hi mates , i think there was in the past a post who asked if the german painted names on there tanks? well i’ve finaly found my book back (tank and afv crew uniforms since 1916) and this is what i found:
oberwachtmeister Richard Schramm of stug brigade 202, awarded the knight’s cross on december 23 1942 for destroying a total of 44 soviet armoured vehicles in his stug III , which seems to bear the name SEETEUFEL (sea devil) painted on the gun (close to the turret on the barrel) . Schramm wears the grey uniform of panzer cut , with the later collar patches - litzen on green or field grey patches piped red round the edge. The double bars of silver braid across the ends of the shoulder straps mark Schramm as an Offizieranwarter , or aspirant for promotion to commissioned rank.
maybe somebody could use this , greatings
LUC.
other names on Tiger tanks was:
TIKI - on the front side, a nickname for Tiger
Tiger von Eschnapur - on the front plate, the name of a popular movie from Fritz Lang (I think)
Strolch - - on the front plate, it means vagabond
I have the same book maffen great reading.
The germans also painted the names of there girlfriends or wifes on the vision blocks as well. I have seen this in several different pics.
I guess it’s fair to say that it didn’t make much difference whose army you served in, soldiers all had a tendency to put their personnel touch to there equipment, like names of girlfriends, favorite pets, names of idols, etc. I suspect its been that way for as long as man has battled against man. thanks for sharing this with those of us who are not up to speed with the history of armor. semper fi, mike
Squadron’s Panzer Colors Vol. 2 has several examples of vehicle names on a variety of vehicles. Some are as has been mentioned, girlfriends, wives etc. Others are town names, regions, fallen comrades or animals.
Hi,
My favorite is… Holt Fest Junges! (hang on tight boys!) I saw painted on the back of a Stug III
Herr Gray
One day I’m going to do a King Tiger and put the name “Tovah” on it. Yeah, it’s Jewish, the crew will be seeming to say, who’s gonna make us take it off? [(-D]