Captured Russian Tanks under German Command

Two captured Russian T-34 tanks with camo under german command. It was captured and used by Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4.Panzer-Division, as can be seen by the blue bear in the turret (bears are supposed to have been painted in company colors).

In the May-June 1950 issue of the Armored Cavalry Journal, Mr. Garrett Underhill, in Part IV of "The Story of Soviet Armor," writes that the poor quality of Russian tanks is demonstrated by the fact that Germany made no use of the large numbers of Russian tanks (T 34 and KV) which it had captured, although it used Czech tanks and, in the Balkans, in the fighting against the Partisans, French tanks.

This gives a false idea of the situation. In order to clear up this matter, I should like to make the following points:

It is undoubtedly true that from time to time the armor used for Russian tanks was of very poor quality and often did not have the resistance to penetration normally required.

But there are other reasons for the fact that Russian tanks, especially the T 34, were not used by the German Army:

Mere possession of a captured tank is not enough. It is useless unless continuous maintenance of the vehicles is possible, and this depends on the availability of spare parts. Aside from technical difficulties, manufacture of spare parts for the T 34 in German factories would have been possible only at the expense of a reduction in the number of German tanks turned out. For this reason the use of T 34 tanks could not be considered.

In isolated instances the German Army organized captured-tank companies using captured T 34 tanks and tried to get the needed spare parts from captured matériel. But the method was unsuccessful, and these captured-tank units were dissolved very soon. In was impossible to get enough spare parts from the matériel captured. The method also involved an irrational expenditure of effort, which was increased by the fact that maintenance itself required special experts thoroughly trained in the work and the manufacture of special repair tools.

As far as the Czech and French tanks were concerned the situation was different. Factories and repair installations for these types of tanks were available. However, the French tanks were at best useful only to frighten peasants; they were altogether inferior to the T 34 regardless of the poor materials used in the latter's construction.

The fact that in the East the captured T 34 was not used except in a few cases had a second and equally important reason:

From a tactical viewpoint the T 34 was inferior to the German tank types (Pz III and Pz IV with long barreled 75 mm gun) because it combined the functions of commander and gunner in one person. As soon as the commander began firing, he lost his overall viewpoint and was unable to direct his tank. Even as gunner, however, he was unable to fulfill his mission because when functioning as such he had no commander from which to receive directions. As a result, the T 34 was in most cases hopelessly inferior to the German tanks, especially after German tank were armed with a long gun, in the spring of 1942. I often saw Russian tank attacks in which the T 34's charged like a herd of wild bulls and continuously fired their guns, obviously without aiming, while driving forward. While the limited training given tank crews as a result of the high losses incurred may have been one of the reasons for adopting such tactics, it is certain that the union of the functions of commander and gunner in one person was a contributing factor.

Partly as a result of this tactical inferiority, in the Ukraine my Panzer regiment, from the end of October to the middle of December 1943, destroyed 356 Russian tanks, most of them T 34's, with a total loss of only 12 German tanks. The regiment was equipped with a little more than 100 tanks, half of them Pz IV and the rest Sturmgeschuetz III (self-propelled assault gun), both equipped with the long-barreled 75 mm gun model L 48.

Signed: B. Mueller-Hillebrand

Source :
https://panzerworld.com/german-opinion-of-captured-t-34s
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/586209-original-ww2-color-photo-slides/page111

A Martin PBM-3R Receives Dual Navy and Pan American Airways Markings

 

In January 1943, a Martin PBM-3R receives dual Navy and Pan American Airways markings. Pan American operated Navy PBMs on regular transport runs between San Francisco and Pearl Harbor. Just to add to the story: a PBM 3R Mariner flown by PAA Captain Bill Moss rescued 48 survivors of the sinking of the Cape San Juan by a Japanese sub. This involved a dangerous open sea landing.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/panam.org/photos/10158682026890219
National Archives and Records Administration 80-G-K-1142
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron P-47 Thunderbolt

