The German Empire's "Flying Tank": The Junkers J.I

Source: Author's collection

     Military aviation in 1918 was, in many respects, a far cry from where it was in 1914. Aircraft were faster, more maneuverable, better armed, and more reliable. Aerial observation was a role aircraft fulfilled throughout World War I where the “eye in the sky” conducted reconnaissance on enemy positions and movements, served as spotters for artillery, and other tasks. Such missions were fraught with danger as the deployment of aircraft in roles which brought them close to the enemy meant the enemy developed the means to destroy them. By 1918, the advances of anti-aircraft weapons from ad-hoc solutions to dedicated anti-aircraft guns made the skies hazardous. In 1917, the Inspektion der Fliegertruppen (abbreviated to Idflieg; Inspectorate of Flying Troops) introduced the “J-class” of aircraft which were armored dual-role liaison/ground attack airplanes fitted with armor plate to reduce their vulnerability to ground fire. Typically, J-class planes were simply existing models with added armor. However, there was one such plane whose features would herald future ground attack aircraft: the Junkers J.I.

     In the photograph, a British soldier casts his gaze on the remains of a Junkers J.I (or it could be in the process of being scrapped postwar) and the wreckage amply displays the key features of the J.I. The J.I was of all-metal construction but as can be clearly seen, the J.I incorporated a fully armored “bathtub” which encompassed the 200hp Benz Bz.IV engine, pilot, and the observer. The armor, 5mm thick, also protected the fuel tanks and radio equipment. Other features which were designed to improve survivability included push-rod and bell cranks to operate the flight control surfaces instead of the usual steel cabling and a gravity feed fuel tank which enabled continued fuel flow to the engine in case the fuel pump failed. If the fuel in the gravity tank was exhausted, the J.I had a manual fuel pump the observer could use to move fuel from the main tanks into the engine. 

     For defensive armament, the observer had a rear firing, flexible mounted 7.92mm MG14 machine-gun with five ammunition drums of 200 rounds each. The J.I could also be fitted with two downward firing machine-guns when deployed as a ground attack craft though this was rarely done. 

     The first J.I aircraft were taken into service in August of 1917 with the first combat deployment occurring during Germany’s Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht; Kaiser’s Battle) which commenced in March 1918. Crews of the J.I nicknamed it the “Möbelwagen” (“Furniture Van”) due to the sluggish handling but they appreciated the protection. Source depending, either no J.I aircraft were lost to enemy fire or only a single J.I was brought down, the French claiming one from an anti-aircraft machine-gun firing armor piercing ammunition. In all, 227 J.I aircraft were built.

Sanitäter, Infanterieregiment Nr. 12

Source: Author's collection

     World War One remains the only conflict in which poison gas was utilized openly and on a significant scale. It was the French who first deployed chemical weapons, using tear gas filled 26mm grenades in August 1914. The Germans, in October 1914, would use an irritant gas against the British. It was the Germans, however, who were the first to use gas enmasse, launching some 18,000 tear gas filled artillery shells on Russian positions during the Battle of Bolimov in January 1915. The frigid temperatures actually caused the gas molecules to freeze but despite this failure, the usage of gas escalated from simply using irritants to incapacitate to poison gas designed to kill. The Germans were the first to use such gas, sending clouds of poisonous chlorine towards British positions on January 2, 1915 with both lethal and psychological effect. 

     By the close of the war, the French, British, Germans, and Austrians had used a host of chemical agents which fell into one of five categories: acute lung irritants, lachrymators (tear producers), paralysants, sternutators (sensory irritants), and vesicants (namely dichlorethyl sulphide a.k.a. mustard gas). Countermeasures to such weapons were swift. At first, they were simple gauze pads held to the mouth and nose. Often, they would be wetted down with water (effective against chlorine gas), a bicarbonate solution, or in some cases, even urine. These crude masks would give way to more effective masks using oiled leather, fabric, or rubberized material along with attached filters to purge the air of the chemical agent as well as protect the eyes from irritant agents.

     This photograph depicts a medic of the 12th. Infantry Regiment (as denoted by the "12" on his Pickelhaube helmet cover). He is wearing a mask made up of discarded cotton stuffed into gauze padding. Soldiers issued with this type of mask also were issued a bottle containing a solution made up of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in water to dampen the mask. This was done upon a chemical attack being detected so as to allow the longest effectiveness before the mask dried up. 

