Panzer-Lehr-Division SdKfz 251 markings December 15 ... - PALA 130

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Note the small “11”, which indicates the vehicle would have belonged to Pz-Gren-Lehr-Regt 901’s 11. Panzer- Pioneer-Kompanie. This subunit is erroneously omitted in all published sources to date, however, original surviving Gliederung records sourced by Hans Weber establish such a unit indeed existed within Pz-Gren-Lehr-Regt 901. (but not however in its less well-equipped sister, Pz-Gren-Lehr-Regt 902.): Further evidence of this Panzer-Pionier-Kompanie is confirmed by the following photo, showing another SdKfz 251/7, this time near Northern La Chapelle en Juger, Normandie on the 26th of July 1944. This vehicle is believed to have been captured in the wake of the controversial carpet bombing which proceeded the US Army’s Operation Cobra:
Note: there has been some recent online debate over the generally accepted notion this vehicle belonged to Panzer-Lehr: http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1189913798/ In essence it has been alleged "1134" is in fact a vehicle of 2.SS “Das Reich” Panzer-Division, ostensibly because the four digit number and font matches that unit, who were also in the general area and furthermore, no 11.Pz-Pio- Komp. ever existed in Panzer-Lehr. For the record, there is no doubt an 11. Pz-Pio-Komp existed, as established by the SdKfz 251/7 "11" photo and Hans Weber's Gliederung information above. Apart from this, “1134” carries none of the variety of mostly very distinctive Balkenkreuz types routinely used by Das Reich; nor does it have any of the unique 2.SS welded fieldmodifications so common on their m.SPW. On the other hand, Panzer-Lehr m.SPW are invariably characterised by the absence of any form of Balkenkreuz, as well as no unit-specific welded field-mods (these units are at opposite extremes in other words). If we factor in the Panther seen near "1134" is also a confirmed Panzer-Lehr vehicle (field-mod stowage rack on engine deck), which further establishes the photo was taken in Panzer-Lehr's section of the line, there can be little doubt at all "1134" is a Panzer-Lehr vehicle. Appreciation of this is worthwhile when considering the rationale behind the research and box art this author was
Page 1 and 2: Panzer-Lehr-Division SdKfz 251 mark
Page 3 and 4: This further example below of a 'Sc
Page 5 and 6: An enlargement of the image shows a
Page 7 and 8: This same Pz-Gren tac sign is proba
Page 10 and 11: As mentioned earlier, the ‘bow pl
Page 12: given the vintage of this Ausf C. O
Page 17 and 18: Amongst several other m.SPW with th
Page 19 and 20: One of at least two variations of P
Page 21 and 22: It’s the author’s present impre
Page 23 and 24: Returning finally back to the Pont
Page 25 and 26: As a result, if indeed the Pont Bro
Page 27 and 28: Given this circumstance, it seems p
Page 29 and 30: Factoring all of these pieces of ev
Page 31 and 32: Further reading: Bernage, Georges;
Page 33 and 34: propelled Abteilung in which the 1s
Page 35 and 36: information. A gliederung from June
Page 37 and 38: According to Dugdale (Vol. I, Pg. 2
Page 39 and 40: 2. SS-Panzer Division "Das Reich":
Page 41 and 42: Of interest is the double applicati
Page 43 and 44: interconnecting pattern of green st
Page 45 and 46: A closeup of "Scharnhorst": A close
Page 47 and 48: ===================== Tessin (Vol.
Page 50: It seems possible that the top phot
Page 53 and 54: According to Dugdale (Vol. I, Pg. 6
Page 55 and 56: Next is an early late version Humme
Page 57 and 58: Conclusions: ======== The Seine Hum
Page 59: Author Reply Fred Bayerlein (Login

Panzer-Lehr-Division SdKfz 251 markings December 15 ... - PALA 130

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