Large Panzer IV F1 portrait, front glacis with Kugelblende 50 ( 50mm ball armor on MG34 bow machine gun port ) for close-in defense, operated by radio operator. Bow-port MG34 is same as infantry version, but with no wooden stock due to space constraints. When Panzer crew are forced to evacuate, they carry P38 pistol and MP38/MP40 submachine guns as side arms.
In WW1 and WW2, there was a mystique ( especially among American troops ) of capturing a German P08 Luger pistol as war prize. When Luger pistol was first introduced in 1900, its advanced streamlined design marked a significant evolution from traditional revolver pistols. Hence its " brand nuance " was etched into American psyche as apex of German military arms during WW1.
Thus, as WW2 commenced, American soldiers were eager to recoup a Luger for its style, symbolism, and technical innovation. However, by that time Luger pistol design was more than 40 years old, so it was somewhat ironic that Americans via some generational brand nuance continued to adopted a dated pistol design rather than modern variants.
Although Lugers were still used as WW2 German side arms, modern P38 pistol design ( introduced 1938 ) were deployed to frontline troops as well. One of its major innovation was the use of gun trigger to load a round during 1st trigger pull ( assuming barrel was not preloaded ) and 2nd trigger pull to fire off the round. From that point onward, P38 operated in semi-automatic mode firing off remaining 7 magazine rounds. Contrasted with both German P08 Luger and American Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistols, one had to manually cock the Jolt Arm ( Luger ) or Barrel Sleeve Cover ( Colt ) with one hand while holding the pistol with the other hand. Walther P38 streamlined pistol firing motion for faster and more ergonomic combat response. BTW Walther company also produced compact PPK ( Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell ) or Police Pistol Detective Model in 1935, made famous in postwar era via James Bond 007 espionage action movies.
To mimic collision damage, front track fender covers were sawed off. Leading fender edges were heated over a candle until softened, then deformed with a pencil eraser's edge. On right of glacis plate is driver armor visor flap and two small periscope holes, by 1943 Panzer IV Ausf G design these vision holes were completely eliminated. Crescent-shaped tow hooks placed on tow bar next to spare track, hooks used for vehicle recovery tasks by placing in tow cable loop ends.
Top rear view with rear stowage of shovel, water canister, tow cables, personal water bottles, helmets, etc. Commander stands upright in copula with headphone strapped around his neck, makeshift turret handle bar is placed behind the figure. With see-saw battles in Caucasus over a 5-month period, returning German veterans often scribed the term Kaukasus - Hin und Zurück ! ( Caucasus - There and Back ).
Main obstacle confronting German forces was vast distance of Soviet countryside outpacing their logistical lines in central Europe ( circa 1,500 miles from Berlin to Stalingrad ). Another factor was different railroad gauges between German and Soviet train systems, compelling Germans to resize every major railroad line they captured for effective supply transit. However, most glaring was manpower.... Germans persistently suffered manpower shortages in WW2, while Soviets onset of war with Germany outnumbered her forces 5 to 1 ( 3 million Germans in frontlines to 14 million Soviets in frontlines + reserves ). More detailed information below on Panzer IV and ancillary battles & personalities.. went a little "hog wild" on the research though...
Ostfront, March 1943 | Panzer IV Ausf G in winter white-wash during German offensive against Soviet forces retaking Kharkov transportation hub in central Ukraine. Ausf G version seen in its extra applique armor plate on front glacis contour around driver visor flap and Kugelblende ( ball MG mount ). Crew probably belongs to Panzer Regiment attached to 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte, one of three SS Panzer Divisions which took part in the 2nd Battle of Kharkov.
1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler | Wiki
1. SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler | AHC
Panzer is also recent frontline arrival since it has factory-installed 3-tube smoke dischargers ( also called smoke candles ) on turret front sides ( immediately in front on numeral 525 ). Smoke dischargers would be rarely seen on German tanks from late-1943 onward. Devices were either frequently torn off during maneuvers, blown off in battle, or were superfluous.
