Counterattack with Wiking Division Panzergrenadiere in Sd.Kfz. 251 and Panther ‘534’ from soldiers point of view, Nurzec-Stacja area, 22 July 1944. During this time 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" was engaged in counterattacks against Soviet armored and cavalry forces following their rapid advance during the Red Army’s Operation Bagration summer offensive. This photograph was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Ernst Baumann and show Panther 534 moves ahead into the farmyard. Contact is imminent, as shown by the tank commander taking cover inside his cupola. SS-Untersturmführer Gerhard Mahn (Chef 11.Kompanie / SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 9 "Germania") and his men continue to keep their heads down in case any Soviet infantry are encountered. Hanging inside the vehicle to the right of the Grenadier are three essential pieces of field equipment familiar to every German soldier: a Brotbeutel (bread bag), Essgeschirr (mess kit), and Feldflasche (canteen).
Having pushed through the row of farmhouses, Panther 534 is now positioned to the right side of Mahn's SPW. The tank commander traverses the turret as he looks for targets. The 7.5cm Kampfwagen Kanone 42/L70 could fire both high explosive and armored piercing ammunition; The amount of each type of shell carried was dependent upon the mission. In addition to the main gun, each Panther was armed with two MG-34 machine guns, with a total of 4,200 rounds of ammunition carried aboard the vehicle.
Source :
Book "Kampfgruppe Mühlenkamp: 5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking, Eastern Poland, July 1944" by Douglas E. Nash and Remy Spezzano
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