Tom Cockle PUBLICATIONS COMPANY7023 Panzers in Italy 1943-1945 Text by Tom Cockle Color plates by Douglas Jame onCopyright © 2003 by CONCORD PUBLICATIONS CO. 608-609 Castle Peck Road Keng Nam Industral Building 10/F,B1, Tsuen Won, New Territories, Hong Kong \wwew.concord-publications.com Allrights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Concord Publications Co. We welcome authors who can help ‘expand our range of books. if you would lke to submit material, please feel free to contact us. We are always on the look-out for new, unpublished photos for this series, It you have photos or slides or Information you feel may be useful to future volumes, please send them to us for possible future publication. Full photo credits will be given upon publication. ISBN 962-361-631-7 printed in Hong KongBy the end of 1942, Axis Forces in North Africa were being slowly squeezed back into Tunisia by the combined armies of the United States and Great Britain. In January 1943, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Winston S, Churchill met with the Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff in the Moroccan port city of Casablanca to plan their next Prime Minister American strategists favored concentrating on a cross-Channel offensive and viewed any other course of action as a distraction from the main goal. Churchill on the other hand, felt that a campaign against Maly, “the soft underbelly of Europe” as he called it, might help knack Italy out of the war and divert some German forces from the Russian Front. As the Allies were in no position to Iaunch a major offensive in France in 1943 and in order to maintain the initiative, it as decided to invade Sicily as soon as the Axis Forees in North Africa were defeated. American General Dwight D. Eisenhower ‘was named Supreme Commander and a target date was set in early July 1943, ‘The plan called for the British Eighth Army, General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, 10 land near Pachino on the south east comer of the island, with the British Sth, SOth and Sist Infantry Divisions, the Canadian Ist Infantry Division and two Royal Marine ‘Commando units. The American Seventh Army, under Lieutenant General George S. Patton, with the U.S. Ist, 3rd and 45th Infantry Divisions followed by the 2nd Armored Division, would land on the British let flank, near Gel, under Operation “Husky”, as it was called, would be the largest amphibious landing in history, using 3,300 vessels of all types to fey more than 80,000 troops, 7,000 vehicles, 300 trucks, 600 tanks and 900 atillery pieces from ports in North Africa, Great Britain and the United States. The invasion would be preceded by the largest Allied airborne operation of the war carrying almost 4,600 men in 222 planes and 14 gliders ‘The Italians had about 200,000 troops stationed on the island in five coastal divisions and four poorly equipped infantry divisions, the Aosta, Napoli, Introduction Assietta and Livomo Divisions, They were reinforced by some 30,000 German troaps in the well trained and equipped 15.Panzer-Grenadier-Division, under Generalmajor Eberhard Rodt and Panzer Division “Hermann Goring’, under Generalleutnant Paul Conrath, supported by 17 Tiger I's from 2,/s.Pz.Abt S04. The landings took place in the early moming hours of 10 July 1943, The British, landing near Syracuse, 100k the port on the first day. The Americans, landing in the Gela sector faced some stiff opposition when the Italian Livorno Division counterattacked with Panzer- Division “Hermann Goring’, the Italians scully reaching Gela before they were repulsed. Under intense naval gunfire, the Italian and German forces fell back, A coordinated attack the next day brought Panzer Division “Hermann Goring’ to within 2,000 yards of the American beachhead before they again withdrew under a storm of combined artillery and naval gunfire On 12-14 July, FIR 3 and 1. and TILJFIR 4 were parachuted into Sicily 10 reinforce the German positions in the Catania area, They were later followed by 29.Panger-Grenadier-Division under Generalmajor Walter Fries, equipped with 43 SiuG.III, who were ferried over from the mainland, On 25 July, as the battle for Sicily raged on, Benito Mussolini was arrested and control of the government was tumed over to Marshal Badoglio, who immediately bezan secret negotiations for aan armistice. During the following weeks, the German defenders were gradually pushed back towards Messina, where, uring the nights of 10 and 11 August, 34 Panzers and 44 StuG.IIL and one remaining Tiger were evacuated by ferry tothe Talian mainland, On 17 August 1943, the U.S. Ist Infantry Division entered Messina ending the battle for Sicily. In all, 118 of the 217 Panzers and Sturmgeschtz sent to Sicily were lost. Hitler also ordered 88-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “LSSAH” lwonsferred (0 northern Italy from the Eastern Front to bolster German forces there. Leaving all their equipment behind, they were re-equipped with new 3 Pr.KpfwiV's and Pz-Kpfw.V Panthers along with 27 Tiger T's of the newly formed schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung of 1,SS-Panzer-Korps ‘Leibstandarte’, The reformed 24.Panzer-Division was also transferred to central Italy in August 1943, Encouraged by their progress on Sicily, in mid-July Allied strategists began to plan the assault on the Italian mainland at Salerno, Mussolini's arrest further increased the Allies optimism and General Eisenhower was. instructed 0 urgently prepare plans for the operation, ‘Although the British Eighth Army had crossed the Strait of Messina on 3 September, 1943 landing near Reggio, the ‘main attacks did not take place until 9 September 1943. Code named Operation “Avalanche”, the U.S. Fifth Army landed at Salemo on the Italian mainland with the British X and U.S. VI Comps. At the same time, the British Ist Airborne landed at Taranto. At this time, southern Italy was defended by the German 10.Armee under General der Pasvertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoft. His command included 56.Armeckorps with 29,Panzer-Grenadicr- Division, 26.Panzer-Division and 6.Panzer-Division; 16.Panzerkorps. with I5.Panzer-Grenadier-Division and. [ Fallschirmjager-Division and LL.Plicgerkorps with 2.Fallschirmjiiger- Division and 3.Panzer-Grenadier-Division. Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring was overall commander of all German forces in the south of Maly. The landings came as no surprise to 16.Panzer-Division, the only German division stationed in the Salerno area. ‘The German High Command had considered Salemo to be a likely landing site and 16.Panzer-Division had just completed antiinvasion maneuvers in the area and several static defenses had been set up. Against stiff opposition, the Allies slowly ‘began consolidating the beachhead. In the carly moming light, a large force of Pz.Kpfw.lV's from 16,Panzer-Division ‘made the first large scale attack against the US. 36th Division north of Paestum. It Was not until after noon that the attack was repulsed and the American troops took their initial objectives some four miles inland.Von Vietinghoff ordered 26.Panzer- Division and 29,Panzer-Grenadier- Division to break off contact with the advaneing British Eighth Army and rush north (0 Salerno. He also ordered Panzer- Division ‘Hermann Goring’ and 15.Panzer-Grenadicr- Division, who were resting and refitting in the Naples area after their withdrawal from Sicily, dispatched south to block any Allied attempt to advance toward Naples, Kesselring requested two Panzer- Divisions from 14.Armee stationed in rnorthem Italy, be transferred south to meet the Allied threat, Dut Hitler refused the request The Germans launched a major counter-attack against the American positions all along the front on 13 September. The situation became critical ‘when German tanks swept to within (wo miles of the beach. Having committed their reserves, the Allies were short of reinforcements and Montgomery's Eighth Army was still almost 120 miles avy. Every man who could hold a gun was put into the line and furious artillery fire poured into the German positions. The attack faltered and by sunset, the Germans had pulled back. Meanwhile, General Clark, concerned about the tenuous American positions, made plans for them tobe evacuated by sea to the British sector. Fortunately, during the evening, reinforcements arrived when 1,300 men from the 82nd Airborne dropped into the American sector followed by parts af the U.S. 45th Infantry Division and British 7th Armoured Division by landing eraft in the carly moming, Another German attack was beaten off the next day and the situation began to improve for the Allies as reinforcements continued to pour in, Finally, on 18 September, after nine days of fighting, the Germans pulled back from the beachhead in an organized withdrawal toa new defensive position in the northern Apennines, By the time Montgomery's Eighth Army linked up with the invasion forces, the fighting was largely over. With the beachhead at Salerno secured, the Allies attention tumed to Naples. The U.S. Fifth Army would advance along the west and capture the port of Naples while the British Eighth Army attacked toward Foggia on the eastern side of the Apennines, The mountainous terrain favored the defender and the Germans became experts at demolishing bridges along the narrow, winding roads and setting up small rear guard forces to impede the Allied advance. This gave the Germans two weeks 10 completely dismantle and remove or destroy anything that may be helpful to the Allies, Railroads and buildings were dynamited clogging the streets with rubble and ships were sunk and cranes demolished in the harbor making it useless. Within a month though, the port was back operating almost at_prewar levels. The Germans began to realize that these tactics could delay the Allied advance by months and on 4 October. Hitler instructed Kesselring to set up defensive line across Italy between Naples and Rome, This would come to be known as the Gustav Line and would become the seene of much bitter fighting at a town called Cassino. North of the Voltumo River, the road that led from Naples to Rome branched into two roads, one running alot and the other through the mountains about miles inland. The coast road, which followed the ancient Appian Way, ran through the Pontine Marshes and was the least suitable of the two, The other route, conce it passed Monte Cassino, opened up into the Liti Valley and led directly to Rome. The Germans were determined to Dock access to the Allies. coast ‘The German defensive line actually consisted of two shorter lines, the Barbara and Bernhard Lines, blocking both roads, Both were designed 10 slow down the Allied advance so that the major defensive Tine, the Gustav Line, could be completed. It took the Fifth Army more than two weeks to break through the Barbara Line and advance 40 miles only to be stopped fon the Bernhard Line, By 15 November, the exhausted Fifth Army halted to rest and refit for two weeks. In order to break the stalemate that ‘was developing, Allied planners conceived a plan for an amphibious Tanding behind the German lines that would foree them to abandon their positions south of Rome. ‘The landing site chosen was Anzio, a small coastal town 35 miles south of Rome. ‘The assault force of 40,000 men from the U.S. VI Corps, commanded by Major General John P. Lucas, landed on 22 4 January 1944, against light opposition. By the end of the first day, the US. 3rd Infantry Division had advanced inland three miles and the British Ist Division ‘ovo miles. Mindful of the situation that hhad developed at Salemo and fearing possible trap, General Lucas decided to hold his position until all the troops and equipment could be put ashore. Hitler immediately ordered reinforcements from Yugoslavia, Germany, France and northern Italy sent in, By the end of the day, three divisions were on their way from 14Armee in northem Italy to meet the new threat along with some units from the Cassino area. Among the various units sent were LyP2Ret4, Sturmpanzer- 216 and Panzer-Abreilung (FED) 301. By the time General Lucas launched fan attack out of the bridgehead on 30 January, the Germans had assembled a formidable defense