RyanN81
Kölner Dom Panther
American tankers of 'Eagle 7' inspecting the burnt-out German Panzerkampfwagen V, Ausführung A, "Befehlspanther" (Armoured-battle-car 5, Execution A, "Command-Panther") from the previous day engagement near the Cathedral. (Köln, Germany, March 1945)
On the 6th of March 1945 Sherman's of the American 3rd Armored Division entered the city of Cologne. During the advance into the city centre, a Sherman of F Company, 32nd Armored Regiment was hit and knocked-out by a waiting German Panzer of the Panzer-Brigade 106 "Feldherrnhalle" near the Cathedral. Realizing it was a powerful German medium tank, the Heavy Tank M26 Pershing "Eagle 7" was called up. As "Eagle 7" approached from an adjacent street, the crew of the Panther spotted and sighted the Pershing however the commander did not recognize the new American tank believing it to be one of their own. Without hesitation the Pershing fired at the Panther, the first shot penetrated the side armour injuring the loader and causing the other surprised crewmen to panic and bail out. Another two shots shorty followed hitting the Panther's munition stowage that started an inferno. The commander Leutnant der Reserve Wilhelm Bartelborth, loader, driver and radio-operator Gustav Schäfer managed to flee, however the gunner was killed from shrapnel during his attempt to escape the Panzer.
Original Image Source: (unkown)
T/Sgt. James "Jim" L. Bates, 165th Photo Signal Company. Army Signal Corps (Public domain).
Crop, repair, upscale, colorize: RyanN81
Video Reference Source: External link
Information Source: External link (Thanks to Dierk Lürbke)
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].
Kölner Dom Panther
American tankers of 'Eagle 7' inspecting the burnt-out German Panzerkampfwagen V, Ausführung A, "Befehlspanther" (Armoured-battle-car 5, Execution A, "Command-Panther") from the previous day engagement near the Cathedral. (Köln, Germany, March 1945)
On the 6th of March 1945 Sherman's of the American 3rd Armored Division entered the city of Cologne. During the advance into the city centre, a Sherman of F Company, 32nd Armored Regiment was hit and knocked-out by a waiting German Panzer of the Panzer-Brigade 106 "Feldherrnhalle" near the Cathedral. Realizing it was a powerful German medium tank, the Heavy Tank M26 Pershing "Eagle 7" was called up. As "Eagle 7" approached from an adjacent street, the crew of the Panther spotted and sighted the Pershing however the commander did not recognize the new American tank believing it to be one of their own. Without hesitation the Pershing fired at the Panther, the first shot penetrated the side armour injuring the loader and causing the other surprised crewmen to panic and bail out. Another two shots shorty followed hitting the Panther's munition stowage that started an inferno. The commander Leutnant der Reserve Wilhelm Bartelborth, loader, driver and radio-operator Gustav Schäfer managed to flee, however the gunner was killed from shrapnel during his attempt to escape the Panzer.
Original Image Source: (unkown)
T/Sgt. James "Jim" L. Bates, 165th Photo Signal Company. Army Signal Corps (Public domain).
Crop, repair, upscale, colorize: RyanN81
Video Reference Source: External link
Information Source: External link (Thanks to Dierk Lürbke)
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].