U-Boat Bridge Watch

This color photo was taken by Kriegsberichter Garms in 1942. It shows a “Brückenwache” (Bridge Watch) in the conning tower after a storm, still wearing their rubber things. In addition to the four lookouts, the Obersteuermann (first mate) may be seen behind the periscope with the sextant preparing for a “Sonne zu Schießen” (sun shot). He was responsible for accurate navigation and took every opportunity to use the sun to determine the boat’s position. Only the commander and the Obersteuermann were allowed to enter the resulting position on the map. The color photo also documents an interesting detail undetectable in black-and-white photos, namely the very different colors of the rubber clothing, from beige to pale green to dark green.

Source :
U-Boot im Focus - ediiton no.3, 2008

A Long-Range Fighter-Bomber Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5

A rarely-photographed Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5/U8. The Fw 190 A-5 was manufactured from November 1942 until August 1943. The U8 conversion was a long-range fighter-bomber (Jabo-Rei). Beneath each wing is a 300-l fuel tank on a so-called “Ju 87 Rack”. The tanks were not jettisonable and seriously reduced the aircraft’s maximum speed, consequently this type of rack was not put into production. Beneath the fuselage is an ETC 501, which could accommodate a bomb or auxiliary fuel tank. When this rack was fitted, it was standard practice to lengthen the mainwheel fairings to at least partly replace the missing wheel well doors. The MG FF cannon in the outer wings and the fuselage-mounted MG 17 machine-guns were removed, and armament was limited to two MG 151 cannon in the wing roots. Note the unusual red underside of the engine cowling. The photograph was taken in the summer of 1943, however the unit to which the aircraft belonged is not known. It has a factory-applied camouflage scheme of RLM 74/75/76 supplemented by patches of 74/75 on the fuselage sides. Photo by Hauptmann Rolf Schödter

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus", Spezial No.1 - 2003

Refuelling of Messerschmitt Bf 109

In the summer of 1940, Major Adolf Galland’s III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter” was based at Caffiers airfield east of Calais, from where it flew missions over England. There III./JG 26’s technical officer, Hauptmann Rolf Schödter, took a series of color photographs. This photo depict the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 “Weiße 13”, flown by Leutnant Walter Blume of 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / JG 26. The four black victory bars on the rudder date the photograph between 25 July 1940 (Blume’s 4th victory) and 15 August 1940 (when Leutnant Blume was lost). Also in evidence are the yellow identity markings introduced by Luftflotte 2 at the beginning of August, which were applied to the wingtips and outer horizontal stabilizers and, in some cases, the top of the rudder. The presence of these yellow markings suggest that the photographs must have been taken in the first two weeks of August. With the repair completed, a member of the ground crew fills the glycol tank of “Weiße 13”. Note the red servicing instructions applied by band beneath the filler point: “Füllung… 50% Wasser, 50% Glycol, 1.5% Schutzöl” (Filling… 50% Water, 50% Glycol, 1.5% Preservative Oil). The bullet hole is clearly visible in the machine-gun cover in the foreground. The shape of the hole shows that the bullet came from behind. Also note the Geschwader emblem of JG 26 and the black spinner. Strangely the work is being watched by a civilian in overalls (possibly a team member of Profesor Kurt Tank, Focke-Wulf’s chief designer).

