PANZERWAFFE TARNFARBEN

Camouflage Colours and Organization of the German Armoured Force (1917-1945)

Carlos de Diego Vaquerizo

PANZERWAFFE TARNFARBEN
Camouflage Colours and Organization
of the German Armoured Force (1917-1945)

Carlos de Diego Vaquerizo

Texts:
CARLOS DE DIEGO VAQUERIZO

Coordination:
RICARDO RECIO CARDONA

Ilustrations:
CARLOS DE DIEGO VAQUERIZO

Photo credits:
DBA
JCISAT
Intaria
Bundesarchiv
The Tank Museum Bovington
Stanislav Zharkov (waralbum.ru)
Archivo particular Maurice Sublet
Archivo particular Ricardo Recio Cardona
Archivo particular Antonio González Sánchez

Design and layout by:

VANDALIA SERVICIOS EDITORIALES / EL SUEÑO DEL KOALA

Image processing:
JOSÉ IGNACIO PÉREZ LOZANO

Printed in España

ISBN: 978-84-120935-0-6

Published and distributed by:

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 INDEX
The Great War and the Interwar period.........................................................5 StuG. III Ausf. B. Art.Lehr-Rgt., 1941-1942........................................... 100
World War I.......................................................................................6 Horch Kfz. 15. P.K., 4. Pz.Div., 1941................................................... 101
1918, the Assault Tanks........................................................................9 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F. Pz.Rgt. 31, 1942................................................... 102
The Republic of Weimar................................................................... 16 Sd.Kfz. 7/1, 1942............................................................................. 103
Hitler, III Reich and the WWII.................................................................... 23 Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L. Pz.Abt. 18, 1943.................................................. 104
1939-1940, first campaigns................................................................. 27 Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger Ausf. E. schw. Pz.Jäg.Abt. 504, 1943.............................. 105
Afrikakorps..................................................................................... 37 Panzerjäger Tiger (P) Ferdinand. schw. Pz.Jäg.Abt. 654, 1943....................... 106
1941, Barbarossa............................................................................... 42 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H. Pz.Rgt. 3, 1944................................................... 107
1942, re-organisation......................................................................... 46 Grille Ausf. H, 1944.......................................................................... 108
1943, re-structuration........................................................................ 52 Flakpanzer 38(t). 21. Pz.Div., 1944 ..................................................... 109
1944-1945, the end............................................................................ 66 Kanonenwagen Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Ausf. D. 5. SS-Pz.Div.“Wiking”, 1944................110
Camouflage schemes and units’ emblems.................................................. 85 Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger Ausf. B. schw. Pz.Abt. 509, 1944 .................................. 111
7,7 cm leichte Feld Kanone 16 (FK 16), 1917............................................. 86 Opel “Blitz” 3.6-36S. 9. SS-Pz.Div. “Hohenstaufen”, 1944....................... 112
A7V Sturmpanzerwagen 562 “Herkules”. Abt. 1, 1918................................. 87 StuG. IV, 1944................................................................................. 113
Schwerer Kampfwagen (Beute). Abt. 12, 1918............................................. 88 Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf. G, 1944 ....................................................... 114
A7V Geländewagen. A.K.K.(R) 1111, 1918............................................... 89 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. J, 1944-45.................................................. 115
A7V Sturmpanzerwagen 504 “Schnuck”. Abt. 2, 1918.................................. 90
Panzer IV L/70 (V), 1945................................................................... 116
Schwerer Kampfwagen (Beute) 155. “Kokampf”, 1919................................. 91
Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf. G. LVI. Panzerkorps, 1945................................. 117
Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A. Panzergruppe Drohne, 1936......................................... 92
Sd.Kfz. 234/4. Pz.Div. “FHH”, 1945................................................... 118
Sd.Kfz. 11, 1937................................................................................ 93
Marder III Ausf. M. Pz.Jäg.Abt. 346, 1945.............................................. 119
Sd.Kfz. 232 (6 Rad). 2. Pz.Div., 1938...................................................... 94
Jagdpanther, 1945............................................................................. 120
Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. A, 1939................................................................. 95
Camouflage Schemes...................................................................... 121
Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. B. 5. Pz.Div., 1939..................................................... 96
Emblems of units................................................................. 122 to 125
Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C. Pz.Rgt. 15, 1940..................................................... 97
Key to vehicle identification............................................................ 126
Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B. 7. Pz.Div., 1940....................................................... 98
Sanitätspanzer. 4. Pz.Div., 1940............................................................. 99 Bibliography....................................................................................... 127
4
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

