A Knocked-Out Panzer III Awaits Recovery

This pair of knocked-out Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.Es await recovery by workshop units. They appear to be the victims of either mines or large caliber artillery, as the photo indicates that a massive external explosion has ripped much of the suspension from them. They are identified as Ausf-Es by the split hatches on the turret sides. The only visible marking is a white-outlined Balkenkreuz national insignia on the panzer at right.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto

Panzer III Parked in a French Town

This worn-appearing Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.E is parked on a street in a French town during the campaign of 1940; note the sign on the tree behind the panzer. Barely visible on the superstructure side, just forward of the white-outlined Balkenkreuz, is the "XX" insignia of the 9. Panzer-Division, which took part in this campaign as part of Heeresgruppe B (Army Group B). The tracks are the narrower 38cm type, with smooth faces on the links. Note the large flag attached to the rod antenna, as well as the smaller one on the bow, next to the fender.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto

A Damaged Panzer III Somewhere in France

A damaged Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.E awaits a recovery unit on a road somewhere in France during the 1940 Campaign, while a German mechanized column advances. The condition of the suspension (broken track and missing front road-wheel) indicates that the panzer may have struck a mine. Note the group of French prisoners walking towards the panzer. The only visible marking is a dust-covered white-outline Balkenkreuz national insignia on the rear plate of the superstructure. The visible crew members wear a combination of M1934 black panzer uniform items and M1933 reed-green denim fatigue items.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto

Group Photo of Aufklärungs-Abteilung (mot.) 6

A unit photo of one of the troops of Aufklärungs-Abteilung (motorisiert) 6. Depending on the date when the image was taken, the battalion could have been l.Kompanie / Aufklärungs-Regiment 6 / 1.leichte Division.

Source :
Book "Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive

Musikzug of Aufklärungs-Abteilung (mot.) 4

A musical group on a unique bandstand consisting of two Sd.Kfz. 231 (8-Rad) heavy armored cars. The image is attributed to Aufklärungs-Abteilung (motorisiert) 4 / 1.Panzer-Division and was probably taken during an Armed Forces Day presentation to the general public.

Source :

Book "Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive

Change-of-Command Ceremony of Aufklärungs-Regiment (mot.) 7

Despite the rigorous training pace of the prewar years, as with all militaries, there was time for drill and ceremonies and pomp and circumstance. This image shows a change-of-command ceremony for a soldier later assigned to Aufklärungs-Abteilung (motorisiert) 37 / 7.Panzer-Division. The date given is 1938, which most likely makes this II.Abteilung / Aufklärungs-Regiment (motorisiert) 7 / 2.leichte Division. A pristine Sd.Kfz. 232 (Fu) (8-Rad) is on prominent display behind the color guard

Source :

Book "Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive

Scouts with Sd.Kfz.221 Awaits Orders to Move Out

Scouts along a line of Sd.Kfz.221’s, along with other vehicles, await orders to move out on a dreary day. This image was probably taken around 1935 or 1936, as indicated by the lack of a national insignia on the berets, as well as the “eagle” with the narrow wingspan on the officer trooping the line. Of interest is the prominent display of signal flags since these vehicle did not carry radios. The machine guns have muzzle covers to protect them from the elements; a rudimentary attempt at camouflage has been applied.

Source :

Book "Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive

Panzer III from 5. Panzer-Division with Its Crew

This Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.E belonging to the 5. Panzer-Division is seen during training. It belongs to the 1.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 31. Note the small tactical numbers ("101") painted in yellow next to the divisional insignia (an inverted "Y" with one dot). The national insignia is in the white outline form, while the regimental insignia, a "Teufelskopf" (Devil's Head), is just visible on the front edge of the turret side. No machine guns are fitted, while the only extra stowage other than the standard vehicle items is a length of spare track across the glacis plate. The crewman wears M1933 denim work clothes (in the later and more practical "reed-green" color) along with his black M1935 Feldmütze (field cap).

