Michael Wittmann

[MAGNA]

I agree. Keep up the good work as it clarifies a lot about models and markings as we go.

[Brin]

LAH,
Many thanks for the information, it is fully appreciated, along with any more you are able to uncover.
Mostly agree with the concept regarding the issue of new tanks within a company. The only exception being for an individual tank commander who prefers his 'trusted' earlier tank model, over a new 'unproven' and ‘upgraded’ design. In this I’m referring to the newer exhaust arrangement on the Ausf. M for deeper wading, affecting the engine performance and perceived reliability. Additionally the Ausf. M variant had no hull escape hatches for the driver or the radio operator/MG gunner, which would not endear it to an experienced crew already having used previous variants inclusive of these. Given the lack of any major performance advances between the Ausf. M to the L, I'm not sure if the R.H.I.P. top-down approach to distribution is fully appropiate in this instance. Which is why I had guessed on an Ausf. L, plus the relatively very small quantities of Ausf. Ms that were ever produced to completion before Feb. 1943, irrespective of the time taken (in weeks) by train to deliver these to the frontline in Russia. But fully agree with your point of direct replacement for damaged in-operable units, and happy to have my guess proved incorrect by substantiated evidence.

Did have a browse of Osprey’s New Vanguard Issue 27 ‘Panzerkampfwagen III Medium Tank 1936-44, which shows an artist’s impression of #555 having red numerals to the sides of the turret and white outlined numbers with open ends on the stowage box. Fully appreciate that this is only an artist’s impression, and so not a credible source of evidence. Yellow is a very good choice, and appears very similar to white in B&W photos.

Do you know who the tank commander of #061 at Kharkov was?
Do you have an order of battle for the abteilung stab and the aufklaerung zug?

Geek44
If only I was an expert….. I’m not, it is more of a case that I tend to closely read information of interest, but when authors publish material without a reference it is difficult to ascertain what is interpretation of fact over bias/fiction. As a result I tend to cross-reference a lot to confirm validity, in the hope of eliminating any myths or errors. An aspect much easier in the case of WW2 material given the proliferation of photography. Even though the camera can be made to produce altered/bias data, it is still in most instances a valid primary source.

[LAH 1 SS]

ok guys after some looking these are the only photos i have of panzer 3's used by LAH at the time im still trying guys sorry

[LAH 1 SS]

here are some prints an models of panzer 3's i also have

[LAH 1 SS]

brin fair comment about the vehicles and commanders retaining ther original vehicles i am only basing that on practices uesd by 101 LAH with there tiger 1 alocations where the new models of tiger ie command or general tigers were used to replace the older models so anything is possible.

the numbering you have stated is correct the turret numbers were red on the side of the turret and the numbers on the turret bins were white outlines please see the photo of 555 hope it helps

as for the last two questions im sorry i dont have answers to either of them however i have heard that AGTE might shed some light on that situation failing that references on LAH panzer3's may be hard to come buy (i havent researched the personally tigers are mu speciality sorry)

[LAH 1 SS]

here are two photos of a panzer 2 from LAH hope they help

[Leatchy]

Here you go boys, photos of Micheal Wittman's grave.

Europe 2008 575.jpg

Europe 2008 578.jpg

Europe 2008 579.jpg

Sorry about the extra pic. Didn't know how to remove it.

[cyberia]

Great photos Leatchy!!

[Brin]

Hi,

LAH; thanks for the information, have not seen any pictures of the Pz.III Ausf. L model before, very impressive. However, the photo of the two Ausf. M Pz.IIIs (one towing the other out) is used by Restayn in his publication mentioned above, but assigns it to a 'Das Reich' unit?
The one of the Pz.IV #618 with the turret truned to the left about to fire is good, do you have the one of it just having fired with a local dog barking at it?
Fully agree with your theory of panzer assignment concerning the Pz.VI Tiger Is.


Leatchy; many thanks for the photos of Wittmann and his crew's graves.

[LAH 1 SS]

sorry about the das reich panzer 3 being in there my fault i was a bit hasty on the click of the mouse. i unfortunately dont have the second photo of the panzer 4 after firing i do have other panzer 4 photos of LAH at charkow i have to dig them up though if they are needed everything i have is so disorganised i just put them in a file when i did them years ago and have sought have forgotten about them here are some more photos of the man himself