Sergeant Manuel Goulart Ferreira from Rio de Janeiro proudly polishes the Brazilian national insignia of a 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron P-47 Thunderbolt in Italy. The squadron flew in combat from November 1944 to May 1945 as part of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force. Brazil was the principal South American nation participating in Allied operations against Germany.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration 342-C-K-4395
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

Stuka of StG 2 "Immelmann"

 

Junkers Ju 87D "Stuka" of II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2) ‘Immelmann’ being prepared for an operation. On the engine cowling of the aircraft is the Bamberger Horseman emblem, which Geschwaderkommodore Ernst Kupfer had created for the unit. The red circle signifying 5. Staffel. The photograph was taken by PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) photographer Siegfried Lauterwasser in mid-1943. In late June and early July 1943, StG 2 moved to the Kharkov region in preparation for Operation Citadel, the Battle of Kursk. Ernst Kupfer took command of the wing, effective from 13 March 1943. Stab./StG 2 moved to Kharkov-East and was followed by I./StG 2 on 4 July. The group reported 37 Ju 87s on 1 July. II./StG 2 moved to Kharkov-North on 5 July under the command of Hans-Karl Stepp [from 17 June 1943] with 36 Ju 87s. III./StG 2 joined Stab. and I./StG 2 at Kharkov-East with 35 Ju 87s reported on 1 July 1943.

Source :
https://airwarpublications.com/ernst-kupfer-earticle-available/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturzkampfgeschwader_2

German POWs in England 1947

 

A group of German prisoners of war, classified as 'Grade C' with probable Nazi leanings, take part in a 'brains' trust' debate at a World War II POW re-education camp for 'Black Nazis' at Wimbish in Essex, England in August 1947. The black symbol in the back of their clothes is for identification. It meant that any escaped POWs could be recognised at a glance from front or back. Photo by Kemp / Popperfoto

Source :
https://www.1900s.org.uk/1940s-pows.htm?fbclid=IwAR0mqMzjQCnpW2ARxT-zdZmr4S7bbqmRrRx0U2LGVyKHjG2brqKT8CulGl8
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=427320771870086&set=gm.1661152220736861

German Panzers Ready to Cross a Pontoon Bridge

 

Interesting photo of a German panzer unit on the approaches to the blown bridge at Kremenchug, Ostfront. At left we can see a temporary bridge built to get across. German Army pioniere were pretty experienced at this point at quickly constructing sturdy pontoons for armored units. The truck has the symbol of "Werkstattwagen" (repair company). According to Axel Urbanke, the slide of this traffic jam at the makeshift bridge next to the blown up Dnjeper bridge near Kremenchug was taken by Obergefreiter Joseph Kleinhenz from the Brückenbau-Bataillon 751 in August 1941. The tanks could belong to the 13. Panzer Division. They have little yellow tower numbers. Its a slide of big group (320 slides) of this soldier. All slides are well labeled. Later this unit was transferred to Heeresgruppe Nord.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2824672191185440&set=gm.1650558301796253

Oberleutnant Ramón Escudé Gilbert of the Spanish Blue Squadron

Photo of Oberleutnant Ramón Escudé Gilbert, pilot of 2ª Blue Squadron in the Russian Front, 1942. Note Spanish Pilot's Badge above the Luftwaffe eagle, and also Spanish shield in his sleeve as a recognition for his status as a Spanish volunteer in the Wehrmacht.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=38122&start=60&fbclid=IwAR2lDgrPpvYtz3pfhTAIprpoxcBjdpd60MUOJlf0zwrQYd5nab59AlKZZiA
http://thirdreichcolorpictures.blogspot.com/2012/03/oberleutnant-ramon-escude-gilbert.html

Buick Cabriolet Belong to Gebirgsjäger

A very fine 1937 Buick Cabriolet from a Wehrmacht Mountain unit (WH-707309), from the estate of former Kai Rossmann collection, dissolved many years ago on ebay. Note the unidentified unit marking - A grape and a guy with a wine bottle. Different variants of grapes were on badges of 94., 263. and 332. Infanterie Division. Unfortunately none of them is really close to this badge.

