Engines of the Wehrmacht in WW2

Paris, Champs-Elysees, July 9,1941 : Somua S35 of 6./II.,Pz.Reg.201 on Parade
(6.Kompanie,2.Abteilung[Bataillon],Panzerregiment 201)

Somua S35 Medium Tank

To get an appropriate impression of the scene,
listen to "Prussia's Gloria" being performed during the parade

Be sure to wear earphones though :-)

Somuas of the 6./II. lined up at Vincennes

5-men crew + x posing with their Somua

On a warm Wednesday in early July 1941, the Champs-Élysées in central Paris filled with the noise of tank tracks pounding the pavement.

Place de la Concorde

Arc de Triomphe

Curious locals and German soldiers flocked to the magnificent avenue to witness the colorful parade of the German occupants.

Onto the Champs-Elysees

Note cut-down copula with new split hatch and tactical sign on rear turret

With horror and dismay, the Parisians recognized the pride of their former armored divisions, now in Panzergrau and bearing Wehrmacht insignia.

Note Antenna of Fu 5 Funkgerät (Radio) and baggage bins

Hotchkiss 38H Light Tanks of 7./II. Pz.Reg.201

Fu 5 Funkgerät (Radio) and baggage bins

These were Somua S35 and Hotchkiss 38H vehicles from various companies of Panzer Regiment 201 and 202, which had been modernized to meet German needs and were stationed at Vincennes in the Paris area.
They, along with others, will form the 100.Pz.Brig., spread to the northern batllefields.

Former rear turret hatch permanently closed by the Germans

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Also present on the Paris Parade...

Pz.Kpfw. Hotchkiss 38 H (f) of 3./I.,PzReg.201

Plz pardon the poor image quality

ZgKfwg.Bedford MWD(e) w/3.7cm Pak 36 [not shown]

Plz pardon the poor image quality

Laffly V15T

Laffly V15R

Laffly V15T w/3.7cm Pak 36

Peugeot 402 B

Opel Super 6 Cabrio

Mercedes-Benz 230 Limousine

Renault AGC-3 1.5-ton 4x2 Light Truck

Lined-up Franco-Allemand softskins...

Further Information

Well-known Tank Archives with "Second Hand" Somua S35 article
Excellent compilation of the History of Somua S35
Contemporary French(!) newsreel of the July 9,1941 Paris Parade
WorldFilmHeritage newsreel segments with Armour (Somua,Hotchkiss) and Cars(Laffly,Citroen,Renault) only

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Somuas on Rails

Somua S-35 on Panzerträgerwagen [Abstoßwagen with Ramp omitted]

While planning operation Barbarossa, the war against the Soviet Union, the Germans noticed the lack of broad-gauge armoured trains in their arsenal.
As a quick stopgap, they decided to establish 6 so-called Panzerzüge (PZ), numbered PZ 26-31, as a first step.

Tail of the PZ : Abstoßwagen, Panzerträgerwagen, Mannschaftswagen, BR.57 steam loco

Same arrangement on the head of the train (Note the unprotected front crew on definitely least popular positions :-)

Looking in travel direction

Looking in opposite direction

In contrast to their Soviet opponents they substituted artillery cars with tank cars, the so-called Panzerträgerwagen (tank carriers).
They consisted of a standard 20-ton Ommr car fitted with armour side skirts and a mobile ramp for dropping the tank if necessary.

Somua S-35 on Panzerträgerwagen [Abstoßwagen with Ramp omitted]

Lateral armour plate missing

Lateral armour plate in place

While travelling the ramp rested on another car, the so-called Abstoßwagen (push-off wagon) which was, you guessed it, pushed off before lowering the ramp.
Opposite the Panzerträgerwagen was the so-called Mannschaftswagen consisting of another Ommr with low armoured sides incl.loopholes, but no upper protection.
The ensemble of 3 cars was mirrored to the other side with cab-only armoured BR.57 Steam loco in the middle.
So, the line-up : Abstoßwagen - Panzerträgerwagen - Mannschaftswagen - BR.57 - Mannschaftswagen - Panzerträgerwagen - Abstoßwagen.

Somua S-35 on Panzerträgerwagen with Ramp lowered

Ramp lying on top of the Abstoßwagen

Security scaffolding in place

Finally, every second of the 6 Panzerzüge received 3 tanks instead of two.

The first PZ were in action during the battle of the Brest fortress where they acted rather unsuccessfully due to their lacking (47mm) firepower.
Later in 1941 and in 1942, they were mainly used for security duties fighting the ever increasing Soviet partisans on the endless rail network, where they performed much better unless being derailed by mines.

Somua S-35 on Panzerträgerwagen with Ramp lowered

Unloading over the lowered ramp

Re-uploading almost finished

Mannschaftswagen with crew in place, followed by the BR.57 steam loco

Looking ahead in travel direction, with an already injured crew member in a somewhat dangerous position

Further Information

Wolfgang Sawodny, German Armored Trains on the Russian Front 1941-1944, Schiffer Publ.,2003
Wolfgang Sawodny, Deutsche Panzerzüge im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Podzun-Pallas Publ.,1986 [in German]