A.
1. PzKpfw IV AUSF C, 8./PANZER REGIMENT 22, 21.PANZER DIVISION,
NORMANDY, JUNE 1944
The second battalion of Panzer Regiment 22 still had six PzKpfw IV “kürz” tanks with the short L/24 gun left over from the previous Pz.Rgt.100 training unit. They were all in 8.Kompanie. They appear to have been finished in the old dark grey paint scheme, but with bands of the newer RAL 7028 dark yellow added. They do not appear to have carried tactical markings.
2. PzKpfw IV AUSF H, AUFKLÄRUNGSZUG, STAB./SS-PANZER REGIMENT 2,2.SS-PANZER DIVISION, GUÉHÉBERT, JULY 29, 1944
The staff company of a Panzer regiment under the 1943 KStN.1103 had an Aufklärungszug (reconnaissance platoon) with five PzKpfw IV tanks. In the case of 2.SS-Panzer Division “Das Reich”, the numbering pattern appears to have been to use the tactical prefix number “04” for the Aufklärungszug and the final suffix number, in this case “4” to indicate the fourth tank within the platoon. This tank carries an unusual cartoon representing a Panzermann looking through binoculars, based on cartoons that appeared in the Panzerfibel manuals. This cartoon presumably was intended to highlight the platoon’s observation role. The standard camouflage pattern adopted in 1943 consisted of a base finish of RAL 7028 dark yellow, with patches of RAL 6003 olive green and RAL 8017 red brown applied by the unit in the field or depots issuing the tanks.
B.
1. BEOBACHTUNGSWAGEN III AUSF G, SS-PZ.BEOBACHTUNGS-BATTERIE, I./SS-PANZER ARTILLERIE REGIMENT 2, 2.SS-PANZER DIVISION “DAS REICH,” RONCEY POCKET, JULY 29, 1944
Small numbers of PzKpfw IIIs were still in service in 1944, often in specialized roles such as this artillery forward observer vehicle. The mechanized artillery regiment of “Das Reich” often named their vehicles after historical German figures, in this case Lützow, after Prussian general Ludwig von Lützow who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. This was applied in the old Fraktur/Blackletter script.
2. PANZERSPÄHWAGEN II AUSF L LUCHS, I./PANZER-AUKLARUNGS-ABT 9,9.PANZER DIVISION, BAS-AUBRY, AUGUST 1944.
The reconnaissance battalion of the 9.Panzer Division was the only unit to use this rare light tank in Normandy, with 26 tanks, about a quarter of total production. The division used an unusual pattern of tactical numbers, with the first number being assigned to sub-units, for example “4” (reconnaissance battalion), “5” (tank destroyer battalion), and “6” (artillery regiment). The second number indicated the company, the third the platoon, and the fourth number the individual tank.
C.
1. TIGER I, 2./S.SS-PZ.ABT 101, VILLERS-BOCAGE, 13 JUNE 1944
This is the Tiger I used by Obersturmführer Michael Wittmann during the famous action at Villers-Bocage on June 13, 1944. Wittmann did not always use the same tank. There is a well-known series of photos of him in his usual tank, number 205, on June 7, but there is also film footage of him on Tiger 231 on June 9–10. When the 2.Kompanie was alerted of the British advance around 0900hrs, Wittmann walked from the Fermes des Hauts-Vents and boarded the nearest Tiger, number 234, of Uscha Steif. This tank had engine problems, so Wittmann switched to the next tank, 212, commanded that day by Uscha Sowa. The tactical numbers of the Stab and first platoon of the 2.Kompanie used a lighter color, probably yellow, rather than the red used by the rest of the company. Around 0930, Wittmann’s Tiger was engaged by a Sherman 17-pdr commanded by Sgt Stan Lockwood of B Squadron, 2 Troop , 4 CLY, 22nd Armoured Brigade, that was hidden partly behind a house further down Rue Pasteur near Place Jeanne d’Arc. Both tanks fired two rounds at each other, with Wittmann’s missing and Lockwood’s hitting the Tiger’s front plate at least once. Wittmann turned around on Rue Pasteur, but the
Tiger broke down near the Huet-Godefroy store on Rue Clémenceau inside Villers-Bocage. Wittmann and the crew escaped, arriving at the battalion HQ in the Chateau d’Orbois around 1100.
2. TIGER I, 3./S.SS-PZ.ABT 101, ÉVRECY, JUNE 14–15, 1944
This particular Tiger I was commanded in Normandy by SS-Uscha Schöppner and was knocked out by the carpet bombing on June 15, 1944. It was photographed in Mons, Belgium, in May 1944, with the tactical number in white with black trim. Some tanks of this company had the bright tactical numbers overpainted in medium blue with yellow or white trim, but it is unclear whether that was done to this particular tank prior to its loss
in Évrecy. It has the gun travel lock on the engine deck, suggesting it was built at the end of 1943 or early 1944.
D.
1. TIGER II, 1./S.PZ.ABT 503, LE PLESSIS-GRIMOULT, AUGUST 1944
This Tiger II was marked as tactical number 133. It was manufactured with the early style turret and was the 31st Tiger II manufactured (Fgst.Nr 280031).
