RyanN81
Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505
German 'Panzerkampwagen Tiger Ausführung E' (Armoured-battle-car Tiger Execution E) of 'Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505' (505th Heavy Armour Battalion) in a sunflower field before the start of Operation Citadel. (Oryol southern-area, Soviet Union, July 1943).
Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505 (505th Heavy Armour Battalion) was attached to Feldmarschall Model's 9th Army of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Center) during Operation Citadel. The Battalion was formed in Feburary of 1943 however it wasn't until June that it was built up to a force of 31 Tiger's and 25 Panzer III's. The offensive began on the 5th of July with 505 Battalion heading south from Oryol towards Kursk supporting the 6.Infanterie-Division. The following day this time supporting the 9.Panzer-Division, the Battalion destroyed over 70 Soviet tanks from the 16th Guards Tank Corps during a counter-attack. Progress was slow with a number of the Battalions Tigers being immobilized from heavy Soviet mining, however they were able to be recovered and repaired. Over the offensive 505 Battalion destroyed over 150 tanks losing only 5 Tigers, but failed to achieve its objective by taking Kursk because of the strong Soviet resistance.
On the 12th of July Hitler gave orders to halt the offensive once hearing news of the Allied landings in Sicily believing the Allies may also land forces in Italy or France, preparations were made to move eastern forces to counter a possible invasion in the west. After the battle of Kursk, the Battalion was withdrawn and reassigned to the Smolensk-Orscha area (500km north-west of Kursk) in support of German forces, later in September of 1944 being completely withdrawn back to Germany for refit with the new Königstiger.
Original Image Source: (unknown)
Crop, repair, colorize: RyanN81
[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].
Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505
German 'Panzerkampwagen Tiger Ausführung E' (Armoured-battle-car Tiger Execution E) of 'Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505' (505th Heavy Armour Battalion) in a sunflower field before the start of Operation Citadel. (Oryol southern-area, Soviet Union, July 1943).
Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505 (505th Heavy Armour Battalion) was attached to Feldmarschall Model's 9th Army of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Center) during Operation Citadel. The Battalion was formed in Feburary of 1943 however it wasn't until June that it was built up to a force of 31 Tiger's and 25 Panzer III's. The offensive began on the 5th of July with 505 Battalion heading south from Oryol towards Kursk supporting the 6.Infanterie-Division. The following day this time supporting the 9.Panzer-Division, the Battalion destroyed over 70 Soviet tanks from the 16th Guards Tank Corps during a counter-attack. Progress was slow with a number of the Battalions Tigers being immobilized from heavy Soviet mining, however they were able to be recovered and repaired. Over the offensive 505 Battalion destroyed over 150 tanks losing only 5 Tigers, but failed to achieve its objective by taking Kursk because of the strong Soviet resistance.
On the 12th of July Hitler gave orders to halt the offensive once hearing news of the Allied landings in Sicily believing the Allies may also land forces in Italy or France, preparations were made to move eastern forces to counter a possible invasion in the west. After the battle of Kursk, the Battalion was withdrawn and reassigned to the Smolensk-Orscha area (500km north-west of Kursk) in support of German forces, later in September of 1944 being completely withdrawn back to Germany for refit with the new Königstiger.
Original Image Source: (unknown)
Crop, repair, colorize: RyanN81
[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].