Numeral 525 indicates 5th Company, 2nd Platoon, 5th vehicle in platoon. And this stage, numerals were usually painted in Black or Red with White outlines onto Panzer Grey camouflage tank. With winter white-wash camouflage, darken numerals left as-is, while white outlines were either painted over or obscured.
Note that German Tiger tank tanks were present in 1943 Kharkov battle, but they were too few in number, thus most of the armor "grunt combat" was done by Panzer IV, Panzer III, Marder III, and Panzer IV crews. Germans would hold onto Kharkov until their failed Kursk Salient offensive in July 1943, thus enabled Soviets reinforcements to recapture Kharkov in August 1943.
Aug 1943 Fourth Battle of Kharkov | Wiki
Straßenkampf in der Kharkov-Stadt ( Street battles in Kharkov city )| German Panzergrenadieren dodging downed cable-car power lines, following-up armor assault led by Stug III Ausf A assault gun, seconded by Sdkfz 250 armor half-track, during 1941 1st Battle of Kharkov city. Offensive was part of massive German Operation Barbarossa sweep across all Soviet Union eastern regions. Given meticulous German nomenclature, this Stug III is long-form designation is "Sturmgeschütz III Ausf A-E / Sd.Kfz. 142 Gepanzerter Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz 7.5cm Kanone Ausf A" ) Assault Gun III Model A to E / Special Vehicle 142 Armored Self-propelled chassis for Assault Gun 75mm gun Model A )
Sturmgeschutz III/IV | ATP
1941 First Battle of Kharkov | Wiki
During June 1941 German Ostland offensive, a series of Kesselschlachten ( German for Cauldron Battles, in colloquial English as Battle Encirclements ) were inflicted upon Soviet Army across entire region from northern Baltic, central Moscow, and southern Ukraine fronts. Resulting in about 10 major encirclements with each containing over 100,000 Soviet POWs ( some say some 20 encirclements in all of various sizes ), in total Soviets lost nearly 2 million men in 6 months of battle, but unknown to the Germans... the Soviets ( as successor to Russian Empire ) had circa 14 million manpower reserves !
Encirclements in 1941 | Wiki
Battle of Uman | Wiki
Breakdown of major 1941 encirclement listed as follows :
- Bialystok and Minsk pockets - 324,000
- Smolensk encirclements ( east of Mogilev, west of Nevel, between Orscha and Smolensk) - 310,000
- Uman pocket - 103,000 POW
- Kiev pocket - 665,000 POW
- Vyazma and Brysansk pockets - 650,000 POWs
Germany's SdKfz 250 leichter Schützenpanzerwagen, half track | WW2V
Germany's SdKfz 10 leichter Zugkraftwagen 1t half track | WW2V
U-505 Submarine | MSIC
Nazi Propaganda: Slogans, Myths and Images | WTC
This "Fuehrer Not Follow" was the stance of SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser : SS Panzer Corps commander, during Feb 1943 1st phase of 3rd Battle of Kharkov.
II SS Panzer Corps | Wiki
Despite common misconceptions, it was possible in WW2 Germany to openly disobey Der Fuhrer's direct orders, risk chance of arrest or execution by firing squad, and get away with it, so long as one is proven victorious at battle's end. Very few German commanders demonstrated such confidence and zeal.
Concerning Gen. Hausser and his SS Panzer Corps at Kharkov, they were on verge of being encircled by Soviet forces within Kharkov city. Hence, he formally requested Oberkommando der Wehrmacht ( OKW or Supreme Command of Armed Forces headquarter ) permission to withdraw his forces eastward out of enemy pincers to new defense lines.