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus", Spezial No.1 - 2003

Messerschmitt Bf 109 Flown by Leutnant Walter Blume

In the summer of 1940, Major Adolf Galland’s III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter” was based at Caffiers airfield east of Calais, from where it flew missions over England. There III./JG 26’s technical officer, Hauptmann Rolf Schödter, took a series of color photographs. This photo depict the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 “Weiße 13”, flown by Leutnant Walter Blume of 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / JG 26. The four black victory bars on the rudder date the photograph between 25 July 1940 (Blume’s 4th victory) and 15 August 1940 (when Leutnant Blume was lost). Also in evidence are the yellow identity markings introduced by Luftflotte 2 at the beginning of August, which were applied to the wingtips and outer horizontal stabilizers and, in some cases, the top of the rudder. The presence of these yellow markings suggest that the photographs must have been taken in the first two weeks of August. The yellow identity markings on “Weiße 13” are clearly visible in this view. Note how haphazardly the painting was done! For example, application of the rudder triangle resulted in significant overspray on the vertical stabilizer. Also of interest is the marked difference between the yellow of the identity markings and the yellow of the octane triangle. The yellow used to apply the identity markings is more orange in color. This color often looks the same as red in black and white photographs, and in the past this has led to errors in interpretation. Note, too, the small tactical number, typical in size and shape for III./JG 26. Visible beneath the port wingtip is the engine cowling bearing the heart emblem of 7. Staffel. On the rudder may be seen four victory bars, the first two red and the last two black. This is surprising, as all of Blume’s victories came against the RAF in the West. The markings above the bars are not cockades, but circles in which the date of each victory was recorded. The aircraft wears the standard 1940 camouflage finish. Note the feeble attempt to hide the wing crosses with straw. The presence of straw on the ground suggests that this was a regular practice. In the background is the Gruppe’s Klemm 35, also camouflaged with straw. On 18 September 1940, several days after this photograph was taken, Leutnant Walter Blume was shot down by Hurricanes of No. 32 Squadron near Canterbury during a mission over England in “Weiße 13”. He was seriously injured in the ensuing crash-landing and the aircraft largely destroyed. Blume returned to Germany in a prisoner exchange in 1943 and resumed operational flying, recording another 14 victories by the end of the war.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus", Spezial No.1 - 2003

Two VII C Boats are Frozen in the Ice

Although East and West Prussia were used to severe winters on account of their continental climate, the winter of 1941-42 broke all records for cold. In mid-January 1942 frigid Siberian air streamed through an enormous high-pressure area over Russia and into Northern Europe. Overnight, temperatures in the East- and West-Prussian Baltic ports fell to more than 20 degrees below zero. In a very short time everything became frozen in ice, including the U-Boat arm’s training base. The U-Boat flotillas in Danzig, Pillau and Gotenhafen were forced to suspend practical training on U-Boats. Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) Otto Elwert, an instructor in the 2. Unterseeboote-Lehrdivision (ULD, 2nd Submarine Training Division) in Gotenhafen, captured the 22. U-Flottille’s predicament in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft on Agfa color slide film. These two VII C boats are also frozen in the ice. As the 22. U-Flottille had only one VII C boat when the photo was taken, these may have been boats undergoing acceptance trials. The thickness of the jutting ice sheets shows that the ship was initially able to break through the ice themselves, but that the severe cold then caused the floes to freeze into a solid pack.

Source :
  "U-Boot im Focus", editon no.2 - 2007

German Submarines in the Frozen Harbor of Gotenhafen

Although East and West Prussia were used to severe winters on account of their continental climate, the winter of 1941-42 broke all records for cold. In mid-January 1942 frigid Siberian air streamed through an enormous high-pressure area over Russia and into Northern Europe. Overnight, temperatures in the East- and West-Prussian Baltic ports fell to more than 20 degrees below zero. In a very short time everything became frozen in ice, including the U-Boat arm’s training base. The U-Boat flotillas in Danzig, Pillau and Gotenhafen were forced to suspend practical training on U-Boats. Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) Otto Elwert, an instructor in the 2. Unterseeboote-Lehrdivision (ULD, 2nd Submarine Training Division) in Gotenhafen, captured the 22. U-Flottille’s predicament in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft on Agfa color slide film. The photo show the German submarines frozen in the ice. At that time the 22. U-Flottille had 18 training boats, the U-8, U-14, U-19, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-78, U-137, U-138, U-139, U-140, U-142, U-143, U-145, U-146, U-149 and U-150. All were type II boats except for the U-178, which was a VI C. This photo depicts the harbor basin area in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft. The vessel wearing the five-color camouflage scheme is the submarine escort ship Erwin Wassner (next to the Erwin Wassner are three Type II training boats of the 22. U-Flottille, frozen fast in the ice). Commissioned as the “Gran Canaria” on 21 January 1938, it was purchased by the Kriegsmarine in 1938. After conversion, on 29 March 1939 it entered service as Erwin Wassner. A First World War U-boat commander and wearer of the Pour le Mérite, Erwin Wassner had served as military attaché in London with the rank of Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) prior to his death in 1937. Following the outbreak of war, F.d.U. (Führer der Unterseeboote) Karl Dönitz and his staff used the Erwin Wassner as a command ship until November 1939 when the operations staff, which had been reorganized as B.d.U. (Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote) in October, moved to Sengwarden near Wilhelmshaven. Kapitän zur See Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, departmental head of the B.d.U. organization, who was in charge of the entire supply organization, remained on board the Erwin Wassner. That is probably why Friedeburg was in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft with the Erwin Wassner in early 1942. During the night of 23-24 July 1944 the ship was sunk by bombs dropped in an RAF night raid on Kiel.

