During World War II, captured soldiers became POW s (Prisoners of War) and were detained in camps. But what happened to captured equipment, such as guns, tanks, artillery, airplanes, clothing, food and so forth?
Captured equipment could be very useful, and all through history military forces have been making use of things taken from the enemy. Sometimes the enemy’s weapons were of a better quality. They might be easy to capture and so were plentiful. There were drawbacks too, however. It might be difficult to find spare parts for captured weapons and vehicles. Also, soldiers using captured weapons might be mistaken for the enemy, and shot at! They often painted them with large markings so they could be easily recognised.
The Germans used a lot of captured equipment. The LT vz.8 Skoda was originally a Czech tank, but the Germans started using it after they invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938. They were used by the German 7th and 8th Armoured Divisions. When Germany invaded France in 1940, the German Army made use of three French – made tanks: the Char B1bis, Somua S-35 and Renault R-35. The Netherlands armed forces gave them the DAF M38 armoured car, which was deployed n the Eastern Front. From the Russians, the Germans took the T-34 tank. From the fighting with the English and Americans in North Africa they often captured vehicles and weapons on account of their own shortage of supplies. In Europe too, the Germans used captured American equipment. The 150th Armoured Brigade, commanded by Otto Skorzeny, used many at the Battle of the Bulge.
Germans captured American Sherman tanks in the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. They went into combat with crosses painted on them. They admired the Sherman. Indeed, in the Bulge the German panzers (tank) were sometimes lead by Shermans.
Normandy 1944
1944, mid June. Captured Firefly from 4th County of London Yeomanry after Villers-Bocage battle
(Two pictures above from book Regenberger, Dr. Werner: Scheiben. Horst. Beutepanzer unterm Balkenkreuz.)
(From “Trucks and Tanks” Nr 10 magazine)
1944, mid July, between Giberville and Cuverville, south-east of Caen. Firefly from 148th RAC / 33rd Armored Brigade captured by sPzAbt 503
(source Ysec editions 45 tiger en Normandie)
(Picture from Bundesarchive)
(Picture from Bundesarchive)
(Picture from book “Deutsche panzer 1917-1945” Uwe Feist. Action Publication)
(Source unknown)
(Source unknown)
Normandy 1944
1944, mid-July, between Giberville and Cuverville, south-east of Caen. Firefly from 148th RAC / 33rd Armored Brigade captured by sPzAbt 503. (source Ysec editions 45 tiger en Normandie)
German soldiers inspecting the tracks on a captured Sherman
Investigating the persicope
Holland 1945
1945, 11 May, Amersfoort. Tanks had been abandoned by germans due to the lack of gasoline.
The “Ist-Kriegsgliederung” of May 8, 1945, shows that 3.Panzer-Kompanie of PzJagAbt 346 had the following composition: 5 PzKpfw III and 3 Sherman tanks. 1 x 7.62cm Sherman and 2 x 7.5cm Sherman.
(Source Panzerwrecks blog and Pictures from “PANZERWRECKS 5. German armour 1944-45”)
Unknown location but Netherlands too. (Pictures from Library and Archives Canada)
Holland 1945
1945, July, Utrecht. Probably this Firefly is always the same and belonged to 3.Panzer-Kompanie of PzJagAbt 346.
(Source Panzerwrecks blog and Pictures from”PANZERWRECKS 1. German armour 1944-45″)
Strange Firefly – may be from a film?
1943, November. M4 captured by 3.Pz-Grenadier-Division
1944, March, Nettuno.
1945, 17 January, Herrlisheim. Erwin Bachmann (I. / SS. Panzer-Regiment 10 ) captured 12 M4A3 75 W of 43rd Tank Battalion.
1944, March, Nettuno.
(Source unknown)
“Nicht Ausschlachten, Für Okh-Wa.Pru, Erbeutet durch I/Pz.Rgt.5. translated”.”Don’t cannibalize, for Okh-Wa.Pru, captured by I/Pz.Rgt.5.” Another M4A1 was captured in North Africa by the 1st Company of the 501st Tank Battalion, nicknamed ” War Daddy II”.
1945, May, Berlin. M4 “Sherman” probably from Kampfgruppe “Berlin”. Probably on the right turret side put german cross. This group include two M4 “Sherman” tank (possibly from Kummersdorf proving ground).
“Nicht Ausschlachten, Für Okh-Wa.Pru, Erbeutet durch I/Pz.Rgt.5. translated”.”Don’t cannibalize, for Okh-Wa.Pru, captured by I/Pz.Rgt.5.” Another M4A1 was captured in North Africa by the 1st Company of the 501st Tank Battalion, nicknamed ” War Daddy II”.
Italy, M4 “Sherman” captured by germans in American dump. Note balkenkreuz on the rear of the turret and hull and turret.
Italy, same dump same captured M4 “Sherman”. Note absence of balkenkreuz on the side of the turret or on front. American white star has been covered.