     Across his chest, the medic is carrying an oxygen resuscitator. These were utilized to treat soldiers who suffered only a mild chemical attack injury as it was believed that if uncontaminated air could be flushed into the victim's lungs, it would give them a better chance at a more successful recovery.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Rheinmetall Oerlikon Skynex® SHORAD System

Source: inukraine.official on Instagram

     Germany, as part of its continued military support to Ukraine, has pledged four Rheinmetall Oerlikon Skynex® air defense systems. Of the four, one was delivered in January 2024 with the second in April 2024. The third and fourth systems have yet to be received. Skynex® is what is termed a SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense) system and the Ukrainian military has deployed them as part of the air defense network that protects critical infrastructure. The first public appearance of Skynex® in Ukrainian service occurred when the Ukrainian Air Force released a video showing the system in action in September 2024 and the image here, a screen capture from a video, appeared in social media in July 2025. The Skynex® system is designed to be modular and a benefit to Ukraine, given the varied sensors made by different manufacturers deployed by the Ukrainian military, is that Skynex® is compatible with some of them.

     The Skynex® system, as offered by Rheinmetall, consists of four components. The first is the Oerlikon Skymaster® BMS (Battle Management System). Sometimes referred to as a C2 system (Command and Control), the BMS takes in data from radar/sensor systems, processes that data, and outputs a COP (Common Operational Picture) to commanders. From this information, situational awareness is provided, decisions can be quickly made, and coordination can be maintained between subordinate units. The Skymaster® BMS is specifically designed to manage both tactical and strategic air defense networks though it can be adapted for other roles based on requirements of the purchaser.

     The second piece of Skynex® is the Oerlikon X-TAR3D® tactical acquisition radar. The X-TAR3D, a phased-array pulse Doppler radar, is situated within a square metal container which is placed upon a solid surface, elevation/stabilization jacks on each corner of the container. The container houses all of the apparatus needed to operate the radar. The radar itself works in the X-band frequency range which is 8 to 12 gigahertz. This is a short wavelength but offers high target resolution along with the added benefit of needing a small antenna that makes concealment easier. The X-TAR3D is also a 3-dimensional radar, meaning it provides not only range and azimuth information but also elevation data. The X-TAR3D can track up to 16 targets simultaneously and it can identify aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs, and even unguided rockets and mortar bombs. Maximum range is 31 miles.

     The third component within the Skynex® system is the Oerlikon MSU (Multi-Sensor Unit). As the name suggests, the MSU is packed with various sensor suites and search radars. Like the radar, the MSU is within a metal container, approximately the size of a 10 foot standard shipping container. The roof of the container has two hatches which, upon being opened, the MSU is raised up and out. The suites consist of 3-dimension AESA radars (Active Electronically Scanned Array), panoramic EO (Electro-Optical) sensors (in a remote controlled turret atop the MSU), ECCM (Electronic Counter-Countermeasures), clutter mapping capability (which allows the radars to ignore stationary objects), and the ability to use either active or passive target tracking functions. The MSU is thus able to detect a host of threats in any weather conditions, day or night, in a 360 degree radius. Maximum detection range is 19 miles. The MSU fully interfaces with the Skymaster® BMS. The MSU can be upgraded with IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), additional ELINT sensors (Electronic Intelligence), and zenith radar. The latter is a specific type of radar that operates in the Ka-band (34.8 GHz) and is typically used to measure atmospheric conditions.

     The final piece of Skynex® is the Oerlikon Revolver Gun® Mk.3. Chambered for the 35x228mm round (which, as a note, is also used by the Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard that is in service with the Ukrainian military), the Revolver Gun Mk.3 can spit out 1,000 rounds per minute though the more regular rate is a long burst of 200 rounds per minute. The gun sits within a unmanned turret situated on a ground plate. The turret can rotate a full 360 degrees at a rate of 115 degrees per second and so this means the turret can revolve fully in 3.1 seconds. Gun elevation is a maximum of 85 degrees while the maximum depression is 10 degrees. Elevation speed is 57 degrees per second and so from 0 degrees, it can reach its maximum elevation in 1.5 seconds. Ready ammunition capacity is 252 rounds. The Revolver Gun can fire a wide array of 35mm ammunition to include Oerlikon's AHEAD KETF (Kinetic Energy Time Fuze) round. The “AHEAD” comes from the fact the round doesn't directly strike the target but instead, it creates a cone shaped cloud of 152 cylindrical, aerodynamic tungsten alloy submunitions (each with a weight of .12 of an ounce) ahead of the target. The fuze is set electronically as the round leaves the barrel. Other ammunition types include HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary), HEI-T (High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer), FAP (Frangible Armor Piercing), and TP-T (Target Practice Tracer). The typical range for the 35x228mm round is 3.4 miles. The weapon is also able to engage in C-RAM fire missions. Standing for Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar, this means the Revolver Cannon Mk.3 can engage incoming unguided rockets, artillery rounds, or mortar bombs.

