FEATURES:
Panzerwrecks Tiger
II
Russian
Maus
at
1
36
Joyride
Wrecks in Three
Revisited
1
Newsreels
Meppen
50
86
Welcome back to Panzerwrecks. While laying out this issue, Lee had the idea to revisit PW1. What started as a small feature quickly became a contest between the two of us as to who could add the most new material. Lee won. Actually, we all did, because the images are superb and show detail- such as the camouflage on the Panthers and the periscope in the Beobachtungspanzerwagen III - we didn't know existed . We hope you'll enjoy this look back. If successful, we'll do it again in the future.
Many of the images in this book were taken by servicemen using basi equipment; they are included for their interest and historical value, nol necessarily their photographic quality.
We also looked Eastward. We found some ghostly images of Panzers on a grainy Russian newsreel that we present here more for the overall sense of desolation they convey rather than any particular detail they provide . Heavy armor also reappears in a comprehensive walkaround of a Tiger II and a stroll through some Maus remains at Meppen.
For the use of their photos we would like to thank: Howard Simon, Alan Bond 0yvind Leonsen, Ron Petrovich , Kate McColl , Stanley Jedynak and Denis Toom ey, US National Archives (NARA), US Military Academy (USMA), Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum (PISM) , Vojensky Historicky Ustav (VHU), Library and Archives Of Canada (LAC), The Tank Museum (TIM), Military Photo Archive of Bulgaria (MPAB), Associated Press (AP), Muzeum Narodowe w Poznaniu (MNP).
Interspersed are as many new photos as we could fit and as much new information as we could find . If you're looking for something interesting, it might just be here in Panzerwrecks 5. W. Auerbach, Monroe. July 2007
We would also like to thank the following: Hans Weber, Martin Block, Timm Haasler. Tom Jentz, Hilary Doyle, Marek Solar, Barry Crook, Kamen Nevenkin, Matthi as Radu, Jeff Plowman, George Bradford, Oliver Nephuth, Werner Geier, Chris Bradley, David Fletcher and Susan Strange.
©2007 Lee Archer and Will iam Auerbach. Created by Lee Archer and printed by 1010 Printing (UK) Ltd in China. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form 0 1 by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information slorage anc! relrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers .
Top of page: Signal Corps technicians at Astoria Signal Corps Photographic Training Center, operal miniature tanks. The turrets are demountable so that small charges of powder can be discharged, addirrc I realism to training films in which these models are used. 15 August 1944. US Army
Published by: William Auerbach. Panzerwrecks . P.O . Box 2332 Monroe, New York 10949-2332 USA .
[email protected] Lee Archer. PO. Box 164 Heathfield, Sussex TN21 8WA UK.
[email protected]
"itiese two Panthers, photographed by Aubrey , McColl , appear on pages 2-5 of Panzerwrecks 1 where we stated that Cpl. - Tucker knocked them out ._with a PlAT. In fact, hF! knocked them out using phosphorous grenudes. The Panther on page 6 of Panzerwrecks 1 was not tank '434 ', but a ' third vehicle. Tank '434 ' in th e foreground was commanoed by Lt, Drobnik and '424' irl the background I) y Obit. Hinz. Th e Panthers appedr to have extra armOUl on the turret roofs in addition to th at on the engine deck. K.McCoil via J.Plowman
This Panther of I.lPz.Rgt.26 was shown on pages 10 and 11 of Panzerwrecks 1. Here, soldiers of the Polish 3rd Carpathian Division pose with the wreck on 17 May 1945. On page 3 the vehicle has been photographed a month later by the Polish 2nd Corps photographer J. Kondracki. Without soldiers climbing on it we can see a stenciled inscription between the driver's and radio operator's hatches which reads : "taken by 6 Gurkha Rifles 14/20th Kings Hussars". The clear view of the turret top and its extra armour shows it to have a hand painted camouflage pattern. 1x MNP, 1x PISM
"
'
"
"
,
"
~J
,
.
11\ " J.' -
t
• 'I
I
I
,
..