While the Germans were reacting 10 the landings at Anzio, General Clark, once in, ordered Fifth Amy to try to breach the Gustay Line. The Benedictine Abbey (on top of Monte Cassino looked down on the town of Cassino on the banks of the Rapido River from a height of 1,700 feet. In order to reach the Rapido River, tr00ps from the U.S, 34th and 36th Infantry Divisions had to cross two miles of open, swampy ground under the constant surveillance of German observers who were able to call down extremely accurate antllery fire, It took more than a week 10 get across the river. At Anzio, the Germans launched a major counter-attack down the Albano. Anzio road against the U.S. 45th Infantry Division. Confined 10 the few good roads because of wet, muddy fields, the German attack gained some initial success but the line held, After five days, the Germans realized they would not be able to break through and suspended the attack. Both sides suffered about 19,000 casualties each. A second, weaker attempt nine days later also failed, The inability of the Alli to make any headway resulted in General Lucas being replaced by Major General Lucian Truscott, commander of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division. While the Germans were occupied‘with plans for the Anzio counter-attack, the 2nd New Zealand and 4th Indian athe task of trying to break through the German defenses at Cassino and into the Lisi Valley. To the commander of the 4th Indian Division, the monastery presented an insurmountable obstacle as long as it was intact. Although the Germans maintained after that they had no oops actually stationed in the ‘monastery, at that time few Allied commanders believed it. After the monastery was bombed on 15 February, the elite German 1.Fallsehirmjaige Division occupied the ruins, The rubble ‘only provided the German defenders with excellent cover and made the position more difficult to take. Two more Allied attacks failed to take their objective divisions were ‘The next attack would follow another ‘massive aerial bombardment on the town, but the weather conditions remained unfavorable for the next three weeks and it was not until 15 March that conditions were right, Again, the ground attack was met by furious tesistance from paratroopers from _ 1,Fallschirmjiger- Division, who had survived the bombing in twnnels and bunkers. Mountains of debris and rain filled bomb craters hampered the movement of men and tanks. (On the mountain, men from the 4th Indian Division fought to within 250 yards of the surmmit before being driven back by the German paratroopers, General Alexander now transferred Eighth Army from the Adriatic to the Cassino area, A new offensive was planned with 14 divisions massed against the Germans. After more than six weeks of preparation, the Allies were ready, On 1] May. more than 1,600 guns opened up with the most massive batrage yet seen on the ian Front. With their usual tenacity, the Germans fought back holding on to their ground except in the thinly held Aurunei Mountains where the ‘French Expeditionary Comps under General Juin, advanced several miles in a few days and threatened to break into the Liri Valley in the German rear, Sparked by this success the British outflanked the town of Cassino on 17 May and that night, Kessclring ordered | Fallschirmjiger-Division to abandon the ruins and fall back. The next day, the Polish IT Corps occupied the monastery after taking almost 4,000 casualties in the preceding week. ‘As the German 10.Armee retreated all along the front, the Allies, now numbering seven divisions in the Anzio beachhead, Jaunched an attack towards Cisterna to cut ‘thera off. But General Clark, his eye on the prize of Rome, diverted some of is attack force northwest toward Rome allowing the bulk of German forces from Cassino to bypass them and escape. Two regiments from the U.S. 36th Infantry Division marched through a hole in the Germ, defenses and entered Rome on 4 June 1944. It was the fist enemy capital city to fall to the Allies, The Germans continued to withdraw north leaving a trail of destruction behind. Another series of temporary defensive lines was being set up to hinder the Allied advance while the main line of resistance, the Gothic Line, was being hurriedly constructed across the Apennines 135 miles north of Rome: ‘The Trasimeno Line ran through Lake ‘Trasimeno 85 miles north of Rome. Here, Kesselring managed to hold up the Allied advance for ten days before conducting an orderly withdrawal to @ new line 30 miles away where the performance was repeated. By 4 August, they were back to the Arno Line which followed the Arno River through Pisa and Florence and then over te mountains to the Adriatic. At this point, they were only 20 miles from the Gothic Line where a last stand would be made. ‘The beginning of August found both armies facing each other across the Amo River. Seven Allied divisions had been withdrawn for the landings in southern France and now General Alexander was forced to shift troops to pick up the slack for an assault across the Arno River. The Eighth Army was moved to the Adriatic coast where the terrain Tess formidable, The plan was for the British 0 attack towards the coastal town of Rimini Twas hoped that the Germans would react by shifting units from the center of the Tine to meet the attack allowing the Fifth Army to strike toward Bologna against little resistance. On 25 August, Eighth Army Jnunched its assault on Rimini across the Amo Line, They made good progress at first but soon were bogged down by autumn rains. The Germans reacted as expected and the Fifth Army crossed the Amo virtually unopposed, moving, into Pisa on 2 September and advancing to the Gothic Line 15 miles north of Florence on 153 September. ‘There are two narrow, winding passes through the Apennines connecting Florence with Bologna, the Futa Pass and Il Giogo Pass. General Clark chose the secondary Il Giogo Pass believing the Futa Pass to be more strongly defended. The narrow confines of the pass made it necessary to employ small groups of infantry, often in hand-to-hand combat, to take the commanding heights. Soon, the bulk of the Fifth Army was moving through the pass toward their objective. ‘The Gothic Line had been broken and the Germans again withdrew to the next defensive line. On 10 October, amid torrential rains and fog, Fifth Army came toa halt 10 miles short of the Po Valley. Meanwhile, the British Eighth Army, after taking Rimini, continued slowly up the Adriatic coast, crossing seven rain swollen rivers until they too, were forced to halt in late December. Both armies settled down to a period of relative calm with only sporadic bursts of action, waiting for another miserable Malian ‘winter to pass. In preparation for a new spring offensive, the Allies stockpiled weapons and fvel over the winter months. The Eighth Army launched an attack towards Lake Comacchio on 9 April followed by an altack on Bologna by the Fifth Army a few days later. On 21 April, both armies linked, up encircling the retreating Germans, artisan groups rose up and harassed the Germans by sabotaging tracks and setting up roadblocks. The disintegrating German armies were surrendering in the tens of thousands as the Allies raced 1 seal the Alpine passes and prevent their escape, ‘The battle for Italy was finally over Acknowledgements: Bundesarchiv, Koblenz; Ullsteins Suddeutscher Verlag Bilderdienst: Imperial War Museum; Robert Michulec; Thomas Anderson; and Jan Baxter, HITM Archive,‘heavily retouched photo of a Pz Kp Aust of IJP2Agt ‘Hermann Géring’ in the Nisoam area. On the alleroan ofthe inasion, an atlack on the Ameriean forces at Gela nearly succeeded but the massve firepower of the invasion fleet broke up the aitack. The division's vehicles were painied in overal dark yellow with the tee igi tactical number paited in wte witha black outline. PanzerDivision ‘Hermann Goring’ used a complex system of vehicle unit ‘Hentieation markings based ona white dge with different colored lines corresponding to the rumbers around a clock taco. Hore, the dee on the le ont musguard has a beck lina inthe sk oelock poston indicating @ Kompane. ‘Operation Husky’ the Alled invasion of Siely, began on 70 July 1943. lland defenses included the Haan Napol and Lorna! Divisions slong with Panzer-Divsion Hermann Gtiing anc 15 Panzer Genadier Division. The crew of this SiuGll AUSL.FB of P2.Agl ‘Hermann Gdring. perform routine maintenance on tir vehicis inthe days before the Aled landinga. At this ime, the regiment was with 20 SIuGII' anc 9 StuH. In thelr I. Abtelung. The erawmen wear a variety of topical Unforme intuding the unpopular topical aun helmet i : Paes a Siu2 Ausland SLuGI Ast Go Il.Pe Al Hermann Gacingra defensive poston acing tho invasion beaches, whie their supporting infarty take a lunoh break, Both vances have Deon camoutaged wit cut foliage to help conceal th outline.Another camouflaged 51.0.1 ‘AusiG. of IIL/P2.Rgt “Hermann Goring in @ town near the east coast of Sicly. Signs on the buildings in the Background point Catania on the let ane Sincusa on the right. Panzer-Abteiung 129 of 20 Panzer-Grenadher-Divison, fccuipped with 43 StuG Il, were transterred to Slely on 22 uly 1943, An Sd.ktz.228 leichte Panzerspahwagen (Fu) of Panzor Division Hermann Goring in the Vizzini area along the route taken by the 18 Canadian Divison. An intemal explosion has scattered deors around the Vohile and dislodgad tho tame artoona, IlJsPz,AbL504, equlaped with 17 Tiger Fs, was asa\gned to Panzer-Division Hermann Goring’ on 9 uy 1948. Ten were lost during the ist thrae days of fighting When they were blown up by ther crews to pravert capture. During the following weeks, the German cefenders were gradually pushed back owas Messina, where, during the nights of 10 and 11 August, 34 Panzers and 44 S1UG.Ill and ane remaining Tiger were evacuated by ferry to the talan mainland, (On 17 August 1943, tha U.S. ‘st Infanty Division entered Messina ending the battle fr Sicilytor the surrender of the alan government on 2 September 1943, tne Germans moved 10 disarm their former alles. Asa result large ‘waniities of Raan tanks, —selt-propelled duns and armored ears ‘were absorber into the German Army. The Semovente da. 75/18 was probably Photographed before the surrender as it sil splays its alien ego Eserito (Royal Army) registration plate. cw hthe EEO we The Somovente da 75/18 I ono of 123 akon over by the ‘Germans and nas had new markings applied aver the standard lalla camautlage paint schome, consisting of the standard Diack Balkenkreuz and a tree agi tacteal number, 224, probably in black with a white outine, Two of the crewmen ‘app0ar to be wearing uniforms fastioned from captured alan ‘camoutage cloth. In Garman servi, it was refered 1a as Stumgeschutz Mae mit 75/18 658) Garo Commando Compagnia Semovente da 47/3, German cesignation P2.BetWs: 47/32 770(), in service with 5.Gebirgs-Division. Note the heavy mountain boots worn by two of he solders, Another view of ane of the ‘Autodinda AB41 armored cars as It passes the cameraman. The Balkensreuz onthe side ofthe hull Is now plainly visa. Ofer photos of fis ype of vehicle show the Italian tactical marking system et paintod on tho angiod rear sidos fe ture. 8 Two Auoblinca ABT - Panzerspanvagen ‘AB4t 201() ~ on patrol In @ mountainous atea “Thay retain thor alan camouflage pat chore ‘of ay-grean patches over the yelow sand base ‘and would likely have carried the standard Balkenkrouz on the front and doth sides of the hull and onthe rear ofthe turret,In August 1943, ‘86-Panzer Grenacior Division "LSSAH' was transfered to aly from the Eastern Front 10 bolster German forces ier the Malan voenmant dismissed éthen imprisoned Mussolini, Leaving all thorr equipment behing, they were re-equipoed with naw P2ikptw V's and P2Kplu.v Panthers along with 27 Tgp Is. Hore an early PEIKpiIV Ausf H from IWSS-PeAgh.t enters the northern italian ety of hilan 1 painted in ‘over the dark yellow base. The rudely painted tactical umber 618 is painted in yolow with a Back and ‘outline standard They also caried the divisional emblem, a white shiold wiih a skeleton key inside above @ pair of oak leaves, onthe. front plate beside the Visor and on te lem rea pate per Another early Pe-KefwlV Aust. H from IISS-P2 Fight in Ilan, August 1943. The black and white outines around the tactical numbers are cleary visible here as well as the divisional emblem painted on the rear pate 9A brand new Tiger | AUSLE of the neuly formed schwere SS-Panger Abilung of 4.88-Panzor-Korps Letstandarte' which was sent olay in August 1943 along with § Panzer-Grenagior Division LSSAH. At his time, they were pated i averal dark yelow {and displayed no markings. The unt remained in Northern Italy unl the migole ot (October when they were transferred back fo the Eastern Front without having seen any [An Sa.Kte. 230 schwere Panzerspahwagen (7-Scm) rolling along a dusty county ‘oad. Wis painted in overall cark Yyollow and deplaye the standard Wehrmacht registration number plate, ‘WH 1312086", n wile wt Diack numbers on te font. total of 129 Sd k'z-239 ware built rom July 1942 to October 1949 and were nora issued to the reconnaissance batalans inthe Panzer divisions. 