THE GREAT WAR

AND THE INTERWAR PERIOD
During the first years of the 20th century the great European powers were
gradually equipping their armies with neutral-mute-faded-dull coloured uni-
forms in order to hide the forces in front of their enemies. This idea extended
to material: further studies on that matter were carried out during World
War I. We can state that Germans settled the bases of camouflages for the
next III Reich Panzerwaffe (armoured force).

Because of the outstanding destroying capability and the long range of these new
weapons, by the end of the 19th century, the Reichsheer High Command (Imperial
Army named Deutsches Heer which means German Army) was well aware that the
campaign uniforms had to go unnoticed and had to blend with the environment
when in combat. In 1892, some helmet-covers made from ‘reed-green’ fabric were
adopted; two years later grey coats were put to use too. In 1897, Jäger mount-
ed troops (Light Infantry) were equipped with Graugrün uniforms (greyish green);

from 1901 the same shade was in use for all machine-gun detachments. In 1900,
the troops of the Chinese Expeditionary Corps were equipped with some sum-
mer Khaki uniforms slightly reminding British ones and also with winter uniforms
In the previous page. Kraftwagen 14 truck made by Daimler (also named Platformwagen). There is a made from greenish grey fabric named Feldgrau (that literally means campaign
77-mm, 27 calibre long antiaircraft gun installed in the rear platform which had been built by Krupp.
grey) which would also be in use in Europe. During the 1905-1906 period there
More precisely, this was a 7.7-cm Flugabwehrkanone L/27 gun. The camouflage scheme is made up of
irregular Ocker and Braun blotches applied with a paintbrush onto the standard Feldgrau. (Archives Ri-
were tests carried out in Germany with different uniforms of Graugrün, Grau (grey)
cardo Recio) and Feldgrau. It soon became evident that the best shade, when in campaign, was
the Feldgrau one. On 14th February 1907 it was stated that the next uniforms would
In this page. Steel helmet (Stahlhelm) model 1916 with a camouflage scheme achieved with a paint- be made using Feldgrau fabric, except the ones given to light infantry or Jäger
brush. Onto the Feldgrau layer some Ocker and Braun blotches have been outlined using black paint. (these troops would be wearing Graugrün clothes, and the regulations included
When this helmet was painted, at the end of World War I, the shades were lighter. It is necessary to officers and machine-gun units). In February 1910, it was equally ordered the use
point out that the pigments tend to get darker over the years. (Collection Overlord 1944) of Feldgrau fabric to make any campaign uniform for officers. As Germany entered

5
 The Great War and the interwar period

as possible. The Frenchs did not adopt uniforms matching the new times until De-
cember 1914 but led the researches related to the decomposition of shapes through
the use of paints and applied this knowledge to all war material. They worked with
well-known artists fond of cubist techniques so, in February 1915, the first official
team of ‘camoufleurs’ was put into action. In fact, those artists coined the word
‘camouflage’, a much familiar word to all of us nowadays. On the other hand, the
German Command allowed the units to perform all necessary works for a perfect
camouflage, taking into consideration the environmental characteristics and, most of
the time, using all available paints.

Later (probably between 1916 and 1917), the Reichsheer Command agreed on con-
ducting further researches about camouflages in order to improve efficiency and rule
their use. Some tests were carried out, the mimicked pieces were under air monitor-
ing. It was stated that a few colours such as Weiss (white), Hellgelbe (light yellow)
or Hellblau (light blue) were not the right ones while there were some pretty efficient
shades like Ocker (ochre), Grün (green) and Braun (brown): these showed to be ex-
cellent for the artillery guns to go unnoticed.

