Unit ID

[Pz III]

I am interested in identifying the unit using the knight with sword in a crest insignia. I have had the photo below showing the insignia on the Pz IV turret for many years and have never been able to ID the unit. I recently came across another photo showing the same insignia on the turret side of the Pz III. The photo is attributed to the aftermath of the battle of Velikye Luki but I am unable to verify that.

Any help would appreciated as this has bugged me for nearly 40 years.

[Alanmccoubrey]

It is one of the Panzergrenadier Divisions' Panzer Abteilung I think but I can't remember which, the wintery scenes might suggest 29th's around Stalingrad.

That said this Russian blog identifies it as 13th Panzer Division.
http://myvl.ru/blog/local_history/11451.html

[Pz III]

Thanks Alan - I have long suspected that it might be from a panzergrenadier division. Just have never been able pin it down

[mark67]

See excellent Akira Takiguchi page: http://www.history.jp/wehrmacht/028.htm
The knight emblem belonged to Panzer-Regiment 18

[Pz III]

Thanks Mark. That has resolved a 40 year old puzzle for me. Akira's site is great.

[Reichskriegsgericht]

The 2nd picture (Wagen 242) is from the Bundesarchiv 101I-273-0446-26, taken by Kriegsberichter Lassberg in October or November 1942. Maybe this helps you with further research.

[Akira Takiguchi]

Thank for the compliments, but there is an update to this. I./Panzer-Regiment 18 became Panzer-Abteilung 160 (and II Abt. became P.A.103), and they continued to use the same sign.

Usually, Panzer-Abteilung 160 tanks were painted with vertical double cross ( 60.Panzergrenadier-Division symbol ) too.

[Pz III]

Thanks Akira,
I recently came across several photos of a Panzer Abteilung 160 Pz III that formerly belonged to Pz Rgt 18 displaying both the vertical double crosses and skull over the waves insignia. Do you know of any photos that show the vertical double crosses and the knight with sword in the shield at the same time.

photos are for discussion purposes only

[Akira Takiguchi]

I have only seen scull insiginia for Panzer-Abteilung 160 (by the way, it even had one short barreled StuG in its organization! Quite rare for a 1942 unit), so far.

[Akira Takiguchi]

My current understanding is that (as in my article) the first two photos (100 and 242) are both from Panzer-Abteilung 18 (formerly III./Panzer-Regiment 18). Deglerk (whose album is in my collection) appears to have been a member of 7.Kompanie. (then-III.Abt.) at one time, which became 9.Kompanie in 1941.

Recently a good set of photos from Velikye Luki appeared on ebay, but unfortunately I could not get them.