

lars lilte the

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

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E

Page 4: Panzerwrecks-2

Moving to the right we see more Panthers and the front of photograph The plate leaning against the Panthers front Is The grilles behind the playful MPs are covers from PnthOrjKMI

1 11 MP takes aim at his buddies from the safety of one of the many Panther hulls il lmiddot 1 visible in the background is a wrecked Hummel The large bag like objects on

11 11 1 I J~lIlther turret ring are unknown 0 Leonsen

---- ----- --~---------

of AusfD and AusfA The hull on the left and the more tow coupling The hull on the left has a Bosch headlamp fitted to the right of the middot the background are both AusfD the one on the right glaCis piateindicating thatitw8s produced before June 1943

manifnlrf cooling pipes and holes for mounting the centred middot

4

Ihe I 1 111 ililcr 422 was produced before April 1943 as there is no rainguard over the cupola bear witness The vehicle would have had spare t~IJIi I ll llll llUnication hatch It has seen some action as the scars on the commanders hooks on the turret sides

en

5

A PanzerbeobachtungswagenlVAusfJ knocked out by a few shots in the rear plate no gunners vision port amp wire mesh side skirts What appears to be the barrel of the on theAussteliungsstraBe in the Prater distri9t of Vienna in April 1945 Therotating middotcoaxiaJ MG34 ~ actually a dummy as space was needed for the extr(3 radio sets On StqrmgeschOz cupola is lying in the foreground having been blownfrornthe turret middot the rear plate just under the gun barrel is the armoiJredf110untfor a Sternantenne

roof The vehicle isa late production exaf1plewith extended sides as towing eyes ONB

6

11J( li ller Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausfj knocked out on themiddot Praterstern rotating cupola which is lying next to the idler and III Vienna Units in the area were 88-PzArtRgt2 of 288 Panze( Oivision 88- operators hatches A close look at the 1 11I Rgt3 of 388 Panzer Division and PZArtRgt76 middotof6 Panzer D ivision Like and a 8turmgeschOtz III AusfG The inset photo 1111 1vehicle on the previous page an internal explosion has relieved the turret of its Panther some time later

7 ~~______bull bull bullbullbull b~___

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

8

I

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

Jilpe 22shy

()f B

middot~iII

f ~

~~~~

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bbs

I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 5: Panzerwrecks-2

---- ----- --~---------

of AusfD and AusfA The hull on the left and the more tow coupling The hull on the left has a Bosch headlamp fitted to the right of the middot the background are both AusfD the one on the right glaCis piateindicating thatitw8s produced before June 1943

manifnlrf cooling pipes and holes for mounting the centred middot

4

Ihe I 1 111 ililcr 422 was produced before April 1943 as there is no rainguard over the cupola bear witness The vehicle would have had spare t~IJIi I ll llll llUnication hatch It has seen some action as the scars on the commanders hooks on the turret sides

en

5

A PanzerbeobachtungswagenlVAusfJ knocked out by a few shots in the rear plate no gunners vision port amp wire mesh side skirts What appears to be the barrel of the on theAussteliungsstraBe in the Prater distri9t of Vienna in April 1945 Therotating middotcoaxiaJ MG34 ~ actually a dummy as space was needed for the extr(3 radio sets On StqrmgeschOz cupola is lying in the foreground having been blownfrornthe turret middot the rear plate just under the gun barrel is the armoiJredf110untfor a Sternantenne

roof The vehicle isa late production exaf1plewith extended sides as towing eyes ONB

6

11J( li ller Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausfj knocked out on themiddot Praterstern rotating cupola which is lying next to the idler and III Vienna Units in the area were 88-PzArtRgt2 of 288 Panze( Oivision 88- operators hatches A close look at the 1 11I Rgt3 of 388 Panzer Division and PZArtRgt76 middotof6 Panzer D ivision Like and a 8turmgeschOtz III AusfG The inset photo 1111 1vehicle on the previous page an internal explosion has relieved the turret of its Panther some time later

7 ~~______bull bull bullbullbull b~___

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

8

I

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

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It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 6: Panzerwrecks-2

Ihe I 1 111 ililcr 422 was produced before April 1943 as there is no rainguard over the cupola bear witness The vehicle would have had spare t~IJIi I ll llll llUnication hatch It has seen some action as the scars on the commanders hooks on the turret sides

en

5

A PanzerbeobachtungswagenlVAusfJ knocked out by a few shots in the rear plate no gunners vision port amp wire mesh side skirts What appears to be the barrel of the on theAussteliungsstraBe in the Prater distri9t of Vienna in April 1945 Therotating middotcoaxiaJ MG34 ~ actually a dummy as space was needed for the extr(3 radio sets On StqrmgeschOz cupola is lying in the foreground having been blownfrornthe turret middot the rear plate just under the gun barrel is the armoiJredf110untfor a Sternantenne

roof The vehicle isa late production exaf1plewith extended sides as towing eyes ONB

6

11J( li ller Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausfj knocked out on themiddot Praterstern rotating cupola which is lying next to the idler and III Vienna Units in the area were 88-PzArtRgt2 of 288 Panze( Oivision 88- operators hatches A close look at the 1 11I Rgt3 of 388 Panzer Division and PZArtRgt76 middotof6 Panzer D ivision Like and a 8turmgeschOtz III AusfG The inset photo 1111 1vehicle on the previous page an internal explosion has relieved the turret of its Panther some time later

7 ~~______bull bull bullbullbull b~___

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

8

I

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

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It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

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4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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I

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E

Page 7: Panzerwrecks-2

A PanzerbeobachtungswagenlVAusfJ knocked out by a few shots in the rear plate no gunners vision port amp wire mesh side skirts What appears to be the barrel of the on theAussteliungsstraBe in the Prater distri9t of Vienna in April 1945 Therotating middotcoaxiaJ MG34 ~ actually a dummy as space was needed for the extr(3 radio sets On StqrmgeschOz cupola is lying in the foreground having been blownfrornthe turret middot the rear plate just under the gun barrel is the armoiJredf110untfor a Sternantenne

roof The vehicle isa late production exaf1plewith extended sides as towing eyes ONB

6

11J( li ller Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausfj knocked out on themiddot Praterstern rotating cupola which is lying next to the idler and III Vienna Units in the area were 88-PzArtRgt2 of 288 Panze( Oivision 88- operators hatches A close look at the 1 11I Rgt3 of 388 Panzer Division and PZArtRgt76 middotof6 Panzer D ivision Like and a 8turmgeschOtz III AusfG The inset photo 1111 1vehicle on the previous page an internal explosion has relieved the turret of its Panther some time later

7 ~~______bull bull bullbullbull b~___

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

8

I

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

Jilpe 22shy

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middot~iII

f ~

