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Showing posts with label 6 With Armored Vehicle. Show all posts

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Franz Hack in an Armoured Reconnaisance Vehicle

SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") in an Sd.Kfz.250/9 Armoured Reconnaisance vehicle belong to 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland”. The picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia, November 1943, when Hack visiting a Panzerspäh-Kompanie of SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11, which was in the Balkan area during the autumn of 1943.

These photos were taken by Ernst Baumann, who is commonly considered an SS war correspondent, but who may not actually have been one. They represent the fielding of SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” with the Sd.Kfz. 250/9, Ausführung A (the Cäsar) for the 2nd Company, which was a Type “C” armored scout company. 16 of these vehicles were issued to the unit in Croatia on 4 November 1943, when the company was undergoing its final training prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January. The field-grade officer seen here is SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"), who was in Croatia at the same time supervising the train-up for the newly established SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 headquarters and its 2nd Battalion, as well as SS-Panzer-Regiment 11, which eventually became SS-Panzer-Abteilung 11 and schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 103/503. Hack apparently took an interest in the training of what would become the 2./SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland”, and used the opportunity to familiarize himself with the vehicle. This knowledge was most likely put to good use when Hack commanded SS-Panzer- Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 “Wiking” from June through August 1944.

SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") in an Sd.Kfz.250/9 Armoured Reconnaisance vehicle. This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia, November 1943, during the final training of 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January.

SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") in an Sd.Kfz.250/9 Armoured Reconnaisance vehicle. The vehicle maneuvers a bit cross-country before it conducts some target practice in the open countryside. This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia, November 1943, during the final training of 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January.

Members of the 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” testing the gun of one of their newly-arrived half-tracks (Sd.Kfz. 250/9), in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia. Standing in the turret on the right is SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking"). This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in November 1943, during the final training of 2nd Company prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January.

Members of the 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” testing the gun of one of their newly-arrived half-tracks (Sd.Kfz. 250/9), in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia. This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in November 1943, during the final training of 2nd Company prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January.

SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") in an Sd.Kfz.250/9 Armoured Reconnaisance vehicle. This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia, November 1943, during the final training of 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January.

Before departing, SS-Sturmbannführer Franz Hack (Kommandeur III.Bataillon / SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") is held up to be given some information by an unidentified SS soldier wearing the iconic SS camouflage in a four-pocket tunic and cap. For the vehicle's camo itself, At last as far as the Sd.Kfz.250/9 version goes, a majority seem to be relatively plain with no camouflage. It is possible that this coincides with the early-mid War norms for, say, 1943. You tend to see lighter vehicles through Kursk and into the fall, and 1944, and then darker colored schemes from mid 1944 onward. This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia, November 1943, during the final training of 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January.

This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia, November 1943, during the final training of 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January. In addition to preparing for combat deployment, the company was also required to conduct show-of-force missions in an effort to reduce the number of partisan incidents and activities.

This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia, November 1943, during the final training of 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January. It shows several other vehicles of the company. The Sd.Kfz.250 series received a simplified New/Neu style body and revised turret mid-war, so this is a late type 250/9 reflecting the new design for the hull and turret.

This picture was taken by Ernst Baumann in the vicinity of Topolovac (near Sisak), Croatia, November 1943, during the final training of 2.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland” prior to commitment in the northern part of the eastern front the following January. It shows the rarely photographed Panzer II, Ausführung J, originally developed for scout duties with a production run of less than fifty vehicles, can be seen in the background. It is not known whether the company was issued any of these vehicles or it (and others?) was just lent to the company for training purposes.

Source :
Heiner Duske photo collection

"Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards
"Batailles et Blindés" n°32, August-September 2009
"TNT" Special issue No. 15, December 2013 - January 2014
https://www.alamy.com/waffen-ss-officer-franz-hack-in-an-armoured-reconnaisance-vehicle-hack-was-a-panzer-grenadier-regimental-commander-in-the-5th-ss-panzer-division-wiking-image255373050.html
https://author.today/reader/138711/1180282
http://bandenkampf.blogspot.com/2018/09/bk0366.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130556552@N02/18238233665

https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=205828&hilit=franz+hack
https://www.track-link.com/forums/site_blogs/56239

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Erwin Rommel and Captured AEC "Max" and "Moritz"

General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) sitting in the rooftop of "Max", a captured AEC Armoured command vehicle captured from the British. With his is unknown Italian officer. Standing in waiting beside "Max" is Rommel's adjutant, Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Schraepler. The picture was possibly taken in the summer of 1941.

