Hello everyone.

Are my eyes deceiving me or did Frundsberg Division have Panzer IV Hs in Normandy/Arnhem without any numbers or markings outside of a Balkenkreuz. Have seen maybe one or two photos yet cannot quite confirm.

Thanks.

Alex

Alex ,, it was pretty normal for German vehicles not to have any markings at all towards the last part of the war ..the reason ? .
If the vehicle was taken out in combat the Allies wouldnt have any idea who/where this unit is from ..simple idea and worked a treat and i have seen dozens of pics of knocked out vehicles without a single marking on them .

Phill

Hi Phill.

I never knew the reason behind this. Thank you for the information. I always thought it was time constraints and the Germans desire to get equipment to the lines as quick as possible. I have seen photos of DAK Panzer IVs without markings as well. I guess this was not as uncommon as one would think.

Happy New Year 8-). Alex

If it was a replacement vehicle sometimes they just didn't have time to paint on unit markings.

Hohenstaufen and Frundesberg were very remiss in their markings of armoured vehicles. Most of my photos taken from the unit histories show a marked dearth of markings (!?) apart from soft skins which are almost always fully marked. By contrast, the command tank of Obersturmbannfuhrer Otto Meyer, the CO of 9th SS Panzerregiment, a Pz IVH, was clearly marked "K09" at Tarnopol, which you would think might be a bit of a give-away to the enemy!

This thread on ML might help
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/message/1416584107/

I have seen several photos of Hohenstaufen Panzer IV and Panthers and noticed they were devoid of markings and some even lacked a Balkan Cross. I guess it falls in line that the twin division Frundsberg would follow suit. Although, there is a photo of a knocked out Panther G in Czechoslovakia with Frundsberg markings. Go figure. Happy New Year. Alex