'
'"
Pages 5-6: We showed two of these Panzerdraisine on page 16 of Panzerwrecks 1. Information with the photographs gives two locations: Munich and Oachau . The photograph on page 5 portrays the car on the extreme left showing some interesting details such as the tie downs at the bottom of the side armour and the
6
coupling . The photograph on this page was taken by Howard L. Simon of the US 119th AAA Battalion. The turret on the car on the right is the only one with side visors. 1 x W.Auerbach, 1x H.Simon
"'"""""" 1111. linage, taken .,by Sgt. T/4 William Toomey of 't he 3rd 1'111.11 Company, 3rd Us Infa,ntry Division shows the entire 'HI - with four cars. We can only assume that the front car .Kpfw.III Ausf.N turret as the others have. Note the ifferences in the colouring of the cars. D.Toomey
7
OPflofllte page: 13 April 1945, and T/4 Blau of 163 Signal Photo Company, attached This page: The Panzerbeobachtungswagen III, on a rebuilt Au sLG Cl18ssis. sl-,own 'I ~) th Infantry Division shows us the other side of the tank workshop shown on on page 21 of Panzerwrecks 1. With the spare track links missing Irom 1/10 lower 1'''' 1'' II) of Panzerwrecks 1. The turret of the Pz.Kpfw.1I1 has a flange at the base hull front, we can see that Zimmerit was never appli ed to Iho 8 1"00 l"lol"lind th em. LAC Ii 111111 11 111(1 that it had once been fitted to a Tauchpanzer. US Army 1" II1I1
9
Panzerbeobachtungswagen III was equipped with a TSR 1, as shown in Panzerwrecks 1. In addition to this, a TBF 2 observation periscope was fitted on a mounting that allowed elevation and traverse. The periscope came out through a hole in the turret roof protected by an armoured cover. This is shown closed and
open in the two photos on the left. The mount is shown in the main photo, with the elevation handle just visible on the right of the assembly. Also visible - on the extreme left is the mounting for the MG34 in the front face of the turret. Apart from two MP38s, this was its only weaponry. 3x LAC
10
On page 28 of Panzerwrecks 1 we published two images of this Tiger II from s.H.Pz. Abt.507. This is the tank as pictured on 12 April 1945 in the position that US forces found it on the D6rgerstrasse . The image has been published before, but seldom has it been seen full frame . US Army
12
Raymond Hurley, 165th Signal Photo Company points out th e hoi projectile that knocked out the Tiger. It is unlikely that the TigRr was kn position that it was found, as the D6rgerstrasse has only onp. traffic lanc . More likely is that it was moved there by the Werkstatt Kompanie of s. H.Pz. Abt. S07, who had a workshop there. An 8.8cm round leans against the turret. US Army
13
A companion view to those in Panzerwrecks 1 taken outside the Kaiserhof Hotel, some 50 metres from its original position. In the book Krieg in der Heimat, Uwe Saft claims that the Tiger knocked out six US tanks south of the nearby ,~",,,,,,.,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,;, '..-,.•,, ....;;: ~ village of Ohrde. Note that the upper forward set of track hangers on the turret side are missing. NARA . 1
14
11II 1 I 11I 111I 1I 1;.ge pattern on the turret sides and the flattened central mudguard 11111 1111111' ,1 0 bethe Tiger II shown on page 29 of Panzerwrecks 1, but photographed 11 111 11 111111 ()n as the tracks have been removed, probably to reduce the rolling r ,I III! I )dore it was pushed off of the road, As with many wrecks that have
been left a while, it has been plundered by locals and soldiers alike, Considering it was one of the last Tigers that Henschel assembled, it has the earlier 15mm thick rather than the 40mm thick loader's hatch,
(I
15
On page 34 of Panzerwrecks 1 we pictured this Jagdtiger of 2.1s.Pz.Jg.Abt.653 and stated in the caption that it had been part of Kampfgruppe Gbggerle. Subsequently we have learned that it was in fact part of Kampfgruppe Braun . Careful inspection reveals some interesting details such as the tactical number '234' painted around the middle set of track hangers on the superstructure side and the lack of superstructure roof, this explains why the Gis appear to be peering into the vehicle. One GI has clambered in and is standing on the breech, while a tanker shows other Gis the extreme thickness of the armour on the front of the fighting compartment. US .Ar
.... . . f
"";
• '.: t.
.•
~
1 l'"flI O: Th e Jagdtiger was allegedly disabled by a US tank shooting it in the
ilil
is this the hole that the round left in the mudguard? The vehicle has I away from the railway tracks and would eventually be demolished by I llI v • ·l lqineers . The demolition charge left by the German crew has unseated 111 111 til l I )( I plate over the driver's and radio operator's stations. Inset: Another I. hi VI.·w ( " Ihe beast by Stanley Jedynak, Company C, 753rd Tank Battalion . 1x 0.Leonsen, 1x S.Jedynak via C.Bradley II
II I
I'
I.
" " 1' (
II Nixon, Sgt. T.Mc Cutcheon and Trooper I· I Ii ,; Irn ynka (in the driver's seat) of the 11 th 11111I1111 :d Regiment, Ontario Tanks drive the I ill ll ll, 111 VC about. The caption states that II I iJIII I, had been abandoned by the Germans 111 1 I" ;\ lack of gasoline. Both photos were 1<11 11 , II Amersfoort, Netherlands by J. Ernest II! 111 11 1' on 11 May 1945. These vehicles were 111 1,Iller the war by the Royal Netherlands IIII V ,lI ld this vehicle is now preserved at the l"lli II I" Cavalry Collection in Amersfoort , still LAC 111 1111 111 J the German muzzle brake .
h
_,
lU:~;
r,..,.,
This Panzerjaeger 38 fUr 7.5 cm 40/3 (~f) has the dubious honour appearing In Panzerwrecks 1, on paget 42-43 at Utrecht and in Panzerwrec... · 4 on page 80 while at Amersfoort. Panzerwrecks 1 we pointed out armour patch welded to the front the fighting compartment. inspection of the frontal armour in photo shows a circular welded which matches the location of the patch The ammunition racks on the right are empty, as is the radio rack. In t background are a pair of m.zgkw. tonner (Sd. Kfz. 7) Pritschenaufbau an the Munitionspanzer II from pages 47 of Panzerwrecks 1.
