Abandoned "Porscheturm" Königstiger of s.Pz.Abt.503 in Normandy

Image size: 1600 x 964 pixel. 462 KB
Date: Wednesday, 30 August 1944
Place: Amiens, Normandy, France
Photographer: unknown

Panzerkampfwagen IV ausf B (Sdkfz 182) with turret designed by Krupp for the Tiger II designed by Professor Doctor Ferdinand Porsche (September 3, 1875 – January 30, 1951). This Tiger II of Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 was abandoned by Leutnant Rambow's crew during the Normandy Campaign. Rambow was leading two Tigers through Beauvais when one threw a track on the Rue Antoine Caron. The crew of the other Tiger started repairs when the British 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards of the 8th Armoured Brigade entered the town and fired on the disabled Tiger. The crew fled and made it back to German lines. Leutnant Rambow fought the British to Amiens, where he ran out of fuel and ammunition. His crew set fire to the vehicle, causing the suspension to settle. Note missing outer road wheels.

In 1941, Doctor Porsche was contracted, along with Henschel und Sohn, to design the Tiger II tank. Porsche's design used more copper wiring, which led to the adoption of the Henschel design as the production Tiger II on November 11, 1942. Porsche was so sure that his design would be accepted he had ordered Krupp to begin production of their turret for his design; fifty were completed when the contract was canceled. Henschel began designing the new Tiger II, but to move the project along, the Porsche turrets were fitted to the new Henschel design. These tanks were issued first to Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503. Twelve Porscheturm (Porsche Turret) Tiger IIs and two Henshelturm (Henschel Turret) Tiger IIs were issued between May 1944 and June 1944, when Panzer Abteilung 503 left for Normandy. The Porscheturm Tiger IIs had a stronger turret because of the curved surface deflecting anti-tank rounds, but a shot trap caused rounds that hit under the curved gun mantlet were deflected into the driver's compartment, killing the driver and the radio operator. However, most Tiger IIs were not lost to Allied tanks; artillery and fighter-bombers were the chief combat losses of Tiger IIs. More than that, the Tiger II suffered from poor road performance and its heavy weight caused French and Belgian bridges to collapse. More Tiger IIs were lost to mechanical breakdown than in combat. Of the twenty-six Tiger IIs Panzer Abteilung 503 was issued during the Normandy Campaign, only two survived.

Source :
https://maquettes-missiles.blogspot.com/2018/04/le-char-super-lourd-maus.html
https://www.modellismopiu.it/modules/newbb_plus/print.php?forum=8&topic_id=24606
https://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii0152

Eichenlaub Award Ceremony for Panzer Ace Otto Carius

Image size: 1600 x 1154 pixel. 304 KB
Date: Tuesday, 2 January 1945
Place: Outskirts of Salzburg, Austria
Photographer: SS-Kriegsberichter Ege

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Oberrhein) awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #535 to Oberleutnant der Reserve Otto Carius from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502. The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Ege on 2 January 1945 at the outskirts of Salzburg (Austria). The ceremony was quite extraordinary because Carius had already received the announcement of his award from 27 July 1944, but the ceremony was postponed until five months later! This is because the panzer ace was seriously injured by a multiple shot in the seven parts of his body (including the neck!) only a few days before he suppsosedly received the Eichenlaub, so he had to be taken to the intensive care for months at Feldlazarett (Field Hospital). Carius received the news of his award through newspapers when lying weak on the bed, and was only able to walk with his feet in September 1944. When this photograph was taken, he was no longer in charge of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 but had already been transferred to Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 500. Another interesting fact is that the handed-over ceremony was performed by Himmler, whereas the Eichenlaub-grade medal ceremony and above was usually attended by Hitler directly. This is because from the end of 1944 the Führer began to restrict his public activities - along with the deterioration of the war situation - so that such activities were then represented to his closest confidants such as Himmler and Göring. Carius dedicated a chapter about this moment in his book 'Tigers in the Mud': "My first impressions of this man, whom his opponents called a 'bloodhound', had really pleasantly surprised me. I wasn't apprehensive about the upcoming 'cozy' conversation anymore. I described my visit with Heinrich Himmler in such detail, because he really surprised me. After the conversation in his staff headquarters , I gathered some hope for a successful conclusion to the war. That was after I had already considered a defeat almost certain."

