Hitler Inspects the Panzerjäger Ferdinand

 

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler paid a visit to the city of Rügenwalde / Pommern (Germany) to see a demonstration of the latest Nazi war machines, mainly the largest cannon in the world at that time, the Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora", which had a caliber of 800mm and which was previously used in the bombing of the Soviet Naval Base at Sebastopol. This photo by Walter Frentz shows the Führer examining the Panzerjäger Tiger (P) "Ferdinand", a heavy tank hunter whose chassis was taken from the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger. The name itself is taken from the name of the designer, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. For the identification, from left to right: Adolf Hitler (Führer und Reichskanzler), SS-Oberführer Prof. Dr.-Ing. e.h. mult. Ferdinand Porsche (Vorsitzender der Panzerkommission), General der Artillerie Emil Leeb (Chef Heereswaffenamt im Oberkommando des Heeres), Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Generalmajor Hugo Beißwänger (General beim Chef der Heeresrüstung), Prof.Dr.-Ing.Albert Speer (back to the camera, Reichsminister für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion), and General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef Wehrmacht-Führungsamt).

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/05/album-foto-berwarna-adolf-hitler.html

German Officer Collecting Honey

Watch out! Greedo is stealing honey! From a color slide group supposedly taken by Hermann Arndt of PK 691 (Propaganda-Kompanie 691). A "Greedo", a Panzerjäger officer, is collecting honey from beehive.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10221920927725801&set=gm.1545156175669800

Early Model Jagdpanzer IV at Aberdeen Ordinance Museum

Jagdpanzer (Hunting Tank) IV (Sd.Kfz.162) armed with a 75mm (3 inch) L/48 gun. Also designed as Sturmgeschütz (assault gun) neuer Art (new design) mit (with) 7.5cm PaK L/48 auf Fahrgestell (based on chassis) Panzerkampfwagen IV. This is an early production vehicle because it has four return rollers; later Jagdpanzer IVs only had three. This "short" version of the Jagdpanzer IV is missing its muzzle brake, which dampened recoil and gun rising during discharge. The muzzle brake was found to give away the Jagdpanzer IV's position, and many crews had already removed them in the field. In May 1944, Jagdpanzer IVs were made without a muzzle brake. An updated version of the Jagdpanzer IV mounted heavier armor and a longer L/70 gun. This example was either captured in Italy or Normandy and shipped to the Ordinance Museum for testing. It was scrapped as part of an unfortunate consolidation during the Korean War. Aberdeen has an L/70 version that survived the cutter's torch

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0070

A Knocked-Out Jagdpanther Being Examined by an American Soldier

A knocked-out Panzerjäger (tank destroyer) V Jagdpanther Sd.Kfz.173 is examined by an American soldier, probably of the 9th Army. While the date and place of this photo is disputed, the red primer on the vehicle, the soldier's uniform, and the absence of leaves on the trees probably indicate that it was taken during the Americans' advance into Germany in March-April 1945. Since civilians and sodliers would strip knocked-out tanks of anything useful, it's likely this photo was taken within a week of the tank being destroyed. It's possible this was a Jagdpanther from Kampfgruppe Paffrath/schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654. The impact of anti-tank rounds can be seen along the road wheels. This vehicle has an early version of the 88mm (3.46 inch) Pak 43/3 L/71 gun that was a single tube; later versions of the Jagdpanther had two joined tubes that comprised the gun barrel. The gun mounting is a later version, indicating the barrel was replaced at some point with an earlier version, or this vehicle was built just as the factory was transitioning to the late model Jagdpanther

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0068

Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer at Aberdeen Ordinance Museum

A Panzerjäger (tank destroyer) V Jagdpanther Sd.Kfz.173 at United States Army Ordinance Museum in Aberdeen, Maryland after World War II. This Jagdpanther, hull number 303018, was a late model manufactured by Maschinenfabrik-Niedersachsen-Hannover (MNH) in late November or early December 1944

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0067

Captured Panzerjäger Ferdinand Elephant at Aberdeen

Captured Panzerjäger (tank destroyer) Tiger (P) - Ferdinand Elephant (SdKfz 184) also known as Tiger-Sturmgeschütz mit 8.8cm PaK 43/2 seen postwar at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. Note the open hatch, which let water into the vehicle. 

Source:
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0059