'1 11 1 M 1\ . N. Panther on page 79 of Panzerwrecks 1 - but taken much earlier. The 1111 11 II 'l oiS been traversed with the addition of a tow cable, something you will '" I iii
I.
a complete barrel and both Flammenvernichter on the exhausts. The photo was taken by Howard L. Simon of the US 119th A.A.A. Battalion .
iin in this book. In comparison to the previously published image it has
21
ili l Il ll ln
the battle between a US bulldozer and a wrecked Sturmpanzer shown
' 111111" !)9 of Panzerwrecks 1. As it had a short armoured collar on the StuH 43 ,
I', w, I, one of the very first Sturmpanzers to leave the factory and survived Kursk
to be destroyed in Italy. The vehicle would have been reconditioned at the Vienna arsenal before going to Italy. The film was shot on 23 June 1944 near Giuncarico, Italy by Sgt Dieves of 163rd Signal Photo Co. 4x NARA
23
The Elefant that graced page 12 and the rear cover of Panzerwrecks 1. Photographs of the Elefants of 1.1s.Pz.Jg .Abt.653 in Italy are not exactly th ick on the ground, so to find this image is all the more exciting. In fact the image only came to us a few
24
weeks before this book went to press . In comparison to the Panzerwrecks 1 it still has the muzzle brake and both of the drive sprockets.
Iota
ach
)" lI~lg e 96 of Panzerwrecks 1 we showed 5 photographs of 3./SS-Pz. Rgt.12 1" lI lIllers knocked out along the railway line between Norrey en Bessin and i ,, 1' 111 ~ v ille l'Orgeilieuse, courtesy of Sherman VCs of the Canadian Elgin Regiment ' 11 111. I PlAT of the Regina Rifles. The photos on this page and the following two pages Ii Ii 'w one of the tanks before it was rolled over. With the exception of the photo at II ,, · II pper right, all of the photos were taken by Canadian Army photographer Lt I )c)an on 8 July 1944, almost a month after they had been turned into cheese l p . 111 ' IS . In the upper photo an officer measures the thickness of the armour. On l ill'I" 26 Capt G .W. Shepherd examines an item of German clothing and on page . , I I J. Kennedy examines the Panthers coaxial MG34. 4x LAC, 1x l.Archer
25
A lonely looking Tiger photographed by a Canadian technical intelligence team . II's most likely from a training unit activated for combat but left without enough fuel In rn ove, location probably Northern Germany. It has a faded camouflage pattern
over the Dunkelgelb base coat. On this side there appear to be no obvious s of combat; the mudguards are in good condition as are the roadwheels, with chunks out of the tyres. 2x
28
y , ~
=
,~
.. ",
".'"'''.','''~_.i''''',' n,' "
I
A careful look at the turret side, in front of the vision port reveals the remnants of a tactical number which includes a '1' - the rest is indecipherable, despite this there no Balkenkreuz which you would expect to see on the turret or hull sides, The turret escape hatch is missing leaving a gaping hole , LAC
29
The rear view adds a little more to the story. The earth around the Tiger has been disturbed and there are fresh looking track marks, perhaps meaning that this one was a runner. It might go some way to explaining why both military personnel and
civilians alike are to be seen standing around looking at the beast. In addition to missing escape hatch on the right of the picture, the MP port plug is missing.
30
A Panther Ausf.G points its snout at an advancing British artillery unit along the Uedem - Xanten road in late February 1945. The Panther marks the scene of a failed German counter attack in which they apparently lost nine tanks. The turret has been clad in spare tracks and a hand painted roadwheel adorns the turret rear. AP
31
I ' 011 li ller, from 3.1Pz.Rgt.130 was given the once over by a Canadian technical intelligence team , from where Itl lotog raphs originate . The intelligence team were interested in what had stopped the Panther as some of III pi /I tlos show small calibre scars in the armour next to the driver and on the turret side . The small image on III il t II II of this page appears to show a war wound underneath the mantlet - note the arrow. The Germans had 1111111111,' <1 recovery as tow cables are attached to the rear towing points. 7x LAC 11 111 11
33
Bridge meets tank. 14 April 1945 and the pipe bridge on Westervoortsedijk, Arnhem collapsed onto a Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H. The tank had belonged to a company from Pz.Ers.Rgt.Bielefeld attached to Kampfgruppe Knaust. Although not visible here, the vehicle had been knocked out by three hits to the front setting it on fire - note
the burnt, generally rubberless roadwheels. It is shown here being examined personnel of the Canadian Essex Regiment. Recommended further reading on subject is Marcel Zwarts' German Armored Units atArnhem, published by Co
34
A little further along Westervoortsedijk at the junction with Vlijtstraat, and 1110 soldiers clamber over a cannibalised Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G, again from the PZ.Ers. Rgt.Bielefeld . Since its destruction in September 1944 and until Arnhem's liberation much has been removed - like the engine. A fire has left the roadwheels without rubber and left scorch marks over the hull. Penetrations can be seen on the driver's side visor, the drive sprocket and just under the turret escape hatch . The gun barrel appears to have a large dent in it too . In the background is the tank shown on the previous page. LAC
Men of Co.B, 129th Ordnance Battalion go for a joyride on a Tiger II captured near Gereonsweiler, Germariy on 15 December '1944. The tank had belonged to s.H.Pz.Abt.606. The photos below show the hole made by an Allied round that jammed the turret (showing the base of the', number 2) anid the vehicle being ,4x NARA prepared .
