 Near the end of the war, German engineers  designed a 80-mm multiple rocket launcher on the basis of captured French  half-track armored vehicles S303 (f) and S307 (f) :the 48 missiles Raketensprenggranate (8cm RSprgr.) 
 The missiles were almost an exact copy of the Soviet missiles M-8, known as the "Katyusha". Only 6 launchers were built to fire these missiles.  Initially, the launchers were tested as part of the Waffen SS, and then were moved to Schnelle Brigade West (21.PzDiv.). 



German 80-mm multiple rocket launcher 

General der Panzertruppe Wilhelm, Ritter von Thoma, following his surrender to General Bernard Montgomery.  Von Thoma was captured following his command of the defence of a hill feature in which his force was reduced to a collection of smouldering scrap.  It has been speculated that he may have exposed himself to this situation in an effort to commit "battlefield suicide" - though there is really no evidence on this point one way or the other.

Glum though they look, it appears that Monty and von Thoma went on to enjoy dinner together.  Von Thoma recorded afterwards how shocked he was at Monty's level of knowledge of the German situation and dispositions (derived, no doubt, from Ultra intercepts).

Winston Churchill - who apparently developed a great respect for Von Thoma during his period of captivity - is said to have commented, "I sympathise with General von Thoma.  Defeated, in captivity, and dinnery with Montgomery !"  Best regards, JR.

Von Thoma surrenders.

 Wehrmacht soldierts on a  captured Belgian motorcycle Gillet Herstal AB-720.
 
On the sidecar - tactical designation of the 2nd battalion of Wehrmacht. 
