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Willy Langkeit
German Panzer Commander and Regiment Commander Oberst (Colonel) Willy Langkeit of Panzer-Regiment-Großdeutschland meeting with regimental officers during a rest-period after fighting near 'Iași-Târgu Frumos' (Jassy-Targul Framos). (Bacău, Romania, late-June 1944)
The 'Panzer-Befehlswagen' (Armoured-Command-car) "01" of Panzer-Regiment, Großdeutschland-Division was commanded by highly decorated and Oberst Willy Langkeit. Langkeit rose through the ranks before the war, becoming a Hauptmann (Captain) in the 36th Panzer Regiment and leading his regiment during the Invasion of Poland in 1938 in which he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Langkeit later participated in the Battle of France and the Eastern Campaigns. In January of 1943 he was on the front-line fighting near Stalingrad, however with the situation deteriorating he was ordered to be air-evacuated out of the Stalingrad encirclement. He was given command of the elite Panzer-Regiment of the Grossdeutschland Division. Throughout the later 1944 period the Panzer-Regiment of Grossdeutschland acted as the rear guard, covering the retreating German forces being pushed back by the Soviets through Romania.
Pictured is the Panzer-Befehlswagen (SdKfz.268), the command version of the Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther" Ausf.A (Sdkfz.171). This variant had both short 'Funkgerät 5' (Radio-device) and long 'Funkgerät 8' range radios allowing the commander to communicate to the entire regiment and to headquarters. The main gun was retained however with reduced ammunition and the coaxial machine gun was removed to make room for the additional command radios. The winter whitewash appeared to be very roughly painted over with Olivgrün and Rotbraun.
Pictured (L to R):
Hauptmann Ernst-Günter Lehnhoff.
Oberst Willy Langkeit.
Unkown.
Unkown.
Unkown.
Original Image Source: External link.
Generalleutnant Theodor Scheerer, KBZ Hgr Südukraine.
Bundesarchiv, CC-BY-SA 3.0
Crop, repair, upscale, colorize: RyanN81
Information Source: External link
Information Source: External link
Information Source: External link
[The World War 2 colorized photos are apolitical, and are simply for historical interest and research purposes only. Any comments relating to politics, racism or other inappropriate/offensive subjects will be removed].
Willy Langkeit
German Panzer Commander and Regiment Commander Oberst (Colonel) Willy Langkeit of Panzer-Regiment-Großdeutschland meeting with regimental officers during a rest-period after fighting near 'Iași-Târgu Frumos' (Jassy-Targul Framos). (Bacău, Romania, late-June 1944)
The 'Panzer-Befehlswagen' (Armoured-Command-car) "01" of Panzer-Regiment, Großdeutschland-Division was commanded by highly decorated and Oberst Willy Langkeit. Langkeit rose through the ranks before the war, becoming a Hauptmann (Captain) in the 36th Panzer Regiment and leading his regiment during the Invasion of Poland in 1938 in which he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Langkeit later participated in the Battle of France and the Eastern Campaigns. In January of 1943 he was on the front-line fighting near Stalingrad, however with the situation deteriorating he was ordered to be air-evacuated out of the Stalingrad encirclement. He was given command of the elite Panzer-Regiment of the Grossdeutschland Division. Throughout the later 1944 period the Panzer-Regiment of Grossdeutschland acted as the rear guard, covering the retreating German forces being pushed back by the Soviets through Romania.
Pictured is the Panzer-Befehlswagen (SdKfz.268), the command version of the Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther" Ausf.A (Sdkfz.171). This variant had both short 'Funkgerät 5' (Radio-device) and long 'Funkgerät 8' range radios allowing the commander to communicate to the entire regiment and to headquarters. The main gun was retained however with reduced ammunition and the coaxial machine gun was removed to make room for the additional command radios. The winter whitewash appeared to be very roughly painted over with Olivgrün and Rotbraun.
Pictured (L to R):
Hauptmann Ernst-Günter Lehnhoff.
Oberst Willy Langkeit.
Unkown.
Unkown.
Unkown.
Original Image Source: External link.
Generalleutnant Theodor Scheerer, KBZ Hgr Südukraine.
Bundesarchiv, CC-BY-SA 3.0
Crop, repair, upscale, colorize: RyanN81
Information Source: External link
Information Source: External link
Information Source: External link
[The World War 2 colorized photos are apolitical, and are simply for historical interest and research purposes only. Any comments relating to politics, racism or other inappropriate/offensive subjects will be removed].