36
To free the turret the ordnance crew used a little gentle persuasion in the shape of M1A1 wrecker. A chain was looped around the gun barrel and attached to the wrecker, then it was a case of pulling . Both still and motion picture cameramen captured the scene. 3x USMA
37
III I II ,, ' turret pointing at 12 o 'clock the Tiger is offo Cloths with white stars I . !cn draped o'n both sides of the turret and on the glacis plate , just 1( 01 f he iriset photo on page 40 shows the partof the tactical number ( i I I on the :Ieft turret side, the crewman in the radio operator's hatch jll1111l ltig the number 2.. 2x NARA I fll
,.
•
0
39
Opposite page, inset: If only the GI in the radio operator's position had put his head down we would have seen the whole tactical number. This page: This is probably the best known image of the tank and is certainly the clearest. A chalked on inscription on the Topfblende reads : "Danger mined", the same inscription can be seen on the loader's hatch . 2x NARA, 1x US Army
41
The only clear view of the right side of the Tiger. Unfortunately the GI standing on the tank is obscures part of the tactical number although the hole under the turret bustle where the US round penetrated is visible between his legs. One of the
42
inscriptions on the mudguard reads "Roll 6" - perhaps it was used by the m picture cameramen instead of a clapper board? Note the air recognition panel the roof and the cloth with white star on the rear of the turret. US
I'W' ile !r/Beeck area, Germany, 6 January 1945 II!) n of the 327th Combat Engineer Battalion, 111'11' I Infantry Division prepare a Pz.Kpfw IV Ausf.H Ie II 'Illolition so as to deny the Germans its use as 1111111" in the event of a counter attack. USMA l it!
I"
43
Left: Pte. Elvin Davis passes Cpl. Robert McCord a box of TNT who is loading the tank with explosives. The white 'D' presumably stands for demolition. Note the penetrations in the side and the spare roadwheel, minus tyre, in front of the driver's ide visor. Given the location, the tanks were probably knocked out in the last week
of November 1944 and most likely belonged to II.ISS-Pz.Rgt.10 who lost their last 4 Pz.Kpfw.IVs west of Linnich. Right: T/5 Wilson Current and 1st Robert Flanagen fasten blocks of TNT around the gun barrel
44
1111 11 ,r(~ and after? Not quite, as they appear to show different vc; llicles. The plume
,d '.r rloke in the background is from a disabled US tank destroyer and German tank. 1111 , I 'z.Kpfw IV turret in the lower photo has extra armour or one o f its side skirts on 11 '1) II 10 f. 1x US Army, 1x USMA '"
Ii:' ,;1
.,
,:~
.~~~ ...~
1t._'"
....
."
._~,,::o::::-' _~;
""'or'·
~
.,....
...... :!~W-:...
45
'".. ,,·r
r ....~·"-' _
" ,•....",
.......""...,...,...
_
",' '''
A G I of 448th AAA Battalion , 35th Infantry Division poses atop a knocked out Pz. IV Ausf.J of 6.1Pz. Rgt.130 in Marvie, Belgium. It had been part of Kampfgruppe (also known as Kampfgruppe von Hauser) which attacked Marvie on the morning of December 1944, losing four Pz.Kpfw.IVs to the tanks of Combat Team O'Hara and 2 L.Arr-h_ Battalion 327th Glider Regiment.
46
f\ I I. d<panzer Wirbelwind on a Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G chassis at the war's It carries a tactical number of '036' which is repeated on the front
111 111
I ili l l . ,ide, in front of the Balkenkreuz. Unusually it has a retaining rail ti l ll il id the engine deck, purpose unknown . Even more unusual is 1111 ' I II lit insignia of a wolf's head on the turret front, and next to it 1,1,1 1\. II looks to be the rhomboid tactical sign for a Pz.Jg.Abt. Despite 11 1I1 ( II research by ourselves and our colleagues, we have not been Ii II, 10 positively identify the unit. L.Archer
.. • A Hummel belonging to I./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt.2, 2.SS Panzer-Division sits in a Russian display of captured vehicles after the failure of Operation Zitadelle - the unit insignia visible on the opened rear door. It has been short tracked to facilitate recovery, but the idler wheel has been somehow moved much further back than normal. The idler
mounting plate can be seen as a darker coloured rectangle on the lower hull s Also noteworthy are marks left by the spare tracks on the side of the supe and the mark left on the gun barrel by the travel lock.
48
" Iii il ly image taken from an intelligence report of a Hummel munitions carrier, IIIII 'i wise known as GeschOtzwagen III/IV fOr Munition. Unlike the Hummel opposite Ilii l II;lCks have been removed - one is lying next to the vehicle. In the background
are RSO/01. The mounts for a gun travel lock are on the bottom of the glacis plate, should it be reconfigured as an armed Hummel. It has a different pattern drive sprocket to the Hummel on page 48. US Army
49
In 1941, German armies storming into the Ukraine trapped and destroyed strong Russian forces in and around the city of Uman. In 1944, the Russians returned the favour: they pierced through the overextended German lines, out maneuvered
50
their surprised opponents, and inflicted losses so heavy the Germans were fOil to retreat westward.
