Panzergruppe 2 during Operation Barbarossa

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Oberbefehlshaber Panzergruppe 2)

These are color slides that was broken-up at eBay back in 2007. It shows Panzergruppe 2 (Generaloberst Heinz Guderian) in the Eastern Front during Unternehmen Barbarossa, July 1941. The slides were taken at the Panzer-Abteilung (Flamm) 100 which operated in the first part of Operation Barbarossa together with 18. Panzer-Divison. The corpulent officer is Oberst Gerhard-Peter von Zezschwitz (Kommandeur Panzer-Abteilung 100) which were later killed on 24 June 1941. The photographer was Bildberichterstatter Heinz Eckert.

Sonderführer Z Grey collar tabs , possibly PK (Propaganda-Kompanie), or even Heinz Eckert himself

Source :
Aaron Starr photo collection
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
Axel Urbanke photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10211069305563270&set=oa.1066185030233586&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Heinz Guderian during Barbarossa

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Oberbefehlshaber Panzergruppe 2) holding a map during a field briefing with his generals in Russia, in front of a Panzerkampfwagen III medium tank, summer 1941. From left to right: Generalmajor Walther Nehring (Kommandeur 18. Panzer-Division), Oberst im Generalstab Rudolf Bamler (Chef des Generalstabes XXXXVII. Armeekorps), General der Panzertruppe Joachim Lemelsen (Kommandierender General XXXXVII. Armeekorps), Generalleutnant Hans-Jürgen von Arnim (Kommandeur 17. Panzer-Division), and Generaloberst Guderian. Panzergruppe 2 was formed in November 1940 from Panzergruppe Guderian (in October 1941 it was renamed the 2. Panzerarmee). It played a significant role in the early stages of the German invasion of the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa in 1941, when it was a constituent part of Heeresgruppe Mitte. Guderian troops formed the Army Group's southern pincer while Generaloberst Hermann Hoth's Panzergruppe 3 formed the northern pincer destroying several Soviet armies during the opening phase of Barbarossa. During the battles of Bialystok and Minsk, substantial numbers of prisoners and weapons were captured by Guderian's Gruppe. One of its subordinate was XXXXVII. Armeekorps, who controls 17. and 18. Panzer-Division.The photo was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Eckert (Propaganda-Kompanie 670).

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Panzer_Army
http://forum-console.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/55379-wwii-in-color/

Adolf Hitler Visiting Rügenwalde

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler visited the town of Rügenwalde/Pomerania (Germany) to see the 80 cm. Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora", the largest gun in the world. While Hitler was there the gun fired two granates. This picture was taken in 19 March 1943 by Walter Frentz and shows, from left to right: General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef Wehrmacht-Führungsamt), SS-Oberführer Prof. Dr.-Ing. e.h. mult. Ferdinand Porsche (Vorsitzender der Panzerkommission), Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen), Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Reichskanzler), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Hauptdienstleiter Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Otto Saur (Staatssekretär im Reichsministerium für Bewaffnung und Munition), and SS-Gruppenführer Julius Schaub (Chefadjutant des Führers Adolf Hitler)

On 18-19 March 1943 Hitler visited the town of Rügenwalde/Pomerania (Germany) to see the demonstration of 80 cm. Eisenbahngeschütz "Dora", the largest gun in the world, and newly built panzers. This picture was taken in 19 March 1943 by Walter Frentz and shows, from left to right: General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl (Chef des Wehrmachtsführungsstabes im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, OKW), Dr.-Ing. Albert Speer (Reichsminister für Bewaffnung und Munition), Adolf Hitler (Führer und oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Hauptdienstleiter Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Otto Saur (Staatssekretär im Reichsministerium für Bewaffnung und Munition), SS-Gruppenführer Julius Schaub (Chefadjutant des Führers Adolf Hitler), Generalleutnant Walter Buhle (Chef vom Heeresstab im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), and Oberstleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm "Fritz" Holzhäuer (Abteilungsleiter im Waffenamt Prüfwesen 6, Abteilung Panzer- und Motorisierung, beim Oberkommando des Heeres).

Source:
http://fuehrer3345.tumblr.com/post/76948612504/wartime-super-color-photo-hitler-confers-with
http://www.hitlerpages.com/pagina42.html

Heinz Guderian and Walther Wenck

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen) and Generalleutnant Walther Wenck (Chef des Generalstabes 1. Panzerarmee) planning the next operation (possibly Unternehmen Zitadelle/Kursk), spring 1943. Wenck (last rank General der Panzertruppe) wearing the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes which he received on 28 December 1942. He was a talented general, and enjoyed (if that is the word) a distinguished career on the Eastern Front, serving a considerable period in command of German forces operating in conjunction with Romanian forces (he was highly decorated by Romania), and in key staff posts. He is best remembered, however, for his actions as commander of the 12. Armee in April 1945. This recently-formed Army, which had been fighting the Americans, responded to orders to turn about and attack towards Berlin with the object of relieving the city. It is a tribute to the skills of Wenck and his officers in the staff area that they accomplished the turn-around, and launched an attack on the Soviets that acheived a surprise breakthrough. However, Wenck was neither a Nazi nor a madman; he limited his breakthrough to one with more-or-less sustainable flanks, rather than pressing through (suicidally) to Berlin, and invited German military formations and civilians within reach to use it as an escape corridor to the West. The number of "kettled" German soldiers and Berliners who escaped through this corridor is uncertain - but it was probably not less than 300,000. There is some dispute as to how one should interpret Wenck's actions. It did after all constitute disobedience of orders. But more likely a sign of a realistic officer who served not the Nazis in the end, but Germany

Source:
http://weltkrieg2.de/Kriegstagebuch/1943/02/22-28-Februar.htm#mainEvent

Heinz Guderian and Walther Wenck

Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen) and Generalleutnant Walther Wenck (Chef des Generalstabes 1. Panzerarmee) planning the next operation (possibly Unternehmen Zitadelle/Kursk), spring 1943. Wenck (last rank General der Panzertruppe) wearing the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes which he received on 28 December 1942. He was a talented general, and enjoyed (if that is the word) a distinguished career on the Eastern Front, serving a considerable period in command of German forces operating in conjunction with Romanian forces (he was highly decorated by Romania), and in key staff posts. He is best remembered, however, for his actions as commander of the 12. Armee in April 1945. This recently-formed Army, which had been fighting the Americans, responded to orders to turn about and attack towards Berlin with the object of relieving the city. It is a tribute to the skills of Wenck and his officers in the staff area that they accomplished the turn-around, and launched an attack on the Soviets that acheived a surprise breakthrough. However, Wenck was neither a Nazi nor a madman; he limited his breakthrough to one with more-or-less sustainable flanks, rather than pressing through (suicidally) to Berlin, and invited German military formations and civilians within reach to use it as an escape corridor to the West. The number of "kettled" German soldiers and Berliners who escaped through this corridor is uncertain - but it was probably not less than 300,000. There is some dispute as to how one should interpret Wenck's actions. It did after all constitute disobedience of orders. But more likely a sign of a realistic officer who served not the Nazis in the end, but Germany

Source:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=151514&start=45