10 (On 9 September 1943, he USF Army landed at Salerno on the lalan mainiand withthe Briish X and US. Vl Corps. German reaction wae sit with 16 Panzer Division ard 2a Panzer-Grenadier-Divsion attacking the becchhoad. Her, fan early P2KolwiV Austit trom 16Panzer-Division ies Concealed fom roving Alles ightar-nombors under a large tee “The vehice ls tied wih tha new dve sprocket and tinal drive housings introduced in May 1943, but stil retain the addtional ‘30mm bolted on armor plates onthe fort ofthe Pull that were ‘replaced with single Brim pistes in June 1988, 1 also has be vision ports on te hull sides that were deleted in June as wel Panzar-Division “Hermann Goring’ and 18.Panzer Grenadier-Division were rosting and reliting inthe Naples area atter tele withdrawal from Silly when the laneings at Saleme took plac. They were immediately spatched south to block any ‘Alled attompt to advance toward Naples. Here a column (of now P2-Kptui IV Aust.G from LIP2. gl. “Hermann Goring ‘make their way through an alan vilage enroute to the front. They are fied wih the smoke candle dischargers on the turret that ware. briefly insialled from February to May 1943 and also appear to have the 25mm thick raor plate that was introduced at the Beginning of ASH production. ‘he three digit tactical rumber ‘appears to be red nth a white futline and there was a Eakenkrouz, painted in white cutie only, cn the uaper le rear pate.A P2iMphelV Aust of 1I/P2Rgt. Hermann Goring! passing through an talian vilage in October 1943, The IlAbielung appears 0 have adopted a iferentstyio of marking on ther vehisles then the LAbielung. The thes cig tactical numer "7+ 11's painted in new Back paint which makes it appear darkar than the faded black ofthe Eslkensrauz, The tacteal number and Balkenkree wore the sides of the furet skirt armor 2s wel “an Sa Kiz.131 Marder I slr propelled anitank gun of Panzer Ariler-Ragiment Hermann Goring In Souther aly in late 1943, Mounting the 750m Pak0/2, 576 Marder I's were manufactured between dune 1842 and June 1949 wit another 75 converted from obsolete Pz Kptwl chassis fom July 1943 ta March 1944, The crew has been issued with standard Ma Fallschiemjagor helmets. WL‘another Marcer I Flakvieding 38 aut schwvarer Gal 19 Bene L4G00 4.5 ton truck. The diver’ ca and raator received ight armor plating andthe reer deck was fied wit folding sides to increase the 320 Ir also cares a skng hard-odged camoulage seheme of grean stipes aver the dark yellow base, A P2kotwiv AustG trom Il/Panzer- Regiment 2 of 18 Panzer_Dwision receives an engine ‘overhaul by the ‘vicinal maintenance company. Part of the tactical rumber,231"or 1331, i vise on the Side ‘of the turret skit ‘armor. The divisional emblem, a 'Y" wih 2 horaontal bar through it painted in yello ochre with a black cutie is ‘ainly visible (nthe rear plate just to the left of the Balkenireuz. At thie time, T6.Panzer Division consisted of I.Abteilung equipped with P2.KptwiV and l.Abtelung equipped with SUG. Thele Labeling was. sit Germany being tained wh the new Panther‘column of Pe Kolw AUSIG of 7P2, gi? of 16 PanzacDivSion parked along a road wn Southern aly while thal +1049. The divisional emblem can be clearly seen beside the spare track rks. Although looking rather new, these vehiclas have already seen some action in the Salem area. Another photo ofthe vehicle on the right shows that thas taken a hit rom an art-ank round onthe right sie ust n front of tho engine deck and right sl the hud roo! which, apparently ed not disable Hl of them are painted in overal dark yellow and display @ lack stencil utine tives {git tactcal number onthe sides ofthe turret ait armor. ‘Another Pz Kw Ausi.G moves toward the fron, Juang from the dark colored uniforms, itis possibly from ll/Panaer-Regiment 24 of 24 Panzer- Dision, which was traneterrd to contra Italy In Auoust 1648 and then back to the Eastorn Front a short time lator in Octobor.Aftor boing anninistad at Salingra, the division was relormad in February 1843 wit wo P2.Ab\. AI. Ablelung, cealad n April 1943 was corweried toa P2.StUG.Abt, equipped wih two companies of SuGll and io of Pz Kp. Inthe erginal photo a white oulined tree digit tetcal umber can faintly be seen on the side ofthe turret skirt armor. 13.‘An 8.8m Flak anttairrat qun from an unidentified Luftwaffe Flak-Ragiment. The gun is finished ints orginal dark gry paint, and the hal-hearted ttompt at camcutiage would scarcely conceal i ftom the at against is sandy colored surroundings, This one has been ited with the redesigned curved (qunstield. Capable o ring a 9.24 hg high explosive shell al a muzzle veloc of 820 mis, tad a maximum etfoctve coling of 8000 m. is crew. All branches ofthe German Armed Forces used his gun and by August 1944, 19 at 880 rorn and nad a maximum effective cling of 2200 rm. 14 ‘A 2om Flakvierling 38 ant-arerafl gun i moved inte poston | the Lurtware lone nad arouné 2600 in corves. twas capable ofPa southwest of Potenza in September 1943. The roof of the fighting comparment has been completely blown off as a resul! of an internal [amimuntion explosion I's fished In overall dark yallow wih a eamoutlage Scheme of green patches. No unit markings are visible but both 16 Panzer. DBsion and 29.Panzer-Granadior-Division wore operating inthe area and both were equipped with Stu. "ar Lucera in Septomber 1943, An anttank round nes penetrated the right side ofthe turret, blowing outa large hole and setting off tha ammunition resulting inthe rear plate Being blown of Here, the damaged vehicle is apparently being towed around in fed to test the effeleney of various types of mines. near th Army headquarters on 22 October 1943, foliage on a hilside in Southern Kay A three dght tactical number, 121, I painted onthe sides ofthe turret skirt armor red with a write outline and itis thely that it also has a camouiaga scheme of groon patches aver the ‘ark yelow base, hough no unit markings canbe Seen, Pz Rgl. Hermann CGoving reported tree Pz Kpfwll AUST an theltable af organization an 20 ‘August 194 and his may be one of them,“Another view of the same column of Sd.Kfz 104 selt-propeled ant aireaft guns halted along the street. The crew are all wearing topical ise Unfoxms eluding shorts and the gun commander, standing In rot, even ‘wears the tropical sun helmet with he colar national emslem shield onthe side A Lufwatfe Sd ktz.1044 selt-propelied antiaircraft gun raling cown @ ‘palm lined treet in sunny Southern lay in the surnmer of 1943, A total of 6610 ofthese vehicles wore produced from 1938 to 1944 and comeined the 2em FlaK30 oF, lator as in his case, the FlaK8 ant-arraft gun mounted 09 the Demag D7 hall-rack chasse, ‘A column of new Pz KplwV Aust move through an italian town near the Adtiatic coast. The Panzer is finished in overall dark yellow and the only viola marking ise black Balkenkreus painted an the side of he tural skirt armor. Note the cust covers intalag onthe mize Brake and hull mounted machine gun. They are probably fram 16.Panzer-Dhsion, the only unit equipped with Pz KplV in Southern Nay at the te, 16“Another view ofthe column as I proceeds around the earner ofa bulging onthe same stoet.On the lela sign points the way towar on the Actiatie coast, and Bitono, a small town a Tow kllomotors Wost A Panzer crewman guides the dwer ofa P2 Kptw.1V Aust ‘backs under cover in an ave grove. n the background can be sean the Zeloahn setter quarter tons sot Up forthe men ta slenp in, These Vehicles are possibly from Pz.Pgt. Hermann Goring’ \7A Pz KpfiV AUS! fom the same uni rages a great cloud of cust as Itmoves into postion amang the grove of olive trees. Both vehicles are files with tho “Fibalgiter engine ar fiter eystem on the right mudguara Intoduced in May 1843.The officer standing in front is wearing te Iron (Gross First Clas pinned tothe left breast of his tropical shirt Bears i en ae 4 = ‘A 180m FH atiley gun towed by an Sa Kfz.7halt-track, is manowvered around a grove of trees being used as a camp by a heavy towed arilry unit The Zektahn camouflage shelter quarter was designed tobe jlned together with others t form a smal ter, The Sd KI27 1 finished in overall dark yellow with camoutlage pat scheme of green patches. {A 2om Flakuiering 38 anti-aicrat gun prepares for action. Although only six solders are vse, the gun was normally crewed by a detachment ‘commander and seven men. On the lf, one ofthe two ammunition bearers Stands ready with two twenty found magazines. The two crewmen on the right have painted ther steel helmets with sand colered camautage paint‘noth Modtarranoan ef range finder can roemally nel in a har pties and trangulaion nFlavring 98 antag emplacement along he ned on ipod on te let Te EMS was 1pped tothe oberver and used split image rmine the stance to the target n Cannone da. 90/53 ant-areraft guns. Originally designed ty Ansaldo in 1989, only 639 of those guns were produced By July 1943, in German service they wore offcialyrelered to as the Flak 309/1() or, more commony, the Sem Flak A Luftwate Sd. Kz. 10/4 selt-propelledant-alcrft gua stands ready for ‘action beside a road in Southern italy curing the summer af 1943. This one sited with the 2em Fiak38,The crew of this Lultwalle S4Kl.7/2 seltpropelled ant aireratt_qun sire a pose for the PK. photographer. The 8d Ki.7/2 mounted the potent 37em FlaK36 anikarerant gun on the chassis of the SdKi27 at halltrack prime. move. Boginning lato 1043, somo vohisies rooaNved a lt plating over the drivers cab and engine comp Altogether, 128 were produced between 1843 and 16 cresimen aro all wearing tho distinctive tan colorod Lutwatte tropical uniorms that featured the large patch pocket on the leit trouser loa, Another Lufwatle Sa.kt2.7/2 self-propelled antaorat ‘un, ths time one with the lghy armor ca, sits abandoned ‘long 8 roed, the victim of an Alle sr attack Just ahead of les, whal appears fo be a 2em Fakviering $8 mounted on the chassis of te Mercedes-Benz L4S00 4.5 ton tuck. The amount (of folage camoutiaging i conooals its true identityA 7.Som PaK40 antitank gun crew, possioly. from 16 Panzer Division, await the allied advance in Southern Italy during thee Summer of 1949, When the U.S.Fih Amy under LiGen. Mark Clark landed at Salerno. in September 1843, 16Parzer-Dhision, wih some 17,000 men and over 100 tanks anc assault guns, was the only fully ‘ecuipped German unit in. Souther Italy t@ oppose the Alios 4 divisions ard 70,000 men ‘Another Tem PaKé0 gun crew in action. The gun loader is ramming one shell inte the breech while another man removes one fom ts protective metal shipping case. The 75cm Pakao ame into service i 198% replacing the Som Paks as the main weapon in German antitank tunis fthad a muzzle velocity of 80m and was capable of penetrating 118mm of armor plate at 1500,A Brish motorcyclist passes a row of abandoned talian wensport al Pontecagnano, tt af Selomo in September 1043, Visible over the motoroyas's left shoulder isa Breda TM 40 towing actor which wes towing a trailer and an lisian generator In this photo, anothor Marder ll AustH can be seen Inthe background. Five kil ngs around the end ofthe gun bare! just behind the muzzle brake can also be seen on the nearest vehi I is finished with neatly applied camoutlage scheme of green stripes onthe dark yellow base win no visible marcngs. They seem 10 have atracted a ot of attention