~~~~

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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E

Page 8: Panzerwrecks-2

11J( li ller Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausfj knocked out on themiddot Praterstern rotating cupola which is lying next to the idler and III Vienna Units in the area were 88-PzArtRgt2 of 288 Panze( Oivision 88- operators hatches A close look at the 1 11I Rgt3 of 388 Panzer Division and PZArtRgt76 middotof6 Panzer D ivision Like and a 8turmgeschOtz III AusfG The inset photo 1111 1vehicle on the previous page an internal explosion has relieved the turret of its Panther some time later

7 ~~______bull bull bullbullbull b~___

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

8

I

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

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111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

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It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

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AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 9: Panzerwrecks-2

A Sturmmorser minus one track photographed by an autobahn bridge near chassis which explains the Zimmerit on the hull and not the superstructure On Ebendorf Germany during April 1945 and probably belonging to StuMrsBttr1 002 the back of the fighting compartment is the crane for loading the 330kg projectiles This behemoth was recovered by US forces for evaluation and now resides at through a hatch in the roof the Panzermuseum in Munster Sturmmorser were built on reconditioned Tiger I JScott

8

I

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 10: Panzerwrecks-2

11 11 IlIlIlour of 150mm on the front and 80mm on the sides the vehicle was well welded to the end of the barrel to allow for easier aiming In addition to the 38cm Ilit til II 11 leI When the weapon was fired the exhaust gases from the projectile were RW61 the Sturmm6rser was also equipped with a ball mounted MG34 and pistol 1111 t 111 1 ( ) It through the small openings around the barrel so reducing the recoil in an ports on both sides of the fighting compartment Iii 111 1( Iy cramped fighting compartment This vehicle has a circular counterweight JScott

9

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 11: Panzerwrecks-2

10

Correspondence with Sgt Robert Douglas of HQ Co IampR Platoon 134th Regiment 35th Infantry Division (US)

We set up quarters in Randerath without major incident but that night some idiot GI drove into this little town with his cat eyes on which lead to a barrage from the Germans of just under 300 rounds of artillery in a twenty minute period (so who was counting I was) in addition there were three or four huge explosions from the Sturmtiger which felt like five hundred pound bombs I do not know how heavy a shell (missile) it fired but it was substantial when it hit Fortunately no one was seriously injured in this barrage but it certainly got our attention

The Sturmtiger was in the mouth of a coal mine across the river and would roll out to fire and back for safety There were numerous metal towers in the general area of the mine so skip bombing was out of the question

Being in Recon I went out the next day with binoculars and got to the riverbank to watch for this monster Within the hour he rolled out to fire and I could see roughly ten inches of the projectile nose extending beyond the muzzle When he fired I was amazed at the relatively small recoil considering the size of the projectile

Obviously the only course of action was crossing the flooded river and over running their site which we did with in the next three days During that action I got no better look at the Sturmtiger than I had gotten with the binoculars unfortunately for your purposes

JScott

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

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ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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Page 12: Panzerwrecks-2

Mi 11lpri11945 vintage MAN 111 111 1 I I IJlllc r AusfG abandoned in I IVII I I I ( ermany at the end of the

II II II IS a two-tone camouflage I 11111111 of RAL 6003 Dunkelgrun 110 1 1111 8017 Rotbraun and is

1111 11 I lillt last 25 Panthers that I I I Iscmbled with a steel tyred

1III II Iwl lld on the last station The 1lIll lI ll ll IClers cupola lacks the ring I 11 lI lli aircraft machine gun in II 11111 11simple post was welded Ii I 11 111 II II )of a periscope guard th is 111111 11 111 il ion was introduced during 1 ~ 1I 1 1 II I )45 It also has not had a Jl III 1 ll l ing rod fitted to the hull

il II IIIIS tank most likely belonged 111 11 11 iJ1gt21

2x 0LeonsenlDParkerl DCampbeIIlCLeeman

II~-shy

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

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It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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any

US

Arm

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5 D

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1944

T

he v

ehic

le p

roba

bly

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her

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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I

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E

Page 13: Panzerwrecks-2

ISS-PzRgt10 lost this Panther AusfG while attached to Kampfgrup Knaust beside the cemetery on the outskirts of Elst Netherlands on 23 September 1944 It was one of five Panthers ambushed by men of Company 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls using PlAT anti tank projecto and anti tank mines Some wag has daubed Heil Hitler on the rear plate This tank is notable for having both Zimmerit and a raised fan tower on t engine deck 1x DTrowbridge 1x JStubbs

