Broken sword

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GeorGGe
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Broken sword

#1

Post by GeorGGe » 08 Jan 2007, 00:50

I need in the help. What military unit had a mark «broken sword». Photos are applied. All from E-bay.

Best Regards
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cb021
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8th Panzer Regiment

#2

Post by cb021 » 08 Jan 2007, 18:48

Georgge,

I have seen this insignia assigned to 8th Panzer Regiment.

HTH,

Chris Brown
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GeorGGe
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#3

Post by GeorGGe » 11 Jan 2007, 12:37

Thank for the information Chris.

Whether someone else has photos with such is insignia or references?

Best Regards
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Ransome
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#4

Post by Ransome » 11 Jan 2007, 23:12

Hello George

Broken swords, associated with some code numbers or letters, were (badly) painted on german or enemy damaged vehicles by recover units.
It wasn't a unit marking. Looking at the pictures, both of panzers seem to be out of order.
You can see the same marking on a destroyed French B1 Bis tank in this picture from my collection.

Best regards.

Marco
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Armor Man
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#5

Post by Armor Man » 13 Jan 2007, 08:38

I think that Marco's observation is a very good one. I have a number of books showing different divisional and Abteilung symbols, and none of them show the broken sword. The photos are of tanks that would have been in service in 1940, so there were not many divisions at that time to try and match up with the symbol.

Good observation Marco.

Best wishes - John Reynolds
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Armor Man
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#6

Post by Armor Man » 13 Jan 2007, 08:38

I think that Marco's observation is a very good one. I have a number of books showing different divisional and Abteilung symbols, and none of them show the broken sword. The photos are of tanks that would have been in service in 1940, so there were not many divisions at that time to try and match up with the symbol.

Good observation Marco.

Best wishes - John Reynolds
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Ransome
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#7

Post by Ransome » 14 Jan 2007, 15:31

Thank you John.

It seems that this symbol was more used in early period of war, mostly during the French campaign in 1940.
I add two more pictures with "broken sword" marking. One shows the side of the same B1 Bis tank I posted above. The other picture shows a different B1Bis, and comes from http://www.chars-francais.net .

Best regards.

Marco
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Christoph Awender
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#8

Post by Christoph Awender » 14 Jan 2007, 18:23

Very interesting observation.

\Christoph
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udondave
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Re: Broken sword

#9

Post by udondave » 02 Mar 2019, 07:21

Hi all.

I read on a French language website a hypothesis that such symbols are indicative of the condition of the tank for salvagers.

A broken sword = unrecoverable tank
A parallelogram with a cane = Tank to tow or recover

However the Pz.Kpfw.III and B1 bis would seem to be recoverable.

Cheers, Dave
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