According to these studies, the pieces were added some irregular blotches using
those three colours (or merely two of these) although the surfaces were not com-
pletely covered as the standard Feldgrau had to show underneath. These smudges
or blotches could be separated by some Schwarz (black) lines (one or two fingers
the war on 1st August 1914, all uniforms given to recruited personnel and sent to the wide). The range (as it had happened with Feldgrau), was large enough with a bunch
battlefront (except the aforementioned ones) were made of Feldgrau fabric. This of nuances. Grün colour could be medium green or dark green, Braun was dark
colour was in use (with minor changes) until 1945. chestnut brown or medium brown and finally Ocker could be ochre or sand or even
yellowish clay. Sometimes, two different nuances of the same colour were used for
a single camouflage scheme.
World War I

As far as the Reichsheer material is concerned, for the whole WWI the Germans
used Feldgrau colour as a universal shade. This was employed to paint both light and
heavy weaponry, artillery, wagons, automobile vehicles (along with metallic pieces
which were a part of campaign equipment). Unlike uniforms, this Feldgrau hue could
vary from dark olive green (slightly greyish or even greyish brown) to light greenish
In this page. Beutepanzer Mk. IV Female “Dora” tank camouflaged with the following colours: Feldgrau,
grey (a range with so many nuances anyway). It depended on the manufacturer, the Ocker and Braun. The Eisernes Kreuz was painted in the roof, the front and the rear parts and in both sides
paint batch or the available pigments… There was no rigorous ruling related to paint while the chassis number (see the figures “117”) was labelled inside the doors. (Archives Ricardo Recio)
standards in the Army.
In the following page. The A7V were already camouflaged in the B.A.K.P. 20. workshops and each
Once the Western Front got stabilized in 1915, the Germans following the French one had a unique scheme. After any combat action the tanks were tested in these premises and were
warfare started to camouflage their artillery guns for those to go as much unnoticed repainted (totally or partially) (The Tank Museum, Bovington)

6
7
8
There was a much interesting pattern, commonly used to camouflage artillery guns,
made up of rows of light and dark spots of two or even more colours applied onto
a Feldgrau background. This showed to be a pretty efficient pattern, quite easy to
make just using a rag (in case there was no paintbrush available). The more elaborat-
ed variant of this particular scheme roughly reminded the Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte’s
Lozenge (German Air Force), adopted late 1916, that consisted of four-or-five-colour
polygonal blotches.

The self-propelled antiaircraft artillery were also applied camouflage paints for these
not to be noticed by the enemy aviation. Most transport vehicles and armoured cars
were merely painted Feldgrau (as these were not operating in the front line).

1918, the Assault Tanks

As far as assault tanks were concerned, the Germans produced reduced quantities.
There were mere prototypes of LK. I, LK. II and A7VU; two K-Wagen entered the
manufacturing process but had not been ready by the end of WWI. Twenty Sturm-
panzerwagen A7V assault tanks were in use to form three Abteilungen (detachments).
At the same time, using British captured tanks model Mk. IV, subsequently named
Beutepanzer (war booty tanks), another six Abteilungen were organized too. Some
light British Whippet seemed useful although only two of them could be repaired and
were used for training purposes.