14

Jilpe 22shy

()f B

middot~iII

f ~

~~~~

lars lilte the

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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Page 14: Panzerwrecks-2

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I II J( lby-trapped Panther AusfG knocked out near a bridge in Germany during I I)middotI) The German language sign reads Attention Bridge closed for vehicles

I Ii III kinds cyclists dismount The photograph belonged to a veteran of 74th I I Ii I Regiment Royal Artillery attached to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

The distinctive style of spare track hangers on the turret sides and placement of the hand painted tactical number indicates that it belonged to IIPzRgt16 of 116 Panzer Division

JStubbs

15

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 15: Panzerwrecks-2

Gis play ball at an ordnance collection point in Europe against a backdrop of German vehicles The PzSpWg1I AusfL in the lower photo was captured 11PzAufkIAbt9 this vehicle was eventually shipped to the USA for evaluati The Jagdpanzer 38 has shipping instructions stencilled onto the glacis plate a an unusual small steel plate fixed to the upper left side - the commanders side

is gt c 1 purpose unknown 2x J

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

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It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 16: Panzerwrecks-2

A II crviceman poses with a PzKpfwIV AusfJ in Italy The turret I 11 11 1119 one side of the distinctive skirts which made more than 11 111 1 lIied tanker mistake it for a Tiger The unit location and date

LArcher

17

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

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It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 17: Panzerwrecks-2

A GI looks over an abandoned PzKpfwIV AusfH from an unidentified unit at an country and combat Judging by the large hole in the exhaust muffler it was unidentified location The vehicle has a full set of side skirts with their striped a quiet ride A small ammunition box is fitted to the rear plate just under camouflage pattern which is uncommon as the panels were often lost in close Balkenkreuz What is in it LKinn

18

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 18: Panzerwrecks-2

I III t II of Vacqueville France survey this burnt out PzKpfwIV AusfJ from 1 in towns was and still is very hazardous for tankers who had to button up vision IS no

I III gt2 2 1 Panzer Division on 17 November 1944 The armour on the drivers was extremely restricted especially if Schurzen were fitted (r th

Itt IliI I II lie has a scar next to the visor and much of the Zimmerit is missing Fighting US Army nea

19

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

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Page 19: Panzerwrecks-2

A shot has hit the idler wheel and broken the track of this SturmgeschLitz III Ausf Brigade 113 both of whom saw action North East of Luneville in September 1 G photographed near Luneville France on 29 September 1944 It belonged to US either StuGeschAbt2111 of Panzer Brigade 111 or StuGeschAbt2113 of Panzer

20

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 20: Panzerwrecks-2

it

1 I 111 ic example of a late production Sturmhaubitze 42 snapped by a US soldier 11 11 11 111 8 Rundumfeuer MG mount fitted to the roof coaxial MG no muzzle brake

1111 1 I1 I1 Zimmerit The vehicle would have resembled a moving bush with the

evergreen branches as camouflage under which a chassis number can be seen Unfortunately the date and location of the photograph are unknown

LArcher

21

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 21: Panzerwrecks-2

A most unusual SturmgeschOtz III AusfG that belonged to 10 PZGrenDivision spaced armour This SturmgeschOtz has side opening loaders hatches so wo photographed after the divisions capitulation in Havlickuv Brod Moravia around have left the factory with the fittings for a Rundumfeuer mounting although it 10 May 1945 The side skirts are a field modification and give the vehicle the look doubtful if the Rundumfeuer mount itself was actually fitted of a Jagdpanzer IV The loaders MG shield has no less than three elements to its

22

=

111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 22: Panzerwrecks-2

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111111 ill It the other side of the vehicle it is clear to see that it has thrown a track sprocket has been shot away The lucky horseshoe on the headlamp mounting II I 11 11 I the tactical number 123 or 133 and shows signs of some war wounds A does not appear to have brought much luck this time The Stahlhelm on the muzzle III III ( ltl rmour has been taken out of the flange at the side of the Topfblende the brake is a nice addition III 1I 1I Iiont plate is missing all but one of its distinctive bolts and part of the drive VHA

23

gtftrms rScv-r=n ~~ In ---

It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 23: Panzerwrecks-2

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It

A Sturmgeschutz IV has been shoved off of the road near Aachen in this u photo The vehicle has been given a quick coat of whitewash missing some the side areas To go with the white paint job the crew have fitted snow cI to the tracks one of these can be seen on the track under the drive sprocket mysterious steel plate with a Totenkopf and the word Trotzdem (although) is front of the drivers position All of the access hatches and the superstructure are missing indicating an internal explosion

w

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 24: Panzerwrecks-2

iI lr of the SturmgeschOtz showing the Flamment6ter (flame suppressing) III 11 11 11 Is The rail around the back of the engine deck allowed its use as a stowage

l ill i lilis example being fitted with chicken wire as well Likely candidates for 11 1 Ire StuGeschKp1 012 of 12 Volksgrenadier Division or PzJgAbt353 of Ii 1I llterie Division

WAuerbach

~

Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

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Page 25: Panzerwrecks-2

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Seven SdKfz251s loaded with the wounded of Kampfgruppe Diefenthal are escorted from Aachen and into captivity by a US light tank - at the back of the column The halftracks were the lucky ones of SS-PzGren Rgt1

that escaped Normandy Note the LSSAH unit in and Wehrmacht licence plate on the second vehicle the unit insignia on the inset photo

26

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

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4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

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Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