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht | Wiki
OKW had to get Chancellor Adolf Hitler personal permission, via so-called " Fuehrer Befehl ". This debate dragged on between Chancellory and OKW offices, with former resisting any military retreat due to political - ideological - ethnic reasons ( namely, supremacy of Germanic over Slavic forces, primacy of National Socialism versus Marxist-Leninism, etc. ). With Soviet armor about to severe last remaining southern escape route out of Kharkov, Hausser on his own initiative issued the retreat order.
Paul "Papa" Hausser | Wiki
When OKW was notified of this withdraw, they immediately countermand his order pending formal Chancellory reply, by which Hausser simply reiterated " withdraw is already in progress ", meaning things have been set into motion and cannot be halted in mid-execution. Ofcourse, we know its end result.... Hausser saved his SS Panzer Corps to regroup with German reinforcements, and in 2nd phase of 3rd Battle of Kharkov ( also called Manstein Counter-offensive ) pincer Soviet forces and retook Kharkov city in March 1943.
(Fritz) Erich von Manstein / von Lewinski (November 24, 1887 - June 11, 1973) | ATP
Final note on Hausser, his military career spanned German Empire ( until 1918 ), Weimar Republic ( until 1933 ), and then Nazi Germany ( 1933 - 1945 ). He lost his left eye ( in photo replaced with glass eye) during 1941 combat in Russia, hence in some photos he wore a black eye patch. Being seasoned Heer ( army ) commander, he was personally recruited by Waffen-SS during its formative years to provide combat leadership and organization in transforming this paramilitary unit, into full-fledged frontline combat unit.
This in turn enabled the Waffen-SS to become 4th branch of German military ( other ones were Heere - Army, Kriegsmarine - Navy, Luftwaffe - Air Force ). Germany was also one of the first nation to organized its air force as separate military branch in 1935, rather than being subordinate to Army or Navy ( like US during WW2 ). However, Great Britain has everyone beat by forming Royal Air Force during WW1, April 1918.
Luftwaffe | Wiki
Royal Air Force | Wiki
Front (military formation) | Wiki
1942 battle map shows major Soviet penetration in southern sector, with Soviet 21st and 23rd Tank Armies reaching Krasnograd outskirts, followed by 6th - 57th - 9th Armies ( foot-mobile infantry ). This penetration was contained by German 6th - 17th Armies, while 1st Panzer Army prepared counter-offensive to severe salient.
May 1942 Second Battle of Kharkov | Wiki
By late May 1942, entire Soviet Southern Front ( army group ) was encircled within the Balaklov - Lozovaya - Izyum pocket, survivors did make it across North Donets river at Izyum, but Soviet losses were staggering. In all, Soviets incurred 171,000 KIA - Missing - POW, 106,000 wounded, lost circa 2,100 guns, 1,250 tanks, 550 aircrafts. German losses in all were 20,000 men KIA - Missing - POW.
Battle of Kharkov 27-5-42 German Encirclement Maps | WW2P
Rationales for Soviet failed offensive were 2 fold : 1) Northern "South-Western Front" was stalled by German defenses and unable to contribute to overall pincer offensive, thus relegating battle effort to "Southern Front", 2) After initial penetration by "Southern Front", its mobile tank reserves were held some 70 to 100 miles behind the front, which took 2 days to get into battle, but that time... Germans defenses had already regrouped.
Stalin’s Gulag | GHO
Second Battle of Kharkov 1942 | JVD
German escort Soviet POWs after Kharkov Battle 1942 | WW2DB
Ivan über alles ( German for Ivan Over All ) | 15 February 1943, Soviet forces liberated Kharkov during 1st phase of 3rd Battle for Kharkov. Advancing Soviet T-34/76 tanks passing thru Dzerzhinsky Square ( or colloquially called Red Square in the West ), behind the tanks are iconic Gosprom ( State Industries ) buildings, with its clean and lean architectural lines reflecting German Modernism design of Bauhaus school which was prominent during early 20th-century.