In the previous page. Sturmpanzerwagen A7V tank with chassis number 540 mimicking the Buntfarben
Anstrich pattern. The straight cross or Balkenkreuz was introduced in October 1918. There is a longi-
tudinal white band in the roof that intersects with a transversal one in the casemate. The white skull
painted onto a black shield was the Abt. 1. emblem (The Tank Museum, Bovington)

In this page. A most usual camouflage scheme for artillery guns such as this 7.7-mm FK 16. It is
made up of three or four colours specks (Ocker, Braun and Grün or Schwarz) applied in a lose way with a
paintbrush or a rag onto the Feldgrau layer. Really simple indeed, no specialised personnel was required.
(Archives Ricardo Recio)

9
 The Great War and the interwar period

10
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

Above these lines. This Mk. IV Male was attached to the Abt. 12. It has been painted one of the first
patterns known as Buntfarben Anstrich, with Feldgrau, Ocker (dark) and Rotbraun blotches divided through
black lines. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

In the previous page. Sturmpanzerwagen 543 tank of Abteilung 3 photographed during a railway
transfer in the summer 1918. Each tank was given its own name and this was labelled using white
paint. The camouflage blotches were repainted quite often so these appeared superimposed. (Ar-
chives Ricardo Recio)

Right, above. The Geländewagen were painted Feldgrau with no camouflage blotches as these operated
in the second line far from the ennemy watchers. In the side, the emblem with the imperial eagle is
clearly visible. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

Right, below. In order to avoid misunderstandings, the Beutepanzer had crosses (the national emblem)
added in four sides and in the roof. There are some patches in the side armour, these were used to cover
the hits of the shells. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

11
12
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

By late October 1917, the Daimler factory in Marienfelde, near Berlin, had the first
A7V ready. This armoured mean painted dark Feldgrau (highly greenish hued) was
painted big camouflage blotches in the very factory, probably using Ocker or Braun,
the so-called Lehmgelb (mud yellow) and Rotbraun (reddish brown). The next four
tanks were equally painted dark Feldgrau and were delivered with the first one to
Abteilung 1 (in short Abt. 1) early January 1918. For the whole training period in
Northern France, the tanks were added some camouflage smudges (painted no
particular pattern). Every available paint at the time was in use. These tanks, had
their first combat action, were subsequently sent to workshops and were transferred
to Abt. 3 in April 1918.

After the Battle of Cambrai between 20th November and 7th December 1917, the
Germans had captured more than fifty British Mk. IV knockout and put out of action.
In order to rebuild these in the old industrial premises of the Societé Anonyme Saint
Germain, located in Monceau-sur-Sambre, a much important railway hub in West
Charleroi (Belgium), a big campaign workshop (Bayerische Armee-Kraftwagenpark
20) (20 Bavarian Army Automotive Park) was settled. Most of these tanks were in such
poor condition that they could be merely used as sources of spare parts. Twenty-
eight ones still in good shape were picked out and immediately sent to B.A.K.P. 20.
As the first ten ones were ready they were delivered to the new Abt. 11 and Abt.
12, from March to April 1918. These tanks were camouflaged with Feldgrau (and
probably Rotbraun) blotches that allowed stripes of the former original British Khaki
to show.

From March to April 1918 the B.A.K.P. 20 was also subsequently delivered fifteen
new Sturmpanzerwagen A7V and this for a further revision and a distribution
among detachments. Each Abteilung would be given five tanks (this adding up
fifteen units) as the remaining five would be eventually used to cover the losses.
Among these assault tanks, the five ones in the first batch were painted the same
dark greenish Feldgrau used in their predecessors while those ten matching the
second batch had a lighter greyish finish. The personnel in the B.A.K.P. 20, dealing
with repair and maintenance were also entrusted camouflage. Before the war, the
Societé Anonyme Saint Germain was basically devoted to the building of railway
wagons. It is feasible that the new occupying forces made good use of all those
In the previous page. One of the two Whippet captured and devoted to drivers’ training. The Feldgrau,
Ocker and Braun blotches created a most wonderful scheme. The Iron Cross has been painted in the sides
paints present in warehouses whose shades were similar to the ones used by the
of the casemate. (Archives Maurice Sublet) Germans. Think of dark green or reddish brown used for the outer painting of the
railway wagons, or ivory and amber applied to the inner part of the passengers’
In this page. Since the first prototypes of German armoured vehicles appeared in 1906, the Kaiser’s coaches. There was no default pattern in use, the shape of the smudges was quite
Army showed real interest ten years later. In any case, the use was really limited. In the picture, the irregular and could significantly vary from coach to coach. By the mid-April some
Ehrhardt E-V/4, a 1917 vehicle. It is totally painted Feldgrau. (Bundesarchiv / Bild 146-1969-031-53) A7V were painted mottled schemes with Rotbraun and Lehmgelb onto Feldgrau or

13
14
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

Grün backgrounds. A few ones were painted the aviation Lozenge pattern using
four or five different colours.