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- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 26: Panzerwrecks-2

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of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 27: Panzerwrecks-2

of photos were shot in May 1945 by a Siovenian photographer handles tie downs and a rack for a fuel can Behind the Kettenkrad is a SdrlI L a

at Sentvid Medvode near Ljubljana The weary looking This too has been field modified with two MG mounts replacing the open to of interesting minor field modifications such as grab turret wJlich[ookto have peen taken from a SdKfz251

28

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

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a 2 co en

E

Page 28: Panzerwrecks-2

1( I II lIn the other end of the train we can see a Sd Kf~ 10 SdKfz25117 shows the remainderofthe trainwith two SdKfz9andanllnklllnu I I r il l I OrL A two SdKfz251 SPWs and two SdKfz251122 The inset photo middot made looking armoured car

29

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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I

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E

Page 29: Panzerwrecks-2

to take a close up photograph of towing hooks Carefulinspe9fion of the engine deck shows three handles fitted example as it shows a vehicle that the engine access do6rsmiddotanoradiator access

)Factory produced SdKfz2S122 had noteworthy are the replacement

30

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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E

Page 30: Panzerwrecks-2

All I d the vehicles found on the train were unloaded here is the SdKfz251 22 from were going to or had been onAratAti 1111 1previous page with another in the background Note the small red star painted is the front end of an ADGZ II I il l ) Ihe hull side perhaps an indication that the vehicles photographed on the train

31

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

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Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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Page 31: Panzerwrecks-2

shy

4l1other train another collection of vehicles These belonged to PZAbt202 The 738(i) the two tower like structures behind belonging to a pair of PzKpfw11 hul iidhie is a StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) which interestingly has an external fuel fitteq with wood gas 90nverters

above the rear of the engine deck Further down are two PZKpfw M42

- ~

32 ~----

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

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Page 32: Panzerwrecks-2

IIIIlller StuG M41 mit 7518 850(i) with what looks like astowage bin on the middot had fought against Romanian crewed T34s and I UII cleek instead of a fuel tank PZAbt202 received nine or ten Italian armoured of the lack of armour on the their Italian built AFVs Iil lltes when SS StuG Batterie Skanderberg was disbanded in 1945 among them tracks attached to the vehicle pay testament to this

WIll ) two vehicles of this type one combat ready and the other in repair PZAbt202

33

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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I

IX)

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It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 33: Panzerwrecks-2

middot ~

tt)e PZKpfw1I training vehicles The M42 from batlalionsworkshops fitted a large stowage bin to the turret rear and behind draped over the hull and turret although the engine deck

I(il i belongings is a problem in all tanks so the

34

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 34: Panzerwrecks-2

bull bull

AI I( II Iler tank of 3 Kompanie this one Without the stowage bin at the rear Note also middot This is most likely the i(Jsignia of PzAbt202 111111 Ihe bin is fixed in a different way to the examplelton the previous page Just 711nfanterie Division although the design was 1111111( on the turret bin either side of the tactical number aretwocldver insignia middot with this type of tank using Italian built assault

35

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 35: Panzerwrecks-2

314 shows the unusual style of Balkenkreuz applied to theforces or maybe the stars were painted on while the tanks were entrained tWbull GVlt and the neat outlined tactical number With little informafion wooden wedge on the turret Side is a chock for securing the tank while in transit

of this unit tt is impossible to say when and who painted the the railway flatcar many of these vehicles Perhaps they were used by Yugoslav

36

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 36: Panzerwrecks-2

1111 vehicle is so thoroughly covered in extra track linksthat they cover the driver s Armour was a maximum of 4Smm on the hull front and 25mm on th~ ViI( gtI it also has them on the bow The main armament of the M42 wasaA7inm sides even the Soviet 14Smm anti tank rifles were able to n n trofo

I ltI II gun and three 8mm Breda 38 machine guns two of these tnountedinthe hUll the large amount of extra tracks as insurance

37

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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Page 37: Panzerwrecks-2

vehicle in the foreground has a gutter deliveries of M42s beg~n in March 1944 but it was not until September that all ~ckground a Jagdpanzer 38 shows its track the French tan~shadbeen handed over to other units I(iJipPad with French S35 and H35 tanks until

38

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 38: Panzerwrecks-2

With the photographer on the roof of another train we can ge(a better view of the The first and third vehicles are notewortlWi Ill lloured vehicles on their flatcars and some of the guns on the adjoining train drivers roof periscope to keep out

NZS

11 101

39

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 39: Panzerwrecks-2

photograph taken from the top of a tank we can get a better of view of the of track links across the nose On the hull roof behind the MG mount is the scar ill the previous picture In addition to the roof mounted periscope cover the original Italian aerial mqunHng for some reason PZAbt202 replaced it with

a Notek blackout lamp and brush guard fitted to the front and a large swathe mounted on the hull sideas seen here

middot 40

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

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- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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E

Page 40: Panzerwrecks-2