Shortly after his arrival in North Africa, Erwin Rommel had quick successes and by April 1941 its Afrikakorps capturing many British and allied vehicles along the way, especially trucks, which he sorely needed for his advance. Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3, for example, managed to captured at Mechili two British generals and three AEC Armoured Command Vehicles: Lieutenant-General Philip Neame (8th Army Cmmander) and his assistant commander, Lieutenant-General Richard O'Connor, plus Major-General Michael Gambier-Parry, commander of 2nd Armoured.Division. Although the capture was a formidable propaganda coup for the Germans, for Rommel, the capture of Both vehicle was welcome as they were spacious, comfortable, had good radios and were well tailored for off-roads conditions in North Africa. Former O'Connor's vehicle (L4426425) was named "Max", and "Moritz" was given to Generalleutnant Ludwig Crüwell's vehicle, Generalmajor Johannes Streich using a third one. Rommel's "Max" was disabled in September 1941 and abandoned, Rommel returning to his Opel Blitz Bus.

AEC Armoured Command Vehicle itself was a series of command vehicles built by the British Associated Equipment Company. During the Second World War, the United Kingdom was the only country to develop and widely employ purpose-built armoured command vehicles. Those were essentially armoured buses based on truck chassis.

The most common ACV of the British Army was the AEC 4x4 ACV. The vehicle, based on AEC Matador chassis, entered production in 1941. A total of about 415 units were built. The vehicle was used for the first time in the North African Campaign and remained in service until the end of the war. Big and comfortable, it was nicknamed Dorchester by the troops, after the luxury hotel in London. Three ACVs of this type were captured by the German Afrika Korps. Two of them, named "Max" and "Moritz", were employed by Rommel and his staff throughout the campaign.

Source :
Jim Haley photo collectio
https://www.o5m6.de/wehrmacht/wm_na_romcars.phpn
https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/AEC-4x4-ACV-Dorchester.php

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Ulrich Kleemann with His Soldiers

90. leichte Afrika-Division in the North African theatre of war, 1942. Wearing the shades is the Divisionskommandeur, Generalmajor Ulrich Kleemann. The picture was taken by Sonderführer Fritz Moosmüller of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) "Afrika". Kleemann already received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 October 1941 while he was still an Oberst and Commander of Schützen-Regiment 3.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=5&sid=e54f8f717d0699b6919f0290c0908388

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Divisionskommandeur Otto Kohlermann Inspecting His Unit

Generalmajor Otto Kohlermann (Kommandeur 60. Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle") inspected a unit under his command (Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung Feldherrnhalle?), with SA-Obergruppenführer Max Jüttner (Stellvertretender SA-Stabschef) in the background. This photo was most likely taken on 20 June 1943 when the Panzergrenadier Division "Feldherrnhalle" was reconstituted in southern France after being destroyed in the battle of Stalingrad. Initially the new division was to be named 60. Panzergrenadier-Division, but later it was changed to Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle" as a tribute to the many members of the SA (Sturmabteilung) who joined the unit.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/12/foto-panzergrenadier-division.html

Sunday, October 23, 2022

The Capture of Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma

In the fluid battles in the desert of North Africa during the Second World War, it was not uncommon for senior commanders to suddenly find themselves within the midst of the enemy. In the early stages of the campaign, a German motorcycle patrol captured two British generals –General Philip Neame, the commander of the British forces in Cyrenaica, along with his advisor General Richard O’Connor, who had earlier defeated the Italian Army in North Africa. During Operation CRUSADER, Rommel and his staff found themselves behind Allied lines several times. On one occasion, he stopped at a field hospital of the New Zealand Army, inquired if they needed anything, promised them medical supplies and drove off unhindered. However, on the 4th of November 1942 a very unusual event occurred – the seemingly voluntary surrender by a very senior, capable and highly respected German general.