The Bauhaus : people, places, products & philosophy | ACC
Bauhaus | Wiki
Note that WW2 Soviet forces did not develop what Germans called "Panzergrenadieren" or US "Armored Infantrymen", : mobile infantry being transported in armored vehicles to keep apace with mechanized advance by tank forces. Thus, Soviet infantrymen mobility attained as " Descentni " ( Descenders or Tank Riders ), thus reason why extra hand hold bars can be found on late-WW2 Soviet tanks.
These "Descentni" mainly rode to battle and dismounted for combat, for they usually could not fight directly from atop of tanks due to high vulnerability to light caliber enemy fire. By post-WW2 era, "Descentni" evolved into Motorized Rifle Battalions as Soviet forces developed their own armor personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. BTW, Russian nickname for T-34 tank was " Tridtsat'chetverka " ( Thirty Four )...not too ornate, but served its purpose.
Soviet Union's T-34/76 medium tank | WW2V
Soviet Union's T-34/85 Ob 1943 medium tank | WW2V
T-34 & Tank riders model & diorama | PCG
The Atlas of Eastern Front Battles | Amazon
Nov 1941 - Jan 1942 Battlefronts | German forces were battling on all Soviet fronts, with its Army Group North besieging Leningrad and holding off Soviet Tikhvin offensive. Its Army Group Center was 20 miles from Soviet capitol Moscow until it too was hit by Soviet Kalinin offensive ( also called Russian Winter Offensive ). Army Group South was down in Black Sea / Crimea region, battling its way into Soviet naval base at Sevastopol. These battles in Crimea battle set the stage for Fuehrer Befehl.
Siege of Leningrad | Wiki
Russian Winter ( Kalinin ) Offensive 1941 Maps | ACG
Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942) | Wiki
In Crimea, German forces besieged Sevastopol in southern sector, while in western sector continued its offensive into Kerch Peninsula. On 25-26 Dec 1941, Soviet fleet made amphibious landings at 10 locations throughout Kerch region, landed 40,000 troops, and intended to pincer German armor and infantry divisions into the peninsula. One of the most threatening landings was at southern shore at Feodosiya and northern shore near Parpach, which could have cut-off German 170th - 46th ( red circle in map shows 46th ID commencing Kerch peninsula battles ) - 50th - 28th - 132nd Infantry Division and 22nd Panzer Division.
Battle of the Kerch Peninsula | Wiki
Feodosiya | Wiki
Maps 1942 Crimea (Southern Direction) | ACG
Oberkommando des Heeres ( OKH ) | Wiki
With late December icy roads, von Sponeck's division lost or abandoned majority of its artillery pieces. For withdrawal without permission and impression of mass panic among division's men in Germany's first WW2 military retreat, the Reich Chancellory and German High Command court-martial von Sponeck and sentenced him to death by firing squad ( which was later commuted to 7 years detention ). But with July 1944 assassination attempt on Hitler, Reich Security Official ( led by Himmler ) order his immediate execution for fear of collusion with other conspirators, execution by firing squad carried out on 23 July 1944 at Germersheim fortress - Germany.
Hans Graf von Sponeck | Wiki
Festung Germersheim ( German ) | BGW
Fortunately for Germans, Soviet Kerch counter-offensive fared no better, within 10 days Soviet forces were defeated, losing 170,000 as POW alone, thus enabled German forces to reconvene its effort on conquest of Sevastopol by July 1942.
Soviet Black Sea Fleet | In modern era, Sevastopol witnessed its share of geopolitical controversy since it was former HQ base of Soviet Black Sea fleet. Upon Soviet Union 1991 collapse, newly independent nation Ukraine demanded assumption of all Soviet-era naval ships within Sevastopol since port was under its territorial jurisdiction ( Ukraine also got control of Soviet nuclear missile silos in region, thus instantaneously made Ukraine 3rd largest world nuclear weapons arsenal at that time ).
