German Troops Push into Barrikady Gun Factory

Image size: 1600 x 1079 pixel. 541 KB
Date: Friday, 16 October 1942
Place: Stalingrad, Soviet Union
Photographer: Kriegsberichter Kurt Heine

Infanterie-Regiment 577 of 305. Infanterie-Division, supported by Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.E assault gun of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 245, push into the Barrikady gun factory from the north of Stalingrad on 16 October 1942. The collapsed building is the warehouse on the northwest side of the factory. Assault guns supported the infantrymen as they pushed into the chaotic tangle of railway sidings, gutted warehouses and stacks of gun barrels that lined the western edge of the Barrikady Gun Factory, the assault guns in turn being guided on to their targets by the soldiers. The large-scale German attack on that day sweeping south through the brickworks and into the factory. Despite the menacing bulk of the factory’s workshops, progress was quite good. The panzers of 14. Panzer-Division suffered an initial setback when they lost 17 of their number to dug-in T-34s. Nevertheless, by the end of the day, the overall balance favoured the attackers: a large section of the gun factory was in German hands, as was a lengthy stretch of the Volga cliffs east of the brickworks and tractor factory. These operational successes were not as apparent to the weary infantrymen as was the loss of so many long-time comrades. 305. Infanterie-Division lost 1 officer and 30 men killed, 5 officers and 74 men wounded, and 1 officer and 13 men missing; 14. Panzer-Division lost 2 officers and 21 men killed, 4 officers and 121 men wounded, and 2 men missing. The photographer was Kriegsberichter Kurt Heine, and most of his photos were taken in November 1942 around the Barrikady Factory ruins.

Source :

"Island Of Fire: The Battle For the Barrikady Gun Factory In Stalingrad November 1942 - February 1943" by Jason D. Mark

https://www.facebook.com/pg/wehrmachtinstalingrad/posts/

Sturmgeschutz III ausf B (SdKfz 142) Fords a River

Image size: 1600 x 1014 pixel. 574 KB
Date: Tuesday, 1 July 1941
Place: Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

Sturmgeschutz III ausf B (SdKfz 142) fords a river. The thirty StuG III ausf A operational during the Battle of France were successful enough to make changes to the design. The ausf B had 400mm (15.7 inch) tracks and improved the suspension and transmission. The low velocity 75mm (3 inch) KwK 37 L/24 main gun was designed to attack fortifications. 320 StuG III ausf B were built between June 1940 and May 1941. They armed seven Sturmartillerie batteries and four Sturmartillerie Abteilung (Assault Artillery Battalions). The 2nd Sturmartillerie Abteilung fought with StuG III ausf B in Yugoslavia and Greece, and the 6th Sturmartillerie Abteilung fought in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941.

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii0166

Oberleutnant Franz Ludwig Discussing Strategy With His Men

Image size: 1113 x 1600 pixel. 501 KB

Date: Saturday, 8 July 1944

Place: Bois de Bavant, Normandie, France

Photographer: Kriegsberichter Scheck from PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 698

Oberleutnant Franz Ludwig  (Chef 2.Batterie/Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1346) discussing the strategy with his men minutes after he knocked-out his 16th victim, a British tank, at Bois de Bavant, which is situated right up towards the coast near Ranville/Pegasus Bridge, Normandy, in 8 July 1944 (some sources said as 10 July 1944). Behind them is Sturmgeschütz III 7,5cm Stu.K. 40 mit Topfblende Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 142/1) with 16 kill rings (panzerabschuße). StuG III has the "saukopf" mantlet and "waffle plate" zimmerit under all the foliage. Previously, Ludwig (born in 24 January 1913) had received Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in 24 June 1944, but he would died in combat a few months later in 14 August 1944. In the battle of Normandy, his unit were attached to the regular German infantry division, 346. Infanterie-Division (this division operated in the British sector east of Orne, Normandy, from as early as the 7th of June 1944, and largely destroyed at Falaise-Gap. Later rebuilt in Holland). 10 StuG III were transferred to the division in 10 May 1944, before the Allied landing. The above moment (photographed by Kriegsberichter Scheck from Propaganda-Kompanie 698) also published in the German newsreel, "Die Deutsche Wochenschau" (as it seemed to be often the routine to have photographers and cinematographers working in teams - on both sides of the lines). Please note that Ludwig's men wears two different uniforms: StuG wrapper with skull collar patches and collar litzen.  There was some uniform order that the traditional style collar tabs were to replace the "death's head" collar tabs for assault-gun crew (Sturm-Artillerie) uniform. It wasn't enforced so that's why you see both types of collar tabs in these units. For the video of the ceremony please click HERE

Source:

Book "Defending Fortress Europe: The War Diary of the German 7th Army in Normandy, 6 June to 26 July 1944" by Mark J. Reardon

Bundesarchiv photo collection

Photo courtesy of Doug Banks

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1322760396/Stug+members+-+I.D

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=658838&page=11

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

"Hummel" Self-Propelled Howitzer at Aberdeen Ordinance Museum

Image size: 1600 x 949 pixel. 380 KB
Date: Thursday, 1 January 1948
Place: Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, USA
Photographer: Armin Sohns