Source :
 "U-Boot im Focus", editon no.2 - 2007

U-Boats Stranded in the Frozen Port

Although East and West Prussia were used to severe winters on account of their continental climate, the winter of 1941-42 broke all records for cold. In mid-January 1942 frigid Siberian air streamed through an enormous high-pressure area over Russia and into Northern Europe. Overnight, temperatures in the East- and West-Prussian Baltic ports fell to more than 20 degrees below zero. In a very short time everything became frozen in ice, including the U-Boat arm’s training base. The U-Boat flotillas in Danzig, Pillau and Gotenhafen were forced to suspend practical training on U-Boats. Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) Otto Elwert, an instructor in the 2. Unterseeboote-Lehrdivision (ULD, 2nd Submarine Training Division) in Gotenhafen, captured the 22. U-Flottille’s predicament in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft on Agfa color slide film. The photos show the German submarines frozen in the ice. At that time the 22. U-Flottille had 18 training boats, the U-8, U-14, U-19, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-78, U-137, U-138, U-139, U-140, U-142, U-143, U-145, U-146, U-149 and U-150. All were type II boats except for the U-178, which was a VI C. The 2nd ULD was established in June 1940 and it began training operations at Gotenhafen base on 1 November 1940. Its first commander was 39-year-old Fregattenkapitän Werner Hartmann, who had received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Crosses) on 9 May 1940 after successfully commanding the U-37. Hartmann came from Crew 21 and his age and success made him an ideal training unit commander, but in November 1941 he handed command over to Fregattenkapitän der Reserve Ernst Hashagen. He was not from the new generation of U-boat commanders, having commanded the UB-21 and U-62 in the First World War. Also under the command of 2. ULD was the 22. U-Flottille under Korvettenkapitän Wilhelm Ambrosius. This flotilla, which was responsible for practical training, was established in January 1940. The 2. ULD was responsible for training U-boat crews and submarine officers. Command courses were also given there. Personnel trained on engines, weapons and torpedoes in the 2. ULD’s training buildings. As a rule, the courses lasted 3 to 4 months, but some were shorter. During this time most of the participants were quartered on the 2. ULD’s residence ships. Placed in service in November 1940, they were the former “Kraft durch Freude” (Strength through Joy) cruise ship Wilhelm Gustloff, plus the Hansa and Oceana. The Wilhelm Gustloff, which had seen previous military service as a hospital ship, was now permanently anchored in Gotenhafen-Oxhöft. Approximately 1,000 members of the 2. ULD lived on the Gustloff. The majority were course participants, but a number of instructors – the so-called “core personnel” – also lived aboard. The submarine people took their meals on the ship and a number of diversions were provided to make their stay more pleasant. Movies were shown twice daily. Initially the residence ships continued supplying their own power, steam and water, but in 1943 a steam plant was set up ashore to provide the three vessels with steam. Most married members of the Core Personnel moved their families and lived in apartments in Gotenhafen.