Black Sea Fleet | Wiki
Russian naval base and ownership dispute | Wiki
One major Ukraine - Russian Federation contention was ownership of Soviet-era first aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, launched in 1985 to match US fleet carrier operations ( all be it at that time US had some 15 carriers battlegroups versus Soviet sole carrier ). In Dec 1991, Admiral Kuznetsov carrier made sudden unannounced departure from Sevastopol and rejoined Russian Federation Northern Fleet in Kola Peninsula - Arctic Sea. Ukrainian nationalists made howls of protest, but it was a " done-deal " the second Kuznetsov carrier undocked from Crimea region.
Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov | Wiki
Ukranian nationalists protested once again in April 2010 when Ukranian government signed military - economic deal with Russian Federation over Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, namely Ukraine gets 30% price discount on Russian natural gas imports for permission to extend naval base lease for 25 years ( base was originally scheduled to close in 2017 ).
2010 Ukrainian–Russian Naval Base for Natural Gas treaty | Wiki
Russia, Ukraine agree on naval-base-for-gas deal | CNN
37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 | Wiki
ZSU-37 | Wiki
Plaza named after pro-Soviet Polish Communist revolutionary leader Felix Dzerzhinsky, founder and first director of Cheka : Bolshevik secret police ( predecessor of famed Soviet-era KGB agency ). Dzerzhinsky and his Cheka were notorious for systematic torture and mass executions during 1920s Russian Civil War and " Red Terror " campaigns. Cheka was Russian acronym for Chrezvychaynaya Komissiya ( Extraordinary Commission ).
Felix Dzerzhinsky | Wiki
Cheka | Wiki
Red Terror | Wiki
Gosprom Derzhprom | Dzerzhinsky Square background is iconic Gosprom buildings ( also called Derzhprom ), which in Russian means " State Industry ". Based on 1930s Soviet-era streamlined functional architecture, divorced of ornate ascetics ( which alluded to former bourgeois aristocratic class ). These buildings served as geographic markers for upcoming Kharkov 3rd Battle - 2nd Stage between Soviet and German SS Panzer Corps in March 1943. Today, plaza is 6th largest in Europe, and 12th largest in the world.
Gosprom / Derzhprom | Wiki
Kharkov Freedom Square ( modern day JPG ) | Wiki
der Stratege ( the Strategist ) | Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein, by which the March 1943 German Kharkov counter-offensive was named "Mainstein Offensive". He correctly deduced that Soviet armor units would advance past Kharkov, then swing southwest via Dneiper river bank contours, petering out its resources & momentum, thus created a "neck" salient for German reinforcements in western sector to pincer against.
Erich von Manstein | Wiki
Ukraine Map - Dneiper River | SAC
Mainstein Offensive ( 2nd Battle of Kharkov - 2nd Stage ) was a series of battles against Soviet forces in Kharkov vicinity from 19 Feb - 15 March 1943, resulting in destruction of 52 Soviet armor and infantry divisions. Germans also called this operation "Donets Campaign", which is a misnomer since Donets river is located to east of Kharkov, while majority of combat ensued in southwest & northern sector of Kharkov.
Von Mainstein's counter-offensive success stablized entire southern Russian front for German forces. Considering that German 6th Army was entrapped in Stalingrad up until their final capitulation in 2 Feb 1943. Spectacle of Germans in full retreat and innumerable Soviet reinforcements were as much a threat to German frontline troop morale as much as actual combat. The General success in Kharkov operation cost the Soviets 70,000 men, but German SS Panzer Corps who took brunt of this combat lost circa 4,300 men in Kharkov city battle alone. German forces also capture Belgorod, to the north of Kharkov, which became the southern pincer launch point for July 1943 Kursk Salient battles.