·
I'""I V captured by Red Army at Uman, ancient Ukrainian city. Streets jammed
1111 ,11:;abled German material of seven panzer, seven infantry, and one artillery Ilvl' .1I 1I 1S ." So reads the pithy caption for the photos on pages 50 - 55 from a film 111111" ,1, "Polish Army in the USSR," created byThe Central Newsreel Studio. Uman "lI lfI il le Russians on March 9th, 1944. This dark faced Tiger I, number '212', may
.
have been located in Potash, 24km north east of Uman. This Tiger is actually in line behind the Tiger '221 ' on page 52 but was relocated here for emphasis . Early and late versions of the Tiger I litter an assembly area. A roofless Panther Ausf.A gives pause, as the roof pl ate was welded , not bolted, to the side and rear armour. 4x NARA
/\IIIt()lIql) we do not have a positive ID, the numbering on these Tiger I's is similar I, ) IIII J IlIlIni1c ring of vehicles of s.Pz.Abt.503, the heavy tank unit that spearheaded 11111 Illlilll fl lilHllpl ()Il the pocket near Cherkassy in February 1944. The amount of
52
firepower sidelined by attrition in these battles was staggering . Aside from mis~i. the wheels and tracks, Tiger '221' has suffered an internal explosion blowing commander's hatch off of its swing arm . 4x N
lit iseasonably warm winter temperatures from January to March 1944 brought wet snows and rains to the region, leaving the Germans mired down in thick mud while III1 ·ir adversaries maneuvered. Instead of being able to rest and replenish behind static winter defensive lines, the Germans were forced to fight for their lives. The !lllstant rushing of fire brigades from one sector to another in such terrain burned fuel at astonishing rates and exhausted men and machines alike.
I
Although needing repairs, the Tigers, Panthers and self propelled guns that litter the landscape are essentially intact (note the ammo still in situ in the G.w. 38 fOr s.I.G.33/1 (Sf) (Sd .Kfz.138/1), however the poor quality of the images makes exact identification of each AusfOhrung impossible. 2x NARA
A Panther Ausf.A, Maultier and 3.7cm Flak36 minus barrel left behind in the withdrawal. The Panther has been liberally clad in extra tracks on the turret and on the mid section of the hull , covering some tools in the process. A small pile of NARA tracks lies on the engine deck*.
brace for the tripod of a sMG . Compare view of the radiator on the left with the on page 76.
54
A I !l lssian horseman visits a Pz.Kpfw.IV stashed between two outer buildings (we I" ·II! ~ve it's an Ausf.H based on the upright position of the 'c' clamps on the fender). 1\ IlIl rnt out Panther Ausf.A lies in front (upper right and lower left photos). In the
lower right photo , a Panther Ausf.A in good order, with a complete set of SchOrzen awaits its fate.
55
· .....,
JII
Frozen scenes, and narration, from another Russian newsreel: "liquidation of surrounded German divisions in the region Korsun-Shevchenkovski (aka pocket near Cherkassy) . As a result of the attack of the forces of the Second Ukrainian Front, from a region north of Kirovograd , and the troops of the First Ukrainian Front, from southeast of Belaya Tserkov, a penetration of German defenses was
56
...
If",,;
accomplished, and a large group of German-Fascist forces was surrounded n(11 of the line Zrenigorodka-Shpula. With this operation the Russian armies fol'( a steel ring around ten German divisions and one brigade." Top photo: Stue Ausf.G with its roof armour placed upside down over its gun and a 'Wespe'. photos: StuG III Ausf.G and Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G . 4x NAR
It
III III! ~ 11I11t ,' .1 11 11 111
,'F .
vicinity of the village Pochentsi. Here, during the last days of the battle, Yelistratov." On this page a Panzerjag er 38 fOr 7.5clII Pcll, tJO/:1 (:;d.K r/ . I::W) /\u:;f.
1,000 Germans made a desperate attempt to break out of the ring around H with missing side armour and the remains of ; t I)ic:ycl o.
Their mad counter-attacks were smashed by the battalion of Captain
57
Til Ivoid needless bloodshed, the Soviet command on 8 February 1944 1'1I 1I" 'l lted an ultimatum to the command of the trapped forces in th e Korsun Iii II Lhenkovski region, suggesting the cessation of fighting. The command ers 1"1 IlIlcd the terms. Annihilation of the trapped enemy continues without mercy. s the condemned enemy counter-attacked repeatedly in out of the encirclerrient. Tighter and tighter closes the ri ng of
the Soviet infantry. The last few soldiers - all that remains of the Eighth German Army - are killed or captured. Among the dead German soldiers and officers lies the commander of the Eleventh German Army Corps, General of Artillery, Wilhelm Stemmerman." Among the detritus left behind is a Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F or G and a 7.62cm FK297(r).
,
.H
'"
., ,I i.
~." ~
:1;'
III
"Itt'
....
,. .
.~ r
•
59
j
~
II III I I' Itlp: II L:::cr 38 and the Bergepanzerwagen III have been published before, 11\1 oIy III I ';lIluu's Battle of the Bulge Then and Now. With the addition of the photo Ii 1111 I !rlllU w (~ ca n see that they were just a few metres away from each other. 1111 I" Ifl l l )( 1' : Iplts woro l
cargo area. The object hanging over the rear is part of the water cooling system connected to the radiator. An explosion has blown away much of the back of the Jagdpanzer, leaving just the heavy glacis plate and gun mount. A white 'w' marking is just visible on the one remaining front mudguard . 2x USAF
61
.,.
.......:. ~ t . .
---
.--::?
