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1.SS Panzer-Division Sd.Kfz.251 and other knocked out vehicles near Mortain
Sd.Kfz.251 mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (m.SPW), Kettenkrad, Opel Blitz, Schwimmwagen, Kübelwagen and a jeep photographed near the Mortain-Le Neufbourg railway station, in Normandie, on 12 August 1944, after the failed German counter attack at Mortain. The road is called the Route de la Gare, aka nowadays the D46, which is NE of L'Abbaye Blanche and less than 2 kms north of Mortain.
Most of these vehicles were stopped in their tracks by an ambush of 57mm anti-tank guns laid by the US 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division “Old Hickory”. The Opel Blitz appears to display a 2. Panzer-Division trident insignia, while the m.SPW belonged to SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.2 (insignia up top) of 1.SS Panzer-Division, as indicated by the open black Balkenkreuz on the side and rear, plus the characteristic log stowage on the side.
A surviving rear door from a similarly marked vehicle was located in the Falaise Pocket in the 1990s (centre colour photo). Note it only shows two camouflage colours, Dunkelgelb and Rotbraun. The open black cross is also heavily faded and oxidised with age, making it appear light blue-grey.
This post is part of a photo research thread posted here:
www.tapatalk.com/groups/archive1944to1945/viewtopic.php?f...
1.SS Panzer-Division Sd.Kfz.251 and other knocked out vehicles near Mortain
Sd.Kfz.251 mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (m.SPW), Kettenkrad, Opel Blitz, Schwimmwagen, Kübelwagen and a jeep photographed near the Mortain-Le Neufbourg railway station, in Normandie, on 12 August 1944, after the failed German counter attack at Mortain. The road is called the Route de la Gare, aka nowadays the D46, which is NE of L'Abbaye Blanche and less than 2 kms north of Mortain.
Most of these vehicles were stopped in their tracks by an ambush of 57mm anti-tank guns laid by the US 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division “Old Hickory”. The Opel Blitz appears to display a 2. Panzer-Division trident insignia, while the m.SPW belonged to SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.2 (insignia up top) of 1.SS Panzer-Division, as indicated by the open black Balkenkreuz on the side and rear, plus the characteristic log stowage on the side.
A surviving rear door from a similarly marked vehicle was located in the Falaise Pocket in the 1990s (centre colour photo). Note it only shows two camouflage colours, Dunkelgelb and Rotbraun. The open black cross is also heavily faded and oxidised with age, making it appear light blue-grey.
This post is part of a photo research thread posted here:
www.tapatalk.com/groups/archive1944to1945/viewtopic.php?f...