2. TIGER II, 1./S.SS-PANZER-ABTEILUNG 101, GOINCOURT, AUGUST 30, 1944
This Tiger II of 1./s.SS-Pz.Abt 101, commanded by SS-Uscha Sepp Franzl, was one of three surviving tanks from the unit that attempted to stop the British 8th Armoured Brigade near Goincourt, west of Beauvais, on August 30. The tank was marked with tactical number 104 in pale green with yellow trim. It was one of 14 Tiger II tanks shipped to s.SS-Pz.Abt 101 from July 26, with the final example delivered on August 1, 1944. It was manufactured on 18 July, 1944, Fgst.Nr 280093. It was later recovered by the British Army and has been displayed at the Shrivenham and Bovington museums.
E.
1. JAGDPANZER IV, 2./SS-PANZERJÄGER-ABT 17, LAVAL, FRANCE, AUGUST 1944
SS-Panzerjäger-Abt 17 was allotted 31 Jagdpanzer IVs in June 1944, but the companies equipped with these did not return to France until August 4. They fought separately from the rest of the division around Laval and Le Mans. This is a Jagdpanzer IV from 2./SS.Pz.Jg.Abt 17 knocked out on August 8 near Coulans-sur-Gée on the approaches to Le Mans during an encounter with the 90th Division, supported by the 712th Tank Battalion. Nine Jagdpanzers were knocked out in this fighting. Some of the vehicles had the tactical number in black with white trim, some without the white edging.
2. JAGDPANTHER, 3./S.PANZERJÄGER-ABT 654, KAMPFGRUPPE SCHNEPF, AUNAY-SUR-ODON, AUGUST 1944
Jagdpanther 334 was commanded by Unteroffizier Teltau. It was abandoned due to mechanical problems during the British Army’s Operation Bluecoat offensive near Saint-Georges-d’Aunay on the night of August 2/3, 1944. The s.Panzerjäger-Abt 654 made a number of modifications on their vehicles, including the transfer of the tube for the barrel cleaning rods from the left hull side to the rear engine deck. They also removed the tool
stowage racks on the hull side.
F.
HALTING GOODWOOD, JULY 18, 1944
The decimation of the British 11th Armoured Division during Operation Goodwood on the morning of July 18 is often attributed to a battery of four 8.8cm Flak guns of Flak-Rgt Möser located in the village of Cagny and commandeered by Kampfgruppe von Luck of the 21.Panzer Division. Most of the casualties were probably inflicted by StuG.Abteilung 200 and the Tiger tanks of s.Pz.Abt 503. Becker’s StuG.Abt 200 was equipped with 17 Geschützwagen 7.5cm PaK 40s, as seen here in the foreground, and 24 Geschützwagen 10.5cm lFH.18s, seen in the background. On July 18, these were divided into five companies, nominally consisting of four Pak 40 assault guns and six 10.5cm lFH 18 assault guns. One of the companies was destroyed by the preliminary
carpet bombing. The remaining four companies spent most of the day ambushing the advancing tanks of the 11th Armoured Division. The 21.Panzer Division was later credited with knocking out 300 British tanks during Operation Goodwood.
G.
1. PANTHER AUSF A, 3./PANZER-REGIMENT 3, 2.PANZER DIVISION, AUGUST 1944
This Panther Ausf A shows the typical markings of the 2.Panzer Division, including the divisional trident insignia in front of the tactical number. This tank has the zimmerit pattern typical of tanks built at MAN.
2. PANTHER AUSF A, 4./SS-PANZER REGIMENT 2, KG STADLER, 2.SS-PANZER DIVISION “DAS REICH,” GUESNAY, JULY 27, 1944
A popular myth of the Normandy campaign is that SS-Ustuf Ernst Barkmann singlehandedly held back an American tank column during the Cobra breakout, destroying nine Sherman tanks and numerous other vehicles. The reality of “Barkman’s Corner” was somewhat more mundane. On June 27, he positioned his Panther under some trees near the Hôtel Maître-Nicole west of Le Hameau Guesnay at the intersection of contemporary routes D227 and D972 in support of “Das Reich” Panzergrenadiers. From this position, at a range of about 350 meters, he ambushed a column of the 4th Cavalry Squadron (Mecz), knocking out two M5A1 light tanks, two M8 light armored cars, and six jeeps. Barkmann’s Panther, tactical number 424, was hit by so many rounds of machine-gun fire that the hull periscopes were shattered. He withdrew from the scene back to a field workshop at the Château de Virville for repairs. The next day, Barkmann’s Panther left the workshop towing Panther number 413. This only exacerbated the mechanical problems with Barkmann’s Panther, and he finally abandoned it in the village of Grandin around noon on July 30. His tank was festooned with foliage camouflage on the day of the fighting, with chicken wire wrapped around the barrel to assist in attaching foliage. A detailed account of the incident can be found in: Deprun, Frédéric, “Les Panthers de la Das Reich (8): Le vrai périple de Barkmann 27 au 31 juillet 1944” in Normandie 1944, No. 25 (Nov–Dec 2017), pp.42–101.
