Panzer III with Soldiers in the Eastern Front

Ostfront. Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.J with long 5cm main gun. It has double layered tracked on the turret side. Unusual. On the Pz.III turret, you can see helmets hanging, canteens, and a mess kit. Please note the soldier with the MG 34: the buttstock has metal reinforcement on the top and bottom!

Source :
ECPAD Archives (courtesy of Blanluet Christophe)
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10157689789923308&set=gm.3080877568621052

Award Ceremony of 11. Panzer-Division

These pictures shows award ceremony of 11. Panzer-Division during Unternehmen Barbarossa, summer of 1941. The recipients received Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse and Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern.

Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division).

Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) with his officers.

Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) gives the award to his soldiers.

 Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) with all of the recipients in an award ceremony of the division. 6th from left (wearing sidecap) is Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Riebel (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer-Division)

 Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) speaking in front of the member of his division. At right wearing black Panzer uniform is Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Riebel (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer-Division)

Four new recipients of the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (left) and Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern. Wearing black Panzer uniform at far right is Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Riebel (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 15 / 11.Panzer-Division).

 Generalmajor Ludwig Crüwell (left, Kommandeur 11. Panzer-Division) with one of his officer.

 A new recipient of Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse from 11. Panzer-Division. He is already sported SA-Treffen Braunschweig 1931 Badge and SA-Sportabzeichen in his uniform.

 The new recipient of Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse from 11. Panzer-Division (which also a member of Sturmabteilung if you look at his SA-Treffen Braunschweig 1931 Badge and SA-Sportabzeichen in his uniform) chats with an officer from Sonderführer Z (left)

Other new recipients of Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse from 11. Panzer-Division

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=298632194738945&set=pcb.1505028533015898&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Panzergraf

Ritterkreuz award ceremony of Major der Reserve Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz (Kommandeur I.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division), which was given by Generalmajor Hans-Valentin Hube (Kommandeur 16. Panzer-Division). The "Panzergraf" won this prestigious bravery medal on 25 August 1941 in the Eastern Front, as a reward for his leadership in the battle against the Red Army on 2-3 August previously. As a part of Kampfgruppe Wagner, Panzergraf has a decisive role in the efforts of the German troops to conquer the city of Pervomaisk in Ukraine, a critical road junction for the Soviets. Strachwitz's Panzer Battalion carried out an attack from the north, which later managed to destroy the defense of the Russian troops, a major contribution towards the victorious outcome of this battle. In this photo, we can see that General Hube only used his right arm when awarded the medal so it had to be helped by his aide. This is because he only has one arm, while his left hand has been lost since the Great War (and then replaced by artificial arm). Interestingly, Strachwitz and Hube would later become the two of only 27 people throughout the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS who won the fourth grade of the Ritterkreuz: Brillanten. Strachwitz received the medal on 15 April 1944, while Hube got it five days later, on 20 April 1944.

From left to right: Generalmajor Hans-Valentin Hube (Kommandeur 16. Panzer-Division) and Oberstleutnant Rudolf Sieckenius (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 2 / 16.Panzer-Division). Hube had previously received the same medal on 1 August 1941, while Sieckenius got it a few weeks later after this photo was taken (17 September 1941).

Source :
https://crainsmilitaria.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_89
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2253827#p2253827

Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7 in a Snowy Street

This Sd.Kfz.221 of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7 (motorisiert) of the 4. Panzer-Division moves down a snowed-over street while a crowd of curious civilians observes

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection

"Tip of the Spear: German Armored Reconnaissance in Action in World War II" by Robert J. Edwards

https://books.google.co.id/books?id=UtiwDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA517&lpg=PA517&dq=tip+of+the+spear+german+armored+reconnaissance+in+action+in+world+war+ii+pdf&source=bl&ots=qCEFLUzoGB&sig=ACfU3U1NWIIMcA67C-FWEkMcUaCjF3HBng&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiX1fS8t4DqAhWOH7cAHcjpDiYQ6AEwBHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=tip%20of%20the%20spear%20german%20armored%20reconnaissance%20in%20action%20in%20world%20war%20ii%20pdf&f=false

Waffen-SS Panzer Reconnaissance Troops in Color

SS-Armoured Crews in front of an Sd.kfz.222

Source :
Book "Tip of the Spear: German Armored Reconnaissance in Action in World War II" by Robert J. Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=721701321740358&set=gm.1466515296867222&type=3&theater&ifg=1

The History of Black Panzer Uniform

With an effective date of 12 November 1934, special-purpose clothing was authorized for service on German armored vehicles. It was designed to replaced the previous special-purpose uniform worn by the motorized forces. The branch-of-service color chosen for the new branch was rose pink. The branch-of-service color appeared along the edge of the jacket collar (later discarded), around the collar patches, on the shoulder straps (enlisted personnel) and as underlay on the boards (officers). The crash helmet/beret had only national insignia on it, but the field cap for both officers and enlisted, whether in field gray or black, had branch-of-service piping on it as well (also later officially discarded). Initially, both the field jacket and the crash helmet/beret combination had no national insignia. Effective 11 November 1935, the national insignia started to be worn on both items.