It was the opening stages of the decisive offensive at Alamein. The Eighth Army had succeeded in breaking into Rommel’s defences and was now ready to launch the breakout phase codenamed Operation SUPERCHARGE. The point of application had been rapidly switched south from the coast, into the sector covered by an Italian Corps and the Deutsches Afrika Korps commanded by General Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma. He was one of the most experienced Panzer commanders during the first half of the Second World War. He had fought in the First World War, taken part in close to two hundred combat actions during the Spanish Civil War, and commanded panzer divisions during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. He had also taken part in the crucial 1941 winter battle for Moscow. In his memoirs titled Panzer Leader, Guderian who commanded Panzer Group II during the invasion of the Soviet Union, remarked on von Thoma: “He was one of our most senior and experienced panzer officers; he had been famous for his icy calm and exceptional bravery both in the First World War and in Spain.”

On the 4th of November 1942, the 10th Royal Hussars were advancing in the vanguard of the 2nd British Armoured Division. There had been a sharp engagement in the morning when they had been held up by German tanks and succeeded in destroying six of them. Captain Singer, who was commanding the Reconnaissance Troop of light Dingo Armoured Cars, was moving in the forward areas collecting prisoners from the destroyed enemy tanks. He spotted a single German tank moving to a flank and indicated it to one of his tanks which fired and hit it. As the German crew bailed out, Singer went forward to capture them. The war history of the 10th Royal Hussars records: “As he [Singer] approached the German tank, its commander who had got out of the burning vehicle started walking towards Singer with his hands raised. Grabbing a Thompson sub-machine gun, Singer dismounted from his Daimler and took the German prisoner. This was no ordinary prisoner though; this was the acting Commander of the German Afrika Korps, General Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma.”

Just before the decisive Battle of Alamein, von Thoma had been posted to North Africa. Rommel had been convalescing in Germany and returned only days before Montgomery unleashed his offensive. In the face of rapidly mounting losses and dangerous penetrations into his lines, Rommel prepared to withdraw. However Hitler intervened and instructed Rommel: “As to your troops, you can show them no other way than that to victory or death.” Appalled at this controversial order, von Thoma declared it “madness”, mounted one of the tanks guarding his headquarters and drove to the apex of the battle where his tank was hit and he was taken prisoner. Rommel later opined that von Thoma was probably seeking his death in battle while other staff officers quietly speculated that he went to the front to deliberately surrender.

Captain Singer was ordered to take Von Thoma back to the brigade headquarters and then onwards to the headquarters of the Eighth Army. In a photograph taken when the two generals met, von Thoma is saluting and the expression on the face of General Montgomery seems to be asking the German, “Where have you dropped in from?” However, he then condescended to shake hands with his captive. The war in North Africa was one of the few theatres where a code of chivalry was practised by both sides. That evening, von Thoma dined with Montgomery at his headquarters. When the news got to UK, there was a complaint by a member in the House of Commons that Montgomery had invited a defeated German general to dinner in his desert caravan. “I sympathize with General von Thoma,” responded Churchill gravely. “Defeated, in captivity and…… [a long pause for dramatic effect], dinner with Montgomery.” Churchill was reflecting back to his visit to the Eighth Army in North Africa before the battle. He, too, had dined with Montgomery – who neither smoked nor drank.

Liddell Hart, the author and military thinker, later recorded von Thoma’s reaction to Montgomery’s revelations over dinner. “I was staggered at the exactness of his knowledge”, confessed von Thoma. “He seemed to know as much about our position as I did myself.”

Of course Montgomery knew a lot. He was one of the few Allied commanders who was given access to the ultra-secret information that the Allies had on the German plans by breaking the codes used by the German Enigma and other cypher machines. A film released in 2014 called The Imitation Game tells the story of how Alan Turing and his team cracked the code at Bletchley Park. Turing is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.

