SS Panzer Division
(Total strength: 13–15,000 men)
Divisional HQ Company (2 x PzKpfw V), band and field police (450 men)
SS-Panzer Regiment
(1600 men)
HQ Company (320 men)
I Abteilung (500–600 men)
HQ Company: 2–8 PzKpfw V, 3 x 20mm Flakvierling and 12 x LMG
1, 2, 3 & 4 Companies (each 14–17 PzKpfw V and/or PzKpfw IV)
II Abteilung (500 men)
HQ Company, as above but allPzKpfw IV
5 & 6 Companies (each 14 PzKpfw IV)
7 & 8 Companies (each 10–14 75mm Jagdpanzer IV/70)
I SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment
(2000 men)
HQ Company, SdKfz 250 & 251 halftracks (160 men)
I Abteilung (all SdKfz 251 halftracks)
(850 men)
HQ Company
1, 2 & 3 Companies (each 2 x 75mm Pak 40, 7 x 20mm Flak 38, 2 x 80mm GrW 34 mortar, 4 x HMG & 29 x LMG)
4 Company (6 x 75mm Pak 40, 4 x 120mm sGrW 42 mortar, 2 x HMG & 4 x LMG)
II Abteilung (all truck-mounted) (850 men)
HQ Company
5, 6 & 7 Companies (each 2 x 80mm GrW 34 mortar, 4 x HMG)
8 Company (6 x 20mm Flak 38, 4 x sGrW 42 & 2 x HMG) (NB: No 9–14 Companies)
15 Cornpany (6 x Hummel, siG 33 or Wespe)
Engineer Company (24 x Flamethrower, 1 x 20mm Flak 38, 2 x 80mm GrW 34, 2 x HMG)
II SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment
As above except both abteilungen as II/I and Engineer Companie only 16 x Flammenwerfer and 12 x LMG
SS-Panzer Artillery Regiment
(1600 men)
HQ Company (2 x LMG) (90 men)
I Abteilung (550 men)
HQ Company (1 x Wespe, 3 x 20mm Flak 38)
1 & 2 Batteries (each 6 x Wespe)
3 Battery (6 x Hummel)
II Abteilung (450 men)
HQ Company (as above)
4 & 5 Batteries (each 6 x towed 105mm leFH 18)
III Abteilung (500 men)
HQ Company (as above)
6 & 7 Batteries (each 4 x towed 150mm sFH 18)
8 Battery (4 x 170mm K18)
SS-Panzer Reconnaissance Abteilung
(500 men)
HQ Company
Scout Company (26 x SdKfz 221 & 16 x SdKfz 231)
Light Company (SdKfz 251s) (2 x 75mm PaK 40,
2 x 80mm GrW 34 & 44 x LMG)
3 Company (2 x 75mm Pak 40, 7 x 20mm Flak 38,
2 x 80mm GrW 34, 4 x HMG & 29 x LMG)
4 Company (6 x 75mm PaK 40, 6 x 80mm GrW 34, 18 x LMG)
Maintenance Company (5 x LMG)
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung
(500 men)
HQ Company (3 x 75mm Jagdpanzer 1V/70)
1 & 2 Companies (each 10 x 75mm Jagdpanzer IV/70)
3 Company (12 x towed 75mm Pak 40)
Maintenance Company (3 x LMG)
SS-Panzer Flak Abteilung
(750 men)
HQ Company (2 x LMG)
1 & 2 Companies (each 6 x towed 88mm Flak 18 or 36 & 3 x 20mm Flak 38)
3 Company (9 x 37mm Flak 36 or 37)
4 Company (4–12 x 20mm Flakvierling on halftracks)
SS-Panzer Engineer Abteilung
(850 men)
HQ Company (4 x LMG & 4 x Flamethrower)
1 Company (motorized) (4 x HMG, 36 x LMG & 4 x 80mm GrW 34)
2 Company (SdKfz 251s) (2 x HMG, 43 x LMG, 2 x 8cm GrW
34 & 6–8 x Flamethrower)
SS-Panzer Signals Abteilung
(500 men)
HQ Company
3 companies
SS-Panzer Rocket Artillery Abteilung
(500 men)
HQ Company (1 x LMG)
1, 2 & 3 Batteries (each 6 x 150mm WGr 41)
Maintenance Company (1 x LMG)
SS-Maintenance Abteilung (motorized)
HQ Company
1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 Transport Companies
Operational Strengths, Waffen-SS Panzer Divisions
(6 June–13 August 1944)
|
Panther Tanks |
||||||
|
1 June |
1 July |
18 July |
25 July |
5 August |
13 August |
|
|
Leibstandarte Division |
38 |
25 |
46 |
34 |
46 |
7 |
|
Das Reich Division |
25 |
26 |
unknown |
41 |
1 |
3 |
|
Hohenstaufen Division |
30 |
19 |
25 |
23 |
11 |
15 |
|
Hitlerjugend Division |
48 |
24 |
21 |
37 |
9 |
7 |
|
Panzer IV Tanks |
||||||
|
1 June |
1 July |
18 July |
25 July |
5 August |
13 August |
|
|
Leibstandarte Division |
42 |
30 |
61 |
45 |
57 |
14 |
|
Das Reich Division |
44 |
50 |
unknown |
37 |
4 |
5 |
|
Hohenstaufen Division |
41 |
10 |
20 |
21 |
8 |
11 |
|
Frundsberg Division |
34 |
20 |
