German Armored Forces & Vehicles

Half-track armored fighting vehicle

Bundesarchive**

Passing in front of a field artillery battery during the battles around Kharkov in early 1943, this “Stummel” (Stump) of Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler Division, makes an excellent study of the futility of temporary snow camouflage, wearing off almost completely where the engine or gun heat would melt snow or where the dismounting of the crew would rub it off. The Stummel [officialy an Sd.Kfz. 251/9 mounting the 7.5cm L/24 Kwk], a brand new vehicle at this time, was extremely popular because it brought massive fire-power to individual panzergrenadier companies. In the background are a pair of 10.5 cm l FH/18 Field Howitzers and a single Sd.Kfz. 11 support vehicle.