     The Revolver Gun Mk.3, by itself, is a self-contained SHORAD. It has either a X-band or Ku-band tracking radar (19 mile range) along with a EO sensor suite consisting of a HD CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) TV camera, a cooled MWIR (Mid-Wave Infrared) IR camera, laser range finder, and a video tracking system. It can be fitted with an optional S-band or X-band ARES search radar. The Revolver Gun Mk.3 platform can detect, identify, track, and engage targets fully autonomously. Of course, the weapon is meant to be tied into the BMS as well as take advantage of the X-TAR3D and MSU components. In addition, the BMS can manage up to eight Revolver Gun Mk.3 systems.

Jagdtigers of 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512: Demolitioned Near Letmathe

Source: Author's collection.

     The remains of two Jagdtigers of 2nd. Kompanie, Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 512 (2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512) sit alongside a road near the German town of Letmathe. On April 11, 1945, 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512, commanded by Hauptmann Walter Scherf, was part of Kampfgruppe (Battle Group) Ernst and set up in hidden positions to check U.S. advances to the Ruhr River. That day, the Jagdtigers fired high explosive ammunition out to 3 miles and the group was able to cause enough havoc to force the U.S. forces to retreat. Despite the victory, 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 was ordered to withdraw and so during the night, Scherf positioned his Jagdtigers on high ground outside the village of Kalthof. The next day, the Jagdtigers shot up U.S. tanks, again halting the advance of U.S. forces. Nevertheless, 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 continued to withdraw and by April 14, was in the village of Ergste. 

     The Jagdtigers were situated in a wooded area near Letmathe where mechanics worked to effect repairs. Scherf could see that his men had no fight left and when word came that 1/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 was all but finished, that was the final straw. 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 was ordered to destroy their Jagdtigers and on April 15, 1945, 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 surrendered. 

     Thus, when the Allies passed through, they found these two Jagdtigers. The second one is difficult to make out but it is parked immediately behind the Jagdtiger in the foreground and it is believed that this Jagdtiger had towed the other after it suffered a mechanical breakdown.

Waifus with Raifus: The Rheinmetall-Borsig 30mm Maschinenkanone 108 Automatic Cannon

Artwork: Noriyasu Yamauchi

     The Rheinmetall-Borsig Maschinenkanone 108 (MK 108) 30mm automatic cannon first appeared in 1940, created by Rheinmetall-Borsig as a company endeavor. In 1942, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM; Reich Aviation Ministry) issued a requirement for a heavy cannon for aircraft which could engage Allied bombers and cripple or even destroy a bomber with minimal ammunition usage. Rheinmetall-Borsig dusted off the MK 108 and presented it to the RLM who, satisfied the cannon met the requirements, accepted the MK 108 for acquisition with the cannon entering operational service in mid-1943. The first aircraft to be equipped with it was the Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2 heavy fighter and the Bf 109G-6/U4.

     The MK 108, by itself, had a weight of 128 pounds with a barrel length of just under 2 feet (23 inches). The action utilized the principle of Advanced Primer Ignition (API) blowback. As is sometimes said of German engineering, this action required exceptional and precision construction and assembly to ensure smooth operation. API blowback works by igniting the primer within the round while the bolt is still moving forward and before the round is fully chambered. The rearward force of the detonating primer both slows the bolt's forward motion to prevent it from slamming into the breech while leaving enough momentum to send the bolt rearward to repeat the cycle. Such an action allowed the MK 108 to have a lighter bolt amd have a low recoil. 

     The MK 108 had a cyclic rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 1,640 feet per second. This was rather low in comparison to other aircraft cannons and created a dangerously short effective range of 200 to 300 meters to ensure hits. While the MK 108 had a far longer maximum range, the round suffered from rapid drop which made accuracy at range poor. Testing showed that at 1,000 meters the round drop was as much as 135 feet from the aim point. However, the MK 108 was never designed to engage fighters (though, a single hit to a fighter could cause significant damage) but the much larger target profiles of bombers.