A close-up of the same panzer reveals more details of the "Teufelskopf" regimental insignia, which has been depicted as being red, with white eyes and teeth. Note also the weld beads on the turret and mantle, the vision block and its splash guard, the lifting hook, the split turret side access doors and their hold-open lock.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto

Panzer III Cross a Rough Field during Training

A pair of Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.Es cross a rough field during a training exercise. Note especially how the panzer's torsion bar suspension easily and smoothly conforms to the broken ground. The Panzer III was the first modern main battle tank, possessing features that are still seen on tanks to this day. For instance, the turret crew had specific duties: the commander coordinated the actions of his crew and the actions of his panzer with others; the loader loaded the main weapon, while the gunner sighted and fired it. This is in contrast to other contemporary tanks where each of the turret crewmen was usually assigned more than one specific task (for instance, some French tanks had a commander who also loaded and fired the main weapon). The remainder of a Panzer III's crew (the driver and the radio operator) also had specific tasks that they performed in a combat situation. Thus, a properly trained crew could coordinate their actions to optimize their panzer's performance as an individual combat vehicle and concentrate their efforts in support of neighboring panzers.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto

Stug III in the Balkan Campaign

During the early stages of the Balkan Campaign in April 1941, this Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.B was photographed in or near Thessaloniki, Greece. The Geschütz "A" belongs to the Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 190. Note the grey-colored panzer berets worn by the Sturmartillisten (Assault artillery men). Also note the 38 cm tracks and closed gunsight slot.

Source :
Achtung Panzer magazine No.5 - Stug III, Stug IV and SIG.33

Stu.Haubitze 42 in the Eastern Front

In the summer of 1944, the Soviet steamroller smashed into the Heeresgruppe Mitte, the approximate time and place of this photo. This Sturmgeschütz-Haubitze 42 (Type 42 Assault Howitzer) belongs to an unknown Sturmgeschütz Brigade.

Source :
Achtung Panzer magazine No.5 - Stug III, Stug IV and SIG.33

StuG III of Stu.Gesch.Brig.209

Winter camouflage and clothing can make it difficult to identify the unit in this photo. Still, this Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G with the Saukopf mantlet is probably of the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 209, around the northern sector of the Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Center), December 1943 - January 1944.

Source :
Achtung Panzer magazine No.5 - Stug III, Stug IV and SIG.33

Aufklärer Group Photograph

Despite the rigors of training, time is found to pose for a group photograph. The scouts in berets wear the blue HBT drill-and-work uniform authorized for armored personnel. Although commonly assumed to be a prewar item, it manufactured until late in the war, and its wear can be seen on all fronts and theaters.

Source :

Book "Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive

Major Hans Cramer Saluting in Sd.Kfz.247

This image shows the relatively rare initial version of the Sd.Kfz.247 armored command-and-control vehicle with a rear dual axle (only ten were built). It was later succeeded by a four-wheel version. The image shows the ceremonial entry of the forces into the new facilities at Krampnitz for the fledging motorized reconnaissance force in 1937. The officer saluting is Major Hans Cramer (last rank General der Panzertruppe), the second commander of the Kavallerie-Lehr und Versuchs-Abteilung. Of course, the design of armored cars was an issue that affected all of the major combatants. Coupled with the usual requirements of maneuverability, armor, and armament inherent in all armored-vehicle design was the necessity of speed and stealth. It proved to be a complicated equation that was never really solved satisfactorily. Give a scout too much firepower, and he is tempted to use it. Give him too little, and he may not survive even the smallest of opposition. The key to success for the armored reconnaissance soldier was foremost his speed. His mission was not to destroy the enemy, but to report on him so that the higher commander could devise a plan to destroy him with more suitable assets. As Munzel succinctly observes, “In summary, it can be said that the technical problems for mechanized reconnaissance are more difficult to solve than for the armor force. Scouting elements should move as quietly as possible, be faster than other vehicles, be capable of cross-country movement, and be able to defend themselves against superior enemy armored vehicles. Those demands did not allow themselves to be combined in a satisfactory manner at the
time.”

Source :

Book "Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive

Machinengewehr-Kraftfahrwagen (Kfz.13)

One of the first armored cars to see widespread service in the early reconnaissance formations of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht was the Machinengewehr-Kraftfahrwagen, the Kfz.13, which was based on the Adler passenger car. This photograph was taken during the transition from the Reichswehr to the Wehrmacht as the personnel still wear Reichswehr-style caps while the vehicle has Wehrmacht license plates. Note the three-tone, hard-edged camouflage scheme.

Source :

 Book "Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive

Panzer II with the Retro-Fitted Armor

This Panzerkampfwagen II shows the retro-fitted armor arrays quite well. Note the bolt patterns on the turret face as well as the superstructure front plates, which indicate the fitting of the extra armor. The bow's shape was also changed from rounded to angular with the addition of the upper and lower glacis plates. Note the storage box fitted to the fender as well as the spare track and tow cable fixed to the glacis plate. The forward part of the Tac number on the turret, a large "3", is the only numeral completely visible. Note how the road-wheel hubs have become dust-covered, while the tires have not, as well as the mud covering the spring assemblies; the panzer is also covered in so much dust that it appears much lighter in color that it actually was!

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto

The Rear of a Panzer Column

A pair of Panzerkampfwagen IIs (Ausf.A, B or C) bring up the rear of a column of panzers. The near panzer carries a black Balkenkreuz with a white outline as well as a Tac number in yellow ("312") on the rear face of the turret. It has the early split hatch for the commander as well as a large stowage locker on the right fender. Stowage includes 7.92mm ammunition boxes secured on the flat part of the engine deck.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto

German Panzers in the Ardennes 1940

This pair of Panzerkampfwagen IIs (Ausf.A, B or C) break cover as they emerge from a forest. Both are fitted with extra armor plating over their curved bow sections, which as a result, are now squared-off. This extra armor was fitted as a result of experience in the Polish Campaign, where Polish anti-tank rifle fire was often quite intense. The lead vehicle is fitted with the original split hatch for the commander, while the only marking visible is a white-outline Balkenkreuz.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto

StuG III of 24. Panzer-Division

A Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G driving to a training range in northern France, July/August 1943. The 24. Panzer-Division, to which this StuG III belongs, was re-equipped after the destruction at Stalingrad. From then on (until October 1944), the Panzer-Regiment 24 had only the III.Abteilung (3rd Battalion). The Sturmgeschützen were delivered to the 9. and 11. Kompanie (company). See "Sturmgeschütz III in Action", page 34. It shows another StuG III from the same unit at the same period.

Source :
Achtung Panzer magazine No.5 - Stug III, Stug IV and SIG.33

StuG III of Hermann Göring Division

In November 1942, the Division "Hermann Göring" received 21 Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.F/8s. As seen here, they were operated in Sicily and Italy. Note the special-made MG shield.

Source :
Achtung Panzer magazine No.5 - Stug III, Stug IV and SIG.33

StuG of Paul Dahms with Fallschirmjäger

Studying the figures in a given photo often provides a key to identifying a unit and/or location. The Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) in the foreground is from the 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division. The Geschütz Kommandant (Assault Gun Commander) is Oberleutnant Paul Dahms, later a Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross holder), the chief of the 1.Batterie / Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 286 (1st Coy commander / 286th Assault Gun Brigade). Both units met and fought together during December 1943 - January 1944, southeast of Kirovograd.

Source :

Achtung Panzer magazine No.5 - Stug III, Stug IV and SIG.33

StuG from Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202 at Rzhev

During the second winter in Russia, the Besatzungen (crews) now wear proper winter clothing. They are from Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202 (202nd Assault Gun Battalion), and their guns were named and painted with various animal names such as "Leopard" (Wachtmeister Fritz Amling), "Alligator" (Oberwachtmeister Richard Schramm), and "Jaguar" (Unteroffizier Klein). This picture was taken near Rzhev in November 1942.

Source :
Achtung Panzer magazine No.5 - Stug III, Stug IV and SIG.33