Flammpanzers in France

[Jarnob]

Hello all,

i have a photo of a Flammpanzer which seems to be in France.
The person from which i bought it also stated it was taken in France.
On this photo background stores are visible with french names: "charcuterie" (butcher), "ceinture", "lorvil"
The entire scene is french too (kind of streets/buildings/cars).
The backside writing is "..... juni 1940".

As far as i know Flammpanzer II's only saw action during Barbarossa in PzAbt100+101.
Although i also found first to be produced in January 1940....

Does anyone has more information/ideas about the possibility of Flammpanzer II's during Fall Rot?!?

regards,

Jarno Boer

[C.GILLONO]

During training after Fall Rot?

[Jarnob]

Flammpanzer II’s were produced/converted between 01-1940 and 06-1941.
March / Mai 1940 both Panzerabteilung(F) 100 & 101 were created. These were initially training units.
Everywhere I look these units were first combat operational during Barbarossa which started june 1941.
Fall Rot was between 5 – 24 june 1940.

The backside writing of the photo says ‘Frankreich Juni 1940’. It would be weird if these first units were transported to a major offensive just for exercises.
Therefore it seems more logical to me that these Flammpanzer II’s were operational during Fall Rot – either way as some sort of operational test.
I can not find any anywhere information which confirms this though…

[Alanmccoubrey]

According to Lexikon der Wehrmacht 101 was part of XXXIX Armeekorps which was in Southwest France before going to Russia. Perhaps the Flammpanzer were with the Corps for a while before the move east. It would seem a waste of effort though to move all the kit to France in the short time between the formation of the unit and the start of Barbarossa.

[Leo Niehorster]

According to Baschin [1], production started in January 1940, the first 4 delivered to the Army in March 1940, and the last two in October 1940. Giving an inventory of 87 Pz.Kpfw. II(F) in November 1940.
[The first 20 vehicles produced were sent back to the factory for modification, resulting in a delivery delay.]

The Pz.Abt. (F) 100 was raised at Munster on 05.03.1940, transferred to Wünsdorf, and then to Zossen on 07.07.1940. It received 43 vehicles between May 1940 and 10.07.1940.
The 3rd Company of the Pz.Abt. (F) 100 participated in the exercises for Seelöwe in France during July 1940.

The Pz.Abt. (F) 101The Pz.Abt. (F) 100 was raised at Munster on 04.05.1940. It received 42 vehicles between 11.07.1940 and 16.09.1940.

He also has a report by Wa.Stab Ia/Nr. 1016/40 gK dated 31.05.1940:
  Inventory: 16 Pz.Kpf.Wg. (F) in Pz.Abt.100

Source:
  [1] Joachim Baschin, "Panzerkampfwagen II, Ausf. D/E and Variants", Nuts & Bolts No. 24, Neumünster, 2009.

Cheers
--
Leo

[Jarnob]

According to Baschin [1], production started in January 1940, the first 4 delivered to the Army in March 1940, and the last two in October 1940. Giving an inventory of 87 Pz.Kpfw. II(F) in November 1940.
[The first 20 vehicles produced were sent back to the factory for modification, resulting in a delivery delay.]

The Pz.Abt. (F) 100 was raised at Munster on 05.03.1940, transferred to Wünsdorf, and then to Zossen on 07.07.1940. It received 43 vehicles between May 1940 and 10.07.1940.
The 3rd Company of the Pz.Abt. (F) 100 participated in the exercises for Seelöwe in France during July 1940.

The Pz.Abt. (F) 101The Pz.Abt. (F) 100 was raised at Munster on 04.05.1940. It received 42 vehicles between 11.07.1940 and 16.09.1940.

He also has a report by Wa.Stab Ia/Nr. 1016/40 gK dated 31.05.1940:
Inventory: 16 Pz.Kpf.Wg. (F) in Pz.Abt.100

Source:
[1] Joachim Baschin, "Panzerkampfwagen II, Ausf. D/E and Variants", Nuts & Bolts No. 24, Neumünster, 2009.

Cheers
--
Leo

Thank you very much! So this would be photo of 3rd kp. of Pz.Abt.(F)100 on the move in France (end of june) for the Seelowe exercises. Thanx again!

Jarno