Assuming that the Bergepanzerwagen and the Jagdpanzer are from the same unit, it is likely that they are from either 9. or 26 .Volksgrenadier-Division, both of whom retreated through Hosingen and were equipped with a company of Jagdpanzer 38s. The 2. and 9.Panzer-Division and 15.Panzergrenadier-Division also went through
Hosingen, but were not equipped with the Jagdpanzer 38. The Bergepanzerwag( III has been painted in a fashion not dissimilar to that of many Jagdpanzer 38s, light flecks over the camouflage pattern .
62
ill
I1I 1
I
III
II
I'
I
II
I
( .I:; from 119th AAA Gun Battalion are distracted from looking over a Bergepanther
IIII'Y have found at the side of a road "somewhere in the ETO". Just in front of the 1'1II 'ned engine hatch is one of the poles for the derrick which could be mounted on
either side of the vehicle. The ARV lacks the r OCfllfli l Y tll ll l( II) li ll ili ll il l! !1 I JlnI · I III 1111 I
background is the Gis mode of tra nsport; , In M il 111(/ 11 : i jl 'l l il l I n iL li II I I !r Il l( 1I 1I1 It Iwll iU
the 90mm anti aircraft gun. Il. t'!t !1I11I
63
Put out of action by a house. This Tiger I of s.Pz.Abt.(FKL) 301 knocked out a T26E3 Pershing of the US 3rd Armored Division, killing two of the crew on 26 February 1945. While trying to withdraw it backed into the ruins of a building and h;ld to be abandoned . The Tiger has a rain guard over the coaxial MG aperture in
the mantlet. Note the M4 Sherman at the end of the street. These two phO+f""Inr
64
I II ', If view of the stricken Tiger show one of the reasons we believe it belonged to I ' 1\1Jt.(FKL) 301, and not s.H.Pz.Abt.506 as claimed in some other publications. II I IIlI les a fuel or 'jerry' can on the side of the turret bin, together with what looks 111," .I lire extinguisher - a distinctive feature of the Tigers of s.Pz.Abt.(FKL) 301 ,
11"
who were fighting in the villages west of Elsdorf. Til e 111l'l'n 11JlIIII! lIi1 ': 1( 1I ' III I II ill iii )" on the turret bin. Further down the street an M1 S ill jl lil fli ' lilli", Iii" iii II 1/I 111 1111 111111 and possibly another even furthnr dowr, P":11 11111 1; 111
65
A SturmgeschUtz III Ausf.G photographed by a Canadian Technical Intelligence somewhere in Northern Germany, around February 1945 judging by the lack of fol on the trees. It has the welded mantlet with coaxial MG, a uncommon combinati The front right superstructure has single 80mm armour plate, which replaced the + 30mm plate combination in mid 1944. 2x
66
!
I:
,.,
IIl1 ing in close shows some interesting details such as the field modified pivoting ld Illrzen, like the ones on page 68 of Panzerwrecks 3. These are mounted to the Iil lwkets along the fenders using bolts rather than spit pins, and all four corners of 111 11 :11 panel are chamfered . The loader's hatch has been left in the position for loading
the MG34 in its Rundumfeuer mount. By leaving this hatch in the vertical position he was offered some protection while loading the weapon . The SturmgeschOtz has a lot of dirt on its upper surface perhaps indicating air or artillery attack. The inset photo shows the breech of the StuK40 gun. 2x LAC
67
1/"·
,,
,\
Looking like it has been stamped on by the god of war, this flattened Sturmgeschutz III Ausf.G has left no damage to the surrounding buildings. Maybe it has been picked apart by scavengers or was blown apart nearby and shunted to this pOSition . It is a late production example with field modified pivoting Schurzen , which can be seen in the photo on page 69 . The fighting compartment roof is lying at the rear
of the vehicle where we can clearly see the Pilze for the Behelfskran . The gun sitting inside the fighting compartment, which is upside down. During prod the number of internal supports holding up the rear armour was reduced from 4 2. Compare the 4 bolts on the rear armour of this vehicle with the 12 bolts on rear of the Bergepanzerwagen III on page 61/62. 2x L.Arch
68
en
to
Pfc Harry J. Tressel examines a Pz.Kpfw. T.K.S. abandoned in Camp de Bitche, France on 17 March 1945. The tankette has received a coating of Dunkelgelb paint, some of which has scratched off revealing a darker colour underneath , possibly
Dunkelgrau . The Balkenkreuz on the rear of the fighting compartment is obviou but there is another on the side, part of which can be seen above the opened vi US Aron" .
70
I II
I~I
I' f\ GI from 461 st AAA Battalion, 69th Infantry Division snapped an unusual vehicle
lor the ETO in 1945: a T48 57mm Gun Motor Carriage. Although designed to a Ilritish requirement, the majority were delivered to the Soviet Union where they were dp-signated SU-57, only 30 were delivered to Britain . Thankfully the Germans had
the forethought to apply some clear markings to the halftrack, making identification simple 60 years on. It belonged to 14 Kompanie, Grenadier Regiment 105 of 72 .lnfanterie-Division , whose cross emblem is above the stencilling. It has received a full German camouflage scheme and a fresh Balkenkreuz. L.Archer
71
,
~
, ('I..> '.
·r
' '1t
-...
,
......... •
~'
''\
--.