On 24th April, during the attack led by Abt. 1, 2 and 3 close to Villers-Bretonneux, the
first combat in history among tanks took place. It was fought between an A7V with
chassis number 561, attached to Abt. 2, and three Mk. IV, two of these of the Female
variant equipped with machine-guns and the other of a Male variant equipped with
two guns. The meeting ended in a draw, although the German tank had to be blown
up as it could not be moved towards the German lines.

On 1st June four detachments with Mk. IV tanks had been organised from Abt. 11 to
Abt. 14. A number of twenty tanks repainted Feldgrau and covered with Rotbraun
and Lehmgelb blotches (French or German Grün could have been used too). Some
vehicles were added black lines around the peepholes in the side sponsons (in order
to hide their position and avoid the shots of the enemy rifles). This reduced the risk
of bullets or splinters reaching the inner part.

When in workshops, the tanks were often partially or completely repainted. After every
combat they needed a complete mechanical revision and their paint usually showed
‘wear and tear’ because of bullets and shrapnel. Furthermore, the identification
markings got changed from time to time so the old insignia were covered and hidden
using camouflage colours while the new ones were painted onto. Usually, coats of
diluted paint were smeared (or perhaps there were no high quality thinners) so a few
weeks later both the old markings and the outline of the former camouflage blots
showed through.
facilities in Monceau-sur-Sambre, so a few agreements were signed with different
After the combats that took place from the spring to the summer 1918, a huge number German companies for those to undertake this job. At the end of the summer and
of British tanks ‘were resting’ behind the German lines. It was estimated that about thanks to these agreements, two new Beutepanzer detachments were formed: Abt.
a hundred and seventy could have been repaired. This exceeded the capacity of the 15 and Abt. 16. It seem that the tanks in these units were camouflaged in those
premises and the rebuilding was carried out in Germany.

In September 1918, a new camouflage multicolour scheme was introduced called

Buntfarben Anstrich, which consisted in big Feldgrau, Lehmgelb, Rotbraun and Grün
bands or stripes (two shades of Lehmgelb, French origin, were possibly in use along
In the previous page. 21-cm lange Mörser, heavy mortar with a specked camouflage scheme recalling
the Lozenge scheme (made up of polygonal smudges) used in airplanes. This scheme was applied to some
with Rotbraun and Feldgrau or Grün) outlined with two-finger wide lines painted
assault tanks too. (Archives Ricardo Recio) Schwarz. The A7V from Abt. 1 and a few other from Abt. 2 were repainted following
this pattern which was applied to a certain number of Mk. IV.
In this page. Photographed in Berlin, in March 1919. This is one of the Beutepanzer used by the
Kokampf. More concretely, the number 153 one, named “Hanni” (the name appearing in the glacis), By the mid-October the B.A.K.P. 20 moved to Wiesbaden, Germany, where eight
which had been previously in service in Abteilung 12. (Archives Ricardo Recio) A7V, which had got through the combats, were repaired. The last action undertaken

15
 by the tanks detachments during the war was a counterattack led by the Mk. IV
tanks from Abt. 12, 13 and 14 near Sebourg, on 1st November 1918; the Armistice
agreement was signed ten days later.

