Have a picture I need some help to know little about. The text underneath the photo says it is from France in 1944.
So my question is did Pz II serve as late as 1944.
http://www.panzernet.net/panzernet/stranky/galerie/tanky/pz2/galeriepzkpfwII52.htm
I’ve seen that picture before but it was associated with a few other pics of US forces in Tunisia – possibly Sicily. I’m doubtful about its '44 dating.
Was the Pz II used as late as '44? I’d say if they were still in running condition, it can be safely assumed yes. I’ve seen a Pz 38 (t) as late as '44 and even another in final battles against the Soviets in '45.
Well I was having my doubts about it. As the star is on dark background, if I’m not wrong this was the way the US army marked their tanks during the first years of WW II.
By the way. I presume that tanks used late in the war was painted in ordinary Darkgelb. That kind of units did they serve in? Ordinary tank divisions or some other kind of units fore some kind of fire support or scouting?
Well at this point, we can only guess… I’d say the dark background behind the white star was probably applied by the capturing US forces to allow the star to stand out more – given that it’s a German AFV. I’m pretty certain that the round mark on the hull side with the two horizonal bars is some sort of unit marking too. Why they wouldn’t obliterate the balkenkreuz is beyond me. Again, most captured vehicles tended to be used away from the front line – too much room for confusion and fratricide.
Frankly, it may have been taken after the end of hostilities in Tunisia. If so, then it would have been left behind by the unit as it embarked for Sicily and beyond.
German AFVs got the order to be painted dark yellow starting in Feb '43. Pz IIs were fundamental to early Panzer formations. However their light nature seconded them to recon and liaison duties since they really couldn’t slug it out with enemy AT guns or enemy tanks.
Scouting and liaison-- certainly not fire support.
well I certainly wouldn’t doubt 1944, but probably a police unit. In Panzer wrecks there is pics of panzer 2’s with gas converters used for training. and the funniest the pz1 with a stuk 40 from a stug 3 outside a Berlin flak tower.
Terry Burke