12 |
14 |
10 |
11 |
|
Hitlerjugend Division |
91 |
32 |
16 |
21 |
37 |
17 |
|
StuG III Assault Guns |
||||||
|
1 June |
1 July |
18 July |
25 July |
5 August |
13 August |
|
|
Leibstandarte Division |
44 |
31 |
35 |
32 |
27 |
8 |
|
Das Reich Division |
33 |
36 |
unknown |
25 |
6 |
8 |
|
Hohenstaufen Division |
38 |
22 |
15 |
14 |
8 |
14 |
|
Frundsberg Division |
32 |
25 |
6 |
11 |
7 |
5 |
|
17th SS Division |
91 |
32 |
16 |
21 |
37 |
17 |
|
Tiger I Tanks |
||||||
|
1 June |
1 July |
18 July |
25 July |
5 August |
13 August |
|
|
101st SS Battalion |
37 |
11 |
6 |
13 |
20 |
8 |
|
102nd SS Battalion |
28 |
14 |
19 |
30 |
20 |
7 |
|
Panzerjäger IV |
||||||
|
1 June |
1 July |
18 July |
25 July |
5 August |
13 August |
|
|
Hitlerjugend Division |
10 |
5 |
||||
|
17th SS Division |
31 |
unknown |
||||
Normandy Order of Battle
Panzer Group West
(then Fifth Panzer Army from 6 August 1944)
(Date in brackets is when unit reached the Normandy Front)
I SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (7 June)
(SS-Obergruppenführer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich)
schwer SS-Panzer Abteilung 101: 37 x Tiger I
SS-Arko I (artillery command)
SS-Artillerie Abteilung 101: 4 x 210mm, 6 x 170mm
SS-Corps Nachrichten Abteilung 101/501
1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (25 June to 6 July)
(SS-Brigadeführer Teddy Wisch)
Total strength: 19,618 men
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 1 “LSSAH”: I & II Abteilungen only, 36 APC
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 2 “LSSAH”
SS-Panzer Regiment “LSSAH”: 103 x Panzer IV, 72 x Panther
SS-Sturmgeschütz Abteilung “LSSAH” 1:
45 x StuG III
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment “LSSAH” 1: I & II Abteilungen: 8 x 105mm, 6 x 150mm, 4 x 100mm, 8 x Wespe, 5 x Hummel
SS-Flak Abteilung “LSSAH” 1: 12 x 88mm, 9 x 37mm
SS-Werfer Abteilung “LSSAH” 1: one battery, 5 x Nebelwerfer
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung “LSSAH” 1
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung “LSSAH” 1
SS-Panzer Pioner Abteilung “LSSAH” 1
12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend (7 June)
(SS-Oberführer Fritz Witt until 14 June 1944, then SS-Standartenführer Kurt Meyer)
Total strength: 17,000 men, 306 APC
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 25
III Abteilung: 12 x Pak 40, 12 x 75mm IG, 6 x 150mm IG, 2 x 20mm flak
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 26: 12 x Pak 40, 22 x 75mm IG, 6 x 150mm IG, 2 x 20mm Flak
SS-Panzer Regiment 12: 66 x Panther, 98 x Panzer IV
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 12: one company with 10 x Pzjgr IV
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 12: 12 x Wespe, 6 x Hummel, 18 x 105mm, 4 x 150mm, 4 x 100mm
SS-Flak Abteilung 12: 12 x 88mm, 9 x 37mm
SS-Werfer Abteilung 12: one battery (arrived 12 June, balance in July)
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 12
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 12
SS-Panzer Pioner Abteilung 12
SS-Panzer Ersatz Abteilung 12 (in Arnhem with 2000 men)
II SS Panzer Corps Headquarters (28 June)
(SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser, then Willi Bittrich from 28 June 1944 )
schwer SS-Panzer Abteilung 102: 28 x Tiger I
SS-Arko II (artillery command)
SS-Corps Nachrichten Abteilung 400
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen (28 June)
(SS-Gruppenführer Willi Bittrich until 28 June 1944, SS-Standartenführer Thomas Müller until 14 July 1944, then SS-Standartenführer Sylvester Stadler)
Total strength: 15,898 men, 345 trucks
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 19: 9 x Pak 40, 12 x 75mm IG, 6 x 150mm IG, 11 x 20mm Flak