Source :
https://ritterkreuztraeger.blogspot.co.id/2018/03/eichenlaub-award-ceremony-for-panzer.html

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

Tiger #332 Stuck in the Mud (Recovery Training)

Image size: 1600 x 1034 pixel. 722 KB
Date: Monday, 4 October 1943
Place: Znamenka, Tambovskaya oblast, Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger (8,8 cm L/56) Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 181) turmnummer 332 of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 carefully trying to make it's way out of the mud. S.Pz.Abt.503 was the only German heavy tank battalion to have two Balkenkreuz visible on each side, one on the hull and one on the turret near the identification numeral. The numbering featured black numerals with white outlines by this time. In October 1943, the battalion was in a rest area near Znamenka, where it had time to maintain and repair vehicles and conduct training. This sequence shows recovery training that was conducted on 4 October 1943.

Source:
Book "Tigers In Combat (1)" by Wolfgang Schneider
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6088379/anchors_6095031/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#6095031
http://www.tiif.de/thread.php?postid=3097

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf N of Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501

Image size: 1600 x 961 pixel. 482 KB
Date: Friday, 1 January 1943
Place: Tunisia
Photographer: Unknown

The commander of a Panzerkampfwagen III ausf N medium tank stands on his turret to locate targets. After Operation Torch landed 225,000 Allied soldiers in North Africa, the Germans and Italians built up their forces. During November 1942 transports brought to the ports of Tunis and Bizerte 176 tanks, 131 artillery pieces, 1,152 vehicles, and 13,000 tons of supplies. Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 (Heavy Tank Battalion 501) arrived in Tunisia between November 23, 1942 and early January 1943. To assist their Tiger Is with reconnaissance and anti-infantry duties, the Panzer III ausf Ns (Sturmpanzer IIIs) were sent along. Their 75mm short-barreled guns were excellent infantry support weapons, and their speed and reliability rendered effective assistance to the high-maintenance Tigers. By Christmas Day 1942 twelve Tiger Is and sixteen Panzer IIIs were in Tunisia, and after the occupation of Southern France and the rest of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 arrived, the twenty Tiger Is were slowly whittled down by offensive operations. By March 10, 1943 only six of the heavy tanks and twelve of the mediums were operational. Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 and 504 were merged on March 17. On May 12, the remaining units surrendered to the Allies. Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 was reformed by elements that were flown out before the collapse and fought on the Eastern Front. Date and location estimated. 

Source:

http://www.tiif.de/print.php?threadid=440

Königstiger Occupying a Street Intersection in Budapest

Image size: 1600 x 1008 pixel. 396 KB
Date: Sunday, 15 October 1944
Place: Szent György tér, Budapest, Hungary
Photographer: Kriegsberichter Faupel (PK Eins.Kp. Lw.z.b.V.)

Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II Königstiger (King Tiger) Sd.Kfz.182 Ausf.B #234 with Henschel turret of SS-Unterscharführer Herbert Stief from 2.Kompanie/schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 occupying a street intersection in Budapest. The photo is taken from the Szent György tér (Saint George Square). This square which stretches out in front of the main entrance to the castle is overlooked by two buildings on the right-hand side: the Neo-Gothic Sándor palace and former residence of the Prime Minister and the Castle theatre (Várszínház) with a Rococo façade, which was a former convent of the Carmelite order, which was dissolved in 1782 under the orders of Joseph II and altered by Farkas Kempelen in 1787. In the center of the picture is Hungarian anti-aircraft tank 40M Nimród, while at right we can see Steyr 1500 infantry carrier car. The SS guards came from 22. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division Maria Theresa with their distinctive riding boots. 2.Kompanie/Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 were the only Tiger II unit to go to Budapest, six Königstiger with turmnummer (turret number) 200, 211, 213, 231, 233, and 234.

Source:

Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-680-8282A-20A 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200115246545313&set=o.303273499761263&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf , courtesy of Alvaro Casanova Mora