The Republic of Weimar

From the late 1918 and the early 1919, the Allied started to scrap the armoured
German means. In spite of this, a Sturmpanzerwagen A7V, two signal tanks built
from the chassis of an A7V (similar to that one), a Whippet, three Mk. IV Female, a
Mk. IV Male and a few wheeled-armoured vehicles fell into the hands of the Kokampf.
This unit was a part of a paramilitary organisation made up of volunteers named
Freikorps (Free Corpses) which was formed in Germany just after the end of World
War I, to end the Spartacus Revolt or Spartacist uprising (Spartakusaufstand) and
that operated until 1923. Early January 1919 the Kampfwagen-Abteilung Körting
(Detachment of Körting armoured vehicles) was organised in Lankwitz, Berlin, it
was immediately renamed Kommando der Kampfwagen-Abteilungen (Command
of armoured vehicles detachment), in short Kokampf. Among that armoured
material, most armoured vehicles were painted Feldgrau, the same colour applied
to the signal A7Vs which had been turned into tanks for controlling riots and street
protests. Nevertheless, the Whippet and three Mk. IV had some wasted irregular
blotches painted Lehmgelb and Rotbraun onto a general layer of Feldgrau; while the
Mk. IV Female and the Sturmpanzerwagen A7V were added four-colour Buntfarben
Anstrich schemes with black outlines. Finally, after signing the Treaty of Versailles on
28th June 1919, these armoured vehicles were scrapped at the request of the Military
Inter-allied Commission of Control.

After the Great War, the Imperial Forces got disbanded; in March 1919 the Republic
of Weimar (1919-1933) organised some provisional Armed Forces, although the new

In this page. Front view of a 10.5-cm IFH 98/09 howitzer. There is some camouflage in the protec-
tive shield made up of different colours specks (these specks seem to have been applied with a piece of
burlap). (Archives Ricardo Recio)

In the following page. 7.7-cm antiaircraft Flugabwehrkanone L/27 Krupp assembled on a platform of a
Daimler truck painted Feldgrau. Note the imperial eagle (the Reichsheer insignia), present in the side of
the vehicle. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

16
17
18
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

Reichswehr (Armed Forces between 1921 and 1935) was officially created on 1st
January 1921. This was made up of the Reichsheer (Imperial Army) and the tiny Re-
ichsmarine (Imperial Navy). The constraints imposed by the Treaty expressly forbade
the heavy artillery, the tanks, the aviation, the U-boats and the development of new
technologies. In spite of all those restrictions, a hidden program for research and
development got started in 1926 which allowed the re-equipment of the Reichswehr
using modern motorised material. On the other hand, only one hundred thousand
men were allowed to be part of these Armed Military Forces so the Reichsheer had
only seven infantry divisions, each one using fifteen armoured vehicles for personnel
transport (and no weapons) along with three cavalry divisions.

The number of motor vehicles was quite reduced, at the beginning these were
painted Feldgrau, but in 1923, the Reichswehr ruled a camouflage scheme named
Buntfarben Anstrich made up of the following matt colours: Erdgelb (yellow sand),
Grün (green) and Braun (brown), quite similar to those ones used during the war and
applied with a big flat paintbrush, (thus creating wide bands of twisty outlining). The
material which was not painted this scheme showed the usual Feldgrau colour.

In the early 1930 decade, there was a great variety of motor vehicles designed for sprayer or a flat paintbrush (if painted with a paintbrush the blotches could be
very particular purposes. The first reconnaissance armoured cars were built at that outlined in Schwarz using one to three centimetre-wide lines). This outlining was
very moment too, exclusively equipped with machine-guns. Some fake tanks were applied either with gun sprayer and paintbrush. This pattern was added to motor
in use for training purposes. These were standing on transport vehicles chassis. vehicles, artillery, searchlights, trailers, pontoons, ammo boxes and tanks, either
The whole material was camouflaged using the aforementioned shades. Regulations fake (early) or real (later). The use of Feldgrau on motorcycles (including sidecars),
dated on 20th April 1933 stated that the blotches must be closed recalling irregularly command automobiles (up to regiment) and transports for personnel and crews such
shaped clouds. On the other hand, the paint could be applied either with a gun as buses or vans was stated too. The cars for High Command Officers, High Staff
and Head Quarters were also painted Feldgrau (including wheels rims) although both
the chassis and the mudguards were painted Schwarz. These colours were given a
numbering code according to Register Number 840 B2 which had been published
the previous year (More precisely in June 1932) by RAL Institut. From this moment
on these were newly named Feldgrau Nr. 3, Schwarz Nr. 5, Erdgelb Nr. 17, Braun Nr.
18 and Grün Nr. 28.