ffom the civlian Population gathered around A-7.50m Paks aut Panzerkamptwagen 2) Aust (Sd Ktz-198) from an unidentified Panzerfager-Abtotung, reporteay comewhere in Htaly in late 1943, Also Aron as the Marder I AALSIH, this vehicle has been fied with a non | standard stowage box on he rear of the engine es ¢ eck by fed workshop,‘One of the crenmen of this StUG.ll Aust. from 16.Panzer Divison, stikes a jaunty pose for the camera. Ths & one of tho StUG Il Aust. G manufactured trom P2Kpiwill Aus! M chassis by MAN. between January and March 1943 and features the welded 30mm additonal armor plates on the front of the hull and one piece hatches on the glia. Note the longor detector in front of te driers visor. The tactical sign for @ Panzer Kompanie i painted on the font plate followed by 88, probably in black, “wo SiuGll AustG from an unidentiied unt parked along an Kalin Four SiuG I AUSIG an a courlty toad in Souther Waly during the street. The nearest vehicle is filed with the smoke grenade launchers summer of 1943. Al are Heavily stowed with gear on the engine decks. The Installed on vaticles manulactured tom Fabruaty to Wlay 1283, nearest vehicle displays @ blac Balkonkreuz on tne reer plate and the deep wading muffler ofthe Pz Kpfulll Ausf chasss can be Seen on the rear of the vehicle on the ead, The crew of this SIUG.ill Aust. trom 46,Penzer-Division, relax between engagements Note the facial wound on tho man sing inthe middle. The vehicle Is. probably undergoing maintenance or repals as the glace hatches have been romaved and are siting an tho right mudguard“The crew of another StuG III Aust, relax and play cards in the sun. A canvas tarp and some addtional cut foliage nave beon placad around the vehicle to help conceal it from the air ‘Acrewman from the same unit poses on the mantet of his StuG.ll AustG. This vehicle also one of those manufactured on the chassis of a PzKpfwill AustM as incteated by the anger deizetorin ont ofthe shiver's visor and the wide gap between the bots that fasten the 2omm_ supplemental armor above the overs vicr. ‘Tho tow of this StuG.IN Aust from 16PanzerDivision, show a_vatlely of uniforms and headgear being woen. The man fon tho left is wearing a mouso-gray pullover shin. The second is wearing the wopiea tunic and a fild-gay later sive M1043 feldeap wit pain metal ep butions. The third man le wearing @ black Panzer jacket withthe skull paces on the colar, normally worn only by Panzer crea. Otergelreter rank chevrons ‘can be seen on his lft sleeve and he is ‘wearing tho cary syle M1043 feldoap with Black metal washer buttons. The gun ‘commander on the right also is wearing the tropical tunic without shoulder straps an an early pattern black feideap with either a pink or ras sautache,The crewmen inthe left oitom photo, rejoined by men Tam other crews fr a group ahto. The wide diversity of uniforms boing wom quite apparent ote. Three men are wearing the reed-gteen denim Panzer syle jacket with the large patch packet on the let breast and the stancard Army style colar ails. One even appears f0 be wearing a pullover eamoutlage smook. Eastern Winter paign 194142 ‘ton in his lapel. a iver Tank Bale Badge and a_biack Wound Badge. The gunGerman troops clamiver aboard a column of Sa Ktz. 250 halFvacks onthe outsks ofan allan town, This vahicle appears to be new and is painted in ‘ovoral dark yellow Italo has the adltional sheet metal stowage lockers along each sde fied o some vehicles. The numbers on the frent are unusual and ‘are not duplicated onthe flowing vehcis. Both have the standard Wehv macht regleraton number painted on front, though tho glare from the gun makes the one on the front vehicle almost ivisibk ‘An SdKiz6 heavy hal-track prime mover tres to negotiate a tight curve on an Italian mountain road in late 194. The 18% Fam is Towing an Sd.An.116 taller canying a severely battered Pz Koha. ‘Aust. from Pz.Rgt. "Hermann Gating’ on it.The P2.KpiaIV Aust 's panted in overall dare yellow wth a patehy gracn camoutage pater anda thee digi tactial number, 331, painted in rec with a white outine on the sie of the turret skirt armor. The Famo is also alte in over dark yellow buts a wido green neizontal 2 ‘camouflage strive partad on the cargo box ‘A Commonweaita soller lays out the tack for a Universal Carrer recently recapture! fom its former German owners. The font idler wheel has been propped up on the back of he vehicle. Another view of the Fama shows the camautage stripe on the cargo ex to 00d efit, The severe damage to the Pz KpfwIV AUSE.G Is also evident as the twine final drive Rousing on tho let sie is missing 26A captured British Daimler armored car foes three Commonwealth, prisoners, possibly from the 4th indian Division, tthe reat. “The armored car has a navy camoutiage stripe of dark yelow paint applec over the Original British green along witha three digit tectioal number, “028", probably in ws black with a white autine, & 2 group of Commarwaatthsolsiers inspect ‘lack utine Balkenkreuz 's a knocked aut Panthar Ostwalurm somenhere also painlad on the sie fn the Hier Line near Monte Caseino in late 1943. This one consists of @ normal Panther lurret although the majority used purpese ult Panther turrets with Gm roots and at hatches in place of he commander's cupola. A total of 18 Panthorturm 1, mounted on a welded steel box, and 30 Pantertur Ill, mounted on 3 einioreed Concrete base, were constructed in Maly in 1843 A Nashorn ftom and 194, An ational 1&2 were constructed on SP2Jo.Abi.S28 knocked out ine Waste Fron! wih another 36 onthe Eastern by Canadian oops near Front Pontesorvo in May 1244. In August 1983, 8P2.J9.Ab 525 was sent fram France to NNortnem italy and then tothe Rome area. in December 4943. They were transfered to the Cassino area in January 4944. They also saw heavy fighting in the Anzio Nettuno area in February. botere Felurning to the Cassino area sore TE a ae Falschirmiager troops wrest their 420m Panzerjégerkanoned antiank gun up a hil while a Propaganda Kompanie newsreel photographer captures the action in the background. The 420m PUKGt was the second Gerlich (apered bore) weapon daveloped for German paratfops in 104, twas mounted fon the 9.76m Pak95/96 carriage with atrsion bar suspension but featured a 40mm spaced gur the lengths eld that can clearly be seen here. though not Wil, the gun barre! was almost 850mm langor tnen tho standard 8. 7em barel I! ulized tungsten-cored amrmumition, but asthe supaly of tungsten production was stopped in 1942. When ammunition supglies ran ut, the guns were usually serapped.A German Fallschinmjager prepares to fire a 10.Scm Lelehtgesshte 40 (70.5em LG40) reecllees artilery piece, Originally manutactured in alight al to reduce weight for airborne operations, they could be dismantied into five parachute loads or dropped faseambied in a special shock-absorbing erate. Tha weapon fred the same shell as the 10.5em leFHIB, . Es ks ‘an Sd.Kiz7 Bt halfrack prime-mever fords a shallow stream in Central aly. The shipping slencl can be seen paladin black on the sie panel bohind the driver along with a whit ‘8: They were normally employed for toxing heavy arillry pieces such as the 1S0n aFH16 and the 6.dem Flak guns. Over 12,000 unis were manuiaclured between 1934 and 7044 A Geman mitary pote checkpoint on the oust of Rome. The Unform and shou sacs Indoats the man fs a Oborwaerime tor der Sonutapolza . Reenes, wo has probably been seconded 1 Fetgendarmeri tia Hi uniform feu na sy srr oth Ary topeal une ani shoul saps ao pesin ight green wth aver Achtung Halt and brown twisted braid. The Polizei badge on his left arm is partially Betrelen der Stadt Rom hhdden by an armband that likely eaye ‘Hitegencarmerie\, probably in it ver black ters on ign green band, nich nceatos-murary pac’ Ho biokienere is wearng the Polzigebrosager ‘Sinute'feturng a sige buon nd Douche RU SHCHOBSG) fp wir eet Poe Sedge and «metal cockado SbOv. Obvious 2 Von Rommencant combat veteran, he wears the nfartry Assaut Badge and 2 black wound e0ge prned fo na tune. ts possbe tat ne aso wearna te Easton Wot Campaign T9834 rabon ns apoooked out Pz.Kpfw!V Ausi.G near San Salvo on the Actiate coast in November three solders fram tha Canadian Three Rivers Regiment (12th Armoured 4043. nas beon fied with additonal 20mm armor plates that have been Regiment) in October 1943. Tis one has buen fted with adational 3mm Dolled tothe sunersructure front and wolded tothe hull ant. The meaning armor plates that have been welded! to both the superstructure and hull ofthe small cross, visible othe leftol he divers visor, is unknown ard ther trons. The cutvod armor shield around the final dive s missing and has pnolos show thet it was applied at tho factory The missing tracks have probably been shot avay by the impact ofthe round that also dered the fxposed the curved armor shel that protacted the final ere Reusings ontrack. Two panetratione can also be seen inthe front ofthe turet beside the the Pz KpiwV Aust. to G, Reinforced final crive housings were insialed on gun mantel, These tanks are probably from 26 Panzer-Dwision. which the Pz.KpfiV Aust H replacing tho curved shiol. Note how mud has bull fought in this area, up around the drive sprocket. The soldier in fonts carrying a German fl ‘elaphone slung over his shoulder ‘A destroyed StuG.lll Aust G from 16.Panzer-Divsion les in a fleld near San Salvo in November 1943. Tow cables have been indicating the vehicle may nave been dsabied anc tne Germans were attesting fo recover when it was Knocked out.'A Sturmgeschaiz IV knocked out in the Pontecorv area near Cassino in May 1944, “Tha StuG.IV was husky developed in Decomber 1943 to replace lost production of SUG. after @ bombing raid on the Alkstt plant in November, The fist 30 Were ‘completed in December 1943 and production continued until Api 1945 with some 1 144 bull atogetner. Ths one is from 90 Panzer-Grenadir-Division, whion rocaived 42 of ‘hese veticlas in February 1944, all af which were coated with Zimmer, Fallschimager troops man a 18m sFHi8 heavy artilery piaco. The man on the let is rarwring in the projectile while Anotner prepares to hand the charge casing to another who Wil place it the breech. Both men on the ight are weaving the Splinter pattern eamoufage jump smack. Helmets on wood poles mark the graves af to ofthe orem of hig knocked StUG.I Aust noar Pignatare in May 194 while several Cormmanweath soldiers check for souveris. An Uunidentfiale unit marking is painted on the font plate of this ‘overal dark allow vehicle. Two soldiers from the Calgary Tanks (14th. Armoured Regiment) pose in front of an abandoned Marder Il Aus.H on the outskirts of Aquino, neat Pontecorvo, in May 1044, Tho Marder Ili fished in @ tee-colar camoutage scheme ot harchedged brown and green patches on the dark yllon bese. The only visibie marking 1 tho standard white outings black Balkenkreuz palnted on the side of the fgrting camparment ‘The Celoary Tanks took part in the battles in tis area wits Canadian Ontario and Three Rivers Regiments and te Bish ath Division and sth Incian Division on 11 May 1844,Rayan sh fH was knocked out in te Cassino area in early 1944. By this ‘ime, most new armored vehicles ware being delivered wit Zimmer ant-magnetic mine coating wrich is visBle here on the superstructure front pat, 'A knocked out Marder Ill AustH rests on the edge of a steep road embankment ater being cleared from the road by engingers. This photo is simlar to one of another ‘Marder Aut ttm P2.Je.ABL.177 of 71 Infontera Ovision, but they ere not the same vohice, The iaclcal sign for a sel-propelld anti-tank unt is pained in white on the Ssioped rant cheld witha faded white tind black Balkenaraz painted onthe side ‘A pair of M4 Sherman tanks captured by the Germans near Monte Cassino and put ino eervige by & PE.ABLSUS. Judging from the earth yelow over lve drab camouflage paint scheme and markings, i'was orginally assigned fo the U.S. 756m Tank Baltalon, Tho bation also used a set of tactical markings consisting of set of bars to indicate fhe platoon painted above the tactical numbers onthe side of the turret bus, but thay are abscured in his photo by he German crewman in the ctver's hate. 31In July 1943, sohwere Panzerkompanis ‘Mayer, undar the temporary command ot Oberieuinant Hars-Gert