Panzer III Crossing a Small Stream

This Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.G/H fords a small stream, while pioniere troops (combat engineers) work to keep the bank in condition to support a crossing by a large number of vehicles. Note the tow cables at the ready and the spare tracks stored on the glacis plate between the two transmission cooling-air cowls. The two visors on the mantle are open and there is a Notek head-lamp on the driver’s side fender. No markings are visible in this head-on view.

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

Panzer III of 2. Panzer-Division on a Parade

With the advent of the Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.H (pictured here), a new cupola was added to the turret as was a circular vent on its roof; the rear face of the turret was a continuous plate, which the cupola did not intrude upon. The 5cm KwK38 L/42 fitted within a newly-designed external mantle was standard armament for most of these panzers; note the view ports on either side of the gun as well as the armored sleeve around the co-axial MG34. A new, pivoting driver’s visor was fitted, while the hull’s bow, glacis and superstructure all have bolted-on 30mm appliqué armor plates; note how they are fitted around the MG34, driver’s visor and tow points. A Notek head-lamp is mounted on the driver’s side fender, while the conventional head-lamps do not have slotted black-out hoods fitted. The visible marking next to the driver’s visor (a yellow inverted “Y”) with a single vertical stroke) represents the 2. Panzer-Division, after 1941. There also appears to be a small white outline square on the side of the turret, towards the front.

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

Panzer IIIs in a Muddy Village Street

This Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.E or F follows behind similar panzers through a mud-bound village street. There is a small tactical number (“201”) in white on a plate attached to the storage rack, and a white panzer rhomboid with a small “2”, designating this as a panzer of 2nd company’s command element. Note the configuration of the rear fender’s support for the flipped-up mud flap, and the Nazi flag on top of the stowage, used as an aerial recognition device.

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

Panzer Crew with the Grave of Dead Comrades

A shirtless panzer crewman visits the grave site of three dead comrades, which have been embellished with a Panzer III cupola, a Nazi flag and some lengths of track.

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

A Crewman Hands a 5cm Round to his Comrade in the Turret of a Panzer III

A crewman hands a 5cm round to his comrade in the turret of a Panzerkampfwagen III, probably an Ausf.F. A number of later Ausf.F were produced with the short 5cm KwK38 L/42, while some had this weapon retro-fitted during major overhauls. This panzer has a winter white-wash applied, but is otherwise devoid of any other special items of interest. The crewman wears the M1935 greatcoat over his uniform with his M1934 field cap perched at a jaunty angle on his head. Note the ammunition boxes leaning against the road-wheels at the bottom of the photo.

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

Panzer Officer with His Camera

A panzer officer from Heer with the rank of Leutnant adjusts his folding camera while another camera records the scene. Of the millions of German soldiers who went to war, many brought their personal cameras to chronicle their Dienstzeit or military service via meticulously compiled albums or individual photos sent to family and friends. No other group of combatants has documented a war in such sheer numbers of images in an era before television, the video camera and satellite link-ups. The 127 and 120 format or more advanced 35mm still-camera was often their instrument and at times the Soldaten aimed them with the same accuracy as their Mauser rifles and Krupp cannon.

Source :
Book "New Images of Nazi Germany: a Photographic Collection" by Paul Garson