Manstein Plan, France 1940 | Wiki
Panzer Voran, Kharkov stadt nach ( tanks forward, to Kharkov city ) | Panzer IV crew assemble in snow-laden steppe country as armor formations prepare for advance onto Kharkov city during German 1943 "Mainstein" offensive. Note Panzerkommandeur on right wearing white field jacket with insulated hoody, which was a new uniform introduction at the time. Apparatus hung off his chest was part of the Throat Microphone : device clamped to his throat and amplified commander vocal oscillations via intercom system, thus alleviated need to wear cumbersome headphone sets.
F-210a Complete WWII German Throat Microphone Set | TRD
Waffen-SS: Kharkov, 1943 | GWM
As with major WW2 German military service branches, Panzertruppen had their own marching songs, it is titled : Panzer Voran - Lied der Panzergruppe Kleist ( Tanks Forward, Song of the Panzer Group Kliest ). Evidently, song was written during operations of 1.Panzerarmee ( 1st Panzer Army ) or Panzergruppe Kleist ( in reference to its commander Field Marshal Ewald von Kleist ) formed Mar 1940 from XXII. Armeekorps (mot) or 22nd Army Corps ( motorized ), its vehicles had a large "K" painted in the rear. Although formation was renamed back to XXII. Armeekorps (mot) in July 1940 after the French Campaign, the large "K" for Kliest can still be seen on German vehicles up to Soviet Union invasion through end of 1941.
1st Panzer Army | Wiki
Panzergruppe Kleist | AHC
As for Panzer Voran lyrics.. here goes :
German lyricsIm Westen haben wir dem Feind bewiesen:
Wo wir dabei, da brach die stärkste Kraft!
Ob hoch die Berge, sumpfig auch die Wiesen,
Wir haben jedes Hindernis geschafft.
Wir rollen an, und ob wir opfern sollten
Unser 'st der Sieg, wo wir viel siegen wollten
Voran! Voran! Panzer voran!
Voran! Voran! So donnern die Motoren!
Voran! Voran! Wir sind dem Sieg verschworen!
Uns drängt uns reißt
Des Führers Geist
|: Wir sind die Panzergruppe Kleist,
Die Panzergruppe Kleist. :|
Panzer voran! ( WW2 lyrics ) | YouTube
English translationIn the west we've been demonstrating our enemy,Panzer voran | IGB
that where we are there breaks the strongest force!
Whether on high mountains or on swampy meadows,
we passed every obstacle.
We roll on, and even if we have to sacrifice
we will win, where we want to win.
Forward! Forward! Forward tanks!
Forward! Forward! The engines are shattering!
Forward! Forward! We vowed to win!
We are urged and pushed
by the Fuehrer's spirit.
|: We are the tank unit Kleist,
the tank unit Kleist :|
BTW, Panzer Voran was also title of German WW2 frontline newspaper ( akin to US Stars and Stripes newspaper ).
Germany Front Zeitungen - Front Publications | WTP
Panzer Voran 1943 | WTP
Aerial view of U-shaped Kharkov Red Square whereby German Kampfgruppe Hansen battled its way to buildings on left side approach. Streets are deserted with no Soviet or German armor formations in photo, thus photo probably taken during German armor approach to Kharkov outskirts ( modern Ukranian city name is Kharkiv ).... thus Soviets did not want to give away their positions, so all quiet on the Kharkov front. Success of this 1943 "Mainstein Counter-Offensive" enable Germans to recapture Kharkov transportation hub, but also stabilized the Donets-Mius ( rivers ) defense line.
Kharkiv | Wiki
Photo taken from Fieseler Fi-156 Storch light recon plane, used for aerial recon, medical evacuation, senior commander liaison, and in late-war years even anti-armor platform whereby 2 Panzerfaust anti-tank were strapped to outer wings, the pilot would fire both projectiles by flying very low and "eye-balling" the target.
Fi-156 Storch Decals 48008 | MKD
Panzerfaust photos | Google
Winter white-wash camouflage was a paint paste whereby frontline units were instructed to dilute it with petrol ( aka European for gasoline ) before applying camouflage with either broom - brush - mop onto their vehicles. With petro being crucial for armor vehicle deployment, its crews elected not to follow official dilution instruction, instead diluted the white paste with water. After a few weeks of combat operations, this water-diluted camouflage began to flake and crack, thus one could see this type of weathering on German combat vehicles throughout WW2.