After delivering von Thoma, Captain Singer returned to the regiment the next morning, just in time to again lead the advance with his Reconnaissance Troop. Operating in lightly armoured wheeled vehicles on the very edge of the frontline was dangerous work. The troop captured the crew of a German 88 mm gun that was limbering up to make a getaway but as it again moved forward, a second and as yet unseen Eighty-eight opened fire – hitting two of the scout cars. One of these was that of Captain Singer and the Eighty-eight ripped the vehicle apart and instantly killed the officer. When he was told of Singer’s death, von Thoma was greatly upset and sought permission to write to his widow, which was granted and a letter was duly sent. Grant Singer was a very wealthy officer. He had been adopted shortly after birth by a member of the American Singer family who were very rich, in no small part from their (now) world famous sewing machine company. When Grant’s father died in 1934, he left an estate in UK worth a million pounds sterling – which meant that Grant had no need of either seeking full-time employment or a career in the army.

Before von Thoma was taken to captivity in UK, he expressed regret at leaving Egypt without seeing the pyramids at Giza. And the British obliged him. Lieutenant Murray Wrobel, who served in the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre and spoke German, was assigned to escort him and had a picture taken with von Thoma in front of the pyramids. Worbel’s abiding memory of this assignment was the encyclopaedic knowledge of the pyramids that von Thoma enthusiastically demonstrated.

While in captivity in the UK, an indiscretion by von Thoma provided the Allies valuable first information of the German rocket programme. The British had been receiving pieces of information about the program since 1939 but they had no means to verify whether the reports were accurate. Many suspected it was the work of German intelligence, trying to trick the British into chasing false leads. These rumours were confirmed in March 1943 through a conversation between von Thoma and another PoW, General Ludwig Crüwell, in their cell – which was bugged. Von Thoma confided that he had visited a site where long-range ballistic missiles were being tested and even named the location: Peenemünde, an island in the Baltic Sea.

Now that they knew what they were looking for; Allied intelligence started pulling together pieces of the puzzle. A variety of different data, carefully used, helped them gain a fuller picture of the importance of the Research Centre at Peenemünde. British reconnaissance flights brought back unmistakable images of rockets at the facility. In fact, the facility was developing guided missiles and long-range ballistic missiles better known as the V1 flying bomb and the V-2 ballistic missile. In August 1943 a massive bombing raid was launched against the research facility which was destroyed and the development and production of the rockets was severely disrupted.

Von Thoma did not survive long after the armistice and died of a heart attack in 1948 at the age of 58 years.

Captain Grant Singer (in peaked cap) and his driver, Trooper Hyatt, pictured at 2nd Armoured Brigades Headquarters just after they had arrived to drop off General der Panzertruppe Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma. Von Thoma was later sent back to General Montgomery's own HQ. it was an incredible achievement and was celebrated across the Allied forces. The next day, Grant and his driver Trooper George Hyatt were once again probing forward trying to make contact with the enemy. Their Dingo armoured car was spotted by the Germans and was hit by an 88mm shell which tore their little vehicle apart and killed both Grant and Hyatt. Grant Singer is buried at the El Alamein war Cemetery, whilst George Hyatt, who was from Cliff Vale, Stoke-on-Trent is remembered on the Alamein Memorial. There is also a Memorial to Captain Singer in the church at West Tytherley, where the Normans Court Estate lies, just outside Salisbury.

General von Thoma climbs out of Captain Grant Singer‟s Scout car after arriving at General Montgomery‟s Headquarters.

The commander of the British 8th Army, General Bernard Law Montgomery, meets the commander of the German Afrikakorps, General von Thoma, captured on November 4, 1942 during the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt. As a sign of mercy for the defeated enemy, Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma was invited by General Montgomery to dinner. This fact caused a scandal in the English press!

Source :
"The Capture of General Wilhelm Josef Ritter von Thoma" by Wayne Price
https://alabarda.net/wilhelm-von-thoma/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Von_Thoma_and_Montgomery.JPG
https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2019/11/08/an-unusual-capitulation/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suKt4YjcYT8
http://ww2images.blogspot.com/2013/06/general-wilhelm-ritter-von-thoma.html