     The caliber of the MK 108 was 30x90RB. RB stands for Rebated which means the rim of the round has a smaller diameter than the base of the round. The main benefit of a rebated round is that it can be easily converted into differing ammunition without having to change the weapon's action mechanism. While the MK 108 had several ammunition types, the most common used in combat was the 30X90RB Minengeschoß (Mine-Shell) round. A thin-walled, steel cased round, it packed 85 grams of PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetraniotrate) explosive into the nose. Allied bomber crews were able to easily hear the MK 108's distinctive sound when it fired, nicknaming the weapon the “pneumatic hammer.”

     While the MK 108 had some success when equipping propeller driven aircraft, when the MK 108 was installed in turbojet aircraft, the short effective range made scoring hits a very dangerous affair for pilots. The Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters' speed was much higher than Allied bombers and so a successful engagement against bombers from the front or rear (an attack profile to minimize the number of defensive machine-guns that can take the aircraft under fire) was very difficult. With only 360 rounds to feed four MK 108 cannons, Me 262 pilots eventually developed an attack profile in which they flew above the bomber stream and once a target was selected, the pilot would put the Me 262 into a shallow dive which used the plane's speed to avoid escort fighters. Then, the pilot would continue the dive behind and below the bomber then pull up, bleeding off speed. This put the Me 262 around 1,000 meters from the rear of the bomber with the pilot opening fire at 500 meters then pulling away to avoid a collision at 200 meters. The rocket fighter, the Messerschmitt Me 163, had an even higher speed and pilots attacking bombers had between 2-3 seconds to execute an attack before having to pull away. 

     The lack of range saw the Me 262 equipped with 55mm R4M unguided rockets on underwing racks, 12 per wing. On approach, and outside of the bomber's heavy machine-gun range, the pilot would unleash the rockets which would create a spread pattern. Just one or two hits from a R4M was enough to down a bomber.

Panzerkampfwagen I in Poland: The Cross Marks the Spot

      When Germany went to war with Poland on September 1, 1939, the armored vehicles of the Panzerwaffe wore a uniform dark gray (dunkelgrau) paint. In part, this was both an economic and a simplistic move as it cost less and was easier to apply than a more complex two- or three-color camouflage pattern. Interestingly, in bright sunlight, dunkelgrau turned a lighter shade of gray while in shadow, it was almost black. Another reason for the one-tone paint was the principle of Blitzkrieg (Lightening War). As tanks and armored cars would be on the move during the attack, there was no point to camouflage as motion nullifies the value of elaborate camouflage. When German tanks and other armor vehicles were at rest, they were often dispersed amongst natural cover (such as under trees) which had the same, if not superior, benefit of camouflage paint schemes.

     As for national markings, initially, German tanks had no such identification. But that changed when Germany prepared for the invasion of Poland. Starting in August 1939, simple white crosses were applied to tanks and armored cars. There was no standardized size for the crosses, or balkenkreuz, and so how large...or small...they were varied from vehicle to vehicle. There was, though, a standardization on where the crosses had to be applied. A cross was to be applied on the front, left side, right side, and rear of both the turret and the superstructure for a total of eight crosses on the vehicle. The use of the white crosses made what little value the dunkelgrau paint had as camouflage null and void but there was a far more serious problem the white crosses presented: they made excellent aiming points for Polish anti-tank gunners.

     This problem is graphically illustrated in this photograph of a knocked out Panzerkampfwagen I (PzKpfw I) light tank. Developed in 1932, the PzKpfw I entered service in 1934 and even by 1939, it remained in service in large numbers. Incapable of engaging other tanks due to its dual 7.92mm MG 13 machine-gun armament, it was still able to attack soft targets such as infantry and unarmored vehicles that lacked anti-tank support. If faced with anti-tank guns, the PzKpfw I crew knew the protection of their tank, between 7 to 13mm thick, was of little worth.

     The most common Polish towed anti-tank gun was the 37mm wz.36. Using a split-trail carriage and fitted with a vertical sliding-block breech, the wz.36 presented a low profile and a skilled crew was able to fire 12 rounds per minute. The gun had a 5mm thick shield to offer some protection to the gunners from small arms and shell splinters. When firing the standard armor-piercing round, the wz.36 could punch through 22mm of 45 degree sloped armor at 1,000 meters. This was more than ample to penetrate the PzKpfw I frontally. While Polish infantry platoons were equipped with the Model 35 7.92x107mm anti-tank rifle (Karabin Przeciwpancerny wzór 35), the rifle's ammunition wasn't meant to pierce armor plate but instead “pancake“ on the armor and cause spalling on the interior of the armor. Typically, the round could dislodge a 20mm sized shard of armor that, at high speed, would ricochet around the inside of the tank, causing injury/death to the crew and damaging equipment.

     Clearly, the PzKpfw I was struck by an anti-tank gun, most likely fired from a wz.36, that punched through the superstructure's frontal plate. Fortunately for the driver, the round went to the right of his position. The commander may or may not have been so lucky depending on the type of armor-piercing round utilized. The commander's seat was situated in the center of the turret and fitted to the turret ring so that the commander moved as the turret moved. This also allowed him to operate the twin MG 13 weapons which were fed from 25-round box magazines. The unit the tank belonged to isn't known but either 4. Panzer-Division or 5. Panzer-Division are likely candidates.

     Within a few days of the invasion of Poland, German tank and armored vehicle crews were already  obscuring the white crosses so as to both camouflage them as well as deny an easy aim point for enemy gunners. In some cases, yellow was used to overpaint the white but the more common means was to use mud, grease, or gray paint. Usually, the front crosses were totally covered while the crosses on the sides and rear had their interiors coated so only a white outline remained.

     Not surprisingly, following the Poland campaign, the Wehrmacht undertook a revision of the national identification for their tanks and armored vehicles so as not to make them so obvious.

Primary Sources:

Hogg, Ian V. and Weeks, John Military Small Arms of the 20th. Century (Northfield: DBI Books, 1985)

Zaloga, Steven J. Blitzkrieg: Armour Camouflage and Markings, 1939-1940 (London: Arms and Armour Press, 1991)

Major: Bundesgrenzschutz

     Established on March 16, 1951, the West German Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS; Federal Border Guard) was tasked with protecting the newly created West German borders. When first formed, it was a paramilitary force of 10,000 men responsible for protecting the borders within a 19 mile deep zone from said borders. The BGS was, more or less, light infantry and was organized as battalions made up of companies and platoons within the companies. A notable aspect of the BGS from its inception through to 1976 was the usage of World War Two surplus German equipment and field gear, uniforms patterned on their World War Two progenitors, production of field gear derived from their World War Two equivalents, and the continued (to this day) use of the stahlhelm. One reason for this was due to the BGS falling under the Bundesministerium des Innern (Federal Ministry of the Interior) rather than the Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (Federal Ministry of Defense). The German Bundeswehr (Federal Defense), which was founded on November 12, 1955, was under the Bundesministerium der Verteidigung and there was initial resistance (especially by France) of rearming West Germany. The looming Cold War changed this, resulting in the creation of the Bundeswehr, but there may have been an unstated desire to not have the new German army resemble its World War Two predecessor and because of this, the new German army looked much like U.S. soldiers in terms of uniform styling, field gear, weapons, helmets, and more. Only after a few years did some of the WW2-era uniform items and insignia creep back into the Bundeswehr. When the BGS was founded, it wasn't surprising that the majority of the non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and officers were veterans of World War 2, having served in the Wehrmacht. It should be noted that the wartime Wehrmacht included only the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and the Luftwaffe (Air Force) and did not include the Allgemeine-SS (General SS) or the Waffen-SS. The influx of veterans is evidenced by the BGS officer in the photograph here.

     The officer holds the rank of Major and this is denoted by the collar Litzenspiegel (collar patches) and the schulterstücke (shoulder boards) on his tunic. The BGS used the same rank insignia as the Ordnungspolizei from World War 2, keeping the same green truppenfarbe (troop color) as the wartime Schutzpolizei (State Protection Police). The dienstrock (literally service shirt) bears a resemblance to the wartime Model 1936 officer's dienstanzug (service uniform) except for the usage of a more traditional lapel. The material coloration is a light green though the collar, in keeping with the tradition of the Model 1936, is a blue-green color. On the left sleeve is the BGS Bundesadler (Federal Eagle). The medal on his left pocket is the Deutsches Sportabzeichen (German Sports Badge). It is the 1957 regulation version of the wartime era DRL (Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen; German Reich Association for Physical Exercises) version of the badge but with the swastika on the bottom of the medal removed. Had it been earned post-WW2, the scripted letters would have been DSB (Deutscher Sportbund; German Sports Association). In 2007, the letters changed again, this time to DOSB (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund; German Olympic Sports Federation). Above the left pocket is a ribbon bar consisting of his World War Two decorations. The first two appear to be the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse and Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 1st. and 2nd. Class). The third may be a Verwundetenabzeichen 2. Klasse (Wound Badge in Silver) but the fourth cannot be determined with any certainty though it is most likely the Ostmedaille (Eastern Medal) for having served on the Eastern Front during the war. The collared shirt was white with a blue-green tie.

     In regards to the helmet, the BGS was issued with wartime produced M35 stahlhelm that had been taken from warehoused stocks. In 1951, production commenced on a small batch of new helmets to replace unserviceable ones with the designation M35/50. These were identical to the wartime helmets in every way with only the serial numbers giving away the newly built helmets. Curiously, most of these new helmets ended up in the hands of local German police forces rather than the BGS for whom they were made for. The second, and final, BGS helmet was the M35/53 and these can be easily told apart from the other M35 styles by the lack of ventilation holes and different liner arrangements. Since this officer's helmet has the ventilation holes, it is either a wartime issue M35 or the M35/50.

     Barely visible beneath his left arm is a pistol holster attached to his leather belt (koppel) which itself was much the same as the wartime two-prong officer's belt. The pistol was likely either a wartime produced 9mm Walther P-38 or the post-war version, the P1. This was the most common pistol in the BGS until 1975 when it was replaced by the P4 which itself was a further development of the P-38.

Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf C: 1. Panzer-Division in France

     On October 14, 1935, the 1. Panzer-Division (1.Pz.Div.) came into being, the first of three debut tank divisions raised by the Germans in that year. The formation of the 1.Pz.Div. came from the Reichswehr era 3. Kavallerie-Division that had existed since June 1, 1920. The unit was first commanded by General der Kavallerie Maximilian von Weichs (who was the last commander of 3. Kavallerie-Division) until September 30, 1937 when Generalleutnant Rudolf Schmidt assumed command. Schmidt led the division through the Anschluß Österreichs (Annexation of Austria) and later the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938 before, in 1939, commanding the unit in the taking of Czechoslovakia and the invasion of Poland (operation “Fall Weiss”; “Case White”). However, when operation Fall Gelb (“Case Yellow”), the planned invasion of France and the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands), was fully underway, the 1.Pz.Div. had a new commander, Generalleutnant Friedrich Kirchner, who assumed his position beginning on November 2, 1939.

     When “Fall Gelb” commenced on May 10, 1940, 1.Pz.Div. was under XIX Korps which was commanded by General of Cavalry Heinz Guderian. XIX Korps itself was under Panzer Gruppe Kleist which in turn was underneath Heeresgruppe A (Army Group A) that was led by Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt. 1.Pz.Div. was mainly equipped with the Panzerkampfwagen I and II (PzKpfw I and II) which were light tanks with equally light armament and armor. However, by 1937, the unit began to receive the more powerful PzKpfw III medium tank as well as the PzKpfw IV medium tank. The former, with its 3.7cm and later 5cm gun, was designed to tackle enemy tanks while the latter, with a stubby 7.5cm gun, was tasked as a infantry support tank. These medium tanks, however, never completely replaced the PzKpfw II within the two tank regiments in the unit (Panzer-Abteilung I and Panzer-Abteilung II). 1.Pz.Div. took part in the Battle of Sedan (from May 12 to May 15, 1940), the Battle of Dunkirk (which raged from May 26, 1940 to June 4, 1940), before taking part in operation “Fall Rot” (“Case Red”) which was the second phase of the conquest of France. This phase would see the end of France, the country's leadership signing the armistice with Germany on June 22, 1940.

     Overall, the 1.Pz.Div. suffered only light casualties. All told, the unit lost 500 men killed in action from the start of “Fall Gelb” to the German victory at the close of operations of “Fall Rot.” This photograph, however, illustrates quite well the grim side of that victory. The tank is a PzKpfw IV Ausf C and its entire front has been completely demolished. The front glacis plate, which was 30mm thick, is completely missing and has exposed the ZF 6-speed SSG 76 gearbox and where the steering gear had been on the front of the gearbox. To the left and right of the gearbox are the round disc brakes which were connected to the drive sprockets for each track which, in this case, at least the left drive sprocket is completely gone. The driver would have been sitting to the left of the gearbox and on the right would have been the radio operator. Given the level of destruction, it is highly doubtful either man survived whatever hit the tank. The tank caught fire and this is evidenced by the scorching on the hull side and the lack of rubber on the road wheels. That the tank is an Ausf C model is evidenced by the armored sleeve for the co-axial MG 34 machine-gun (just visible to the right of the 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 gun) and the lack of a hull mounted machine-gun. The tank can be identified as belonging to the 1.Pz.Div. by the stylized oak symbol which can be seen in white on the turret front, underneath the gunner's vision flap (to the left of the gun). The tank had been stripped of useful parts as another, earlier, photograph of the same tank showed far more parts on the tank. Identifiable parts removed include the steering gear, the brake cover for the left brake assembly, return rollers, and the tracks. In fact, one of the tank's road wheels can be seen propping up the gearbox.

The PzF 44 Lanze: Germany's Post-War Panzerfaust

(Bundeswehr Photograph; Author's Collection)

     When the German Bundeswehr (Federal Defense) was founded on November 12, 1955, much of the equipment it received was supplied by the United States. In part, this was due to the fact that the German arms industry was not fully recovered from World War Two but also that there was some surplus of German wartime weapons (mainly the Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifle) as well as ready availability of U.S. arms, field equipment, and uniform items. In the latter, it was purposely designed that the new Bundeswehr uniforms bore almost no resemblance to the Wehrmacht uniforms of the war and so they had a very U.S. Army influence such as uniform cut, the wearing of U.S. steel helmets, and usage of U.S. Army style boots.

     By the end of the 1950s, the main anti-tank weapon for Bundeswehr infantry panzerjäger (tank hunter) was the U.S. Army M20A1 and M20B1 “Super Bazooka” which fired a 88.9mm HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) rocket out to a maximum range of 1,000 yards. At an effective range of 200-300 yards, the HEAT round could penetrate up to 280mm of armor. The U.S. Army also unloaded many obsolete M9 and M9A1 60mm “Bazooka” weapons on the Bundeswehr, most of which had been built during the war. The HEAT round on the M9 could penetrate 102mm of armor at 120 yards. The M9, however, was typically kept for training rather than utilized as a front-line anti-tank weapon. Despite the decent performance of the M20, the Bundeswehr wanted a German designed and built anti-tank weapon developed that could replace the M20 but more importantly, surpass it in terms of capability.

     In 1960, Dynamit Nobel AG commenced work on just such a weapon and the result was the reloadable Panzerfaust 44mm DM2 Ausführung 1 (Tank Fist 44mm DM2 Version 1). The PzF 44, nicknamed the “Lanze” (“Lance” or “Spear”), utilized a smooth launch tube which was 44mm in diameter. Fitted to the tube was the fire control handle, pistol grip, firing mechanism, and an optical sight. During travel, the optical sight was removable and to protect it, the PzF 44 operator carried it in a case. In an emergency, the PzF 44 had a simple mechanical sight graduated out to 180 meters. The PzF 44, perhaps not to any surprise, encompassed some aspects of the German wartime Panzerfaust. Like the Panzerfaust, the PzF 44 operated on a recoilless principle. The projectile was propelled out of the launch tube by a charge which, at the same time, blew a counterweight of finely grained iron powder out the back of the tube, thereby canceling out the recoil. However, unlike the wartime Panzerfaust which lobbed an unpowered warhead, the PzF 44 launched a rocket. After firing, folding fins deployed (as they did with the Panzerfaust) and several meters away from the firer, the rocket motor ignited, propelling the rocket towards the target at a speed of 210 meters per second. The original rocket, the DM-22, had a oversize 67mm warhead shape that was very similar to the Panzerfaust 150m which had managed to enter troop trails in the final weeks of World War Two. At an effective range of 300 meters, the DM-22 could penetrate 280mm of armor. This, however, was on par with the M20 and so the 90mm DM-32 was introduced that could punch through 375mm of armor but at the cost of a reduced effective range of 200 meters. The actual launch of the rocket was done by an ignition cartridge. A magazine held several cartridges with the magazine fed into the pistol grip and a bolt-action mechanism loaded a new cartridge and expelled the spent cartridge case after each firing. Following trials, the PzF 44 was accepted for service in 1963 and was later supplemented by the Leuchtbüchse 84mm, the German designation for the Swedish 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle. Each infantry platoon was equipped with one PzF 44. By 1992, the PzF 44 was replaced by the disposable Panzerfaust 3 (Pzf 3) anti-tank weapon, the latter of which was also developed by Dynamit Nobel AG.

     The photograph shows a gathering of soldiers and civilians in which a Heer (Army) officer is holding a PzF 44. His rank appears to be that of Oberst (Colonel) as is the rank of the officer across from him. Both of the men, as are a few of the soldiers behind them, are wearing the Bundeswehr-Splittermuster (Splinter Pattern) camouflage feldbluse. This pattern was derived from the World War Two German Heer camouflage but was not an exact copy. Curiously, the camouflage was deliberately printed with slipped printing screens which caused the white border on some of the edges of the camouflage pattern. This Kampfanzug (battle suit) encompassed both the tunic as well as trousers and was issued beginning in 1956 before being phased out in the mid-1960s. Some of the feldbluse did not have epaulets and so the rank which would have been fitted to them was sewn directly onto the shoulders. Interestingly, the Oberst on the left has his rank both on the epaulets as well as the shoulder while the Oberst on the right does not. The soldier directly behind the Oberst does not appear to have epaulets at all. A noticeable uniform feature which the Bundeswehr managed to retain from the outset was the World War Two style M43 Einheitsmütze (field cap) that the PzF 44 holding officer is wearing as are a number of the soldiers behind him.

     The PzF 44 seen here may be a prototype and it is not fitted with a rocket. There is a simple folding bipod seen to good effect but this did not appear to have been kept as production models used a pistol foregrip. There is a basic cheek-pad for the firer but again, on production PzF 44 weapons, it does not appear as it does here. The magazine for the ignition cartridges can be seen at the bottom of the pistol grip while the cocking handle for the bolt can be seen between the officer's fingers. The PzF 44 was also fitted with an adjustable wire shoulder stock, shown here fully collapsed. This, too, changed to an adjustable stock with a single shoulder piece, not the wire type seen here, on the production PzF 44.

 

1971-1972: The Brief Existence of the "German Hair Force"

(Bundeswehr Photograph; Author's Collection)

     On February 8, 1971, German Defense Minister Helmut Schmidt issued a regulation that Bundeswehr male soldiers could have long hair as long as it was well kept and did not interfere with their duties. If their hair did, then a hairnet (similar to those used by food workers) had to be worn. This new regulation was the result of the fallout due to one Albrecht Schmeissner. After being inducted into service by his recruiters in 1967, it was assumed Schmeissner would buzz cut his flowing mane of hair. Except he didn't. Instead, Schmeissner pointed to the existing grooming regulations and stated there was no mention of a maximum length and so he did not have to cut it. Schmeissner stuck to his guns for 45 days during which time he was the frequent target of harassment and scorn. But, he finally caved and got his hair cut after being threatened with insubordination. Still, this act of defiance reached the ears of Bundeswehr leadership who, in light of long hair for men being “in fashion” at the time, pushed for the change in regulation. And so began the period of the “German Hair Force”.

     Veterans within the Bundeswehr, of which there were many who had served in World War Two, were appalled and outraged by the new regulations. To add further insult to the injury, the military forces of the Bundeswehr's NATO allies also railed against the decision to allow long hair and it was those very same allied forces that coined the derogatory term of the “German Hair Force.” This, however, was only the beginning of the problems. Soldiers felt that the hairnets could damage their hair if worn for extended periods and so the Bundeswehr was more or less forced to create a medical task force to investigate the claim. Needless to say, there was nothing to the claim of hairnets damaging hair. However, the task force found that long hair had a host of problems. These included a nice home for lice, skin problems, and parasitic infestations (such as, say, ringworm). It was also pointed out that long hair would be extremely difficult or problematic to care for in the field and thus posed a hygiene risk. Another issue was the allowance of long beards which also posed their own hygienic problems. The military pfennig pinchers weighed in, saying long hair required more water and long hair posed a problem for drains and pipes while all those electric hair dryers would drive up facility energy costs. All of these concerns finally came to a head when, in July 1972, the regulations were changed and now a male soldier's hair could not touch the uniform collar and beards had to be well groomed and short. This regulation remains in place to this day. With this change, the regulation revision ended the brief era of the “German Hair Force.”

     The hair regulation, however, did not (and still doesn't) apply to women in the Bundeswehr. Women were allowed to keep their hair long if they wished and when in uniform, she had to use a hair tie or put her hair into a single braid. In part, this regulation was put in place as a means for the encouragement of women in the Bundeswehr.