Tank Destroyer – Wikinger: European Theater of War

M3A1 Half-track from the “Ghost Army” 1944

By wikingeretowMay 30, 20180 Comments

M3A1 half-track with 500 pound speaker, capable of projecting sounds as far as 15 miles. Used by the US 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, aka the Ghost Army, for sonic deception, 1944 Read more about the Ghost Army

daily photoBlack and White, Half-Track, Hanomag, History, Infantry, Photo, Photograph, Rifle, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WW2, WWII

A Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger being stuffed with 88mm ammunition prior to Operation Zitadelle – July 1943

By wikingeretowMay 28, 20180 Comments

daily photo1943, 88mm, Anti-Tank, Black and White, History, Panzer, Panzers, Photo, Photograph, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WW2, WWII, Zitadelle

8.8cm Pak 43/41 “Scheunentor” towed by an Sd.Kfz. 7 on the Eastern Front

By wikingeretowMay 14, 20180 Comments

Scheunentor translates to barn door, this was not due to the size of the gun shield but instead a reference to the guns manoeuvrability!

daily photoAnti-Tank, Black and White, Camouflage, Half-Track, Hanomag, History, Photo, Photograph, Tank Destroyer, World War Two, WW2, WWII

Two Tiger II tanks on a Paris street 1944

By wikingeretowApr 28, 20180 Comments

The heaviest tank on the battlefield, the Tiger II or Königstiger was a formidable foe, but it had its fair share of shortcomings. From over-complicated engineering, not enough power for the weight of the beast and the lack of quality raw materials led to this monster not being able to perform to its fullest. However that being said, wherever this tank was deployed, it devastated its opponents. In this photo two King Tigers of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion are passing through a Paris street on the way to the Normandy front in August 1944, ultimately however nothing the German's…

UncategorizedBlack and White, History, Machine Gun, Panzer, Panzers, Photo, Photograph, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WW2, WWII

8.8cm flak mounted on a Vomag Omnibus 7

By wikingeretowApr 17, 20180 Comments

An interesting photo as the Vomag Omnibus 7 was a civilian transport vehicle. There isn't a lot of information available about the Omnibus 7. The variant is known as the Vomag 88mm Flak 18 Waffentrager. It is an example of the need to get such an excellent but horribly immobile weapon into battle and as maneuverable as possible.

UncategorizedAircraft, Anti-Aircraft, Artillery, Black and White, History, Photo, Photograph, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WWII

Dug in 5cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60) in Italy

By wikingeretowMar 30, 20180 Comments

Uncategorized1944, Anti-Tank, Black and White, Camouflage, History, Infantry, Knocked Out, Panzer, Panzers, Photo, Photograph, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WW2, WWII

A grave for fallen comrades

By wikingeretowMar 28, 20180 Comments

A German panzer crewman stands over the grave of two fallen panzer crewmen - potentially from the Panzer I in the background. Most likely this photo is taken in 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, as the black panzer beret - the schutzmütze - was phased out and production had ceased in 1941, however it continued to be worn after that date for a while. The surviving crewman is wearing the newer style of panzer crew headgear which was introduced in early 1940.

UncategorizedBlack and White, Death, Grave, Infantry, Machine Gun, Panzer, Panzers, Photograph, Rifle, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WW2, WWII

Abandoned Flak 41 inspected by American soldier at Magdeburg – 1945

By wikingeretowMar 15, 20180 Comments

The Flak 41 was a Rheinmetall improvement on the famous Krupp "eighty-eight", resulting in a more powerful version than any of the previous ones. Only very few numbers were produced, but this prompted Krupp to respond with another prototype which ended up becoming the feared Pak 43 & KWK 43 - mounted on the Elefant, Jagdpanther and the Tiger II.

Uncategorized1945, Anti-Aircraft, Colour, History, Infantry, Photo, Photograph, Tank Destroyer, World War Two, WW2, WWII

Wounded German Soldier sitting atop a German 38(t) tank

By wikingeretowFeb 25, 20180 Comments

Two Panzer 38(t) tanks passing a knocked out Soviet T-34/76 in 1942, on the front of the first tank a wounded German soldier is hitching a ride.

UncategorizedBlack and White, History, Infantry, Kar 98, Panzer, Panzers, Photo, Photograph, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WWII

Point of View from a Tiger I turret

By wikingeretowFeb 06, 20180 Comments

Here's a gif for you today, a camera mounted on the turret of a Tiger I traverses across an open field with another four Tiger I's in the foreground. One has to remember that all of these images and videos that provide us with a glimpse into the past; in this case the second world war, were captured by men and a few women on the front lines of combat. Many of whom paid for their footage with their lives.

UncategorizedBlack and White, History, Panzer, Panzers, Photo, Photograph, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WW2, WWII