Source :
Akira Takiguchi collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10221460267009571&set=pcb.1500530410132377&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Interesting Red Cross Flag

Interesting Red Cross flag found in color slide group of 16. Panzer-Division. The sign says:  "Vorgeschobene Verwundeten-Hilfe" (advanced casualty assistance).

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10221014698350633&set=gm.1461844117334340&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Captured T-34 Tank in German Hands

A captured Soviet T34/76 medium tank in winter camouflage is marked with Balkenkreuz to confront former owners. Estate of Oberst Schutz from Infanterie-Regiment 470 / 260.Infanterie-Division

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10220914836694154&set=gm.1453716798147072&type=3&theater&ifg=1

The First Spitfire Captured by the Germans

The first Spitfire captured by the Germans. On the 15th August 1940 Pilot Officer Richard Hardy's Spitfire mk.1a was damaged in combat and he was forced to land near Cherbourg where it fell into German hands. The damage behind the cockpit occurred when Hardy used his demolition charge to destroy sensitive electronics. Notice the man in the light colored jacket painting a German Balkenkreuz over the the British roundel. As per Jochen Prien in book " Jagdgeschwader 53 " he claims that " ...Oberleutnant Georg Claus brought Spitfire AZ-H to Cherbourg Airfield - He caught it in the midle of Channel , Tommy ( P/O Hardy of 234 SQN RAF ) made off to the south but Oblt. Claus improved each of his turns with a brief burst of tracer fire. So it went all the way to Cherbourg Airfield.There Tommy ( F/O Hardy ) lowered his undercariage and luckily the 20 mm flak failed to hit him (actualy single 20mm shell did hit Spitfire behind cockpit - there is picture in the book ). Then he landed safely and taxied in..." Leutnant Karl Leonhard from 3 staffel JG 53 claims: "...The English pilot slid back the cockpit hood and immediately raised his hands - he obviously expected to be shot at once othervise. He was just as surprised when I asked him to lower his hands and instead to climb out and come to to the pilot's mess to have glass of champagne with pilots of JG 53..." There was a single hit to Spitfire which was caused probably by German flak canon when Spitfire was aproaching landing strip at Cherbourg - just behind cokpit ( page 141-142 of Jagdgeschwader JG53 by Jochen Prien ) There are claims that RAF pilot detonated demolition charge in order to destroy radio IFF system but In my opinion P./O. Richard Hardy had no time. IFF systems were not fitted to Spitfires until September 1940, that damage looks to be a flak damage.

Source :
Filip Seidl photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2808413665924544&set=gm.1421404568044962&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Unidentified Emblem of IV/KG 54

These pictures show the, until now unidentified, emblem of IV.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 54 (KG 54) "Totenkopf". Pictures have been seen before, remain unidentified. Also the color of the shield was unknown. As usual within other IV. Gruppen, the base color of the shield was blue. The emblem was probably introduced at establishment of the Gruppe on 1 April 1941. These pictures originate from the time the Gruppe was based at Grottaglie between 1 March 1942 and 29 May 1943. The Gruppe trained new arrivals before they joined the other Gruppen. IV./KG 54 also flew patrols and convoy ptotection flights in the Mediterranean.

Kampfgeschwader 54 (KG 54) was a Luftwaffe bomber wing during World War II. Its units participated on all of the fronts in the European Theatre until it was disbanded in May 1945. It operated two of the major German bomber types; the Heinkel He 111 and the Junkers Ju 88. Its unit insignia, sometimes displayed on a shield-like device, but more often depicted over a normal camouflage pattern, bore a strikingly close graphic resemblance to that of the 3rd SS Panzer Division, known by the same name.

Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine - Edition No.1 (2002)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237076659811098/?post_id=1372149409637145&__cft__[0]=AZVDr4l_5YnXbEZU0-NiqgHT3HhUot_qSyMYEVjCA18THJER0J8A3Y1wC8rRRvINNiNfYjp-wijXljD2gi7gXrc7HkLR-WqF-D7deGaxkmGr7XIuf-jTDG02XedPQocuhYWmusL6xbZTQroRb4QDG8cxFa0ASl5h4FY1fWItUDTCYJZQ9hOZm7lN5dmKTgaU-g4&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

U-34 Emblem During Hard Winter of 1940-41

Many training boats could look back on an interesting operational life and their activities were in no way restricted to the Baltic Sea. This photo shows a well-known Type VII A boat of 24. U-Flottille in the Baltic during the hard winter of 1940-41. It is U-34, wearing the emblem consisting of an elephant stepping the head of Winston Churchill, England's First Sea Lord. Beneath it is the training boat emblem. Exactly when the elephant emblem was introduced is not clear, for the boat is believed to have worn the "Raben Huckebein" (Raven Huckebein) emblem during its seven operational patrols. U-34 was lost on 5 August 1943, when it sank after collision with the submarine tender "Lech" off Memel.

Source :
"U-Boot Im Focus" magazine, edition nr.6 - 2010

Type II Training Boats in the Baltic

Many training boats could look back on an interesting operational life and their activities were in no way restricted to the Baltic Sea. Our color photo illustrate several such boats. Photo above shows Type II boats approaching and tying up at the 21. U-Flottille's base in Pillau. The submarine in the foreground is U-62. Under Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Bernhard Michalowski, the Type II C sank two ships during fire patrols in the period 1 February - 30 September 1940, including the British destroyer HMS Grafton. The latter vessel was taking part in "Operation Dynamo", the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk. During the night of 29 May 1940, while attempting to rescue survivors from HMS Wakeful, which had been sunk by the German motor torpedo boat S-30 a short time before, the destroyer was torpedoed by U-62 and sank. In October 1940 U-62 became a training vessel. Note the rescue buoy on the afterdeck and the training emblem on the conning tower. Approaching in the background is U-61, another Type II C. U-61 completed eleven patrols between October 1939 and October 1940, including nine under Oberleutnant zur See Jürgen Oesten. He sank five ships with a combined tonnage of 19,668 GRT. Kapitänleutnant Wolf-Harro Stiebler subsequently replaced Oesten as commander of U-61. Stiebler, who later commanded the "Milchkuh" (Milk Cow) U-461, completed two more patrols. After its days of frontline service were over, U-61 also joined the 21. U-Flottille in the Baltic. Note the emblem of Crew 37 b on the conning tower: to date none of U-61's commanders has been linked to that crew.

Source :
"U-Boot Im Focus" magazine, edition nr.6 - 2010

U-403 in Zoppoter Woche in Danzig

After the successes of the early war years and the extensive propaganda coverage given by the radio and newspapers, public interest in the U-boat service and its men was tremendous. The National-Socialist regime used this interest and the enthusiasm of German youth to attract volunteers. Whenever possible, the U-Bootwaffe made itself accessible, so that young men in particular could see it up close. Successful crews visited their sponsor cities, and U-boat captains spoke at schools and addressed members of the Jungvolk and Hitlerjugend in addition. The Kriegsmarine took every opportunitiy to put its submarines on public display. Zoppoter Woche (Zoppot Week) in the summer of 1941 was one such opportunity. Situated on Danzig Bay not far from Danzig, Zoppot was a beach and spa resort. Zoppoter Woche, held every year in mid to late July, was a major sporting event with regattas, horse races and swim competitions. For the whole week the city's spa promenade was crammed with visitors. One attraction was the pier, which extended more than 500 meters into Danzig Bay, offering visitors a wonderful view of the shore promenade and the large Grand Hotel. Hitler had recently spent a week there during the opening phase of the campaign in Poland (1939). It was precisely there, during Zoppoter Woche in July 1941, that U-403 tied up to attract the attention of visitors.