Winter Whitewash | ARA
How to paint : Winter White Wash Finishes | TUSA
Max Hansen (SS officer) | Wiki
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross | Wiki
List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Ha–Hm) | Wiki
WW2 German Kampfgruppe was equivalent to US Task Force armor formation, with men from different units cobbled together to specific localized military objective, once this was achieved the Kampfgruppe was disbanded. Kampfgruppe name usually based on commanding officer surname, division name, or a code name.
Kampfgruppe | Wiki
In American history, Kampfgruppe Hansen is better know for its operations in German Ardennenoffensive ( aka Battle of the Bulge ) Dec. 1944. Hansen commanded 1st SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment LSSAH, whereby his Kampfgruppe Hansen was at Kaiserbaracke Crossroads in Amel - Belgium ( about 6 miles north-eastern of St. Vith ). This was captured in famed video clip of his drive-by unit's Steyr 1500A/02 Mannschaftwagen towing 12cm Granatwerfer 42 ( GrW42 ) Heavy Mortar. Max Hansen survived WW2 and lived to a right olde age of 81, passing away on 7 March 1990 in same town of his birth... Niebüll - northwest of Kiel in northern Germany, near the Danish border in Schleswig-Holstein.
Niebüll | Google Maps
Straßenschlacht ( street battles ) | On approach to Kharkov - Red Square, March 1943. SS-Panzers duel with Soviet strongpoints, if enemy tanks or anti-tank guns were present, these Panzers would not be so cavalier sitting in middle of open street. In photo are Marder III / Sd.Kfz.138 (mit) self-propelled anti-tank gun and two Panzer IV Ausf G.... all painted in winter white-wash camouflage. Demag D7 half-track carrier sits to extreme left ( D7 is the softskin version to famed Sdkfz 251 armored half-track carrier ), the 5cm or 7.5cm PAK40 anti-tank gun it carried has been unhitched and sits immediately behind the large tree on left.
Marder (Marten) Series | ATP
The Red Square at Kharkov 1942 | WW2IC
Originally called Dzerzhinsky Square ( colloquially called in the West as Red Square ), named after Felix Dzerzhinsky who was a Polish Communist who served with Soviet Bolshevik regime during its establishment after WW1. Dzerzhinsky was founder of the Cheka ( secret police and precursor to Soviet KGB ). Square was renamed Freedom Square after Ukraine independence in 1991, however Lenin's statue at the square was not toppled and remained at its dominance today.
Feb - Mar 1943 Third Battle of Kharkov | Wiki
Third Battle of Kharkov Gaming (2) | FOW
Hans Schlachten auf der Sieg ! ( Hans battle for victory ).... colloquial ethnic identification for all German troops, much like German nickname "Ivan" for Soviet troops. Waffen-SS Panzergrenadieren in Kharkov street battles, wearing winter parkas specially designed by SS Department. These winter parkas were camouflaged in forest green or khaki. Soldier in front has a wooden stick slacked over his shoulder carrying Stick grenade case.
ABOUT ORIGINAL GERMAN WINTER UNIFORMS | ATF
Schlact to Schlacking | German term "Schlacht" ( to engage in combat ) was adopted by US troops in WW2 ( along was Ack Ack for "88" and FLAK ), and morphed into modern US vernacular "Schlacking" ( rendered in 2 syllables as Sha-Lacking ). Although primarily heard among Americans residing in Northeast and East Coast regions, term was frequently used by US News media after 2010 mid-term elections whereby Democrat President Obama lost 63 House seats and 5 Senate seats, the greatest number of Congressional seats lost by one party since 1930s Great Depression era. Hence one see the headlines "Obama took a Schlacking".
