Königstiger of sPzAbt 503 in Training

A King Tiger from the schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 seen here training at the Ohrdruf Training Area, Germany in June 1944. The schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 left Ohrdruf for Northern France via railway on 26 June 1944; they came into the line east of Caen in early July 1944.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/152530533492/a-king-tiger-from-the-schwere-panzer-abteilung-503

Himmler Inspecting Tiger of Das Reich

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler examines a Tiger tank with SS-Hauptsturmführer Herbert Zimmermann (left), the commander of the 8.(schwere)Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 / SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich", Kharkov area, Ukraine, 24 April 1943. In the hands of the Waffen-SS the Tiger will rule.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/152264370557/reichsf%C3%BChrer-ss-heinrich-himmler-examines-a-tiger

German Victory Parade in Belgrade

House of the National Assembly in Belgrade – then and now. After nine SS men from the "Reich" Division used the general confusion and formally captured the Yugoslav capital on 12 April 1941, a victory parade of the true conqueror of the city, the 1st Armoured Group, was held on 13 April at noon. In the (old) photo, tanks of the "Ghost Division" (11th Armoured Division) parade in front of their commanders: standing in the centre is Generaloberst Ewald von Kleist (commander of the armoured group), to his right is Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (divisional commander), and on the left, in black uniform, is Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Riebel (commander of the division's Armoured Regiment). The defeat of Belgrade was also celebrated in the "Song of Armoured Group Kleist": "We were the victors of Belgrade; we defeated all resistance, and broke up with a false state!" Crüwell later fought under Rommel and after the war became chairman of the Africa Corps Veterans Association; Riebel was killed in 1942 at Stalingrad – and von Kleist ended his life in Soviet captivity, as a war criminal, in 1954. At the spot from which these three officers once proudly watched their rolling tanks – today stand the civilians, waiting for a bus.

Source :
http://bandenkampf.blogspot.co.id/2015/12/bk0120.html

A Visit of Aufklärungstruppe to Naval Facility

As is typical of all soldiers, exceptions to the more mundane aspects of the day-to-day routine were often captured on film. Scouts (men of Reconnaissance troops) pose in uniform while taking some type of maritime excursion.

Source :

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

A Rest Halt along a Country Road

A rest halt along a country road for Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 (motorisiert) / 2.Panzer-Division. The Sd.Kfz. 231 (6-Rad) is an early variant and is followed by an Sd.Kfz. 221 and Kfz. 13. Of interest is the unique prewar unit identification symbol painted on the right front fender of the Sd.Kfz. 231 (6-Rad)

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

Panzers and Halftracks

The two radio antennae and the cupola identify this Panzerkampfwagen III as Befehlspanzer III Ausf.H. Note also the dummy 5cm gun on the mantle as well as the ball-mounted MG34. In the center of the photo stands a Panzerkampfwagen II (Ausf.A, B or C), while in the background are a pair of Sd.Kfz.251s.

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

Panzer III Ausf.J

This fine photo clearly shows all of the main recognition features of the Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.J: later drive sprocket and idler wheel (introduced on the Ausf.H); superstructure front plate of 50mm thickness with ball-mounted MG34 and hull side extensions drilled to accept tow hooks. Note the way the mud flaps could be folded back onto the fenders and the black-out driving slits covering the conventional head-lamps. There is no Notek head-lamp mounted. There is also a white-outline Balkenkreuz national insignia on the side of the superstructure and a white tactical number ("?33") on the side of the turret.

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