U-403 (The Type VIIC boat) had been commissioned a short time earlier on 25 June 1941. Attached to the 5. U-Flottille and commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Ehlert Clausen, the boat had just completed UAK-Abnahme (UAK Acceptance Trials) on 8 July 1941. It was subsequently sent to the shipyard in Danzig for remaining work, including the fitting of a conning tower wind deflector. The color photo reproduced here provide an excellent view of the ship's emblem. It is the Wappen (Coat of Arms) of the boat's sponsor city, Halle an der Saale, with stylized representations of the sun, moon and stars. The emblem had been present on both sides of the conning tower since the boat's commissioning in Danzig-Neufahrwasser. The emblem was painted on metal shields which were then affixed to the conning tower. The crew also wore the emblem as a cap badge. In October 1941, U-403 added its own emblem. Then in the spring of 1942 Halle's Wappen was deleted on both sides of the tower, leaving just the ship's emblem. By the end of October, U-403 had completed its training phase at the AGRU-Front, as well as armament and tactical training. Much to the captain's displeasure, the boat was retained as a training vessel with the 27. U-Flottille in the Baltic. It was used to train U-boat commander trainees in Pillau and Memel. Not until 23 February 1942 did U-403 move from Kiel to Helgoland, from where it carried out its first operational sortie on 1 March 1942. Kapitänleutnant Clausen tied up his boat in Narvik 19 days later. By the spring of 1943 U-403 had completed five more patrols from Norway. On 1 July 1942 it was attached to the recently established 11. U-Flottille in Bergen. On 1 March 1943 the boat was attached to the 9. U-Flottille in Brest. One day later U-403 arrived at the Atlantic Coast base from Trondheim. Under Kapitänleutnant Clausen the boat made another patrol in April-May 1943. Despite the heavy U-boat losses in May 1943, Clausen brought his boat safely back to Brest. There followed a change of command, possibly because Clausen had not been particularly successful, sinking just two enemy ships totaling12,946 GRT in seven patrols. Under its new commander Kapitänleutnant Karl-Franz Heine, U-403 sailed from Brest on its 8th patrol on 13 July 1943. The last message from the boat was received 10 days later, when it reported it was under air attack at position 46 N 10 W. No further message was received, and the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (BdU) concluded that U-403 had been sunk by air attack on 23 July. On 27 August 1943, therefore, the boat was listed as "x" (probably sunk), and on 18 May 1944 as "xx" (lost). In fact U-403 had survived the attack. The absence of any further radio messages suggests that its radios were damaged in the attack. The boat was sunk, but not until four weeks later on 18 August 1943 near the Westafrican coast, after an attack by a French-flown Wellington of Nr. 344 Squadron. There were no survivors from the crew of 50. The new commander had brought the crew no luck.

The commander of U-403, Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Ehlert Clausen, photographed on the pier of Danzig Bay during Zoppoter Woche (Zoppot Week) in July 1941. His submarine is in the right background. That same day Clausen used his own camera to shoot the two color photos of U-403 reproduced here. Kapitänleutnant Clausen (born in 12 July 1909) survived the war and died in 24 March 1987. His only war patrols was with U-403 (7 patrols and 191 days at sea), with two ships sunk and total tonnage 12,946 GRT. The medals and decorations received by Clausen: Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (26 May 1940) und I.Klasse (4 October 1942); Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boot-Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände (23 October 1941); U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen (26 February 1942); and Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern (1 September 1944)

Source :