Source :
"U-Boot im Focus", editon no.2 - 2007

Messerschmitt Bf 109 Flown by Leutnant Walter Blume

In the summer of 1940, Major Adolf Galland’s III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter” was based at Caffiers airfield east of Calais, from where it flew missions over England. There III./JG 26’s technical officer, Hauptmann Rolf Schödter, took a series of color photographs. This photo depict the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 “Weiße 13”, flown by Leutnant Walter Blume of 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / JG 26. The four black victory bars on the rudder date the photograph between 25 July 1940 (Blume’s 4th victory) and 15 August 1940 (when Leutnant Blume was lost). Also in evidence are the yellow identity markings introduced by Luftflotte 2 at the beginning of August, which were applied to the wingtips and outer horizontal stabilizers and, in some cases, the top of the rudder. The presence of these yellow markings suggest that the photographs must have been taken in the first two weeks of August. This photo also shows “Weiße 13” with its engine cowling removed. A bullet hole is visible in the machine-gun cover sitting on the ground, indicating that the aircraft had been damaged in combat. A technician is examining the damage. Photo by Hauptmann Rolf Schödter

Source :
  "Luftwaffe im Focus", Spezial No.1 - 2003

Focke-Wulf Fw 44 J Training Aircraft

This pleasing photograph of an overall silver Focke-Wulf Fw 44 J training aircraft, coded CO+CG, was taken in the late summer of 1940. This machine, whose Werknummer was 2396, was from the last Stieglitz production batch and was built by CKD of Prague in July 1940. Heer soldiers standing in the background, the tall grass, and the crewman running back to the machine with a bag, may indicate that the aircraft was involved in maneuvers. The landing area has been marked with flags and the aircraft marshaled into position, which further supports this scenario. Photo by Hauptmann Rolf Schödter.

Source :
 "Luftwaffe im Focus", Spezial No.1 - 2003

Luftwaffe Ace Pips Priller and Profesor Kurt Tank

In September 1942, III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter” received some special visitors at its base at Wevelghem, Belgium. Profesor Kurt Tank, Focke-Wulf’s chief designer, and his senior engineer Rudolf Blaser, chief designer for single-seat fighters and head of the Fw 190 program, came to asses the Gruppenstab’s operational experiences with the Fw 190 A-2. The photo shows Profesor Tank (right) with Hauptmann Josef “Pips” Priller (Gruppenkommandeur III./JG 26). Photo by Hauptmann Rolf Schödter

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus", Spezial No.1 - 2003

Oberingenieur Rudolf Blaser on the wing of a Fw 190 flown by Oberfeldwebel Walter Grünlinger

In September 1942, III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter” received some special visitors at its base at Wevelghem, Belgium. Profesor Kurt Tank, Focke-Wulf’s chief designer, and his senior engineer Rudolf Blaser, chief designer for single-seat fighters and head of the Fw 190 program, came to asses the Gruppenstab’s operational experiences with the Fw 190 A-2. The photo shows Oberingenieur Blaser on the wing of a Fw 190 A-2 bearing the tactical marking < + I. This aircraft, Werknummer 20206, was flown by Oberfeldwebel Walter Grünlinger, wingman of the Gruppenkommandeur, Hauptmann Josef Priller. Grünlinger had apparently just returned from a combat mission when the photograph was taken, and Blaser is seen explaining some technical aspects of the aircraft. Feldwebel Grünlinger’s Fw 190 had previously been flown by Hauptmann Priller, first appearing in the latter’s logbook on 11 December 1941. The small double chevron signifying a Gruppenkommandeur and Priller’s personal emblem, an Ace of Heart playing card bearing the name “Jutta”, were overpainted. Grünlinger replaced them with his own personal marking, a Seven of Hearts playing card with the name “Rata”. The card was painted on both sides of the fuselage. Also note the black “Eagle Wing”, which is largely hidden by Blaser’s coat. This marking was a commonly seen on Fw 190 fighters at that time, its purpose being to conceal the black exhaust stains on the fuselage. The aircraft wears a factory-applied camouflage scheme of RLM 74 (visible beneath the cockpit), 75 (beginning at the windscreen) and 76, with 75 mottling on the engine cowling. Feldwebel Grünlinger continued to fly with Priller after the latter became Geschwaderkommodore JG 26 on 11 January 1943. By 4 September 1943 he had raised his victory total to 12 (5 fighters, 7 medium and heavy bombers) in 88 combat missions. On that day he took off with 10.Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 26, to which he had been attached the day before. The Staffel engaged a group of about 20 Spitfires and Oberfeldwebel Walter Grünlinger was shot down and killed three kilometers northwest of Bomy in northern France (Fw 190 A-5 Werknummer 7287 of the Geschwaderstab). On 9 September 1943 he was buried in JG 26’s cemetery in Abbéville. Photo by Hauptmann Rolf Schödter

