Sd.Kfz.222 of 2. Panzer-Division during Balkanfeldzug

 

 

An Sd.Kfz.222 from Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 of 2. Panzer-Division is seen with its crew in Balkan during Balkanfeldzug, spring 1941. Later after the campaign, surviving armored vehicles of 1.Schwadron were lost in the sinking of"Marburg" and "Kybfels" by the sea mines.

Some unit names were used by different organizations during the war. Names of Aufklärungs-Abteilungen are good examples. One must be careful when reading and writing about these units! Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 was a unit of 5.Infanterie-Division (later 5. Jäger-Division) since August 1939. It was renamed to Radfahr-Abteilung 5 in May 1942, but renamed back to its original name in1943. Confusing enough another "Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5" was in existence since October 1935, which later in March 1940 renamed to Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 until it was disbanded in August 1941. This unit was organic to 2.Panzer-Division. The name was succeeded by the new Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 in 1943, renamed from Kradschützen-Bataillon 55. This unit was organic to 5.Panzer-Division.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10222748315769985&set=gm.1642065522645531