1111 ) vehicles have now been unloaded at or near the station note the large chimney gun thicker hull armour and more powerful engine The 111 1118 background as seen in the previous photos PzAbt202used both the M42 of M42s both with the new aerial mount 1111 1 the older M40 tanks during its service iri Yugoslavia The M42 had a longermiddot

4 1

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 41: Panzerwrecks-2

$howing more M42s and in the background its spare tracks fitted backwards~ ~r~qucer The tank in the foreground has some of

42

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 42: Panzerwrecks-2

Wllil their guns defiantly elevated these three look as if they are on parade The vehicle on the right is painted in the Italian amoeba (Ii l l ils of the new aerial mounting can be seen on the tal]k nthe foreground The middot brown and green edged with sand yellow

43 lt

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

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a 2 co en

E

Page 43: Panzerwrecks-2

rather unwieldy training tank on the hull of a PzKpfw a trainload of vehiCles from PZAbt202 is a mystery The M42 on the right of to made by Imbert of Cologne This was powered by phbto has extra tracks fitted to the front of the turret

those in the front line Quite what it was doing with

44

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 44: Panzerwrecks-2

II I C we get a better view of the Pz1I with Irnbert Holzvergasser the plate behind were cleaned of dust and ash and cooled before IIIlt middot blackout lamp on the rear of the vehicle reads fahrschule (driving school) The - 25 kilograms of wood was roughly equal to 1 litre I III cylinder is the gas generator wood or charcoal was burntiri here T~e gasses

45

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 45: Panzerwrecks-2

modifications fitted to it turret stowage bin spare track as H35tanks In the background is the SdKfz25122 seen on pages 30 and 31 on 11 on the hull side and an external fuel tank mounted ieft the nose of aSdKfz250nA Behind the heavy tractor on the right of the pictUi

These fuel tanks were previously fitted to the French isth9 back end of another SdKfz251 MNZ

46 ~~- - shy

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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E

Page 46: Panzerwrecks-2

middot

I Abt202 reported 10 Jagdpanzer 38 onl April 1945 with 8 operational This fender a missing side skirt and a broken aerial mount nflrVAf1

I lxample is from the AugustSeptember production batch when thefactoriEls started condition In fact a close look at the roadwheels shbws II Jp lying the camouflage paint Like most of the other vehiCles the BalkenkreLiz on sticking out of the rear wall is the starting crank

I II(~ rear plate has a red star painted over it With the exception of a slightly bent

47

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 47: Panzerwrecks-2

Looking down the barrel of a Panther would not normally be recommended but side this unit was one of four in the US First Army responsible for the collection III this one has been tamed The photographer has noted that the tank is a Mark III abandoned Allied vehicles and specific examples of enemy vehicles for evaluatioll which in itself is interesting as most Gis would have thought this was a Tiger tank The tool clamps have been blown off the hull side and the drivers compartmelll The markings of 463rd Ordnance Evacuation Company have been painted onto the access panel flipped WAuerbach

48

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

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- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 48: Panzerwrecks-2

A wider view shows a tactical number of 058 The Panther belonged to the Ardennes Offensive In the background are the shat1ered remains of a truck Note Al ilklarungszug 8tabskompanie of 88-Pz Rgt12 1288 Panzer Division and the Dunkelgelb muzzle brake The square object lying in front of the Panther is one w I knocked out in the Bullingen-Rocherath-Krinkelt sector of Belgium during the of the two air filters another is on what remains of the engine deck WAuerbach

49

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

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E

Page 49: Panzerwrecks-2

middot

Germany February 1947 and knocked out Pa~zers are waiti~g to be disposed These two belonged to 3 Paniergren~d ier Oivision theSturmgeschutz III Ausl from 1IPzAbt t03 the Jagdpanzer IV from 1Pz~Jg Abt3 They were knocked in Inden-Frenzen area of Germany on 28 November 1944 The Jagdpanzer IV has a shield fitted to the drivers visor US

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

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Page 50: Panzerwrecks-2

llIong a sea of olive drab Sherman hulks is this Jagdpanzer IV photographed it a German or Allied modification The walkway obstructs the operation of the I ii a 78th Ordnance Battalion collection point in Verdun France 13 December Nahverteidigungswaffe and the loaders hatch The drivers visor looks to be to be I )44 The structure on the roof is presumably some kind of footbridge but is missing US Army

51

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 51: Panzerwrecks-2

Being photographed in Czechoslovakia during 1945 and with a tactical number of Unusually for a Panzer IV70(V) it has a rail around the engine deck much like 422 this Panzer IV70(V) is probably from 41PzAbt7 10 pzGrenDivision This SturmgeschOtz III AusfG There is a single steel wheel at the front of the vehiclll is a late production vehicle with curved hoods on the Flammentoter exhausts instead of the more usual two VHA

52

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 52: Panzerwrecks-2

1ll lkers of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade knocked out this Panzer of the engine deck The lack of markings other than the Balkenkreuz is notable A IV70(V) belonging to IIPzRgt39 17 Panzer Division in Chuchelna Moravia during total of 28 Panzer IV 170(V) were shipped to IIPz Rgt39 on 8 February 1945 Mlrch 1945 The fighting compartment roof has been dislodged along with much VHA

53

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 53: Panzerwrecks-2

Two Wirbelwinds and two Jagdpanthers of sPzJgAbt654 (Kampfgruppe Blasius on a PzKpfwIV AusfG chassis is interesting as it has bars welded inside the lill

and Luders) were knocked out by Allied artillery on the night of 2122 November intakes and two extra grab handles welded to the turret side one having been IO i1 1944 in Lepuix-Oelle France Several hours later French forces attacked capturing 2x LArch the town leaving some of their vehicles as casualties also The Wirbelwind based

54

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 54: Panzerwrecks-2