Source :
Luftwaffe im Focus Spezial No.1 2003

Allied Leaders in Yalta Conference

Group portrait of Allied leaders photographed in the courtyard of the Livadia Palace, Yalta, in the first day of Yalta Conference (4-11 February 1945) with (seated from left to right): British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Also present are (from left to right): Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov; Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham, RN, Marshal of the RAF Sir Charles Portal, RAF, (standing behind Churchill); Fleet Admiral Ernest King (standing behind Brooke), General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff of the United States Army (blocked by Leahy), Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, USN, (standing behind Roosevelt), Major General Laurence S. Kuter, General Aleksei Antonov, and Admiral of the Fleet Nikolay Kuznetsov. They're met for the purpose of discussing Europe's post-war reorganization. The conference convened in the Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea. The meeting was intended mainly to discuss the re-establishment of the nations of war-torn Europe. Within a few years, with the Cold War dividing the continent, Yalta became a subject of intense controversy. To some extent, it has remained controversial.

Sources :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalta_Conference
http://www.gettyimages.com/photos/yalta-conference?phrase=yalta%20conference&sort=best&excludenudity=true
http://www.net-film.ru/en/film-22029/

The "Big Three" in Potsdam Conference

The "Big Three" pose with their principal advisors at Cecilienhof Palace near Berlin, Germany, in 1 August 1945, one day before the conclusion of Potsdam Conference (17 July - 2 August 1945). The meetings were held to decide how to administer punishment to the defeated Nazi Germany, which had agreed to unconditional surrender nine weeks earlier, on 8 May (V-E Day). The goals of the conference also included the establishment of post-war order, peace treaty issues, and countering the effects of the war. The three heads of government are (seated on wicker chairs, left to right): British Prime Minister Clement Attlee; U.S. President Harry S. Truman; and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. Standing behind them are (left to right): Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, USN, Truman's Chief of Staff; British Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin; U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes; and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden, who had been at first nine days' sessions, learned on July 26 of Tory election defeat, were replaced by Laborites Attlee and Bevin. Just before photograph was taken, two Soviet agents and a soldier hurriedly scraped shiny black paint off chair arms at request of the official Russian photographers. They had barely finished job as Big Three arrived.

Sources :
LIFE magazine, 17 October 1955 edition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Potsdam_conference_1945-8.jpg

Generalmajor Von Liebenstein in Kübelwagen Speaks with One of his Men

An Afrikakorps’ VW KdF Kübelwagen Typ 82 near the Akarit defensive line, the last natural barrier preventing access to the coastal plain of Tunisia from the South. In the passenger seat, Generalmajor Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein (2nd from left), the commanding officer of 164. Leichte Afrika-Division (note the pennant denoted his command ), speaks with one of his men. Note also the oversize tires that offered better performance on soft surfaces like sand. The picture was taken in late March/early April 1943. On May 10, 1943, he was decorated with Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross). Three days later he surrendered to the British in Tunisia, with the 164th Infantry earning the distinction of being "the last major German formation in North Africa to lay down its arms". He was sent to Trent Park , a special camp for generals north of London. In 1955, he joined the Bundeswehr. In 1960, he retired as Generalmajor.

Sources :
Book "Das Afrikakorps: In Original-Farbfotografien" by Bernd Peitz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Freiherr_von_Liebenstein
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/514.html

Wehrmacht Machine Gun Crew take up Positions in the Rocky Terrain

Wehrmacht Machine gun crew take up positions in the rocky terrain. They're wearing tropenhemd (tropical shirt) with 1st patttern (right) and 2nd pattern tropenhelm (pith helmet). The Maschinengewehr 34 (MG 34) mounted on its tripod with long range sights for sustained fire role, as used by the Wehrmacht, still dressed in colonial garb from the campaign in the Western Desert, in their defense of southern Italy, summer 1943. The MG 34 in this picture were used as heavy machine-gun role on a Lafette 34. By removing the indirect fire sights and trigger, the MG 34 quickly converts to a light machine-gun. The most far-reaching feature of the MG 34 was tactical rather than mechanical; it was the first example of what is known today as the ‘General Purpose’ machine gun. Fitted with a bipod it functioned as the squad light automatic; on its tripod, which incorporated a sprung cradle to reduce the recoil and vibration and thus make continuous fire less fatiguing for the gunner, it functioned as a medium machine gun; and on a different pattern of light tripod and fitted with the saddle-drum magazine, it made a good anti-aircraft weapon.

