I’ve often wondered why certain German early war afvs have a ‘solid’ white cross marking, while others have the more common ‘outlined’ cross.
Were the solid cross markings dropped after the Polish campaign, or did they remain on some vehicles throughout the French campaign, or beyond possibly?
I’m currently building a Panzer 35H and am wondering if this vehicle would have worn the solid cross marking. Thanks.
Panzers usually had a German cross, the balkankreutz to give it its proper name, of some kind on each side. Very early war tanks also had one on a front surface, but as this provided enemy gunners with a convenient aiming point, this was usually accidentally-on-purpose covered in grease and then eventually abandoned altogether.
The crosses began the war in solid white, but again experience of being shot at led to the adoption of at first different coloured crosses, usually red or yellow, and then finally the Luftwaffe version (a black cross outlined in white with a very thin black border) for later campaigns.
http://members.shaw.ca/grossdeutschland/vehicle.htm
Chris
Thanks for the quick response Chris, that’s a great link you provided. Certainly answered my questions.
You’re welcome!
Chris