Meyer, was formed and sent to Maly to assist in asarming the Halen Army: Equipped with 8 early Tiger fs, they traveled through the Brenner Paae, ‘arrving in Modena in mid November. In late November, they were shipped ay rall 70 Rome. Here, an early production Tiger | AUSLE, ited with te pistol port onthe ight side ofthe turer, has is battle tacks installed. The vehile is palnted In overall dark yellow with @ camoutage pattern of brown patones apaiod. Markings tude @ black tactical ‘number '2'on te rear of the tut stowaga bin and a personal marking resembling a ‘sunburst, kely painted in re with eleven white points, painted on the side of the ture ‘Most unusual rough s the non-standara who Balkenkou wna lack outing painted ‘on the sde of tne nul, This Tiger | would later become tha personal vehicle ofthe naw Company commander, Hauptmann Schaebbach, when he joined the unit in early December 1943, The heavy balla ake have been joined and the ern struggle to inset the track pinta complete the task. ‘nother Tiger | AusLE from schwere Panzerkompanie ‘Meyee. An emblem, consisting of a wite shield witha black 7088 inside, can be seen painted on the font of the hull Vehicles in the un were Intr repainted in a three-color scheme, some receiving individual names painted on the upper hull plate betneen the drivers wor and bul machine gun ball mount This partular Tigar I had the name ‘Stole’, meaning “bum of ‘ramp’ painted on along witha large tactical number’ painted in blac onthe forward ede of he fueron March 1044, tha unit ‘was integrated into & Pz Abt SOB The last roadwheel is boted in place before ‘he instalation ofthe battle tracks is completes. The crewmen are busy instaling the outer roadaheels normally removed for rail transport, The unusual style Balkenkreuz and camouflage paint scheme can be seen to good fect in this photo, Also note tat fat this time the tactical numbers ‘peared only on the rear of the turret stowage bin. ‘A young Feldwebel Panzer commander strikes confident pose in the cypoa of his Tiger | AushE, Hie decorations include the ston ofthe Iron Gross Second Glass in ho tape! butonnola ‘of is black Panzer jacket and a General Assault Badge, awarded for assaulis made on three ‘ferent days, A lace Wound Badgo Is ust visible under the cora from nis headset. 32Pz.Kptw.V/ Tiger | Aust, s.Pz.Kp.Meyer, northem Italy, fall 1943 This ecrty procuction Tiger has a camouflage scheme of rec brown (RAL 8017) patches over the dotk yellow (RAL 7028) base. A single igh ical number 2's painfec'in black en the rear of tha stowago bin. On the right side oF the ture, q@ personal emblem looking much lke a sunursthas been panted. it appeas fo be a dark cicle_ possibly red, wh eleven whe pons radiating Gut Ground’. Ine most unusvel marking s the non-tegulation Bakonkreuz painted on the sce of the hull in white with a Black outin, Pz.kptwlV Aust.G, |./Pz.Rgt.2, 16.Panzer-Division, Salerno, Italy, September 1943 This late model Pz KoiwiV AusfG fs pointed in overal dark yellow (RAL 7028). Merngs include 0 standard biaek and white Boskenkreuz ppainied on the fant door and rear of the funet skit crmor and Black stencil outine factleal number 803" pointed on the font In addiion, he Balkericeuz has 0 been painted on the insde fac9 of the front door so that iis il visible whan the door is open. The Gisiono! emlern °¥ vith a horizontal bor through it & painted in yelow ochre with a bicek outine on the left sdo of the rear plate and on the front bese the arver's vito 33StuG.lll Aust.G, IIl,/P2.Rgt.2, 16.Panzer-Division, Rome, Italy, November 1943 This SUG AustG is pained! in overall dark yelow (RAL 7028) with « standard biock ond white Boikenkreur painted on the side of the fighting compartment behind ihe red stencil cutine Tactical number “Ica inaicating i's the 4th vehicle in the 2nd platoon of the 10th ‘company in Font of thot Isa smal stenclec shipping label ve KI’ pointed in black. Marder Ill Aust-H, unknown Pz.Jg.Abt., northem Italy, summer 1944 This Marder Il Aus.H is pointed ino camouitage scheme of ave grean (RAL 6008) and ted brown (RAL 6017) patches brush patted over ‘ne dork yelow (RAL 7028) base. A narow sve of lack and white Baksniveuzhas Been poivted onthe lower side of he fghing compartment 34Pz.Kpfw.V Tiger | AustE, 3./s.P2.AbI.504, near Livorno, Italy, July 1944 Thiblate production Tiger is painted in overal dark yellow (RAL. 7028) with « camoutage scheme of clive green (RAL 6003) and red brown (RALAD17) sprayed in smal patches. The tactical number'311"'s painted in white with o black ouline with fhe fist git being about 60 percent iarger than the last wo. On the lft side they were parted hich on the sde of the turet wth the two smoler dais even with the fop of fhe lager digt As 3 Kompanie was equipped wih Borgworc AV racio contd demotion vehicles. he odsional enfenna mounted on the right side of he turret required the tactical number tobe lowered. The foctical number was repeated on the rear ofthe stewoge bln h unr large digits. Mo unt emblem. c s9eamecd superimposed over ¢ syized Track was painted on Both ses oF the stowage bin ond a standora blake {and while Balkenleeuz wos painted on the ste of the hull Pz.Bet.Wg.V Panther Aust.A, |./Pz.Rat.4, Florence, Italy, summer 1944 This early model PzBefiWig.V Ponther Ausf. painted in overall dork yellow (RAL 7028) The tactical number 102" polnted ined with a whe: ‘outing on the sds of the turer indicates that ins is he battalion cajutants vehicle. The only other vsible markings ore a standard black ond ‘while Balkenivetz paintad on the sie of the hull in fent ofthe tool slonage brackets 35Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Aust.A, 1/Pz.Rgt.4, Rome, Italy, March 1944 Thiseatly mode! Panther AustA is painted in overall dovk yelow (RAL 7028). The toctied numiber'216'& painted in red with 0 white out. ‘A stondard black and white Bolkenkreuzs pointed on the ses of the hun front ofthe foo! stowage brackets ands tepeated on the rear of the hull Between the exaust pps Panzerjéiger Tiger (P) Elefant, 1./s.H.Pz.Jg.AbI.653, Soriano, Italy, fall 1944 Ths Elsfan& paintad in overall dark yellow (RAL 7028) with comoutlage scheme of alive green (RAL 6003) and! red brown (RAL 8017) patches sprayed on. white three digit foctical number’ 124''s pointed just Gbove the ine where the Zimmer stops. 36_—_-sPz.Sp.Wg.(Fu) (Sd.Kfz.232) (8Rad), Pz AutKl.AbI.115, 15.Panzer-Grenadier-Division, Italy, spring 1944 Tis late production schwere Ponzerspahwagen (Fu) § painted in overall dark yellow (RAL 7028). Te dvsional emblem, c white stor with & black letter representing the lat mifial of he unit commande: is painted onthe fop right of he front plate ond top lft of he recr plate. ne ‘actical sign for a reconnaissance company Is paited in while on the front sie plate, ‘SluG.IV, StuG. Abt. 1034, 34.Infanterie-Division, northem Htaly, fall 1944 This 1uGIV fs painted! in cverall dark yellow (RAL 7028) with a camouflage scheme of olve green (RAL 60NS) and red brown RAL ADIT) | potches. A standatd block and white Balkenkreuz is painted on the armor plate Desde the drver's compartment. The three diat facto number was usualy painted on the SchUmen armor plates hat are missing from this vehicle. a7‘Sturmpanzer IV Brummbér, Stu.P2.Abt.216, Nettuno area, Italy, January 1944 This Brummbdr s painted in overall dark yelow (RAL 7028) with a comoutage scheme of rec brown (RAL 8017) interconnecting lines. The single digit fetical numbers pointed in white on the Upper rear Comer af ine side of he fighting comparkment aiong witha black and white Bakenkreuz ‘Sd. Kfz. 164 Nashomn, 2./s.H.Pz.Jg-Abt.525, Nettuno area, Italy, March 1944 Tis eay production Nashom is painted in overall dark yolow (RAL 7028) with c subcued camouflage scheme of ove green (RAL e053) ‘ended brown (RAL E017) patches. A standard block and write Bolkenkzeur s painted on sach side of the fighting compartment os well as on Sho lt roar The thee digi loctiecl number 211 fs painted in Black on the sides of the fighting comoartment cbove the engine air intake Ibavers on the font of the curved gurehield and again on the right rear. un emblem was pointed on the hinged potion of the left front rudguard ond reeombles & crouching lion perched on Top of @ Tracked! chassis. Adaitional ie downs have een welded to the ses ond the (Wolds fouched up wih new dark yelow paint. Ville has been woven through the tie downs to hold fologe. 38Pz.Kptvlll Aust, Il,/Pz.Rgt. ‘Hermann Géri July 1943 This PzKafwill Aust Mis pointed in overall dork yellow (AL 7028), Merkings are linvled fo the three digi tactical number 63, palnted in white with a black outine on the sides ond rear ofthe ture skit crmot. Pz.KptwiV Aust.G, 3./Pz.Ab1.215, 15.Panzer-Grenadier-Division, Regalbutto, Sicily, July 1943 This Pz KofwiV Aust Is paintad in overci dark yelow (RAL 7028), Markingsinclude @ standard black ond white Bolkenkreuz painted on each side onc! on the let sda of the rear plate, Ihe divisional emibiem, @ white stor wl @ black letter °G’,rearesentng the lost inficl of the unt Commande is ako painted on the reor picts. The company number is painted on the sides af the turret in black on a white shielc with a smal crown and hve eraws extending up from the bottom, 39‘StuG.III Ausf.G, 16.$S-Panzer-Grenadier-Division ‘Reichsflihrer $s", Rome, licly, January 1944 This early StuGall Aust is painted in ovoral dove yellow (RAL. 7026). Cortes on unusua non slandard Bakenizeur painted on the sides that cconsiss of 0 white outine wilh c saeand black outine. Ths Is reneated on the rear plate but Is 30 large that the bottom is cut off, On the font Of the mantiet and on the rear plate, « black runic SS'symibal is abo painted. The tactical san for an assault gun company is peintedin recon tne glock plate with a number 1 irside, A numBor of the StuG I's of TNs Unf Nad personal nomex of wives or giVilencs painted on the pivoting ativars vor Panzerspahwagen AB41 201(), 278.Infanterie-Division, Lonigo area, Italy, fall 1944 Aer tne capitulation of aly in September 1943, the German Aimy confiscated large numbers o talon vehicles and incorporated them within varios unis. This ALtobindo ABA! refens its orignal talon comouftoge scherre of aréen patches on the sand yalow bose. A narrow sve Standard black Bakenireuz was pointed en each se cove the spare whee! os well as on the tant of the hull and rear ofthe furs, si fetains Is oginal talon tactical sgn ofa fed rectangle, indicating Ist company. with a white stipe through itindicating Ist olctoon, 40‘A column of SUG. Aust make theit way through Flome on the way toward the Anzio- Nattuno front in April 1984. Thay are from SS. PeJgAbLI6 of 16.SS-PanzerGrenadien- Division ‘ReichsfihrerSS. Formed in October 1043 trom Sturmorgads ‘RelenctunrorSS', the vision saw action in laly throughout 1943 belore being transfered to Hungary in January 1945, These vehicles aro all painted In overall datk yellow ard display a variety of markings. Tho rue symbol fr tha SS was painted an ho front ofthe gun mantles as wall as tha right sd of he rear engine deok plate, A rhomboid shaped faateal sign for an assault gun company Is pained In ed on the acs and @ personal name, Unorturately legible, can be seen behind the Standard Balkenkreu2 on the se ofthe fighting compartment. A tactical number "can be seen on ho side of he following vehicle, Another stuG.ll Aus from 16.88: Panzer-Grenadier Divsion “Roichstihrer. S88" on is way through ome, This is an ealy 1943 production vehise with diver's periscopes: land adattional 30mm Dotted armor plates on the glacis and lower hull ont. The'SS' runic Symbol can be seen on the front of the gun rmantt as wel, The column of SUG.ll AUSEG trom 18.85-Panzer Grenadier Division Roicstutver-SS' pass through | the Piazza del Popolo in ome. The vehicle front is a very early Aust completed. in January 1943 and features tho early stepped mucguard that nas hinged atthe rear. ‘The ‘88! runes can be seen painted on the front of the mantlet ane the tactical sign for an assault gun compary is pained in white on the facie folowed by the umber In black 41‘Avie of 216' as 1 rols along the Via dei For imperial taken trom the ‘opposite sido ofthe steel gt was converted to a Panther Abt with four Kompanies on § May 1943. On 19 Octooer 1945, it was