Working on a project and wanted to ask a question of the fine minds here

Did german panzer crews decorate/mark their panzers with any sort of art, drawings, names or slogans? Have seen american and soviet examples but no german. If so, where can I find examples?

Thanks
Sel

I know that some of the tank crews in the 12th SS named thier tanks, mostly after thier girlfriends. I am looking for pictures...

The tiger Company of the Das Reich had a small chinese gnome on the front glacis plate of their tanks.The Panther Battalion of the LAH had a Panther and lightening bolt motif on the turret side.

Hope this helps you out?

Later
Hawkeye

I have seen plenty of examples of customized German tanks although it is hard to see. there is usually a name, such as the drivers, painted near the drivers hatch. I have also seen quite a few horseshoe markings (for luck).

Andrew

While people dispute the accuracy of the commentary inth Squadron Panzer Colors seried, there are several examples in these of "named" tanks. Also Tanks of World War Two by Jean Restayn (Histoires & Collections shows several more, with one as early as a Sig33 on a Panzer I chassis. Mostly thiese are women's names, presumably girlfriends. I have never seen any pi-up art on German armor. Your best best would be to pick up a book on the specific vehicle you're building and seeing if there are any examples there.

The quick answer is yes. Yes, you can find examples of this in Panzer Colors I, II, and III.

Occassionally, the sides of turret, pzjager or barrels had "names" painted on them.

And lot of self-propellered gun also has names. i.e. Hummels....

And a lot of Nashorns have names too.

There's a well known piece of "Panzer Art" to be found in the old Tamiya Marder II (the one based on the Panzer II). It features a cartoon face of "Kohlenklau" (coal thief) and some photos of this vehicle appeared in an old copy of Panzerjagers in action, by Squadron/Signal.

I know that German tanks and self propolled guns use divisional signs and names painted in the vehicles. You can find some examples in Das Reich´s Tigers in the Kursk battle and the Bison simbol in the Panzers of Panzer 7th Regiment. This signs were of little size.
A very good refernce material is " Panzer Colours" from Squadron Signal Publications (three volumes).

The units had their own emblems - here's a link to unit histories for Tiger tanks which shows their emblems

http://www.panzer-vi.fsnet.co.uk/units.html

These emblems were sometimes painted on the vehicles.

I was just reading a diary of a Tiger commander, who took considerable flak from his fellow commanders because all he ever seemed to hit was trucks, while others got more tank kills. He put his tank kill rings on the barrel, and at the base of the barrel painted a picture of a truck with the number 100 next to it. I believe the name of someone's mother was also painted on the tank. So they would paint little things on their tanks

Thanks for the info guys, gives me something to think about.

The panther I'm building will be headed for the eastern front I think. Any info you can share about SS panzer division totenkoph? Major engagements, sorces for info, etc? Any Info or ideas are most welcome

There is a pretty good overview of 3rd SS PzDiv at www.feldgrau.com.

I seem to recall seeing a photo of shark's teeth (or whatever creature) painted around the mantlet of a StuG in the Panzer Colors books.

There is a picture of a Panzer II Ausf. C in the Squadron "Light Panzers" book that has the name of a one-time crew member that had been killed painted on the tank in his memory.

Rob, I think you are talking about the StuG with the Warthog's tusks...this is a nice one.

And some snake teeth and eyes on the 88 muzzle brake of a Tiger I