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 20: 9 x Pak 40, 14 x 75mm IG, 6 x 150mm IG, 12 x 20mm flak
SS-Panzer Regiment 9
I Abteilung: 79 x Panther
II Abteilung: 48 x Panzer IV and 40 x StuG III
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 9: one company with 12 x Pak 40
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 9: 12 x Wespe, 2 x Hummel, 12 x 105m, 12 x 150mm, 4 x 100mm
SS-Flak Abteilung 9: 12 x 88mm, 9 x 37mm
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 9
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 9
SS-Panzer Pioner Abteilung 9
10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg (28 June)
(SS-Oberführer Heinz Harmel)
Total strength: 15,800 men
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 21
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 22
SS-Panzer Regiment 10: II Abteilung only with 39 x Panzer IV, 38 x StuG III
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 10: 11 x Wespe, 6 x Hummel, 12 x 105mm, 12 x 150mm, 4 x 100mm
SS-Flak Abteilung 10: 12 x 88mm, 9 x 37mm
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 10
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 10
SS-Panzer Pionier Abteilung 10
SS Ersatz Battalion 9: 1000 men
Seventh Army
2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich (1 July)
(SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Lammerding)
Total strength: 227x APC, 768 x trucks, 11,175 men
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 3 Deutschland:
I & III Abteilung only
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment Der Führer:
I & III Abteilung only
SS-Panzer Regiment 2: 50 x Panzer IV, 26 x Panther
SS-Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 2: 41 x StuG III
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 2: 12 x 105mm, 4 x 100mm, 4 x 15mm, 6 x Wespe, 5 x Hummel
SS-Flak Abteilung 2: 12 x 88mm, 9 x 37mm
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 2
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 2: 4 companies
SS-Panzer Pioner Abteilung 2: three companies only
Attached
SS-Werfer Abteilung 102: 18 x Nebelwerfer
II/Artillery Regiment 275: 4 x 105mm, 4 x 100mm
II/Artillery Regiment 191: 9 x 75mm, 2 x 150mm
Panzerjäger Abteilung 1041: 15 x 88mm
17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen (10 June)
(SS-Standartenführer Otto Baum)
Total strength: 17,321 men
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 37
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 38
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 1: 12 x Marder, 22 x Pak 40 (arrived later in the month)
SS-Panzer Abteilung 17: 42 x StuG III
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 17: 25 x 105mm, 12 x 150mm, 4 x 100mm
SS-Flak Abteilung 17: 8 x 88mm, 9 x 37mm (arrived later in the month)
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 17
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 17
SS-Panzer Pioner Abteilung 17 (arrived later in the month)
Arnhem Order of Battle
II SS Panzer Corps Headquarters
(SS-Obergruppenführer Willi Bittrich)
SS-Arko II (artillery command)
SS-Corps Nachrichten Abteilung 400
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
(SS-Obersturmbannführer Walther Harzer)
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 9, plus Military Police, intelligence, escort troops, repair troops, medical staff (280 men)
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 19: no heavy weapons or APCs
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 20: no heavy weapons or APCs
Kampfgruppe Spindler
(SS-Obersturmbannführer Ludwig Spindler)
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 9: 120 men, no guns