renamed LiP2Rgt4 attr L/P2 Ag. 4 was transferred to form s.P2.AbIS07, and sent to aly early Fedeuary 1944 wih 76 Panthers. Another early Panther AusA folowing “215', approaches the Colosseum on the Via di For Imperial, Unfortunately, the tactical number js ilegbe, but we can eae that R cariod a slandara black Bakerkrouz painted on the rear pts between ho exhaust pipes, The small box mou fn the let rear ofthe engine deck was @.comman adcltion onthe Panthers of L/P2Rgtd A column of Panthrs tron | AbtoiungiPanzer-Regiment 4 travel along the Via dei Fort Imperial tonards the Colosseum in February 1944, Ths io an early Panther Aust A And features the ‘eterbox machine gun port on the glacis, The tactical numer 215'is painted in ed wih a white outine onthe sido ofthe ture. The vehicle appears tobe painted in severely weathered and dirty overall dark yellow over a cough coating of ZimmerHere we sae the Panther AUSTA valle 215 wih the Colasseum in the ackground. ’\ new Panther Aust.A trom |/P2.Rgl.s taveling withthe column through Rome in February 1944 Its fied with the early 18 bolt roadwheels that have been reinforced wth 18 rivets. Nate the boarding lnddor cuspondod from the cross bar A mm production Tiger | Aust as t travels through Rome. betwoen the exhaust pipes. ‘SP2.Ab1508, equipoed with 45 Tiger Is, was one of several unis the Germans rushed south to meet the Alled threat at Anzio. Another view of the same Tiger | AUBLE trom 1JsPz.AbL508 approaches the Forum of Tajan near the Yietor Emanuel Monument in ome in February 1944. The Tiger is pained in overall dors yellow with 2 camouflage scheme of green and brown ee: patches. Although not visible, ‘Sturmpanzor Abteilung 216 was also one ofthe units ruched 10 thas a white outine tacieal the AnzioNetuna area in February 1944. They wore the fst unit to umber painted on the rear be equipped withthe Sturmpanzer IV, which was first successfuly ‘ofthe stowage bin. ADKWNZ employed at Kurskin July 1943. Ths one is amid precuction vehicle 250 motorcycle has been bultona P2Kptw IV AuSCH chassis and sil has the siding divers leaded on the engine deck, visor similar tothe Tiger | In front, isan obsolete Pz Kpfwil Aust A allowing the rider to enjoy the ©. probably inuse as ¢ command vehicle. A colurn of British POW'S ‘seanory along the ws. ‘can be sa¢n marching fo the rear along the right side ofthe road 43th random patches of brown anv collar aroun the mart. The erewman stancing onthe ground ls wearing a pair of fold ras over bis black Panzer uniform and has the apes of hs Panzer jacket pulled aut oo. Se Another Sturmpanze IV ftom Sturmparzer-Ableiung 216 passes a disabled Tiger | AUBLE from s.PzABLEOE near Anco. This one W chasis ofa PzKphwV Aus. G, Tho exhaust port forthe uretroverse muffler has Been pated over ani i tad wih ho early plated covers ove he fighting compartment ventators as can be seen to the right of he crevman standing on the engine deck Inthe background, an Sd kz 9 Famo heavy hall. track prime-moveris waiting fo move in and recever the Tiger | an) ‘ult on the abThis ie @ later production Sturmpanzer IV featurng the boxed in drivers compariment and folating periscope in place of the siding visor, It's painted in vera dark yellow wth a camoufiage seheme of brown css-cross lines. Though not vider inthis photo, also ada standard white autined black Balkenkreuz high on the side ofthe fighting compartment with a white" behind i. A Sturmpanzer IV trom Sturmparzer-Ab‘elung 216, lt behing by the retreating Garmans as they fracuated the ay of Rome on 4 June 1944. Tis one is ui on the Pz KptvlV AushH chassis ‘Amid prosiction Sturmpanzer IV abandoned in a fie near Azo is inspectec by some Ital ‘ean seen ying on the ground in rat off. Is also filed with the newer cast ste! ler that was introduced on the Pz.Kpfw IV Aust Hin Cetober 1943, 45‘A Nashotn fom Nettune area in March 1844, This is an erly production vehicle fited withthe eary eight-hole drive sprocket with a spacer ing 10 accommodate the 400m wido Wack. tis painted in overall dark yellow wih a camoulage scheme of been and brown patches, Markings include the standard Balenkreu2 along with @ black three dit tactical numb, 217, painiad on the side. The tactical number is also repeated on the lt side ofthe gunshield The unt emblem, Cansistng of a crouching len perched on top of a tracked Chassis. as. painted on the left hinges mudguers. ‘Additonal tie downs have been woldoa onthe sides to hold ‘wir for attaching folage fr camoutlage ‘A i7om Kanone 18 in Morserlafelta tres on the Aled beachhead at Anzio, This heavy atilery piace could tire a 68kg igh expasive projete to a maximum range of 20600m. twas ‘auntie on a carrage that not only had a gun reco system but the gun platlorm sid back on the tals providing a second reco syetem, In action, the whole cariage was mounied on a {unlable that provided a complete 360° rotation. The gun was normally towed by the 83.2.8 halirack prime-mover. ‘A heavily camoutiaged 17cm Kanone 18 in Moreorafote being toned by an SdkKkiz8 halt-rack primemover along & narrow llalan steel appears thatthe gun and limber have false had some camoutage pale applied, probably dark yell ‘Stipes over the orginal dark gray cole‘A 10.50m FHT oF loFHIGM (Ml mundungbremse ~ muzzle brake) fs maneuvered into @ prepares gun emplacement. One of the crew has added fis weight on end ofthe gun barel fo help balanco who heavy gun tals as thoy are opened up. Unfortunately, he has aso blacked the view of the uzzte, whic ited wih a muzzle brake tr not. The eFH18 was the backbone of the German arilery and sorved ftom 1995 to 1945, Rfired« 14.Bkg high explosive shel and hat a maximum range of 10675m, A Wespe sellpopelled loht field howitzer in the process of having ts $0.50m leFHI8M armament removed with the help of an Saiz 18t hale track mounting a 6 Bistehn crane, The \Wespa s pabted in averall dark yellow and caries @ white two dat tactical umber "IT" anda narrow style Balkonkreuz on the side armor of the fighting compartment. The vehicle to the lef an Malan MIt40 tank oF Semovente da 75/18 sel-propelled gun. Burnt ponder hangs inthe air as this @.86m FiaKS67 ant-alreratt un engages Ali airortt over Hay in 1944, Just as the 10.5cm FH 18 was the backbone of the German artillery, so was the 8 Bom Flak18 and 3637 the backbone of German anti-aircraft delenses. The gun ied a 924g high: explosive shall and had a maamum ettctve ceiling of 800m.A diminutive 3:70m PaK25i96 antitank gun manned by Falschirmjager troops in Home in May 1944. Both men are wearing the second model clive green jump smock aver tet Luftwaffe tropical uniform along with the distinctive paratrooper Feimet. The gun has boon painted in a camoufage scheme of dark yellow stripes over the orignal dare gray coor. In 1221 ‘over 15,000 of these weapons were in service although i hac bean rendered obsolete by that time, its PzgrPatr40 ‘ammunition was only capable of penetaing Stmm of armor plate at 500m A7Scm PaK40 anti-tank gun set up behind a barioadod street in Rome as the Alles advanced on the cy in late May 1944, Thee steve helmets aro tho only thing tha! identfy the gun erew as Falschirmjager who also wear the sandra Luttwate tan tropeal Lniorm. The low gunsiveld only proved basic protecion for the re, who were othorwise oxoosed te small ame and high explosive relutn fire. In contvast to the 3.7em Pak35/96, the 7:Sem Page 40 Ammunition coud penetate 164mm of armor plate at 500m. A pair of Sa Kiz.7/2 set propelled antvaircraft guns guard the skies ver Ram in the spring of 1944, Mounting the 3.7om FlaK36 ant-aireratt gun these voles were orginaly produced on the standard hall ack chassis and later receivad an ermored cab and engine compartment Inthe backyound is he Castel Sant Angelo, on the banks ofthe Tiber River, originally but as atom forthe emperor Hodrian, 43Gonerafelemarechall ‘Abert setting, ‘accompanied by some of hig stat officors, coserves 8 fing exercise from the engine deck of a S1UGIV from PZAbLIG0 of S0Pz.GtenDiv. The Vehicle looks new and has camouflage scneme cf {geen and bream tines over the dark yellow tase calor. Not as wel the agcton ot ‘ainforeed concrete used 10 supplement the armor ptecton in front of tho Stivers compartment and the canvas dust cover that completely covers the Topfbiende’ cast gun mantle. “wo Grille AustH set propel howitzers st amid the runs of Caroceto, an Hal vilage nort of Anzio near Apriia in February 1944. Their crews have alld broken timbers and debrs aroun them vo help camoutlago ther postion trom Aled fights The nearest vehicle Is palrted in overal dark yellow with a camoutlage scheme of what is. most Thkely wide Bronn sins and is marked with a newiy painted standard Balkenkreuz In he background Is an 80.K12.251/1 AUSIC halsrack armored personnal carer, behind whic, is a knocked out ‘Ml Sharman lank tram the US. 1st Armored Diviaion which supported the earlier Brith atlack inthis area. The Grile were normaly Issuec10 the schwere Infanteriagasonciz companies of tie Panzergrenadier rogiments, ‘The commander of a neaviy camoutaged StuGill Aust. scans the horizon rough his felé glasses. Hs Army siyle topca tune, dislaying Feldwabel rank shoulder straps, 1s hung over the open cupola hatch behind hn. Unusual, i appears that he is weating a Falschirmjager steal heim, CGranaclrs trom P2-Rgl. “Hermann Géring, mareh along a read past @ Pantrer Aust from L/P2.Righ. in February 1944 near Anzio. The weather inate Foorvaty was any ang some of the men are wearing thir greatooatsundr thet ump smacks To the right can be seen a eamoullaged Tiger | AUBtE from ather SPZABL50B or Pz Kp. Meyer, which also were committed te the atleck against the Aled fandings at Anzia-Nettuno 49An Elefant from sPzug ADL6SS sts immobilized by @ mine along the lack route towards the Anzio Nettuno bridgenead on 23 Fobruary 1944. A column of Panthers from |/Pz.figé can be seen approaching along tha road accompanied by the (grenadiors ftom) PLAgh ‘Hermann Géring A Borgward BIV AUB (SdKiz301) demoltien vehicle from Pz-Abt (FKL) 301 in font ff @ column of Panthers fom LiPz gid near the Anzio- Nettuno bridgehead. In late lanuaty 1948, P2-AbLFKL) 501 was ordered to. aly, arriving atte destination south fof Rome on 8 February. The lunit_was equipped with 30 ‘SUG AugkG command and oniiot vehicles and had an authorized strength of 103, Borgiard domoliion vehicios although it nas not been feported how many they actualy had avaiable, A column of Sa.Kiz.251/1 Aust hal-trck personnel carriers advances own the same road. They have all been heavily camouflaged vith branehas to Pele Conceal them rom Alied fightors. Tho Wenemacht license rureer WH 1261655! Indioates they are probably trom one of {he Panzer Grenadl Divisions tat took part in the operation‘This is the setly model ofthe Ieladungsiger (Sdiktz 302). Goliath an elect ive remote control, wire guided demeltion vehicle which caried & Okg explosive charge Dovolopod in 1942. to assault bullings and fortications, it was ago used against rmored vehicles and was highly vulnerable ro small arms tre ‘A PzKotwill AustL trom an unidentiiod unit sits fbandoned ina fed aller bie US, Fifth Army sueceestlly broke out ofthe bridgehead in late May 1944 A cohumn of PzkphlV, probably ostioyed by. Alliod fignters ae they advanced along a 1030 near Anzio, Near the bottom ofthe photo can be seen the bypass route taken by. the advancing Aliog Vehicles, marked by tape ater heving been olesred of mines. One othe Pz, KPIWIV's has been competely consumed ty fhe leaving piles of light say ash rom the burnt ubber oadwheoisThee American soleors pose in front of a captured Elelant trom eP2dgAbLSS that broke down and nad to be abandoned in lale May 5044, The vehicle ie finished in_a camouttage scheme of gieen and brown patches. applied lover the derk yellow base toler and a three dig tacteal number, "102, has been paintod in white on both eides, Not vile is the gotie srt lettr an abbreviation for { Kompanie commane? Haupimann Hamat Unset, also painted in white on the upper ght Side of the upper tear Plate. One of the early Tiger 1 AUBfE origina from s Pz. Moyar destroyed curing the battle near Cisterna 25 May 1644, “The Tigers had besn repainied with @ camautlage scheme of 4green and brown over ine dark yellow base color and had