The Reichsausschuss für Lieferbedingungen (Reich Committee for specifications of

In the previous page. In spite of restrictions forced by the Treaty of Versailles, that forbade the Ger-
man Army the use of tanks, the infantry divisions were allowed to count on armoured vehicles like the
industrial supplies) in short RAL, was founded in 1925 as a private company dealing
one in the photograph. It is a Sd.Kfz. 3, a 12-ton vehicle appearing in 1921 which was equipped with a with the control of the paints quality for industrial use, this was an initiative led by
100-HP engine and two 7.92-mm MG machine-guns. (AGA / F-388-22) the State and the Ministry of Industry. This Committee issued a register or a chart of
colours in 1927 named RAL Farbtonkarte Nr. 840 with forty references, numbered
In this page. Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart 260 painted with a gun sprayer using camouflage colours in 1 to 40, standardized for Industry, Railways, Armed Forces and so on. Later, as a
accordance with the Reichswehr regulations since 1923. This model was built from 1929 to 1935. (Ar- bunch of additional shades was included a new RAL Farbtonkarte Nr. 840 B2 was
chives DBA) issued in 1932.

19
 The Great War and the interwar period

20
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

Above these lines. The Krupp L 3 H 163 truck appearing in close-up was made in the 1936-1938
period. It was a signal vehicle (Kfz. 72) with a multicolour camouflage scheme according to the regula-
tions prior to July 1937. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

In the previous page. 7.7 cm FK 16 Campaign gun covered by a net with pieces of cloth, sewn to
make a Splittermuster (Splinter) camouflage scheme. The use of nets became a common practice during
World War I. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

Right, above. After the power was in Hitler’s hands, the weapons’ development was openly carried
out. In 1935, the building of a new heavy armoured vehicle started: we are referring to 8.5-ton Sd.Kfz.
232 (8 Rad). (Archives DBA)

Right, below. This ‘fake armoured vehicle’ (Panzerwagen attrappen) has been built using a small recon-
naissance off-road car Maschinengewehrkraftwagen (Kfz. 13), a vehicle equipped with a MG 13 machine-
gun produced by Adler at the beginning of the 1930 decade. The lettering ‘RW’ (Reichswehr) was visible
in the license plates. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

21
22
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

HITLER, III REICH

AND THE WWII
Once the power was in Hitler’s hands the expansion of the Armed Forces
became true and the military industry developed. In 1937, there was a radi-
cal change referred to camouflage colours perhaps intended to emphasize the
refreshing and renewing character of the new regime. Some darker hues were
adopted (nowadays everyone can relate these dark colours to Blitzkrieg).
Later, as the tide of the battle turned, Germans were found in a defensive
position and a new change became necessary. This implied resuming and
rethinking all those colours that had been in use during the Great War.