Sources :
http://www.geocities.ws/pentagon/2833/heer/infantry/mg34/mg34.html
http://ww2-weapons.com/mg34/

German Infantry Marching during the First Phase of Operation Barbarossa

German infantry from 79. Infanterie-Division marching during the first phase of Operation Barbarossa, June-July 1941. The Russian summer can be hot way above what an average German is used to. The expressions on the faces of the troops tell the story. When the 79. was committed to the invasion of Soviet Union on June 26, 1941, little would the members of the Division realize that they had started the long road to disaster. From June 1941 to September 1942 the 79. fought its way into Russia, encountering strong resistance from Russian forces as well as fierce cold weather during the winter of 1941. The Division participated in actions in the southern portion of Russia via Korosten, Lutsk, Rovno, Piryatin, and Akhtyrka. From November 1941 to June 1942 the Division fought in the Belogorod and Volchansk areas. The Division then advanced from Volchansk via Valuiki, Rovenki, and Serafimovich. By October 1942 the Division was in the marshes between the Don and Volga Rivers, and received orders to the place that was to become the end of the Division's march into Russia, Stalingrad...

Sources :
Book "Die 79. Infanterie Division" by Hans Sänger
http://www.reenactor.net/units/ir226/3-79_hist.html

Sherman Guarding a Roadblock in Livorno

A rare color photo of an early production M4A1 Sherman of B Company's 3rd Platoon (752nd Tank Battalion) guarding a roadblock in Livorno, most likely taken on 22 July 1944, several days after Livorno was secured.  This is a shot that was staged by the photographer for the enjoyment of the folks back home.  Originally labeled as simply "on the road to Pisa." Some historians and enthusiasts once believed this was taken in Ponsacco, but the 752 was nowhere near Ponsacco. It is now confirmed that the location is in front of the Villa Bertocchini in downtown Livorno.  The once beautiful Villa Bertocchini survived the war, only to be torn down and replaced with an ugly apartment complex. This tank belonged to Sergeant Ray Holt (the father of Bob Holt, 752nd Tank Battalion historian), who is show in the tank commander's position manning the .50 machine gun. The photo is another staged action shot in the 22 July series of at least 4 colored photos (the other two photos have not yet surfaced). Both photos have been incorrectly labeled as 1st Armored Division tanks in various books and websites. However, the original photo caption in the National Archives, the markings on the tank, the historical facts, and the unmistakable identities of the 752nd men clearly indicate this is a 752nd tank

Source :
http://www.752tank.com/toarno.html

Trucks and Tanks of the 752nd Tank Battalion Leaving Rome

During the Second World War, despite being the capital of Italy, Rome was declared an "Open City" and never bombed or otherwise damaged by the war. After the Allies captured Sicily in 1943, the Mussolini's Fascist government collapsed. The Allies invaded mainland Italy on September 3, 1943 and slowly moved up the peninsula. Even after the American invasion at Anzio on January 22, 1944, it was hard to advance north toward Rome. Finally on June 4, 1944, American troops liberated Rome. Crowds of ecstatic Italians spilled into the streets to welcome the Americans as the main elements of the U.S. Fifth Army moved north through the city. This rare color photo showing trucks and tanks of the 752nd Tank Battalion leaving Rome on 5 June 1944. A small crowd of curious civilians watches the column move through the Porta del Popolo and past the Chiesa di San Maria del Popolo. The Signal Corps shot only a relatively small number of color photos during World War II. Fortunately, color photographers followed the 752nd during the summer and fall of 1944

Source :
http://www.752tank.com/ebolitorome.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~mcgady/Rome/rome.html