new {tical numbers trom'T, seen hore, 19'S. Note the early cupola lying on the ground atter belng blown off by an internal exposion. On'3 March 1944, the remaining Tigers in the Kompanis were incegraed with 2.801.508, Hidden from vi, fn the other side of the road, was an overturned Elelant fon Peg ABLES. Another photo of the same Eletant from SP2Jg AbLESS tan enemy vehicle collection point. In the background can be seen a Sturmpanzer IV from Sturmpanzer- Abising 216. along with two large artlory pieces, a 15em KiB an the loft and a schwere 10cm KE on the righ. The Ellen! was shipped back to ‘Aberdeen Proving Grounds in the US. where can atil_ be s9en today,“The crew ofthis Pz Kp lV Ausf H struggle to replace a damaged tack Its Hel Hal te tack simply broke since there appears to be no mine damage ‘0 the suspension. They have their work cut out for them as one end ofthe tack as Wound itself up between the second and third roaduhes! The white star ‘marking the rear plats inccates this vehicle i rom 15.Panzer.Gronader-Diusen, Beco ite a white rhomboid, tha tacteal sign ‘ora Panzer un followed by the number "2, inaiating the company 10 which the vehicle assigned A knocked out PzKpfwlV AuséH from P2.Agt ‘Hermann Goring. Noto tho white cicle fon te left front mudguard with a Black bar at the two o'clock position indicating this is 2Kompanio vehicle, A crude erose marks the temporary resting-place of ane of the erew in the foreground.ee vf ‘An ealy Panther AusiA trom L/P2.Rgl sts abandoned alongside he road near San Giovanni Ineaica, northwest of Po migcorvo on 25 May 1944, The vehicle is remarxaby intact ano shows mrimal damage. The tree digit tactical number, 331" is painted in red with a white outine onthe side ofthe ture, In action tothe standara Salkenkreuz painted on each side ofthe hull, there was one painted on the rear pate betwaon the vartical exhaust pipes, Note ‘the unusual stowage boxes (there were hwo) mounted on the rear of the engine dack, knocked inthe fighting around Aquino & few klemeters “wo BrltshsolGiers hunt for souvenirs in another early Panther Aust A from \/P2Agh Monte Gassina in May 1944, Note the gun barrel n partial reco 54A motoreycle comoinaton from 26.Panzer-Division in ‘he Nettuno area, The fembiem painteo on the front ofthe sidecar apparently was Simalfied version ofthe ivsional emblem that vas somatimes used, A StuG.l Aust.G, probably rom P2.Abt.129 of 28.Panzor-Grenacisr Dision is towed by an Mst_ armored recovery vehicle along the Via Gassing near Mignaro Monte Lungo in the Monte Cassino area in January 1944. A smal whit letier’A'has been painted onthe side of he fighting compartment in tnt of the standard Balkenkrauz A larger’s' Is repeated on the glais in black beside the unit emblem, to crossed ennants within tho outine of a shield, also in black On the font of the gun manta, @ smal ‘white number 18° appears inside a white circle Note the unusual mache gun ring mount on the ture of he Two American soldiers appear to be repairing the final dive housing an this captured SUG. AuslG. A neally pained tives dgt tactical number 232" has been sppled on the sd ofthe ightng compartmont in black with a while autine behing the standard Balkentrou “The Zimmer pattern indeates this StuG Ill was manufactured atthe MIAG plant after September 1983,‘an early S1UG IN AusiG is nspected by two British soldiers in the summer of 1944 eis fited withthe smoke grenade launchers that were intaled on vehicles manufactured rom February to May of 1943 and has the rerofted Schirzen brackets thal wore installed by field werkshope bagining in early June 1943. The chassis number $2271" is painted on the Somm supplementary armor plate onthe right side of the vehicle [An early NAAT Sherman winds ils way past several abandoned Gorman vehicles including this mid production Tiger I. from ‘SP2.AbL506, Thera is no visible camaga on the Tiger and I is Bkely that it was simply abandoned after it broke down. Note the dust cover lil n place on the muzzle brake and the gun locked inthe aveling positon Another view ofthe eay MA1 Sherman as it passes the Tiger ‘The Sherman is fitted withthe easly boted transmission housing and narrow M34 gun mantel 56‘An early Marder Il Aus is in hull down ion behind a stone fenee while one of the 1 keeps a watchful aye out on the ground in front with hie binoculars. The name ‘Lacpard' can be been painted in black onthe night sida ofthe hull behind the driver's compartment. The early Marder Il wae fited with a rounded, east cover on the drhers compartment. A recesigned ‘welded cover was introduced at the end of 1843, ‘A soldier trom the U.S, 1S6rd Infantry Division posas In font of knocked out late Tiger | AusLE ‘rom s.P2.AbL508 in the Cecina regon in duly 1944, The impact point from a round thal did not penetrate the 100mm thik lower ru late can be sean fo the left. This Tiger | was nt by & 75mm round ito the engine compartment through the thinner, Bom sie hull plate resulting in an engine fire that destroyed the vehicle “wo Panzorbefehiswagen V Panther Aust A fom |/Pz Rigi near Florence during the summer of 1944, They are bath eary AUStA with the leterbor machine gun port onthe glacs, The one infront, tactical number 102s a purpose bul Befehis-Panther and is ited wih an armored mount forthe star ntanna on the engine deck and has the spare antenna storage tubes mounted Below the gun clearing rod storage tube, Tha ane Dehine with tactical numbet T1G. isa standard gun tank that has been assigned as staf vehicle. Both Panthers ae painted overall dar yellow wth red tactical numbers outined In white|A photo of Betotis-Panthar 102 giving @ good view of the letterbox 1e gun port and the addtional Periscope providing forward vision for the machine gunnerrasio operator. Note the absence of a coaxial machine ‘un port in the mantlot ~ on Borie Panthers and Tigers. the ports were sealed with an armoves plug. Botohls-Panther I’ shown crossing a small steam win 102" folowing behind. The early Panther AustA was equipped with tho TZF12 binocular gunsight unt mid-November 1943, wien the TZF.12a monocular gunsight was inteduoes,‘This ate Panther AusLA trom LIP2 Agi looks as though it may have been pushed off a road higher up this Fill attr losing a track or breaking own. 1 rolled downhill wih enough momentum to bury iis nose in the ‘gr0und. The Panther is painted in cveral dark yellow and it has a tactical ‘numoer,214, painted in rod wth a white culine, on the side ofthe turrat A view ofthe et sce ofthe same late Panther Aust fom LIP2 Ag. & with several Brtsh Commonwealth solders chacking taut for souvenir, The impact rom a projectile on the side ofthe hull has ton away the gun ‘leaning fod tube and part othe tool ack. Re eee ees 2 'sP2.Abt 508 sits abandoned in @ grove of olve 608, tho rear of ts tute Blackened by an engine fre. The white outine tactical! number's sil plan visible onthe side ofthe turret and rear ofthe stawage bin. The 3 Kompanie was equipped with Borguard BIV raco controled demolition vehicles and so these Tigers had an addtional radio antenna mount added tothe right sie ofthe ture. 59‘The SeiKiz11 lght Son nalttack prime ‘mover xs employed for towing a variety of Fght howitzers, ant-tank guns ang the Nebalwerer rocket launcher Here, an SA.KI2 11 is towing = 7.5em Pak40 ant-ank gun along a dusty country ‘oad. Tha gun erew has adds gome ext fosage to the gunsriels for camoutage, ‘This SUG. Aust is one of those manutaetured on the Pz.Kpfl chassis. Note the gap between the bolts fastening the acklional 80mm armor plate in tront of the drivers poston, itis also fited with smoke (renade launchers and somm oles on addtional armor plates on tho ‘lacs an ower hul A camaged early sagdpanzer IV awaits @ recovery vehicle o tow [cto the workshops. The transmission has probably seized up and 50 both tracks have been shortened and linked together bypassing te drve sprocket. The early Jagdpanzer wv ‘mounted the 7.5em Pak99/L48 gun, some of which were fitted with @ muzzle brake lke this one, From January to. November 1944, @ total of 769 of these purpose ult Panzerjager wore built and saw their frst ‘ction with Panzer Division” “Hermann (Géring in the spcng of 1044, 60‘nother early visible on the side of the fighting compartment, isa three dig tactical number, 214”, panted in either black or red witha white cutine. Note the 18 kill rings painted onthe barel ofthe ant-aircraft gun, Fallschimager troops fie their 12em Granatwerter 42 mortar on Alled postions during the Fighting in aly during the summer of 1944.4 splinter patiom camouflage jump smock belonging to one of them can be seen hanging ftom the war end of the tube. The 12om Gri 42 vas copied Irom a Soviet design end could throm a 15.Skg bomb to 5700m making tthe best mortar in the German arsenal Roguar German Wenemacht and Fallchimiagar tops ‘occupy an elaborate trench protected by an 8.8cm FlaKt8 ant ‘aicraft gun with 6 killings on the barel, being utlized inthe {round support rola. The color of the. Lufwarfe tan tropical {niform contrasted with the standard Wehimacht issue olve freon or Krak ropieal uniform.A dramatic. photo of “an Saki2.72, ‘mounting a 3.7em Flak36ant-aireratt un, in action. Ths one {5 fited withthe ght srmored cab and fengine compartment that began to be filed to some vehioles in ete 943, Two rockets oan be seen streaking rom a batiery of Nevelwerter rocket launchers located at the edge of afield. The 150m Nowst nad a maximum range of {2000m and the ‘2tem Nod? hada maximum range of 7850m. Their ‘main deadvantage was the prominent. smoke taal the projects lett that oloarly marked tho battery location for return artlery fre, Two soldiers fom 12 Calgary Tanks (14th Armoured Regiment) inspect the remains of captured battery of 2tcm [Nowa rocket launchers. The rockets were fired aloctically in ‘sequence from each tube in order to avold upseting the untThe craw ofthis 10.5em eF 18/40 howitzer prepares to oat their arilery pleoe up in a narrow hatan vilage steel. This was the last version of this gun fo be produced and, in an atfor to reduce the weigh of he piece wihout sacrificing performance, combined the bare! of he 10.50m IeFHiEM and a madtied cariage from the 75cm Paké0, The smaller dameter PaKa0. whools were later roplacod with larger ones that were alsa wider a8 can be Seen In this photo. Thase suns were typealy fled with a large double Bate muzzo brake. Me stk ‘An Saiz. 10/5 abandoned rear Ri the dom FlaK3 ant-arerat gun and has been filed with alight armored Shield around the drivers compariment, Ths one i painted overall dark yellow with & camouilage scheme of brown ar green patches. AA Polish solder poses in the burned out hulk of 2 Nashorn from ‘sH.Pa.dg.ABLS25 near Renetell in August 1944. is tkely that the vahiio vnae deetfayed by 12 own crew when it ran oUt of fuel or Broke down as the gun appar ta have been fied altar draining the reccil fd from the recoil Grinders Note as well the fine mesh soreen that has been install over the engine ai intakes to prevent debris from being sucked Into the engine compartment tee digit tactical number, 233, can be fatty seen painted in Black on the sida amar.Poish soldiers inspact a Nashorn from s H P2.Jg,Abt.625, captured neat Chiaravello, July 1944, A three cig tactical number'214' can be seen painted Con the left sige ofthe gurshield and there are twelve rave been painted on this vehicle =| 4 1 |A group of Luttwate sta offers atthe tran station in Luce, bout ‘2okm north of Pis, cuting the summer of 1944. Bath cars appear to be Maccades-Benz 540K Tourenwagen, although the one jn front has been ‘ainted in the miltary overall dark yolow complote wih a shipping stencil ‘Sppied tothe orvers coor and the ather has a commercial pat frish 64 Tol singe painted arourdl the gun barrel just behind the muzzle brake. The unit emblem 3 not appear Generatekimarachal Albert Kesseting is shown arriving ata emall_grass alsiip in his spotlase Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet 8 sla car. On the fight mudguare is the tank pennant fora CGenerafelimarechal dor Luftwatle hat had aight blue background with gold tim. The opposite side of the pennant showed a par of crossed fed marshal batons incide an oak ea! wrath and four Lutwate eagles, also in gold on a Hight blue baceground. Also visible above the bumper in front of the left mudguard, is the red ‘white ang black command flag forthe Commmander-in Chiat of an Army. Waling for Kim on the airs is & Fesoler Store,manutactured Another Pe KotiV AustH, concealed in @ farmyard in tno San Patignano area. it appears to have been abandonad rather than knocked out by enemy tre. It belonged to either 28 Panzer Grenasir-DWvision ar 26:Parzet-Divsion, aoth of vib fought inthe area ‘A SluHa2 Aust.6 lurks Inthe doorway of an ltaian building. This vehicle is one of those produced belwaen Juno and September 1943, fate he lower hull armor wae increased to 8m but betore Zimmert began to be applied, The boalted on 3Gmm additonal amor plato can also be seen on the right side of the fighting compartment. | young Lufwafle Gafrelor Giver poses fo a photo beside another Luftwaffe etatt cat. Tis new Mercedes-Benz Ga was probably sholographed earlier inthe war judging ‘by the dark gray paint and low regltration number plate. There ware not many privateyy ‘owned vehicles in Garmary during the pre-war years and many new crus ad © b6 twaned to dive when they entered the service, Only 72 of these vehicles were ever ‘ABriish Commonweatth or Polsh solder amines a burnt ut Pz KofwIV Aus inthe San Patignano area, near Rimini in the late sumenor of 1944. The lamar ‘Smashed by DA. sgn, claiming desticion by the Desert Air Force, has been placed on the hulk. On 25 August 1944, the British Eighth Army launched an assault toward the Adriatic coastal city of Rin “The Germans reacted by shiing troops from the center of the Gothic Line, weakering tir dotonces and allowing the US. Fith Army t9 cross the Amo ver almost Lnopposed.