SS-Panzer Regiment 9: no tanks, 200–300 men
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 9: no heavy weapons, 2 x Pzjg IV, 2 x Pak 40, 2 x APC (120 men)
Kampfgruppe von Allworden
(SS-Hauptsturmführer Klaus von Allworden)
Kampfgruppe Moeller
(SS-Hauptsturmführer Hans Moeller)
SS-Panzer Pioner Abteilung 9: 90 men
Kampfgruppe Gropp
(SS-Untersturmführer Gropp)
SS-Flak Abteilung 9: 87 men, 1 x 88mm, 4 x 20mm
SS Depot and Reserve Abteilung 16: 440 men (SS-Hauptsturmführer Sepp Kraft)
Total: 2500 men
10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg
(SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Harmel)
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 10
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 21: 1.5 battalions
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 22: 1 battalion plus 8 x Pak 40, 4 x SP 75mm AT
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 10: 40 guns
SS-Flak Abteilung 10
SS Training and Replacenment Regiment 5
Kampfgruppe Brinkmann
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 10
Nimegen Defence
Kampfgruppe Graebner
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 9: 30 armoured vehicles, 400 men
(SS-Hauptsturmführer Viktor Graebner)
SS-Panzer Regiment 10: 16 x Pz IV tanks
SS-Panzer Pionier Abteilung 10
(SS-Hauptsturmführer Albert Brandt)
Kampfgruppe Reinhold
tank crews as infantry
(SS-Hauptsturmführer Leo Hermann Reinhold)
22 Panzergrenadier Regiment, plus 3 Company, 21st Regiment
Kampfgruppe Euling
100 men plus 4 x PzJg IV
(SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Heinz Euling)
Detached to Kampfgruppe Walther
Kampfgruppe Heinke
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 10: 15 x PzJgr IV
SS Kampfgruppe Seger
Artillery battery: 6 x 105mm field guns, plus infantry battalion from 9th SS Panzer Division
SS Kampfgruppe Richter
(SS-Hauptsturmführer Richter)
Ardennes Order of Battle
Sixth Panzer Army
(SS-Oberstgruppenführer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich)
I SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler
(SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Priess)
SS-Arko I (artillery command)
SS-Corps Nachrichten Abteilung 101/501
1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler
(SS-Oberführer Wilhelm Mohnke)
Total strength: 22,000 men
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung “LSSAH” 1
Kampfgruppe Peiper
(SS-Obersturmbannführer Jochen Peiper)
SS-Panzer Regiment “LSSAH” 1: 38 x Panther, 34 x Panzer IV
SS-Panzer Abteilung 501: 30 x Tiger II
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment “LSSAH” 1
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 2 “LSSAH”, III Abteilung (APC)
Kampfgruppe Hansen
(SS-Standartenführer Max Hansen)
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 1 “LSSAH”: 6 x 150mm IG, 12 x 20mm
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung “LSSAH” 1: 21 x PzJgr IV, 11 x Pak 40
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment “LSSAH” 1, I Abteilung
Kampfgruppe Sandig
(SS-Standartenführer Rudolf Sandig)
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 2 “LSSAH”: 6 x 150mm IG, 12 x 20mm
SS-Flak Abteilung “LSSAH” 1: 18 x 88mm, 18 x 37mm
SS-Werfer Abteilung “LSSAH” 1: 18 x 150mm, 6 x 210mm
SS-Panzer Pionier Abteilung “LSSAH” 1
SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment “LSSAH” 1, III Abteilung
Kampfgruppe Knittel
(SS-Sturmbannführer Gustav Knittel)
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung “LSSAH” 1
12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
(SS-Standartenführer Hugo Kraas)
Total strength: 22,000 men
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 12
Kampfgruppe Kuhlmann