.~ ~.'~,':;: >- :
.~
'i'~.'b"
¥
.
'
•
•
.......... --:- , ...... \._
.....
...................
...., '
"
.... ' \ - '
. '
1'':--' :",
A fresh looking gentleman in a tired chassis from an early m.S.P.w. (7.Scm K) (Sd. Kfz.2S1/9). Known as the H KI 6 P chassis, it was the basis for the entire Sd .Kfz.2S1 series of mittlere Schutzenpanzerwagen. The early series had the octagonal radiator
~, . ",
~
j .. . .
L
.,
'"""" "'""
,~ ' ~ '1'~,-~' "":.;
\l,~
...
................
"' "'$
and bump stops for all the swing arms. Note the low seat and inverted steering wheel and the missing outer road wheel at the back. Without the armoured bodywork, the TTM torsion bars give the suspension more lift.
72
11 0m David Fletcher at the Tank Museum: "The location was a place called Ottariano Italy which was the home of the Mechanical Warfare Experimental Establishment (MI::F) from May 1944 until the end of the war. Whether what you see here is II :,erious trial or just playing about I leave it to you to guess! This MWEE was III
a Mediterranean branch of the establishment at Chertsey and its main task was testing equipment, mainly Allied but some enemy, and dreaming up new ideas."
73
TIM
'tl.,1t "",-,"
"!.
Our host uses an 'Andrehkurbel ', or starter crank on the high performance Maybach HL 42 engine, which, judging from the lack of a muffler, is going to be LOUD. The
. ~' ,
~,;,
,,,""
,
:. :.,,, ,
. ~ ':\:....\ I
.
..
..
.'
1,.
,"
..' \. "'lb.".';; '.' lIt...~;.
,
' ,,,'
"'r
Sherman V in the background appears to be undergoing some sort of testing well. TTM
74
rile driver is lost in a cloud of dust and fumes as the 'test' begins. In this reClr vi ew we see the passenger seated on the pedestal built to hold the mount for the
(missing) 7.5cm Kanone 37 U24. In the background is a US built M9 trailer, usually part of the M19 tank transporter. TTM
75
The images on pages 76 to 19 come from a film clip captioned "Ruhr poCI(I'\ payoff, near Menden, Germany", Inset photos: Two weaponless 2cm Flak :\11 'auf Sfl (Sd.Kfz ,10/5) lead remnants of the German Army out of the Ruhr pockel l11 Spring of 1945. Note the GI riding shotgun and the variation in headlamp and rilli . rack configurations. 'Main photo: Using any means of transportation availablll these German troops make use of a D7p chassis from a le.S.P.w. (Sd.Kfz.2S0) 3x NARA
While the driver concentrates on the task at hand, the others watch the ·cameraman . Note the siren, 'inverted steering whe~l, and limited vision over the . NARA '9ash'. At least they have a mt;Jffler,.
77
"'
--
-
.
I
-
~~
A le .Beobachtungspanzerwagen (Sd .Kfz.250/5) Ausf.B belonging to the Stab of SS GruppenfOhrer Carl von POckler-Burghaus that was destroyed in a night fight with Ru ssian forces on the Cimelice-Orlfk road, Czechoslovakia on 12(!) May 1945. With the front wheel removed we get to see the steering and suspension components, the
outer roadwheels of the suspension have disappeared too. The armoured box 011 the hull side protected the ceramic insulator base for the extra radio equipment. Th inverted 'V' shaped object poking out of the fighting compartment is the bracket to steady SF 14 Z scissors telescope. VHU
80
Willch is the most dangerous ; the WI' !stier or the tank? Famous US WI(!stler Bozo Miller (Frank Hickey) I II I';es in front of a Pz.Kpfw.38(t) I\l lsf.A at a weapons dump. The 1,II Ik has replacement tracks with I recess in the track horn. The u ilnmanders periscope is missing Il llln its armoured housing - visible l'I '1 1ind the cupola. By the fact 111;lt he is stripped and there are " !,Ives on the trees, the photo was 1II I)bably taken in the summer of I! )45 as the tank and the Pz. Kpfw.1 III the background still look quite II I!sh. Another Pz.Kpfw.38(t) with II J(! tactical number '252' painted in 11 11) same fashion is shown on page ', of Steven Zaloga 's Panzers in the L.Archer ( ;IInsights.