Source:
 "Panzers in the Sand: The History of Panzer-Regiment 5" by Bernd Hartmann 
https://www.gielsmilitaria.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=3963

Chassis of Panzer I for Driver's Training

Chassis of a Panzer I used for driver’s training at the Zossen Training Area. Zossen Training Area placed great demands on the driving skills of students, who referred to the area as the “waves of the Danube.” During this period, the first chassis of what was to become the Panzer I arrived for driver’s training. As a deception measure, the vehicles were referred to as "agricultural tractors"!

Source:
"Panzers in the Sand: The History of Panzer-Regiment 5" by Bernd Hartmann

7. Panzer-Division in the Eastern Front

A Wehrmacht armored unit is seen resting on the sidelines of forward movement in Russia, in the summer of 1941. From the "Y" shaped markings written on the gepack-kasten (storage bin) on the back of the Panzer III on the left, we can find out that they are from the 7. Panzer-Division. This German medium tank is painted in dark gray (dunkelgrau), as well as Sd.Kfz.251 and other vehicles in the background, except the Kübelwagen car - which is likely to be used for reconnaissance missions - that painted in dark yellow ( dunkelgelb). This photo itself was taken from the air at low altitude by an unknown Kriegsberichter (war correspondent), possibly on a light transport aircraft Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch". During the Unternehmen Barbarossa (German invasion of Russia), 7. Panzer-Division operated in the middle sector of the Eastern Front, under the command of Generalleutnant Hans Freiherr von Funck who replaced the legendary previous commander, Erwin Rommel. The division started the campaign with 400 officers and 14,000 men.[32] By January 1942, six months from the start of the offensive, the division had suffered 2,055 killed, 5,737 wounded, with 313 missing and another 1,089 sick with frostbite and louse-borne diseases.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_Panzer_Division_(Wehrmacht)
https://wehrmachtss.blogspot.com/2020/02/7-panzer-division-di-front-timur.html

Panzers in the Dutch City 1940

A column of Panzerkampfwagen IVs (Ausf.B, C or D) park on a wide western European boulevard, during the 1940 campaign. The cupola configuration identifies these panzers as being later than the Ausf.A. There is an “X” marking on the rear plate of the panzer in the center of the photo, indicating 8. Panzer-Division, which fought in the campaign as part of KLI. Panzerkorps under Panzergruppe von Kliest. It is possible that there is a second "X” beneath the tow cable; if so this is a panzer from the 9. Panzer-Division of Heeresgruppe B in the Netherlands. All visible crewmen wear the black 1934 panzer uniform with berets, while the commander of the panzer in center wears a “Sam Brown” belt.

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

Panzer IV Passes Combat Engineers

This Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.C passes a pair of pioniere troops (combat engineers) busily engaged in digging. The panzer is identified as an Ausf.C by the configuration of the view ports on the superstructure front. There is length of spare track fitted to the bow and an improvised jerry can rack on the fender. The turret has been retro-fitted with a storage bin, a very common occurrence.

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

Panzer IV on a Rail Wagon

A lone Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.C sits on a platform wagon at a rail-head. The panzer is identifiable as an Ausf.C by the arrangement of the view ports on superstructure front. Note also that the cupola differs from that of the Ausf.A. There are no markings visible, while crew members wear the black M1934 panzer uniform, along with the caracteristic large black beret. Typically, the Germans did not chain tracked vehicles to rail wagons, preferring instead to use wooden blocks and chocks to prevent fore-to-aft and side-to-side movement.

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

A rare Panzer IV Ausf.A with AA Gun

With only 35 built, the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.A was a relatively rare panzer. This one is marked with the white-outline balkenkreuz on the superstructure side and also has an underlined tactical number (unfortunately obstructed by the open hatch) on the turret’s side. It is distinguished as an Ausf.A by the shape of the commander's cupola as well as the triangular frame-like device on the side of the superstructure, behind the national insignia. This was a mount for an anti-aircraft machine gun, which could be swung away from the panzer in order to be trained on an aerial target. Other early panzers, such as the Pz.Kpfw.I, also had a mount of this type.

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