(SS-Obersturmbannführer Herbert Kuhlmann)
SS-Panzer Regiment 12: 14 x Panther, 37 x Panzer IV
506 Panzerjäger Abteilung (Army): 28 x Jagdpanzer IV, 14 x Jagdpanther
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 12: I Abteilung
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 26: III Abteilung
Kampfgruppe Muller
(SS-Sturmbannführer Siegfried Muller)
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 25
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 12: 22 x Jagdpanzer IV
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 12: II Abteilung
Kampfgruppe Krause
(SS-Obersturmbannführer Bernard Krause)
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 26
SS-Flak Abteilung 12
SS-Werfer Abteilung 12
SS-Panzer Pionier Abteilung 12
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 12: III Abteilung
Kampfgruppe Bremer
(SS-Sturmbannführer Gerhardt Bremer)
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 12
II SS Panzer Korps Headquarters
(SS-Obergruppenführer Willi Bittrich)
SS-Arko II (artillery command)
SS-Corps Nachrichten Abteilung 400
2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
Total strength: 18,000 men
(SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Lammerding)
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 3 Deutschland
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment Der Führer
SS-Infantry Regiment Langemarck
SS-Panzer Regiment 2: 58 x Panther, 28 x Panzer IV, 28 x StuG III
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 2: 20 x Jagdpanzer IV
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 2
SS-Flak Abteilung 2
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 2
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 2
SS-Panzer Pioner Abteilung 2
Kampfgruppe Krag
(SS-Sturmbannführer Ernst-August Krag)
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 2
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
Total strength: 16,000 men
(SS-Oberführer Sylvester Stadler)
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 19
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 20
SS-Panzer Regiment 9
I Abteilung: 35 x Panther
II Abteilung: 28 x StuG III, 39 x Panzer IV
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 9: 21 x Jagdpanzer IV
SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 9
SS-Flak Abteilung 9
SS-Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 9
SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 9
SS-Panzer Pioner Abteilung 9
519 schwer Panzerjäger Abteilung (Army):
21 x Jagdpanther/StuG III
KEY
Abteilung battalion
APC armoured personnel carrier
Artillerie artillery
Aufklärungs reconnaissance
Ersatz replacement
Flak antiaircraft
IG infantry gun
Nachrichten signals
Nebelwerfer rocket artillery
Pak antitank
Panzerjäger tank hunter
Pioner engineer
schwer heavy
A group of mud-splattered Waffen-SS men pause at a crossroads in the Ardennes Forest, December 1944. Determined resistance by US forces at the Elsenborn Ridge and St Vith channeled the northern arm of the German advance into a narrow corridor with few reliable roads. In sodden winter conditions, these unpaved roads were churned into a morass of thick mud by the advancing Panzers, causing their support units to lag far behind.
A Waffen-SS Tiger tank, probably from the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion, location unknown. The number 33, visible on the side of the turret, is the last two digits of a three-digit vehicle identifier. It means that this was the third vehicle of the third platoon. The first digit, hidden behind the crewman sitting on the hull, was the company number – although for Tiger companies it was often just the letter 'S' for Schwerer, or ‘heavy’.
