The surrender of Panzer-Brigade Norwegen to British and Norwegian troops in Norway (June 1945)

Mute edited footage originally shot by US Signal Corps cameramen showing men serving with Panzer-Brigade-Norwegen handing over their tanks and  self-propelled guns to British army and Norwegian MILORG personnel  in the Akershus district outside Oslo circa 10 June 1945 following the unconditional surrender of all German forces in Norway the previous month.

The location is Trandum, the site of a former Norwegian Army training camp. The British officer seen taking the surrender of the commanding officer of Panzer-Brigade-Norwegen (and his adjutant) has been identified as Lt-Colonel O J O'Connor.

The tanks seen in this film are late-mark  Panzer III medium tanks armed with either short-barrelled 7.5cm L/24 cannon or the long-barrelled 5cm L/60 cannon and have been fitted with "Schuetzen"  8mm armour plates as protection for their turrets and also in several instances seen here to their hull sides against hollow-charge projectiles. By 1945, the Panzer III was regarded as obsolete by German panzer commanders but no doubt the German garrison in Norway, denied access to more powerful tanks by the Nazi high command on the grounds they were needed on war fronts where combat was taking place, found their presence in its order of battle reassuring.

Many Panzer IIIs and a smaller number of Sturmgeschutz III 7.5cm assault guns were re-acrivated for use by Norwegian armoured units in 1948 and they remained in  service until their replacement by US M24 Chaffee light tanks in 1951.

The brigade commander, Oberst Georg Maetschke, can be seen at 1:57.

Source :
Simon Orchard photo collection
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-uniforms-and-equipment/achtung-panzer-forum/13839620-the-surrender-of-german-panzers-to-british-and-norwegian-troops-in-norway-june-1945
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVEnteNh2OU

Panzerjäger Leutnant Arrested by the Canadians

 

A well decorated German Leutnant, member of Panzerjäger (Tank Hunter) unit, arrested by the Canadian army on 13 April 1945 in Netherlands. He have the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse ribbon in his lapel, while in his uniform is pinned Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse, Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen and Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber. He is also wearing the Kuban Shield in his sleeve.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2360048380929060/permalink/2843401592593734/?__cft__[0]=AZWXltG3n_SAUTokfsQdzK3m4Rguy1-It5ZINwK1Z_-DMQ7SIEeEzzwK-QVqV6ZCAMIVRR77XjZPjzasRmqNNYtWxtOgOOmymr2cWuXbdsZrZUvu4NWm-2mR1rTr32zbRth8kBRfSBVJBJNZ7DOM512o_MCwmESvs1WvGTJV1EvzXeAxdFbshNUyvvF-RAGS7ac&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Panzer Ace Karl Brommann

 

 

Denis J. Horgan (the owner of the picture above): "Karl Brommann was another Panzer man who welcomed me into his home with my friend Peter Mooney. We spent a whole day with him and his wife. He joined the SS in 1937 and served in Totenkopf Standarte 2 and in 1939 joined the Totenkopf Artillery Regiment. In August 1940 he transferred to KG Nord and served in Finland in 1941 where he was seriously wounded. In May 1943 he transferred again , this time to the Nordland Division where he was in the Panzer Regiment. Brommann was wounded several times during the war and was holder of the wound badge in gold. While attached to SS Panzer Abteilung 503 he destroyed over 60 Soviet tanks between February and March 1945. On March 26 he destroyed six Josef Stalin tanks in one engagement. Later that day he was again injured and his war was over. He was removed to hospital and taken POW by the British on May 21, 1945. On April 29, 1945 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz for his actions. I have a collection of material which Karl gave me about the operation and actions of his unit 503, hopefully in the future when I have time I post up this material . The photos I am posting were given to me by Karl the day I met him with Peter."

Source :
Denis J. Horgan photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=162642689022793&set=gm.789533545306861

The Surrender of 11. Panzer-Division

The surrender of 11. Panzer-Division "Gespensterdivision" at Koetzting, Czechoslovakia, May 1945: A Panzerjäger man turns in a sternantenne as others mill about a pair of Sd.Kfz.251s. Inside the building is a collection of gas mask canisters, while outside a small pile of rifles, ammunition and the ubiquitous Panzerfaust is forming. In all, some 9,050 German military personnel were counted as surrendering. Of these, 225 were officers, 1,713 non-commissioned officers, and 4,834 soldiers of the 11th Panzer Division. The rest were stragglers who came from a variety of different units. In terms of vehicles, some 155 motorcycles, 300 sedans, and 700 trucks were turned over to the Americans, but only seven tanks, 15 self-propelled guns, and five tank destroyers. The weapons count was also relatively low, with only six 150mm infantry howitzers and five 105mm howitzers being turned in.

Source :
"Panzerwrecks" magazine Nr.3
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/the-german-11th-panzer-division-giving-up-the-ghost/

Wiking Division Heading to Budapest

The 5. SS Pazer Division Wiking is heading to Budapest in January 1945. In late December 1944, Wiking and Totenkopf grouped together in IV. SS-Panzerkorps were removed from Warsaw sector and rushed to Hungary in an attempt to rescue the besieged city of Budapest and its garrison. They began their efforts at the beginning of January 1945, and got to within 24km (15 miles) of Budapest before the arrival of the last Soviet reserves, stopped them in their tracks, and in turn launched a counterattack which forced IV. SS-Panzerkorps on to the defensive.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/138889493052/5sswiking-the-5-ss-pazer-division-wiking-is

Wiking Division in the Budapest Relief Operation

The 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" is heading to Budapest in January 1945. In late December 1944, Wiking and Totenkopf grouped together in IV. SS-Panzerkorps were removed from Warsaw sector and rushed to Hungary in an attempt to rescue the besieged city of Budapest and its garrison. They began their efforts at the beginning of January 1945, and got to within 24km (15 miles) of Budapest before the arrival of the last Soviet reserves, stopped them in their tracks, and in turn launched a counterattack which forced IV. SS-Panzerkorps on to the defensive.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/126626076302/the-5-ss-pazer-division-wiking-is-heading-to

Wiking Panther in Budapest

One of the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther of the 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" caught on camera during Budapest relief operation in January 1945.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/126842794152/one-of-the-panther-of-the-5-ss-panzer-division