Warszawa II (39 page)

A SU-76M from the 1219th Tank Regiment, Poland, July 1944.

The Sd Kfz 138 ausf H “Grille” from the 9./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 12/ 4. Panzer-Division. A popular assault support gun, equipped with a short barrelled 15 cm infantry gun (SiG 33). This type of vehicle saw service throughout the war. Eastern Poland, July 1944.

Sd Kfz 138 ausf M “Grille” hailing from the 9./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33/4. Panzer-Division. The other version of the Sd kfz 138 “Grille”. The difference was the disposition of the “combat space.”. Note that every panzergrenadier regiment should within its 9th company possess six vehicles of this model. July 1944 east of Warsaw.

A 7.62 cm Pak 36® auf Fgst Pzkpfw II Ausf. D and E Sd Kfz 132 from 5. SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung “Wiking”, 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” during fighting east of Warsaw, in September 1944.

An M4A2 “Sherman” from the 7th Guards Cavalry Corps, 2nd Tank Army, Poland, August 1944.

A Bren gun carrier from the 5:e Independent Motorcycle Regiment/2:a Tank Army /1st Belorussian front during July/August 1944 in the fighting for Praga.

A PzKpfw “Panther” Sd Kfz 171 Ausf A from the 19.Panzer Division near Warsaw, September 1944.

Another Sd Kfz 251/1 ausf D from the 3./1./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 “Germania”/5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” outside of Warsaw, August 1944.

Yet another Sd Kfz 251/1 ausf D from the 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking”. On the other hand, it is more difficult to identify which unit in the division it belongs to as the ID-number on the hull has four numbers. Normally there would only be three. Judging by the ID-markings on the front plate it belongs to the 12.Company of some regiment. In all likelihood it was from one of the two panzer-grenadier regiments or the panzer regiment, or finally, the artillery regiment. It was only these three which had twelve or more companies.

Sd Kfz 251/10 from the 4: Company of the SS-Panzergrenadier- Regiment 9 “Germania” which was the only panzer-grenadier regiment in the 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” in the summer of 1944, eastern Poland. Sd Kfz 251/10 was a close-support vehicle equipped with a dated 3.7 cm PAK 36 as late in the war as 1944; it could hardly do any damage to tanks without a huge amount of luck. On the other hand, it was effective against more lightly armoured vehicles, reinforced positions and other similar kinds of objectives. The vehicle was used both by company and platoon commanders.

A Sd Kfz 233 (8×8) from 2./ Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5/5.SS Panzer-Division “Wiking” during July 1944, east of Warsaw.

Sd Kfz 251/1 Ausf. C Stuka zu Fuss from SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 “Thule”, 3. SS-Panzer-Division“Totenkopf“ Poland, August 1944.