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/

German and Russian Forces at Brest-Litovsk

Hauptmann Ottens (Chef 5. Kompanie / Panzer-Regiment 8 / 10. Panzer-Division), who wears a black uniform Panzertruppen, talks intently with a Soviet tank officer at the Bug who was in the Brest-Litovsk area on September 18, 1939 when the Germans and Russian troops met. In the 1930s, there had been a certain level of technical cooperation between the German Reich and the Soviet Union; apparently the Germans were aware of all Soviet current tank types and were satisfied that the quality of their tanks seemed far superior. In return Hitler had ordered that the Soviet delegates were to be allowed unrestricted access to German tanks and the Luftwaffe. It is reported that the Soviet military protested during inspections at German armaments factories that they were not allowed to see everything. The Germans were surprised to receive these complaints and could not understand the distrustful attitude. The reason behind it was that the Soviets were not honest about their own tank developments and had expected the Germans to act in a similar way. By 1941 the era of this mutual cooperation had ended, and the longplanned Operation Barbarossa was ready to be launched.

Source :
"Panther" by Thomas Anderson
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/10/album-foto-operasi-fall-wei-invasi.html

German Soldiers Inspecting Damaged Soviet Tank

Wehrmacht soldiers inspecting the damaged Soviet T-26 tank during Unternehmen Barbarossa (German invasion of Soviet Union). In 1941, the T-26 infantry tank was numerically the most important in service with the Red Army. The type was developed from the the British-built Vickers 6-Ton light tank, and the Soviets produced some 11,000 in variants. But by 1940 the T-26 was obsolete.

Source :
"Panther" by Thomas Anderson

Towing the Damaged Panzer IV

All Panzerkampfwagen IV A to D mounted the shortbarrelled 7.5cm KwK L/24. The PzKpfw IV Ausf F (later F1) mounted a 7.5cm KwK L/43, but neither gun was powerful enough (except at close range) to defeat the more modern Soviet tanks entering combat. Here pioneers load a damaged Ausf D on a Sonderanhänger (SdAnh) 116, the standard lowloading recovery trailer used by all tank units.

Source :
"Panther" by Thomas Anderson

Panther Falls Into a Pit

A Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf.G (turmnummer 415) of 1.Zug / 4.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.Panzer-Division having a problem after falls into a pit as a bridge under it collapses, summer/autumn of 1944. The rope or cable they are putting on the barrel will be used to rotate the turret 90 degrees away from the camera. A Bergepanther or FAMO with a winch. or another tank, could pull the rear of the Panther away from the embankment. As the rear is moved away from the wall the front will either slid down the face or roll down if someone is in the driver's seat to release the clutch. The engine would have to be checked to make sure oil has not filled the rear cylinders of the engine, if there is fluid in the chamber it will not compress like air/fuel and damage the engine. Otherwise the Panther should be good to go, now the driver's concussion might keep him from driving for awhile.

Source :
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/hi-res-photograph-of-panther-and-wooden-bridge-t317508-s10.html

Tiger of SS Totenkopf Arrived at Kharkov

A newly-arrived Tiger of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf" required for the upcoming offensive at Kursk. This is the Tiger of SS-Untersturmführer Walter Köhler (Chef 9.Kompanie [schwere] / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"). The photo is taken after its arrival in Budy southwest of Kharkov in May 1943. The tank still needs markings and camouflage paint; it would become Tiger Nr.911. Köhler himself was killed in action in Tiger 911 near Kljutschi at the south bank of the Psel River during the Battle of Kursk on July 12 1943.

Source :
http://stabswache-de-euros.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-12-23T17:31:00%2B01:00&max-results=1

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Panzer Ace Michael Wittmann

On 14 January 1944, panzer ace Michael Wittmann was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) along with his gunner, Bobby Woll, for their achievements which have so far destroyed 88 enemy tanks. The presentation was made at Vinnitsa, Ukraine, by his divisional commander SS-Oberführer Theodor "Teddy" Wisch, who also nominated him for the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz. This picture shows Wittmann with his crew, from left to right. SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Rottenführer Bobby Woll (Richtschütze), SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / IV.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"), SS- Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer). Behind them is Wittmann's Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I Ausf.F "S04", with 88 victory rings on its barrel. Actually the Ritterkreuz recommendation sent by Divisionskommandeur Wisch to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) on 10 January 1944 "only" included Wittmann's winnings as 66 tanks, but something incredible happens: in the four day span between the submission of the proposal to the official approval notification, this tank master went berserk and destroyed no fewer than 22 additional tanks to hoist his winning score to a total 88!

Source :
https://ww2images.blogspot.com/2019/02/ritterkreuz-award-ceremony-for-michael.html

Panzer IV of SS Panzer Regiment "Hitlerjugend"

An excellent close-up of a Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.H (turmnummer 615) from 6.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / SS-Panzer Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" with schürzen (side skirt) and zimmerit (anti-magnetic mine paste), on exercises under the supervision of army officers in Belgium in the end of 1943. Several vehicles from 6./SS-PzRgt. 12 feature the names of the crew's sweethearts painted on the tanks: here we have 'Wilma' painted on the commander's Cupola and 'Paula' painted on the driver's visor (along with a heart?). The commander and loader are wearing Kriegsmarine U-Boat leather jackets, which were an item particular to the Hitlerjugend and LSSAH Divisions. These uniforms were initially given to the Italian Navy, but were reclaimed by the LSSAH when they went to Italy to disarm part of the Italian Army in 1943. Alongside these leather uniforms were found large stocks of Italian camouflage material, which were soon made into clothing for the two divisions. Note, the radio operator appears to be wearing a feldgrau M40 side cap rather than the standard black Panzer cap (as worn by the loader). The commander wears an M43 camouflage field cap affixed with a non-regulation metal totenkopf. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Kurth from PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 698.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-297-1722-27,_Im_Westen,_Panzer_IV.jpg
http://ww2incolour.blogspot.com/2011/07/panzer-iv-of-hitlerjugend-division.html

Panther Crewmen of SS Panzer Regiment "Hitlerjugend"

Panther crewmen from the 4.Kompanie / I.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" in Normandy, summer of 1944. Note the variegated nature of the uniforms worn. A black cloth blouse surrounded by green sailcloth. The two men on the left are SS-Sturmmann Eberhard Wenzl and Heinz Rohrbach, the two on the right are Gerhard Mahlke and Probst, nicknamed the “crow” (Rabe).

Source :
"The Panzers and the Battle of Normandy" by Heimdal

Camo Foliage of German Armored Vehicle

The ability to properly camouflage vehicles became increasingly important as the war continued and the Western Allies and the Soviet Union first gained air dominance, followed by air supremacy, especially on the Western Front. It was doubly important for the armored scout, since his mission was to see and hear and not to be seen or heard. While relatively easy to hide positions for individuals, the task for armored vehicles, particularly heavy armored cars with relatively high silhouettes such as this one, was exponentially more difficult. During the wintertime, when deciduous trees lost their foliage, the task was made even harder.

Source :
"Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards

German Aufklärer Tested by Two NCOs

In order to be effective, the training had to be practical. Here an armored scout is tested by two noncommissioned officers next to a heavy armored car. Judging by the decorations on the front NCO, it must be later in the war, since he has both a Wound Badge and an Iron Cross, First Class. Although frontline units were reluctant to let personnel go, there was a huge demand for combat-experienced leaders on the home front in order to provide the best training possible, and it was not uncommon to see leaders detached for such duties for periods of time.

Source :

"Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards