German Armored Forces & Vehicles

Panzer crew

ECPArmées, Paris

The crew of the PzKpfw IV seen on the background, seem to be listening attentively to someone off camera. The man on the right, with only his head showing, is not part of the crew, he's sitting on the passenger's seat of a Schwimmwagen that had just arrived at the spot. This is one of several close-ups of this particular panzer crew, taken by KB Karl Müller on the Boulevard des Belges, Rouen, during the German retreat of August, 1944. Rouen was one of the few places were heavy vehicles could be ferried across the Seine and his quais were packed with war material and men when on the 25th August, after 4 days of rain, the clear skies brought Allied bombers who plastered the area for 45 minutes with some bombs falling on the other side of the river along the Boulevard were this photo was taken. Although an exact date is not given, this photo was probably taken on the 25th August, the day Muller crossed the river, and before 7 p.m., time of the Allied bombing.