US House Rep Map - Election Results 2010 Interactive | NYT
Abandoned German Panzer derelicts in Kharkov street-side with curious Ukranian kids looking about. Panzers in photo identified as follows : 1) Befehlpanzer III ( command tank ) with severed main gun in Panzer Grey camouflage, 2) Two Panzer IV Ausf G tanks in background, missing their main gun mantle - sprocket - tracks, but retained winter white camouflage from previous battles earlier in 1943. Photo probably taken after Soviet re-conquest of city in 4th battle of Kharkov, August 1943. Battle is also called Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive Operation.
Soviet launched counter-offensive after German forces halted their Kursk Salient offensive in July 1943. With depleted men - material - equipment - supplies, Germans switched their attention to Allied invasion of Sicily - Italy on July 1943. Fearing collapse of Fascist Italian state would strategically undermine German war effort in Mediterranean and Balkans, since Axis forces already surrendered in-masse in North Africa in May 1943 with 150,000 POWs ( in total, Allies took circa 300,000 POWs in entire campaign ). Soviets leveraged this German attention-switch and launched their counter-offensive coming out of the Kursk salient, capturing Kharkov in process.
Tunisian Resistance Ends in Rout of Germans; Gen. Von Arnim and 150,000 Men Captured | NYT
Photo shows classical U-shape rim of Gosprom buildings and its traffic thoroughfares.
In March 1943, German Kampfgruppe Hansen, whose Panzer units were first one to reach city center, battled their way from main street on left side of center Gosprom building complex, targeting Soviet PAK ( German acronym for Panzerabwehrkanone or generic WW2 slang for Anti-Tank Guns ) positioned at southern rim of square ( below the photo ).
1991 Dissolution of the Soviet Union | Wiki
Street-side left view of former Red Square in former Kharkov city along the U-shape rimmed thoroughfare. There were few trees at this locale in 1943, thus field of fire was clear and concise. It is believed that Kampfgruppe Hansen : German battlegroup first to reach city center on March 1943 - 3rd Battle of Kharkov, emerged from Gosprom building street immediately in front of photo behind large bundle of trees.
Ukrainian language | OMG
Cyrillic alphabet | Wiki
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY: RELIVE THE TIMES | II4U
Katyn Massacre | Another ugly history near Kharkov was Soviet mass executions of about 22,000 Polish POWs, government ministers, and intelligentsia after its Sept 1939 Poland invasion ( in collusion with Germany ). Executions conducted by Soviet Secret Police at remote forested region near village of Katyn - Ukraine, some 15 miles northwest of Kharkov. Its purpose was to removed military - political - social leadership cadre from subjugated Polish population, thus make remaining populace more conducive to Soviet occupation and forced assimilation. Map drawing showcase multiple mass burial sites initially discovered by German forces during Summer 1941 Soviet Union invasion.
1940 Katyn massacre | Wiki
God's Eye: Aerial Photography and the Katyn Massacre | KBN
Area alphabetic listing indicates : H - original 1940 mass graves. G - 1943 PKC cemetery. Dotted Squares next to Area G is cemetery noted in 1957 excavation ( some speculate the 900 corpses re-interred by German Burdenko Commission in 1944 ).
L - trench line discovered by American excavation in 1990s ( some speculate this was used by Soviets as execution stalls for the actual murders ).
Thus, far form being aggrieved WW2 victim, Soviet Union was actually one of its perpetrators and the nation, in open alliance with Nazi Germany, attempted to carve Europe into their respective sphere of influence and territorial expansion. Raw history itself validates this conclusion :
1934 Soviet invasion of Xinjiang - China | Wiki
1939 Soviet invasion of Poland | Wiki
1940 Soviet occupation of the Baltic states | Wiki
1939 Soviet invasion of Finland ( Winter War, Soviet-Finnish War ) | Wiki
1940 Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - Romania | Wiki
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