General Erwin Rommel (at front, third from left) inspects beach defences in Normandy with his divisional commanders and staff. The wooden rails in the background were intended to capsize landing craft as they approached at high tide.
A platoon-strength detachment from SS Division Hitlerjugend waits for orders in a Normandy village. A panzer platoon (Schutzenzug) was a group of four or five tanks, one of which was usually a command tank manned by an officer. The tanks pictured are late-model Ausf. H Panzer IVs, fitted with Schürzen armoured skirts and turret surrounds.
A destroyed Cromwell tank of the 7th Armoured Division in Villers Bocage, pictured a few days after Wittmann’s rampage. There is a large hole visible in the side of the turret where one of Michael Wittman’s 88mm armour-piercing shells punched through the armour.
A StuG III assault-gun, almost entirely buried under camouflage netting and freshly-cut branches, lies in wait behind a hedge near Caen. Heavy camouflage like this was essential for German armoured units operating in Normandy during the summer of 1944 as a vehicle out in the open would invariably attract the attention of Allied fighter-bombers.
A Waffen-SS Panther company moves up to the frontline through a village somewhere south of Caen. It is unusual to see pictures of tanks and vehicles moving around in broad daylight during the Normandy campaign, which suggests that this may have been a reserve force being brought up quickly to halt an allied breakthrough.
Surrounded by a wall of camouflage netting, the crew of an 8.8cm Flak 37 get ready to fire. Lines of these deadly ‘Eighty-Eights’ – the scourge of Allied armour since the Battle of France in 1940 – were emplaced in ambush positions all along Bourgebus Ridge.
American soldiers examine the wreckage of a Panther tank destroyed by Allied fighter-bombers during the ill-fated Mortain counteroffensive. Damage like this generally occurred when the ammunition inside the tank detonated, blowing the turret high into the air.
A British column of Sherman tanks in Normandy during the build-up to Operation Totalize. The vehicle in the foreground is a Sherman Firefly, distinguished by the long barrel of its QF 17-pounder gun. The Firefly was an awkward stop-gap design, but it was the only allied tank able to penetrate the armour of German heavy tanks. It was an armour-piercing round from a Firefly that killed Tiger Ace Michael Wittmann.
An American tank crewman gazes at the carnage wrought on the German forces inside the Falaise pocket. Around 10,000 German soldiers were killed during the desperate fighting retreat, pounded by artillery or bombed from the air. General Eisenhower described the battlefield as looking like something from Dante’s Inferno. Many of the units that did escape lost most of their heavy equipment in the process.
A Waffen-SS trooper moves cautiously forward through the streets of Arnhem to the point where a Hohenstaufen Division assault gun is blasting buildings occupied by British 2 PARA.
Tiger II (King Tiger) tanks from one of the Sixth Panzer Army’s re-equipped Heavy Panzer Battalions. These vehicles were unmatched in terms of firepower and armour, but their massive weight, poor reliability and incredibly high fuel consumption made them poorly-suited for the task of pushing through the Ardennes Forest.
German infantrymen walk past the burning wreckage of an Allied motorised column. Many Allied second-line units were caught in the initial German advance which destroyed hundreds of trucks and jeeps.
An American M5 Half-track loaded with soldiers rolls past a column of German prisoners of war in January 1945. German losses during the offensive were catastrophic – some 34,000 dead and around 22,500 captured or missing in action.
A column of American infantry pass by a destroyed King Tiger tank. Given the position of the vehicle and the lack of blast damage to the terrain around it, it seems probable that this tank was lost to mechanical failure rather than enemy action. It is equally possible that it simply slipped off the road and got stuck – the Wehrmacht had no recovery vehicles capable of budging these 70-ton behemoths once they were immobilised. A pioneer squad would have destroyed the vehicle with explosives as the Germans retreated.