Tiger Commander of Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 Confers With "Totenkopf" Panzergrenadiers

Image size: 1600 x 1152 pixel. 723 KB
Date: Friday, 13 August 1943
Place: Khruschevo, Nikitovka Line, Belogrod Oblast, Soviet Union
Photographer: SS-Kriegsberichter Willi Merz

In most publication (also on the internet), this famous picture (which was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Willi Merz) always attributed to the German offensive in the Kursk battle (5-16 July 1943), but actually it is AFTER that (the Soviet counterattack, 12 July-23 August 1943). It shows Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181) Turmnummer (Turret Number) 313, 3.Kompanie, 1.Zug (Platoon) 3rd Vehicle, leads another Tiger of Schwere Panzer Abteilung (Heavy Tank Battalion) 503 that has stopped to confer with panzergrenadiers of III.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6 "Theodor Eicke"/3.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Totenkopf" (Death's Head) as they attack during a commanders' roll-call, ironing out the details of co-operation during the advance along the Khruschevo - Nikitovka Line, August 13, 1943 (part of the Battle of Belogrod on August 13-14, 1943). The Panzergrenadiers are wearing the distinctive SS camouflage smocks, the Tarnschlumpfjacke. Note that the one in the center has a matching pair of trousers. Note also the type of improvised turret stowage bin, distinctive for the s.Pz.Abt.503! After the failure of Operation Zitadelle (Citadel) to take the city of Kursk in July 1943, substantially reduced German divisions withdrew to their previous positions around the town of Belogrod. Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503, over the commander's protests, was ordered to attach its three companies to three SS Panzergrenadier Divisions. This had the effect of blunting the Tiger force available and left the tanks without mutual armored support. Outnumbered ten to one, the Tigers, Panzers and Sturmgeschütz assault guns used their superior training and tactics, and the heavy armor of the Tigers, to assist Totenkopf's drive on the Merla River to link up with elements of the 4. Panzerarmee. Despite forcing the Germans to withdraw from Belogrod on August 6, the heavy Soviet tank losses prevented the total destruction of the German forces. Between July 5 and August 7, 1943, schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 claimed to have destroyed 385 tanks, 4 assault guns, and 265 antitank guns. On August 13 alone, Tiger 332 knocked out three T-34 medium tanks, two KV-1 medium tanks, one SU-122 assault gun and five antitank guns! The Battalion lost one tank and Leutnant Konrad Weinert was wounded.

Source:

Book "PzKpfw V Tiger vol.II" by Tadeusz Melleman

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0160

Panzerkampfwagen IV ausf G tanks on the Move

Image size: 1600 x 816 pixel. 293 KB
Date: Tuesday, 6 July 1943
Place: Kursk, Kursk Oblast, Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

A pair of late-model Panzerkampfwagen IV ausf G tanks, with armored “skirts”on their turrets to set off hand-held anti-tank weapons. The ausf G was the first version of the venerable Panzer IV to carry the long-barreled 75-millimeter gun, which allowed the workhorse of the panzer legions to defeat the armor of the Soviet T-34. At first designated the ausf F2 in March 1942, and then redesignated Ausf G in May. When the British encountered the ausf G in North Africa, they nicknamed it the "Mark IV Special", since it was superior to any American or British tank at the time. The installation of the new gun increased the overall weight of the tank and reduced its speed. 1475 Ausf G were produced by Krupp-Gruson, Vomag and Nibelungenwerke. Both the F2 and G variants were designated Sd.Kfz.161/1. The F2 and early G models had a two-piece turret hatch access to the commander's cupola; later models, like the ones shown, had a single piece hatch. After March 1943, an additional 412 Ausf Gs were produced armed with a newer 75mm gun; designated Sd.Kfz.161/2. Ausf G featured new simplified design turret mounted with smoke grenade launchers.

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii135

Self-Propelled Howitzer "Hummel" at the Battle of Kursk

Image size: 1600 x 1153 pixel. 742 KB
Date: Thursday, 1 July 1943
Place: Kursk, Kursk Oblast, Russia
Photographer: Unknown

A column of three Panzerfeldhaubitze (Armored Field Howitzer) 18M auf Geschützwagen (Self-Propelled Artillery) III/IV (Sf) "Hummel" (Bumble Bee) Sd.Kfz.165 cross an open plain, probably during the Battle of Kursk. You can see most of the Hummel's crew in this photo; the open top exposed them to small arms and aircraft fire. These are early model Hummels mounting the 150mm (5.9 inch) sFH 18 L/30 howitzer with a range of 14,490 yards (13.25 kilometers) for indirect fire support. A battery of six Hummels, with an accompanying Munitionstrager (ammunition carrier) Hummel, were attached to each panzer division for Operation Zitadelle (Citadel) in July 1943; over 100 were available for the campaign. While Kursk is famous as the largest tank battle in history, it was also the scene of heavy concentrations of artillery. The Soviets barraged the Germans with fire from 3,000 guns and mortars on July 4, using half of their available ammunition and seriously reducing the German volume of fire. Hummels were used on both fronts for the rest of the war. Date and location estimated. 

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0065