Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. Bs of 1.Kompanie / Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V. 40 at the entrance of the Jørgensens Hotel in Horsens, Denmark, which housed the headquarters of the battalion, April 1940. The hotel is located at Søndergade Street no. 17.Panzer-Abteilung zur besonderen Verwendung 40 (Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V. 40), translating as "panzer unit for special purpose utilization", was formed on March 8, 1940 for the German invasion of Norway and of Denmark. The unit consisted mostly of Panzer I and Panzer II light tanks. It took part in the invasion of Denmark on 9 April and then was transported to Norway in April 1940.
The unit consisted of an HQ section and three companies, one taken from 3rd, 4th and 5th Panzer Divisions, each with three platoons as the fourth platoon remained with the original division in each case. On April 9, 1940 the unit complement included 69 tanks (42 Panzer I, 21 Panzer II and 6 Panzer I Befehlswagen command tanks.) Most of Panzer I tanks were Ausf A while the Panzer II tanks were primarily the Ausf c variant.
With the invasions on April 9, 1940, the First and Second companies were sent to Denmark while the Third company was sent to Norway aboard the transport ships Urundi and Antaris H.[1] On April 10, 1940 Antaris H was sunk by the Royal Navy submarine HMS Sunfish with the loss of 15 tanks and crew. Only two tanks, a Panzer I and II, arrived in Norway. German forces in Norway were reinforced by the First and Second companies, who embarked on 20 April and arrived on 24 April.
The unit consisted of an HQ section and three companies, one taken from 3rd, 4th and 5th Panzer Divisions, each with three platoons as the fourth platoon remained with the original division in each case. On April 9, 1940 the unit complement included 69 tanks (42 Panzer I, 21 Panzer II and 6 Panzer I Befehlswagen command tanks.) Most of Panzer I tanks were Ausf A while the Panzer II tanks were primarily the Ausf c variant.
With the invasions on April 9, 1940, the First and Second companies were sent to Denmark while the Third company was sent to Norway aboard the transport ships Urundi and Antaris H.[1] On April 10, 1940 Antaris H was sunk by the Royal Navy submarine HMS Sunfish with the loss of 15 tanks and crew. Only two tanks, a Panzer I and II, arrived in Norway. German forces in Norway were reinforced by the First and Second companies, who embarked on 20 April and arrived on 24 April.
Source :
https://477768.livejournal.com/5996713.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer-Abteilung_40
https://www.reddit.com/r/wwiipics/comments/k5lpr8/panzer_i_ausf_bs_of_panzerabteilung_40_at_the/
https://waralbum.ru/357345/