‘an American soli sits ona knocked out StuG.il Aust. Il fealures the waffle patten Zrnmert coating applied atthe Aket plant between September +1043 and Soptombor 1944 [ts alo filed with tho Yopfblends east gun mantel andthe shot detlctar front of he commander's cupola. Stoel rtum rll wore inrosueed in November 1943, however rubber tired rollers conned in use unl stocks were Use Up. Another Aleit manufacturad SiuGll Aus. knocked out alongside a country read, is roof blown off by an internal explosion. It has also been ‘ited vith the optbiange' cast gun mantlet and rubber tf return ols. This Sct 25109 Aust.C was tor apart, most kal, bya cree itor « large caliber artlery round. Fist developed in the summer of 1942, the SdKi2251/9 mounted the 7-5em KwKS7 24 made redundant by the Upgunning of he P2. Kp IV wih the KweK40 L/83, The gun was offset to the Fight side of the vehicle and, on ectly versions, the roof aver the racio ‘operator’ Seat was cut aut to make room for he gun(On 14 Septamber 1944, two late Tiger | to be blown up ater driving i ho roas during a night maren and acing up in a smal ravine near Ospedaletto, south of Rin, rom which they could This Tiger | Aust from @.P2.ABLS0B bogged down and had to be not be recovered. The lead Tiger has a tacioal number, "312, painied in abandoned while trying to cross a sot streambed. In order to avid the same Iwhite witha black outing, on the side of he ture fate, the Alias have erected a Bailey Bridge across the abstace ‘A brand ne late production Panther Aust rom Pz. gt in nerther Italy during late summer 1984. Unfortunately. the signpost on the bulding inthe (round le not clear enough to previce en accurate location. The hastily appliog three dig tactical mumber, 401, is Ikoly black with a white outing 6Two American solders with a knocked out late Panther Aus that ha been pushed to the side of the road. On 1 September 1944, PzAgh4 roported that thoro wore only 10 Panthers operational of tho 76 that thoy were sent to italy with inthe spring The fire blackened huk of an early Pamhor Aust trom P2.Rig. photographed after tha war wit a7 alan evan. The ight ina that can be sean extending rom his head along the gun barrel ie actualy @ eraich on the nagatve A battle weary Panther Aust from 44,2.Rigta sits apandonea in a smal alan vilage in the Monte Columbo area wast of Rimini on 14 September 1944, Iis_noatly applied thee digit tactical number, 438, is re with @ white outine‘A Luftwaffe Gem FlaKi@ antaroralt gun beng lized Inthe ground role ducing the stroot ighting in Flence, September 1944. All the crewmen here are wearing the Luftwaffe tropical fan rim. In an exposed postion ike this, hey are likely part of @ rear guard and ould simaly ‘bandon their gun when the postion became Unienable, Two earl production Hummel sat-popelied fquns, mounting the 15cm s provide fre support curing the tong aveal up the lan peninsula, Both varices are finished in eral dark yllow wi a camoullage scheme of green and brown appied in small Stipes and patenes. Hummels were usually tached to the heavy artilery batienes of the Panzer divisions, and so its possible that these two belong to 26 Panzer-Divsion, the only full Panzor division left fighting in aly at ho tir, ‘Stablemate of the Hummel, the Waspe mounted the 10.5cm IFHI8M howitzer on the absolete PzKpfwll chassis. They were also Issued Yo the light arlery bateries ofthe Panzer ‘and Panzer-Grenatier divisions,“Two early Marder Il Aus! M make tne way along a sushy, snow covered mountain road, probably inthe late spring of 1845. As most ofthe crewmen are wearing short sleeved chit, tho weather must stil be quite warm. Both vehicles are marked with the standard black Balkenkreuz on the side of the fighting compariment ard the vehicle on the ltt has a girs namo, possbly Linda, also palniog in wit, “ns 2 late production StuG.1V from Stu@, Abt. 1094 of 34 lfanterie Division sits aoandoned ina farm yard, probably the vicim of engin fallure jucging by he opened engine deck hatch and the absence of any noticeable battle ‘damage. 34,Infaneri-Divsion was the only unt other than 00.Pz.Gron. Dv ‘a be equipped with the StuG.1V in taly, arriving in late Septerer or early Oclober 1944. This vehicle was produced alter September 1944, when Zimmerit was no langor applied. It appears to be painiad in overt dark yalow with camouflage scheme of brown and green patches and is marked with a whe cutine Bakenkrovz. 70 ‘Anather vow of tio same StuGV showing an acdonal armor plate hinged in front ofthe driver's position. Here, the opened access hatch on the acs Is holding Up the plate, 24.nfantere-Dwiaon surrendered their Femaining vehicles a vrea, north of Torna, on 5 May 7985, Photos taken at ‘hat lime show ther vehicles fited with shnlar adstonal armorThe remains of @ totally destroyed StuGI Aus.G near Bologna in the soring of 1945, This was a later production vehicle manufactured after Sepiombor 1944, when Zmmert was no longor applied. Before being knocked out, this orem had sucesstlly {ostroyed six Aled vehicles as shown by the number f kil gs on the gun bara, ‘An SaKtz.7 sei-propelied ani-airera gun, mourning the 2cm Flakvieing, destroyed inthe Po Fiver valley 23 Api 1945, Fre and exposions have weakened the torsian bar suspension, buring the rubber off the roadwneels ard blowing apart the engine compartment. This is one of those ited with light armor plates arcund the cab and engine comparment although It appears not to have helped meh here, AA German transport train at Lavagna ralroad station near Ganoa, The Yuck on the left is @ Ford \¥3000 3t lors. In front oft isa Kf2.2 Kubalwagan and threo 7.5em PaK40 ant-tank gune 7 Two Commonweal soldiers examine an abandoned 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 (SdKtz 4) ‘The two men are probably Sich judging from the style of habnal boots on the man on the let land the small bandage pocket visible on his Dattledrass trousers, There ware 300 PPanzerwerfor 42 bul from Aor 1943 to March 1944 plus another 19 converted trom Munionskratwagen tor Nebelwertar in June 1944 ‘A Nashomn from SH.P2J9.Abi525. is Inspected by several British Commonwealin troops in tho lato spring of 1945. thas boon ited with @ screen over the engine air intake to prevent debris from being succed into the engine compartment. On 8 September 1944, TsHPzJgAbL525 was ordered back 10 Germany to reecuio with the Jagdcanther, while 2/828 and 2/525 remained in aly, sunendering to American forces nthe Po Fiver atthe end of the warAnothor captured French Renaut FT-17. This one hae a large white outine Balkenkreuz ‘on the turot. In German service, they ware’ referred toa Panzerkamptwagen FT-17 7304), ‘A large number of obsolete French Renault FT-17 tanks ‘wore captured by the Germans in 1040 and pressed into Service, mesty for police ano secury duties. The Lutwatte Uulized tis ene at an unidentified Italian afield. Mest of them wore repainted in overall dark gray and had an oversize black Balkerkveuz painted on each side ofthe tra. Select Bislogrophy ‘Auerbach Wilam, Tonks luscted No.8, Last of the Ponzets, Ams & Armour Pres Bender Ru. & Peterson, G.A, Hermann Goring fom Regiment fe Falschiecnzerkorps.R. James Bender Publishing Bendie: RJ. & Tavlos HP Unions. Organization and Hisery ofthe Werfen $8, Vol2 & 4, James ender Pubishing Bender RJ. & Odegard. \.W. Uniforms. Orgonization and History ofthe Ponzermuppe.R, Jamas Berar Publehing Blumenson. M, Sci Ballantine Books Butfataut Yves Armes Mtaria Mogceine No 33, ete 1943 (1) Debarcuement En Sle Butfetout Yves, Ames Miltarla Miegazne No Al, Premiers pas en itaio (1) Detarquer A Saleme Buffetout Yves Aires Miata Magasin No 43, Premiers pas an Italie (2) La Premiere Borate De Cassino Burtetout, Yves, Ames Miltorla Mogazne No.46, le déborquement 6 Anzio, 1944, Operation Shingle (Chamberlain ®& Doyle H. Encyclopedia of Geran tanks of Word Wor Two, Arms & ArMauT Press (Chambatiain,®& Gondor 7, WW2 Foct Fes, AniAeraft Guns, Aico Publishing CChomberlain. P& Gander T, Ww2 Fact Flos, Heavy’ Arilory, Aro PUD (Chamberlain. P& Gander 7. WW? Foc! Fills Light ond Maclin Feld Avila. Arco Publishing (Chamberlain, P& Gander 7, WW? Fact Fes, Ant-lark Weapons, Arco Publehing Chamberlain, P& Misom. J. WiV2 Fact Fes, Se Propelled Ani-Tank and Ant-Alraft Guns, Arco Publishing Chambericn, R& Gondor 1.88 Fak & Pak. Profle Pulcations Li, Davis. Bion L, German Army Uniforms and Insgnio 1985-194 Slancord Press Dowie. Brion L, Badges & Insigni of the Tard Reich 1935-1945, Blandiord Press Davis, Bran L; Uniforms and insignia of the Lutwate VoL2 1940-1945, Ame & Armour Prose Doyle, H. 8 Jentz. 7. New Vangucsd 22, Panther Variants 1942-1845 Reed International Books Doyie,H. & Jentz 7, New Yanguord 29, Ponzorkampfwagen IV Aust, H and J 1942-45, Osprey Publehing Ltd Fronk R. German Petscnnel Cars in Write, Scifr PUDIShIng Frank R Metcedies ot Wor Schifer PubIening Fronk R. Trucks of the Watumacht, Schifir Pubsshing ‘Granam, D., Casing, Ballantine Books Greenland! T & Taister D. Nuts & Bots Vo.14, Noshoxn ‘Gugiel, B, Pozen tly Pubimode! Harmon’ Wehrmacht Divitonal signs 1938-1945, Amark Puollcations Hibbert, C. Anzio The Bld For Rome, Ballantine Books Hiringer K: Combat History of Schwere Panzer Abtellung £08, J Fedorowice Publishing Jougiz M. Furklenkpane. A History of German Aimy Remate anc Rasio-Confroled Armor Units, J. Fedorowicz Publishing Jen TL, Pancer Tracts No.4, Panzerkampwagen IV Derington Productions, ne. Jeniz TL: Ponver Tact No 8, Sturmgeschuetz, Daningion Preauctions. nc, Jentz TL. Ponzer Tao's No, Jagdponast. Dorington Production. ne ‘Janta. T:\Germany’'s Panther Tank The Guest For Comoat Supremacy Schifor Publishing Jentz. TL: Paneer Truppen 2 Schifer Publishing Leawooh J. Wespe, Wydawnictwo Milter Ledwoch J. Sturmgeschutz I 44, Wydawnictwo Mitta Ledwoen J Pz KotwlV voll 147, Wyoawnichwo Milt Lecwooh J. Jaggponzer IV 150, wylaunictwo Milton Mazon. . Sclemo: Foothold in Europe, Ballentine Books Misom J, German Mitery Transpor of Worl Wer Tw, Avis & Armour Press Munch. K, Combat History of Schwere Ponzerager Abiellung 658. Fecorowez Pubishing (lives, German Motorcycles Word Wer E, Amar Publsning Piekaikiewicz J. Die 88 Fok im Fickampr-Esate Motortuch verag {Quorte, 8, Ponders nine Bokans and ay, Aztex Corporation Restayn, J. Tigat on the Western Fon, Hstare & Colectors Schnader Wt iger in Combat | and I. Fadorawez Publishing Spielbergec W. Stumgaschalz ane is Veron, Schr PUBIShINg Walace, 8. The Halon Compaign, Time-Life Bo0%s \illomson, G, German ivitcry Poice Unis 1989-46, Osprey Publishing Zaioga. 8, The Sherman at War 7086, Concord Publications