Two Regimentskommandeur of Grossdeutschland

 

 

Oberst der Reserve Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche (left, Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment "Grossdeutschland") standing in front of his Panzerbefehlswagen's "three-ruble note" with number 0. To the right of Strachwitz is Oberstleutnant Karl Lorenz (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Grossdeutschland"). This picture was taken in the summer of 1943 in the Eastern Front, during Unternehmen Zitadelle (Battle of Kursk). At the beginning of 1943, Panzer-Abteilung "Grossdeutschland" was upgraded into a tank regiment. At first, the commander's tanks carried two-digit tactical numbers: "01", "02", "03". And already in the summer of the same year, their numbering changed and in the Battle of Kursk the "befehl" of the regimental headquarters carried the numbers: "0", "01", "02". The same numbering, it seems, remained until the end of the war. At least for the summer of 1944, two command Panthers of the regiment headquarters with the numbers "0" and "01" are known. The battalion headquarters apparently had "classic" numbers with Roman numerals I and II.

Source :
http://tigerscorner.ru/gallery/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89:2019-01-11-16-46-13&catid=34:2010-12-02-12-49-34&Itemid=53

Panzer III at Terek River Front

German forces from Heeresgruppe Süd operating at Terek River, Caucasus, Soviet Union, September-November 1942. This Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.J or L has the frame for additional spaced armor on the mantle, but the armor itself has not been fitted, due to production shortfalls. That on the superstructure front has been fitted. This particular panzer is unique in that it has what appear to be either S-mine or smoke dischargers mounted on each fender, just behind the mud flaps. There also seems to be a third discharger mounted just forward of the rod antenna.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-second-world-war-terek-river-front-caucasus-september-november-1942-37029502.html

A Befehlspanzer on the Russian Steppe

A Befehlspanzer (commander tank), based on Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.J or L, sits next to a peasant's home on the open steppes of the Soviet Union. There are two rod antenna masts, one on either side of the panzer, as well as 20mm spaced armor on the mantle and the superstructure front plates. This panzer also seems to be mounting the longer L/60 version of the 5cm KwK39 main gun. The picture was taken at Kharkov region in 1943.

Source :
Book "Panzer Vor: German Armor At War 1939-45" by Frank V. De Sisto
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/288371182369236735/

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

Aufklärungstruppe Getting Ready for a Parade

Given the attention being paid to their uniforms, these scouts appear to be getting ready for a parade or ceremony of some sort. These soldiers are attributed to one of the troops of Aufklärungs-Abteilung (motorisiert) 6. The lead armored car is an Sd.Kfz. 221 armed with a single machine gun in a manually traversing turret. It is followed by several Sd.Kfz. 223’s, essentially the radio version of the same vehicle, identifiable by its typical prewar and early-war frame antenna.

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 Group of Panzers in the Russian Steppe

A group of panzers rests on the Russian steppes as the commander of the lead vehicle, a Befehls Panzer III Ausf.E, takes stock of the situation. The panzers at rear are Panzer Iis, which were by this time relegated to the reconnaissance role. The Befehlspanzer is recognizable by the “Rahmenantenne” (frame antenna) on the rear of the superstructure, the plugged hull MG port and the ball-mounted single MG34 where the normally seen twin MG34s were in the gun mantle. It is then assumed that the 3.7cm KwK L/46.5 is a dummy mounting. Unlike the previous photo, this panzer has the Notek head-lamp mounted in the more conventional position on the driver’s side fender.

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

Panzer II during Training before French Campaign

This Panzerkampfwagen II is an Ausf.A, B or C photographed during training. It carries a small rhomboid plate behind the “Nebelkerzenabwerfvorrichtung” (smoke candle deployment rack with a solid-colored (probably yellow) “306” as a tactical number. Further on, there is a bit of the balkenkreuz national insignia on the rear face of the superstructure in white outline form. Another rhomboid plate, as well as another balkenkreuz can be seen on the superstructure sides, behind the stowage. Another point to note is not only the angles of the spring bundles for the suspension system, but the fact that some have a different number of spring plates within a bundle. The snow and the style of markings indicate that this photo may have been taken in the winter of 1939-40, during the so-called “Sitzkrieg” in the West prior to the French Campaign. The lack of the tail-lamp from the Notek black-out driving system also makes this more likely. The color scheme should be the two-tone type consisting of dunkelgrau Nr.46 base with dunkelbraun Nr.45 overspray.

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

Kradschützen Converses with Panzer Commander

A motorcycle dispatch rider converses with the commander of a kleine Panzerbefehlswagen (Sd.Kfz.265), probably during the opening stages of “Operation Barbarossa” in June of 1941. At this time, the vehicle would have been painted in overall dunkelgrau RAL 7021; there are no markings visible. This vehicle has the added “Rahmenantenne” (frame antenna), which was sometimes seen in service after the campaigns of 1939 and 1940. Note how the posts that support the frame are themselves reinforced with strips connecting them to the superstructure. The motorcyclists are wearing their gas mask canisters slung across their chests, a common practice. The motorcycle combination in the background is based on the BMW R75, which is identified by the characteristic framework foreward of the fuel tank; the near one is a DKW NZ 350.

In a second view of the same kleine Panzerbefehlswagen, a solo-motorcycle dispatch rider as well as a Panzer crewman (sensibly wearing his steel helmet while away from his mount!) quickly scribble information from the commander of the panzer. The motorcycle is a DKW NZ 350. Note the extensive stowage on the panzer, including: small logs wired together to help in overcoming soft ground, spare road-wheel, box, tarp, etc. This panzer has a stowage locker behind the superstructure, which carries a black balkenkreuz with a white outline.

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

Tiger Commander Gives a Hand and Arm Signal

The commander of a Tiger from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 gives a hand and arm signal to tank commanders for them to initiate radio checks in August 1943, Kharkov region.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/122031032052/the-commander-of-a-tiger-from-schwere