Mt)belwagen tactical number 011 has been given an interesting hand painted the Flamment6ter exhaust are two unusual protrusions but what are they for ( Ilnouflage pattern The vehicle is missing the two hinged stays on the sides WAuerbach III c0ssary for keeping the sides flat when they were folded down Just above

55

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 55: Panzerwrecks-2

A Flakpanzer 38(t) from either SS-PzRgt2 or PzLehr-Rgt130 has been blown shield to the gun the vehicle is in generally good condition The cage assembly I

or more likely pushed over in the St Lo area This shot gives an unusual view into for catching spent shell casings the fighting compartment and the 2cm FlaK38 With the exception of a damaged

56

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 56: Panzerwrecks-2

raphed after the war at Znojmo railway station Czechoslovakia Panzer Division The tank intM right of the foreground is a Hungarian Turan 11 01 a collection point for damaged vehicles Among the wrecks are the 1st Cavafry DivisionaJthough not visible in this shot it carried the registratioll

I~i~nth - minus its outer roadwheels a Befehlspanther AusfG with number 2H034 and 102 of FHH2 and a Panther AusfG from PzRgt9 25 MLudvikamp PNejedly via MSol

58

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 57: Panzerwrecks-2

1 different view shows a Panther AusfA cladwith extra tracks and weaponless consisting of two tow bars a large wooden~

M()belwagen bearing the tactical number 1121 Panther 123 In tile background brackets for all these items can be seen on r bullbull IITies the divisional shieJdon the turret side and Befehlspanther ~9is missing I t lurret roof The Bergepanther dates from May 1944 trie recovery equipment middot

59

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 58: Panzerwrecks-2

having moved to the right we get a view of the front of a late middot G of PzRgt9 25 Panzer Division bearing the tactical number 103 and divisiolilli with extended hull sides to form towing eyes and no shield the wrecked hull of a T-34 is another Panther Ausf MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolfll

60

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 59: Panzerwrecks-2

I his photograph was taken from the station There are some interesting surprises equipment of an FG-1250 infra-red set Many of these AhiIio

II I here such as the T-3485 with Balkenkreuz and StLirmpanzer IV Close inspection been sabotaged by their crews which might AvnlJlin

I Ii rear plate of Panther 123 shows the mounts for an armoured bin for the electrical roofs

61

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 60: Panzerwrecks-2

1

~armoure(j vehicles awaiting their disposal of PZ Rgt9 25 Panzer DiviSion -Illiho received 4 Jagdpanthers at the end of Mallll has cowl$ fitted to the Flammenvernichter 1945 Other Wrecks include SU~100 tiger II PzIVI70(A) and more Panthers

right of the SdKfz251 17 is a Jagdpanther MLudvik amp PNejedly via MSolnr

62

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 61: Panzerwrecks-2

lame wrecks different vantage point looking over a disembowelled Panther AusfG appears to be a regular Tiger II is in fact one of the 20 Panzerbefehlswaaerl~j III addition to the vehicles mentioned on the previous pagewe have a Bergepanther command vehicles as it has an extra aerial base mounted onan III Panther hull several RSOI01 s a SdKfz251 a Jagdpanzer IV with gun at full on the engine deck II~coil SturmgeschLitz III AusfG and even a SdKfz251 122 right at the back What

63

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 62: Panzerwrecks-2

These two piles of scrap were once Luftwaffe operated SdKfz 71 Both were of which were probably put to good use by the local populace It has a very failll photographed near Orly air base by a US soldier The vehicle in the main photo has number 439 on the rear box The example in the inset photo was presumably tak(JI1 had its outer roadwheels removed along with the rubber pads from the tracks both on the same stretch of road as the background is very similar 2x LArchol

64

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 63: Panzerwrecks-2

The Polish Carpathian Lancers were responsible for the demise of these Sd Kfz 72 from the odd sniper Troops of the Polish 2nd Corps entered from the East the 34th Ilear Bologna Italy on 2021 April 1945 Bologna fell on the morning of the 21 st the and 91 st US Infantry Divisions and the Legano Combat Group entering from the fifth and Eighth Armies entering the city simultaneously with little opposition apart South 1x MNP 1x JPlowman

65

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 64: Panzerwrecks-2

A sorry looking 8cm Vielfach-Werfer auf 8dKfz4 These vehicles were converted by the Waffen SS at Brunn Czechoslovakia from munitions vehicles They were used by S8 Vielfachwerfer Batteries 251 and 522 on the Eastern Front This immobile example has what looks to be a hand painted camouflage pattern TTM

66

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 65: Panzerwrecks-2

f 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 knocked out by troops of the 7th Armoured Division 27 is the battery letter B D or E The object in the front stowage bin is the roadwheel March 1945 In ali six such vehicles were knocked out in the drive for this area It jack The rear stowage bin has been lost and replaced by a fine spattering of mud 113S been left the Dunkelgelb base coat the only attempt at camouflage being a few from the tracks (~vergreen branches Hidden under the clothing hanging over the side of the vehicle US Army

67

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 66: Panzerwrecks-2

----------------- - ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two SdKfzA Munitionskraftwagen photographed in Italy The rear view shows a vehicle of 5 Wert(lI Brigade lost near Pontecorvo on 24 May 1944 note the large battery letter and unit insignia A U~

soldier snapped the vehicle in the main photo sometime in 1945 The aerial is fitted to the hull sido not on the engine deck as usual 1x PAC 1x LArcher

68

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 67: Panzerwrecks-2

9 May 1945 Bavarian Alps A GI investigates a crated 15cm NebelwerfershyZehnling 42 He has his hand on the (~ I evation hand wheel the other is for Iraverse Just visible inside the turret is the Irmoured glass mounted behind a slit cut in Ihe armour When mounted as a SdKfzA1 Ihe gunner would sit on a seat bolted to the ttnderside of the turret In the background IS a 155cm sFH 414(f) US Army

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 68: Panzerwrecks-2

A 2832cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE (f) abandoned on a what remains of the aiming vane The high explosive 28cm Srenggranaten and roadside near the River Seine makes for a good photograph 60 years on The tiny incendiary 32cm Flammgranaten were mounted in wooden crates on the frame HI size of the UE is quite apparent compared to the GI sitting on it whose leg is over the rear of the vehicle JCatef