( )n 25 December 1944 Kampfgruppe Maucke, consisting of 17 or 18 tanks of 2. ;iJld 3.1Pz.Abt.115 and infantry from Pz.Gren.Rgt.115, attacked the US 327th Glider " lfantry Regiment's lines around Champs, Belgium. The photographs were taken by I d Bonde of 35th Engineer (Combat) Battalion on 15 January 1945, his diary entry I I)ads: "January 15th. Swede, Bruce & I went to Champs north of Bastogne. Took I )ictures in Bastogne. Found one beat up trailer, full of bullet holes. Took pictures of
a few destroyed tanks, glider & C47. Very much wrecked equipment everywhere. All in a ruin on outskirts of Bastogne. Many wrecked gliders everywhere. Bastogne was quite a mess. Many PWs coming in . Dead still lying around. Had load of mines & TNT on our truck. Could hear MGs plain." The caption for this photo indicates that the two Sturmgeschutz III Ausf.G, from 2.1Pz.Abt.115, we see here were : "knocked out by road mines". 2x A.Bonde
83
More Kampfgruppe Maucke detritus in the shape of a disembowelled Pz.Kpfw.IV Au sf.J from 3.1Pz .Abt.115. With the turret and superstructure at such a jaunty angle it would seem likely that the ammunition has cooked off. The exact purpose of the large bracket on the turret SchOrzen is unknown. The main image on page 85 has been pu blished before , but seldom with such clarity. Like the famous 'Lustmolch '
that broke through into Champs, it had carried spare tracks on the drivers frolll plate and had at least one kill to its credit as shown by the kill ring on the barrel The inset photo shows the wreck taken by a 101 st Airborne vet - just visible in tho background is a SturmgeschOtz, perhaps one of the examples on the previou ~i pages. 1x A.Bonde, 1 x L.Archer, 1x US Army
84
Th e following sequence of photos was taken by a photographer from the 1. Dywizji Pancernej - Polish 1st Armoured Division at the Krupp proving ground in Meppen at th e end of the war. At least six Maus hulls, or Wanne, were fabricated by Krupp ssen before the cancellation of the program on 27 July 1944. The 161 W
86
6 marking on the top right (the rear of the vehicle) could mean that it is Wanno number 6. With the Wanne on its side we get to see that the roof armour under tho turret was fabricated from four plates.
Another view of the same Wanne. The hatch at the front of the vehicle served the Ilriver and radio operator, who were separated from the rest of the crew in the Ill rret by the engine. This in turn powered two electric motors situated in the rear
compartments via a generator. The small openings in the roof in front of the hatch opening are for the driver's and radio operator's vision devices - note the large cut out in the top of the glacis plate in front of the driver's periscope. PISM
87
The rear of the three Maus Wanne. The rear plates had five studs that would eventually mount the extra fuel tank and two smaller studs above each track, rllrpose unknown. A single tow point was fixed into the hole on the lower rear plillc, in addition to holes cut into the hull side armour - where the soldier is resting
88
his hand. This unique view gives us a look at the bottom of the span sons where w( can see curved track guides on the rearmost Wanne to stop the track from fouling . This is similar to that seen on the Elefant on page 12 of Panzerwrecks 1. The middle Wanne does not have these fitted. PISM
And so to the front. The two holes in the lower nose were for tow points, and visible on the underside of the middle Wanne is the driver's and radio operator's emergency escape hatch. Eagle eyed readers will have spotted the marking 192
W 4 on the middle example, on one of the front plates indicating that it is probably Wanne 4. The three soldiers are standing on upturned turrets.
89
A better view of the turrets; three in total. The thickness of the armour (200mm on the sides and rear) is quite evident here, note the chamfers on the edges and the massive interlocks between the armour plates . The holes in the rear plates were
90
for a small hatch for loading ammunition. In centre of the hatch was a MP port for self defence. PISM
The three turrets from the front. Unfortunately the writing on the upper surface is not legible enough to make a great deal of sense, but it looks to start with the numbers 205. 205 was the Porsche project number for the Maus and all the
engineering drawings started with this number. The middle turret has had the front plate machined, compare it to the turret in the foreground .
91
This is the same turret as seen on the previous page. The significance of the painted square is unknown, these are present on the other turrets and hulls. It is not marking the position for the coaxial MG, as that was mounted on the opposite
92
side of the turret. The cut out in what would be the bottom of the turret, as mounted on the tank, was presumably for the turret traverse mechanism. PISM
Was the gun spiked or was it a faulty round? We think the former. Bulgarian soldiers perhaps ponder the same question as they look over the remains of a 7.5cm Pak 40 auf SfLlI in Hungary. With the gunshield, one side of the fighting compartment gone and the Pak40 barrel on the ground it takes on quite a different look. It has twin K.F.F.2 driving periscopes and the 'Tarnklappe ' cover for the headlamp is on the left side of the glacis plate. Barely visible is the tactical number '131' on the driver's front plate.
MPAB
A three quarter view of the same vehicle. At least one of the ammunition bins over the engine deck has been blown off by the explosion - one of the mounting brackets is visible on the rear fender. The explosion that blew off the barrel also left
a large hole in the carriage of the Pak 40. The bracket on top of the side armour is for mounting an MG34. The Bulgarian soldier in the foreground is armed with a MPAB captured German MP40.
94
f he following series of photos shows another 7.5cm Pak 40 auf Sfl.ll , which had been knocked out by a round through the front of the fighting compartment Uust by the lJalkenkreuz) and its subsequent destruction by the Bulgarian Army. The main photo
shows the vehicle before destruction ; the ammunition bins overthe engine deck have been blown away and the paint on the side of the fighting compartment has been MPAB damaged by the heat of a fire .
95
-'
/
I!Hri.
\',;'"
I'
..
"I
.
-""1",,~
I he explosion made quite a mess; breaking off chunks off armour on the front ,lt1d rearranging the back end, exposing the engine in the process. The vehicle is Iitought to belong to 2.!Pz.Jg.Abt.297 of 297.lnfanterie-Division and be located in I lungarian village of Dravaszabolcs like the vehicle on page 72 of Panzerwrecks
~ -
2. When comparing the two vehicles we can't help but notice that the same chunk of armour on the corer of the drivers compartment has been blown away. A weak point perhaps? 5x MPAB
