Finnish StuG Crew

Image size: 1600 x 1132 pixel. 779 KB
Date: Friday, 7 July 1944
Place: Viipuri (Vyborg), east of Ihantala, Finland
Photographer: Oswald Hedenström

Finnish Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G "Bubi" and its crew near Vyborg, sitting in the summer sunshine in a brief moment of happiness, 7 July 1944. From left to right: Staff Sergeant Börje Brotell (Commander, former member of Waffen-SS), Private Armas Launikko (Loader, 19 year old from Turku), Lance Corporal Olli Soimala (Gunner, credited with 11 tank kills), and Lance Corporal Sulo Kauppi (Driver, car mechanic from Tampere). The StuG is loaded with wooden logs for extra protection against enemy guns. Stu-40 Ps.531-10 "Bubi" destroyed 11 Russian tanks during June-July 1944. After the war it serviced until 1960's and after that was placed to Niinisalo shooting grounds a shooting target. It almost got destroyed there, but were saved in 1980's. Today it is placed in front of the Army barracks in Häme Armoured Battalion. This picture was taken by Finnish war photographer Oswald Hedenström.

Source :
http://www.andreaslarka.net/sturmi.html
https://live.warthunder.com/post/393804/en/
http://sa-kuva.fi/neo?tem=webneo_image_large&lang=ENG&imgid=7aa7d22560254d13e00992506e9e168e&docid=7aa7d352216b0553;&ddocid=7aa7d352216b0553&archive=

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

Wounded SS With StuG and Destroyed T-34

Image size: 1600 x 1155 pixel. 481 KB
Date: Tuesday, 7 October 1941
Place: Staniza-Nowopaskaja, Sea of Azov, Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

A Sturmgeschütz (StuG) III A of the 1.Batterie/SS-Sturmgeshütz-Abteilung "Leisbstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (commanded by SS-Untersturmführer Georg Isecke) approaches the Soviet T-34 tank that just recently destroyed. Other Waffen-SS men are evacuating SS-Unterscharführer Martin Hermann August Bergemann (born 30 July 1920 in Berlin-Heiligensee) from 1.(Krad.-)Kompanie/SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung "Leisbstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" after his unsuccessful attempt to destroy the tank with a mine. Several rounds fired against the tank at a range of 25 meters failed to damage it. Destruction came as a result of gasoline 'bombs' being hurled against the vehicle and setting it afire. It is possible that the damage to the track and road wheels was done by means other than gasoline bomb. Bergemann died of his wounds in the same day and then buried in Melitopol, Ukraine. This brave young warrior is listed as one of the early tank destroyer of the Wehrmacht.

Source:

Book "Waffen-SS in Action" by Norman Harms and Ron Volstad, page 15

http://www.volksbund.de/index.php?id=1775&tx_igverlustsuche_pi2[gid]=03195b53b216d97b5230c47fa55c3a8d

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