 "U-Boot Im Focus" magazine, edition nr.5 - 2009

www.uboat.net

UAK Acceptance Trials of U-595

Even though the photos shown here are not of extraordinary quality, they are still extremely rare color images of the German submarine arm. The photos were taken in November 1941 or January/February 1942 aboard the U-595 in the Baltic Sea. Built by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, the Type VII C U-boat was commissioned by Oberleutnant zur See Jürgen Quat-Faslem on 6 November 1941. From Hamburg, the boat sailed down the Elbe and the Kaiser-Wilhelm Canal into the Baltic Sea. The route down the Elbe and through the Kaiser-Wilhelm Canal was not without danger, and the boat several times took aboard pilots to assist with navigation. Waiting for U-595 in Kiel was approximately 14 days of UAK acceptance trials. There were test crash dives and compensation of the gyro compass. Another important stage was monitoring of the boat's sound profile by the UAG-Schall in Sonderburg, Denmark. Underwater microphones captured the sounds made by the U-boat at various speeds. The object was to minimize them in order to make the boat less easy to detect when it entered service.

This photo was probably shot during crash dive tests in the Baltic Sea. Taken from U-595, it shows a second U-boat bearing the white UAK emblem on the conning tower, sailing into Kiel Fiord. The white UAK emblem was only applied, on both sides of the conning tower, during the testing phase. Following UAK acceptance on 11 December 1941, U-595 went to the Agru-Front (Hela) in the deep waters of Danzig Bay for further training. This lasted from 12 to 22 December. Then, on 23 December, the boat joined the 8. Unterseebootsflottille (8th Submarine Flotilla) in Königsberg. With this flotilla, which in February 1942 moved to Danzig, U-595 underwent deep-diving tests, measured mile runs to determine maximum speed, depth charge exercises, damage repair, day and night torpedo firing, and anti-aircraft and deck gun training. The training, which continued until 31 July 1942, also included a number of tactical training exercises. In the end there was a final noise monitoring session at Rönne off Bornholm,

This photo was taken in January/February 1942 in one of the training bases in Danzig Bay and shows Obersteuermann Georg Schwarz in front of U-595's conning tower. On it may be seen the boat's large "Frosch" (Frog) emblem which was designed and painted by 1. Wachtoffizier (First Watch Officer) Leutnant zur See Friedrich Kaiser while it was with the Agru-Front. On 14 November 1942, U-595 was bombed off Oran in the Mediterranean and was subsequently run aground and blown up by its crew. Two members of the crew were killed in the bombing attack, the rest were taken prisoner.

Source :
"U-Boot Im Focus" magazine, edition nr.4 - 2008

Resettlement of Bessarabian Germans

After the Red Army occupied the Bessarabia region, an agreement was reached between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union (then friends), on the resettlement of the local Germans into the Reich. Serbia, at that time also still friends with Germany, helped out and formed a temporary shelter for the refugees. In the photo, the chairman of the Swabian-German Cultural Union, Dr. Sepp Janko, delivers a speech to his fellow nationals in a refugee camp near Zemun, Yugoslavia, autumn 1940. Behind him are the typical Nazi pagan symbols: the Wolfsangel (freedom) and the Man rune (life), and a shovel (labour) between them. Standing in front are the local ethnic Germans, and their boys in uniforms and with instruments in style of the Hitler Youth. Upon their arrival in the Reich, the refugees will be subjected to the political control, employed mainly as hard labourers, and the able-bodied men will be recruited and sent to war. Two years later, Janko and his men too will put on the uniforms of the German Army, and set off to war – against their former Yugoslav hosts.

Source :
http://bandenkampf.blogspot.co.id/2015/12/bk0109.html

Photographer David B. Allen Wearing 10th Mountain Division Insignia

Portrait of the photographer of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division, David B. Allen, in front of the door to a barracks, 1944. He is wearing a cap and a field jacket and is standing in such a manner that the Tenth Mountain Division insignia, "the mountain patch" on his sleeve faces the camera. The 10th Mountain Division ACU patch features a powder keg shaped background with two bayonets crossed upwards. The bayonets are symbolic of infantry while the position of the bayonets simulates the numerical designation of the organization. The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 10th Light Division on 7 January 1944. It was designated for the 10th Mountain Division and a mountain tab was added on 22 November 1944. Although the proper branch insignia was crossed bayonets, some 10th Mountain Division soldiers in the three infantry regiments and one reconnaissance troop of the division wore crossed skis, often with a small US, eagle, or regimental number placed over or under the skis' intersection. Officers and some enlisted men wore the ski insignia above the left pocket, although a larger insignia intended for wear like a badge. Many enlisted men also wore the ornaments on the cap.

