Leutnant Johann Straub (6 June 1912 - 12 July 1996) is proud of his achievement and shows it off via the kill rings on his Geschütz (assault gun). He distinguished himself during the battle against the heavy Soviet offensive in the summer of 1944 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) in 12 August 1944. He is the Zugführer (platoon leader) of 2.Kompanie (called Stu.Gesch.Abt.1007) / Panzerjäger-Abteilung 7 (7th Anti-Tank Battalion) / 7.Infanterie-Division. This photo was taken in that summer, between Pinsk and the River Bug

Source :
Magazine "Achtung Panzer" No.5, Sturmgeschütz III, StuG.IV & SIG.33

StuG III at Nikopol Bridgehead

From other shots on the same roll of film as this photo (which show the soldiers of the 3. Gebirgs-Division), it can be said that this photo was taken in late December 1943 at the Nikopol bridgehead. This brand-new StuG III with Saukopf mantlet may belong to the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 278 (278th Assault Gun Brigade). Note the two antennas denoting a commander's vehicle.

Source :
Magazine "Achtung Panzer" No.5, Sturmgeschütz III, StuG.IV & SIG.33

A Convoy of German StuG III in Italy

Italian Campaign, Summer 1943: a column of German Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault guns on the march taking a break

Source :
Magazine "Achtung Panzer" No.5, Sturmgeschütz III, StuG.IV & SIG.33

Stabsgefreiter Friedrich Randhagen from 16. Panzer-Division

Stabsgefreiter Friedrich August Randhagen (21 June 1912 - 18 June 2005) from Werkstatt-Kompanie (Workshop Company) of Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division, had an adventurous escape from the Pocket of Stalingrad. He was qualified as blacksmith, then served his compulsory RAD. 1939 Staff Corporal,Workshop Company, 2nd Panzer Regiment, 16th Panzer Division. After the war trained at Eisleben mining school. From 1979 he spent his retirement at Rossleben.

Source :
Book "Survivors of Stalingrad; Eyewitness Accounts from the Sixth Army 1942-43" by Reinhold Busch

Kampfgruppe Peiper in the Battle of Stoumont

Kampfgruppe Peiper (the powerful battle group of the Leibstandarte Division) has arrived in Stoumont, Belgium in the morning of 19 December 1944 and it’s battling U.S. forces during the Ardennes Offensive. The Germans reported before that Stoumont was strongly held and that powerful American forces were moving from Spa towards Stoumont. By 10:30 in that morning the battle was over with Kampfgruppe Peiper in firm control of Stoumont.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/136272639972/kampfgruppe-peiper-the-powerful-battle-group-of

American Prisoners Captured by Leibstandarte Division

Large number of American prisoners were taken by the 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" at the beginning of Operation Wacht am Rhein in December 1944.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/136700248242/large-number-of-american-prisoners-were-taken-by

Fallschirmjäger on Top of Königstiger

Paratroopers of the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division seen on top of a King Tiger from schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 part of Kampfgruppe Peiper waving at the camera on 18 December 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/136706639622/paratroopers-of-the-3-fallschirmj%C3%A4ger-division

Fallschirmjäger Share Cigarettes with Panzer Crew

Sharing is caring. Paratroopers of the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division share cigarettes from the back of a King Tiger from schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 during the Ardennes Offensive, 18 December 1944.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/136961598892/sharing-is-caring-paratroopers-of-the-3

Panzer-Lehr-Division during Ardennes Offensive

 The Panzer Lehr Division (“Panzer Lehr” meant “Armor Demonstration” or “Teaching”) in Rochefort, Belgium during the Ardennes Offensive. The Lehr assaulted the town through the night of 23–24 December 1944.

Source:
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/137052104872/the-panzer-lehr-division-panzer-lehr-meant

Kampfgruppe Peiper in Stoumont during Ardennes Offensive

Exclusive combat footage with Kampfgruppe Peiper (Leibstandarte Division) in Stoumont, Belgium in the morning of 19 December 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive. This was the period that saw the Peiper attempt to push still further to the west through the village of Stoumont, reach its high water mark only six kilometres later and finally be forced to withdraw in the face of overwhelming strength and lack of resources.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/137375044937/exclusive-combat-footage-with-kampfgruppe-peiper

The men and vehicles of Leibstandarte Division during one of the numerous road marches from one crisis area to another in late 1943, west of Kiev. Temperatures were hovering just above freezing, which meant sudden thaws and rain turned most roads and fields into thick mud quagmires that sucked in even tracked vehicles. This proved a major hurdle to German operations.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/132832308532/the-men-and-vehicles-of-leibstandarte-division

Tanks of Leibstandarte on Parade in Milan

A pair of brand new Panzer IV Ausf. H tanks of the Leibstandarte Division on parade in the streets of Milan in September 1943.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/134748586747/a-pair-of-brand-new-panzer-iv-ausf-h-tanks-of-the

Michael Wittmann and Friends Posed in Front of their Tigers

Tank commanders and platoon leaders of the Leibstandarte Division’s 13.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 proudly pose in front of their newly painted Tigers in Italy in the autumn of 1943 (from left to right): SS-Oberscharführer Otto Augst, SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann, SS-Unterscharführer Ewald Mölly and SS-Oberscharführer Jürgen Brandt.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/134749632557/5sswiking-tank-commanders-and-platoon-leaders

Königstiger Passes Captured American Soldiers

During the Ardennes Offensive, Kampfgruppe Peiper was boosted by the King Tiger tanks of the schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 for its drive westwards in an attempt to reach the Meuse River. Here, one of its tank, passes a column of captured soldiers from the US 99th Infantry Division on 17 December 1944. The village of Merlscheid lies in the background and the King Tiger is on its way towards Lanzerath.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/135413146222/during-the-ardennes-offensive-kampfgruppe-peiper

Königstiger with Fallschirmjäger in the Ardennes Offensive

Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf.B (Tiger II or Königstiger) "222" commanded by SS-Oberscharführer Kurt Sowa from 2.Kompanie / schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 was part of Kampfgruppe Peiper and was photographed at Kaiserbaracke on 18 December 1944 with a load of paratroopers from I.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9 / 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division. At left are SS-Oberscharführer Persin from Kampfgruppe Knittel

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/135465760752/king-tiger-222-commanded-by-ss-untersturmf%C3%BChrer
https://www.flickr.com/photos/spzabt/5521175807

German Motorcyclists with King Tiger and American POWs

Two German motorcyclists armed with MP 40s follow a King Tiger as American POWs from the 99th Infantry Division march along a road towards the rear on 17 December 1944. The King Tiger belongs to the schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 and was part of Kampfgruppe Peiper and was photographed on the way to Lanzerath.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/136701381862/two-german-motorcyclists-armed-with-mp-40s-follow

German Tank Crew in a Christmas Night in Ardennes

Christmas in the Ardennes. A German tank crew pauses for reflection at night in front of a welcome fire in December 1944.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/137816040567/christmas-in-the-ardennes-a-german-tank-crew