70

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 69: Panzerwrecks-2

A 7Scm PaK401 auf Sfl Lorraine-Schlepper photographed by Carl F Mc Daniel and tactical number as a result of a transfer to a different unit probably 1PzJg of 279th Station Hospital at Camp Top Hat near Antwerp in April 1946 It has seen Abt 719 of 719 Infanterie Division The assembly sticking out of the back is what better days having a large hole in either side of the fighting compartment no remains of a step to assist the crews entrance and exit engine and a truncated gun barrel The vehicle has received a new Balkenkreuz CMe Daniel

71

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 70: Panzerwrecks-2

This Marder was photographed after capture by Russian forces in or near the who reported a total of 7 Marder lion 15 March 1945 The middle ammunition bill Hungarian village of Dravaszabolcs near the river Drava during the 2nd half of is raised possibly indicating engine problems March 1945 It had been used by 2(Sf)PzJgAbt 297 of 297 Infanterie Division MPAEJ

72

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 71: Panzerwrecks-2

I_ooking at the front of the Panzerjager we can see the damaged barrel support and large quantity of spare tracklinks on the nose and fender The crew have added I horseshoe for luck to the front of the gunshield they would have needed it too

as there were only two 4mm plates to keep the enemy at bay A close look at the drivers front plate reveals that the vehicle has KFF2 periscopes - visible just above the drivers visor 2x MPAB

73

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 72: Panzerwrecks-2

Dead insect the wrecked carcass of a Wespe from PzArt Rgt146 116 Panzer casings around The only markings visible are the loading stencil and the faint tOI Division is inspected by a GI on 16 August 1944 near Mortree France It was edge of what is probably the p attery letter on the side of the fighting compartmelll probably firing when it was knocked out as there are a number of spent shell ~ US Army

~ r ~

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 73: Panzerwrecks-2

t-~

middot--~~~T~middot shyltmiddotfmiddotiI~gt ~~ ~

A GI of 85th Division holds a white cloth as he and his buddy (in the drivers seat) bring a snappily entitled 75cm Pak 403 auf Sfl38 (AusfM) near Castellonorato

75

Iy 16 May 1944 The vehicle is in good condition and is painted in plain unkelgelb The caption states that it was captured with a nine man crew

- US Army

- shy ~ ~

-~~ ~

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 74: Panzerwrecks-2

Robert Rowland of MP Platoon 386th Infantry Regiment 97th Infantry Division front lines pzErs u AusbAbt35 was attached to Panzerkampfgruppe von Hobl)o photographed these two battered old Panther AusfD from pzErs u AusbAbt35 and von Massenbach and used in the defence of Bamberg Germany during ApI II Most training units used older vehicles enabling the new tanks to be sent to the 1945 RRowland

76

II

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

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~

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a 2 co en

E

Page 75: Panzerwrecks-2

MP Tech 5 Nicholas Wolowiecki snapped the same Panther a little later on when attached Other than Balkenkreuz on the hull sides and rear the tank carries no the US Army was preparing to move the wreck One of the missing roadwheels other markings such as unit insignia or tactical numbers can be seen to the left of the picture apparently with part of its torsion bar still P Wolowiecki

77

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 76: Panzerwrecks-2

Further up the road lies another Panther again an AusfD version outside the Balkenkreuz have been painted on the rear plate between the exhausts and on thj l Volkspark restaurant Looking at the furrow it has dug it could be that the tank was turret side the hole in the turret side being for the pistol port whose plug and chaill moving when it lost the left track the roadwheels digging deeper into the ground are missing PWolowieckl

78

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 77: Panzerwrecks-2

An excellent detail shot of the Panther clearly showing the texture of the Zimmerit likely that this AusfD had it fitted because of the manufacturers last in first out use The mantlet has one of the gunsight openings plugged for use with the TZF12a of components monocular sight This sight was more commonly used on the Panther AusfA It is PWolowiecki

79

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 78: Panzerwrecks-2

Frank Hartman poses with a sorry looking RSO01 at LEscaille France during by KHD Unfortunately the unit emblem on the front has been obliterated by ru1 i I

SeptemberOctober 1945 The enlarged unladen weight (Ieergewicht) under the Note the graffiti scratched into the paintwork of the door data box and the roof rack for 4 snow cleats are both features of vehicles produced FHartmall

80

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

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a 2 co en

E

Page 79: Panzerwrecks-2

Three more of Frank Hartmans photos this time taken in Bazancourt France III AusfE hull used for driver training The abbreviated writing on the nose reads during OctoberNovember 1945 The main photos show a PzKpfw111 AusfG used Schulwagen mit Kampfwagen Wanne It carries a chassis number of 60431 for training the Dunkelgrau paintwork being notable as are the two Balkenkreuz 3x EHartman on the hull side The inset photo shows Frank at the same location with a PzKpfw

81

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 80: Panzerwrecks-2

the hull of a PzKpfw1 AusfB fitted with a 75cm looks too high to use themiddot normal mount found in a SturmgeschOtz an overlappin I middot_hOtz III near a Berlin Flaktower One can only imagine two part gun shiehl has been fabricated and the seat for the loader overhangs tho

when the gun fired A lot of effort has gone into th is side of the vehicle But where was the ammunition stored On the engine deck lik(l ~tesumably mounted on cross beams inside the hull as it a MarderH middot KMunch

82

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 81: Panzerwrecks-2

German women do their washing at a cold water hydrant in a Berlin street hext an SS registration number making the most lo a knocked out SdKfz223 AusfB on 3 June 1945 A unit inSignia is just visible PZAufkIAbt11 of 11SS-FreiwPzGrenn

behind the broken aerial mount as is part of a tactical number The vehiclecarries

83 i_i___ i