Source :
Book "Encyclopedia of United States Army Insignia and Uniforms" by William K. Emerson
http://amyatishkin.livejournal.com/287245.html
https://store.nwtmint.com/product_details/6444/U.S._Army_Patch_10th_Mountain_Infantry_Division_ACU_pair_/

Krupp Protze and BMW R12 Sidecar of Panzergruppe Guderian

A group of Krupp L 2 H 143 trucks as personnel carriers (Kfz.70) proves its off-road capability in the Russian swamp, 1941. The white "G" indicates Panzergruppe 2 (Guderian). Note the two-line license plates on the front bumper. Unfortunately, the division emblem on the BMW R12 motorcycle with sidecar cannot be read clearly. The L 2 H 43 and L 2 H 143 "Krupp-Protze" (unofficial designation) was a six-wheeled 6x4 German truck and artillery tractor produced between 1934 and 1941 and heavily used in World War II. It was powered by a 55 hp or 60 hp (since 1936) Krupp M 304 4-cylinder petrol engine. Its main purpose was to tow artillery, especially the PaK 36, and transport motorized infantry. This vehicle was extensively used on the Eastern Front, during the North African campaign and in France and Sicily. The "Krupp-Protze" was of relatively advanced design. Its fuel consumption was relatively high (24 Litres / 100 km on road) in comparison to the comparable Opel Blitz 1.5 t truck (16.5 liters / 100 km, produced 1938 - 1942). Total production was about 7,000 units.

Source :
Book "Krupp at War: The Legendary Krupp Protze & Other Vehicles" by Reinhard Frank
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krupp_Protze

Heinkel He 59 of Seenotstaffel 3

The crews of German air-sea rescue aircraft (Seenotflugstaffeln) operating over the English Channel in 1940 soon learned that the rescuer could often become a victim himself! After the occupation of France, Luftflotte 3 quickly established three Seenotzentralen (air-sea rescue centers) in Boulogne, Cherbourg and Brest. This was the Luftwaffe's reaction to the increasing number of clashes between German and British aircraft over the Channel. In the summer of 1940 the air-sea rescue units flew unarmed Heinkel He 59 floatplanes painted white overall with red crosses on the fuselage and wings. Convinced that the German air-sea rescue aircraft were taking advantage of their protected status to conduct reconnaissance over the Channel, the RAF (Royal Air Force) declared them legitimate targets and a number of He 59s were shot down. Reacting quickly, the Luftwaffe camouflaged the He 59s and fitted them with defensive armament. As well, the air-sea rescue aircraft were provided fighter cover whenever possible. The photographs show a Heinkel He 59 B air-sea rescue aircraft (Werknummer 1824, code ??+?G) of Seenotstaffel 3 (formerly Seenotflugstaffel 3, renamed in December 1940). Visible on the camouflaged aircraft are its two defensive positions and the Staffel emblem, an albatross with a life ring on a blue shield. Also note the large DF loop, which could be raised. On 14 October 1941 the aircraft's camouflage and defensive armament failed to save it. While on a rescue mission, the Heinkel was intercepted by eight British fighters just one kilometer off the Belgian coast near Raverside, west of Ostende, and was shot down in flames into the sea. Two members of the crew, Beobachter (observer) Oberfeldwebel Siegfried Wessel and Flugzeugführer (pilot) Unteroffizier Josef Raab, were wounded.

Source :
Magazine "Luftwaffe im Focus Spezial" No.1 2003