Panzerfeldhaubitze (Armored Field Howitzer) 18M auf Geschützwagen (Self-Propelled Artillery) III/IV (Sf) "Hummel" (Bumble Bee) Sd.Kfz.165 at the United States Army Ordnance Museum after World War II. This Hummel was one of 118 sent to France to oppose the Normandy landings. Note the armor plate covering the side exhaust grilles and the added forward armored compartment for the driver and radio operator; this indicates a late model Hummel from late 1944. It was captured by the United States and sent to Aberdeen. Left in the open air, it was rusting away for twenty years until it was traded in the 1960s to the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung (Defense Technical Study Collection), or WTS, in Koblenz, Germany, which restored it to running condition. The "Hummel" was designed in 1942 as the fast-moving panzer divisions had no artillery component that could keep up; most of the Wehrmacht's artillery in World War II was horse-drawn. It mounted the 150mm (5.9 inch) sFH 18 L/30 howitzer with a range of 14,490 yards (13.25 kilometers) for indirect fire support. The Geschutzwagen was a hybrid chassis that used the suspension of the Panzer IV and the transmission of the Panzer III. The Hummel made its combat debut at the Battle of Kursk. A battery of six Hummels would normally be attached to a panzer division. An additional vehicle, a Munitionstrager (ammunition carrier) Hummel, would carry additional ammunition as the Hummels could only carry eighteen rounds. The Munitionstrager Hummel could be converted to a working gun carriage in the field if needed. Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler opposed the "Bumble Bee" name and ordered that designation discontinued because he felt it did not reflect well on a fighting vehicle. Also using the Geschutzwagen chassis was the tank destroyer "Naschorn" (Rhinoceros) which mounted an 88mm (3.46 inch) gun. 

Source:

Charles Kliment photo collection

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0064

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Gefreiter Werner Rausch

Image size: 1114 x 1600 pixel. 461 KB
Date: Wednesday, 21 April 1943
Place: Mius, Stalino, Ukraine
Photographer: Unknown

Gefreiter Werner Rausch (left) receiving a heartfelt congratulation from his Zugführer (platoon commander), Unteroffizier Herbert Ruhnke (right), after his Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes verleihung (ceremony) in 21 April 1943. Actually, Rausch (Geschützführer of 3.Kompanie/Panzerjäger-Abteilung 294/294.Infanterie-Division/XVII.Armeekorps/6.Armee/Heeresgruppe Süd) had been awarded this prestigious medal from 26 March 1943, but the ceremony itself taken place almost a month later. This he received as a recognition for his tremendous achievement as an outstanding Panzerjäger (tank-hunter) gunner: he destroyed no less than 12 Russian tanks in the fierce three-hour battle at großen Donbogen (Great Don bend) in the previous winter! Leipziger Rausch (born in Leipzig in 27 January 1916) would end the war as an Unteroffizier. He passed away in his beloved hometown, Leipzig-Großzschorer, in 8 July 1998. Herbert Ruhnke (born 10 April 1914 in Berlin-Charlottenburg) also a fellow Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross holder) like Rausch. He received it in 8 February 1943 as a Geschützführer in 3.Kompanie/Panzerjäger-Abteilung 294/294.Infanterie-Division/XVII.Armeekorps/6.Armee/Heeresgruppe Süd. Ruhnke would KIA in March 1945 in Silesia, Germany.

Source:
NAFA Bildarchiv 17055004 
http://mediabase1.uib.no/pls/apex/f?p=108:3:1793975578132059::::P3_ID_ARCHIVE,P3_EDITLIST:11782,828

German self-propelled gun Sturmpanzer IV "Brummbär"

Image size: 1600 x 817 pixel. 451 KB
Date: Wednesday, 1 March 1944
Place: Nettuno, Lazio, Italy
Photographer: Unknown

Sturmpanzer IV Series 2 of Sturmpanzerabteilung (Asault Tank Battalion) 216 pauses in an Italian road to let Free French colonial prisoners of war taken by the Germans pass by. The Sturmpanzer IV was also known as Sturmpanzer 43, Sonderkraftfahrzeug Sdkfz 166 (Special Purpose Ordinance Vehicle 166) and nicknamed "Brummbar" (Grizzly Bear) or "stupa" in the field. Mounting a 150mm (5.9-inch) Sturmhaubitze (StuH) 43 L/12 infantry assault gun on a Panzer IV ausf G chassis, the Brummbar was developed in response to the inability of 75mm (3-inch) guns to reduce Soviet bunker positions during the Battle of Stalingrad. The first fifty Brummbar equipped Sturmpanzerabteilung 216 at the Battle of Kursk; seventeen were lost in combat. While it was an effective infantry support weapon, the shift from offensive to defensive operations in 1944 limited its original purpose. Still, it was a powerful weapon that could provide effective defense, especially in urban areas. The first version suffered from being overweight for the Panzer IV chassis and had transmission problems. Later versions corrected these problems and added a bow-mounted MG34 machine gun for anti-infantry defense. In December 1943, Sturmpanzerabteilung 216 was pulled out of the Eastern Front and set to Italy to confront the allied landings in the Anzio-Nettuno area. They were part of the failed offensive in February 1944 to push the Allies into the sea. Sturmpanzerabteilung 216 remained in combat in Italy until April 1945, when the unit destroyed its remaining vehicles to prevent their capture. 

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0050