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 82: Panzerwrecks-2

abandoned Panther AusfG in the area of Wilhelmplatz Muncheberg Useful items such as the tools and the outer set of roadwheels have ilm~rtI_PIsIIt7 The tank belonged to IPzRgt29 Panzer Division been spirited awayaridprobaoly put to good use OHM

84

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 83: Panzerwrecks-2

Curious Russian soldiers climb over another Panther AusfG from lP~Rgt29

Panzer Division MOncheberg in a suburb of Berlin in Tate April 1945 It is unusual to see a Panther stili fitted with the AbsatzkrOmmer (curved hoods) on the

85

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

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E

Page 84: Panzerwrecks-2

the last ligers of 3lPzRgt29 Panzer Division not visible in this photo the tank carried the tactical number 323 the Brandenburg Gate on 1 May 1945 Although Ulistein Bild Berlin - Nowosti

86

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

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m

a 2 co en

E

Page 85: Panzerwrecks-2

--

June 1945 Another Tiger from 3PzRgt29 with a disemboweled Sd

Kfz2344

the river Spree according to the original ~ption probably from PzAufkIKp Muncheberg This unit had 4SdKfz2344 and A UII$teih~l SdKfz 2341 The location is the Tiergarten at the barricaded LessingbrOcke over

87

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

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m

a 2 co en

E

Page 86: Panzerwrecks-2

facing east Among the rubble amp twisted steel is a wreckecj B IV b pzVernichtungs-Brjgade1 in the defence of Berlin According to Mr Mc Daniels RaketenpanzerbOsche 54 A total of 56 vehicles were converted from notes the tower cif Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is visible in the background At

Jflgstrager left behind at Grafenw5hr training grounds by the workshops the foot of the tower on the right are the remains of Berlin Castle To the right the u AusbAbtS in Neuruppin in February 1945 These were used QY former Imperial Russian Embassy CMe Daniel

88 middot

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

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m

a 2 co en

E

Page 87: Panzerwrecks-2

On a Berl in street young Gunther Kepplin middot sits on the fender 9f aSdKfz1 11 a hand painted camoUflage pattern carries an armoured tactical Gepanzerter Munition-Schlepper converted from a Borgward B IVa These vehicles humber 17 on the rear plate were converted from redundantSprengladungstrager iri1944 This example sports

8S middot

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 88: Panzerwrecks-2

IrmgeschOtz III AusfG with unusual side skirts on a Berlin $tr~et The belonged to either 20PzGrenDivision or SS-StuGAbt11 of 11SS-Freiw middot

Nordland A shot has hit the nose leaving a scar blowing off a towing lug and ll1EigtsDaretrack bracket on the front ECPA

90

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

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m

a 2 co en

E

Page 89: Panzerwrecks-2

- ------

- ~i ~~

Harrington Catherine Lacey Gordon Harker and Sgt GWLaws look at a dug in PzKpfwIV in the once middot fashionable Kurfurstendamm on 8 September 1945 The tank belonged to pzKP (bo) Berlin IWM

Right This example is shown being exhumed in Treptow Park after tile war PzKp (bo) Berlin operated 12 dug in PzKpfwIV each manned by a crew of three Note the complete absence of automotiveequipmentsuch as engine and wheels The chap sitting on the gunis cutting off the barrel with an oxyacetylene torch DHM

91

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

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m

a 2 co en

E

Page 90: Panzerwrecks-2

norated 10 dug in Panthers This one has been expertly Barely visible at the back of the turret roof is the opening left by the removal of the squares along the Potsdamer Strasse The tank looks Nahverteldigungswaffe or close defence weapon With a retro fitted debris guard above the gun mantlet JScott

92

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

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m

a 2 co en

E

Page 91: Panzerwrecks-2

Pfc John Shoemaker of Hattiesburg Miss chats with 2 boys playing in the turret emplaced tank with a field of fire down the road The hatches on 27 July 1945 It has an old wound in the shape of ao armourpatch on the side open into the empty engine compartment and is missing the cupola hatch The turret is pointing roughly at the front of the

93

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

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Page 92: Panzerwrecks-2

dead body of an 55 trooper of 115S-FreiwpzGren to the right mudglJard Behind the SS trooper isa large Kurbelmast or winch mast 11 ChausseestraBe The SdKfz2S1 looks to be a mittlere Tothe right of the photo the bare bones of an Opel Blitz truck

I or SdKfz2S111 as it has a cable drum mounting fitted AKG Images London

94

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

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Page 93: Panzerwrecks-2

A Sd Kfz251 fitted as an engineer vehicle from 1lSSFreiwPzGrenDivision other vehicles it was to end its days trying to breakout from the Nordland knocked out with a shot through the drivers plate outside the entrance Berlin under the command of SS-BrigadefOhrer Dr Gustav to the Franzosische StraBe underground station on Friedrich StraBe Like many of May 12

95

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

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IX)

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m

a 2 co en

E

Page 94: Panzerwrecks-2

A dishevelled looking SdKfz251 121 at the end of the war The fighting compartment has been blown awayfrom the drivers compartment It is interesting to note that the armoured shield of the MG151 is painted in plain Durikelg~lb whereas the halftrack has a camouflage pattern The SPW could have belonged to one of the

following Panzer Division Muncheberg 18~ PzGrenDivision or aSPW-Kp zb V Genlnsp attached to I IIPzRgL2The three picturesonthenext page show tho wreck in use as a plaything for the children of Berlln

1x GPetersen via GBradford 3x US Army _

96

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

It)

m

a 2 co en

E

Page 95: Panzerwrecks-2

=shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~=~~- WhileinBerlin6~rlFMdDani~snapped ~isSdK~251 onanunnamed~re~ With the front wheels and outer roadwheels removed it will not be travelling far

eMe Daniel

0 I

~

I

IX)

~

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m

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Page 96: Panzerwrecks-2

0 I

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