On 30th January 1933 Adolf Hitler was appointed Reich Kanzler and on 16th August
1934, after the death of Hindenburg, he took the position of President of the Repub-
lic and named himself Führer (leader). The new national socialist regime, would be (War Navy) and the aforementioned Luftwaffe. All rules referring to vehicles’ paint-
known as III Reich. During the whole period, the secret program focusing on the ex- ing and to land material remained unchanged and were extensively applied to the
pansion of the Reichswehr came to light so the industry start to work openly at full- Luftwaffe the same year. A part of these new weapons, still in production, would be
speed to improve both the development and the production of weapons; the Luft- tested in Spain during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939); there were tests carried out
waffe (Air Force) was created in March 1934. The Armed Forces got re-structured regarding new combat techniques.
and on 16th March 1935 a law was issued for the Reichswehr to get disbarred and the
Wehrmacht to be constituted. This one was made up of Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine In October 1935 the three first Heer Panzerdivisionen were organised (armoured divi-
sions), in short Pz.Div. This kind of organisation reunited different motorised (mecha-
nized) units in a Panzerbrigade (armoured brigade) that, theoretically relied on 561
Panzerkampfwagen (tanks), and was divided into two Panzerregimenter (armoured
In the previous page. The pattern Dunkelgrau/Dunkelbraun went unnoticed once the vehicles were
regiments) each one with two Panzerabteilungen (armoured battalions). The afore-
covered by dust and dirt (like for this schwerer Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz. 232 (6 Rad) which is heading a
column of armoured Sd.Kfz. 13 armoured cars). The pennant in the front left mudguard showed the
mentioned motorised units were a Schützenbrigade (infantry brigade) with an infan-
vehicles during the manoeuvres. ( JCISAT / F-0186) try regiment and a motorcyclist battalion, an artillery regiment, a reconnaissance
battalion, a signal battalion, an antitank battalion and a company of engineers along
In this page. Front part of the hull of a Pz.Kpfw. I. The camouflage is made up of blotches with with service, maintenance and supply units.
winding edges painted Erdgelb Nr. 17, Braun Nr. 18 and Grün Nr. 28. The regulations specified that the
smudges in every armoured vehicle should be different. In this case the shape of the blotches recalls the On 1st December 1936, a few weeks after the second model of tank (Pz.Kpfw. II) was
profile of a oak leaf. (Archives Ricardo Recio) put into service, the Organisationsabteilung des Generalstabes des Heeres (Depart-

23
 ment for the organisation of the Army High Staff) (organisation reporting to OKH)
published some charts to show the full organisation of the units and the authorised
forces, personnel, crews and equipment. These were the Kriegsstärkenachweisun-
gen (K.St.N.) and Kriegsausrüstungsnachweisungen (K.A.N.). The following years
these charts would be subsequently modified and adapted to new weapons. The
guns would be produced according to tactical requirements and to vehicles’ devel-
opment.

On 12th July 1937 the Oberkommando des Heeres or OKH (Army High Staff), issued
some rules regarding some much important changes on the camouflage of armoured
vehicles and tanks. This was the Allgemeine Heeresmitteilungen 1937, Nr. 340 (Gen-
eral Statement of the Army in the year 1937, No. 340), in short H.M. 37, Nr. 340, about
the use of a new camouflage scheme made up of matt colours Dunkelgrau Nr. 46
(dark grey) and Dunkelbraun Nr. 45 (dark brown). The first hue was supposed to be
covering the 67% of each vehicle surface while the second one the 33%. The edges
of the blotches should be blurred and their shapes were supposed to be irregular
(Scheme 2). On the other hand, the small pieces, the bits and the wheels would be
painted one colour only (either Dunkelgrau or Dunkelbraun). It was advised to apply
the paint with a gun sprayer to get the surface fully covered; this also helped to avoid
unwanted shine as the paint applied with a gun sprayer reflects the light in a much
subtler way. The rule was clear, the new scheme would be only applied when the
paint in the vehicles had to be renewed. So often, material showing this new pattern
along with material painted the old three-colour scheme were seen together in the
units. In order to solve this problem, the following year a new instruction was issued
dated on 7th November, H.M. 38, Nr. 687, and stated that the troops had to repaint,
with the new colours, all material still having the Buntfarben Anstrich camouflage
(Scheme 1), no matter its condition. The order did not mention the Feldgrau material
so many colour photographs taken during the Blitzkrieg pictured motorcycles, auto-
mobiles and trucks painted Feldgrau.

In this page. Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t Sd.Kfz. 6/1 towing an antiaircraft 8.8 cm FlaK 18 one. Both the
vehicle and the gun had some camouflage made with a gun sprayer using Grün, Erdgelb and Braun hues
in accordance with the regulations issued prior to July 1937. The halftrack license plates showed this
belonged to the Luftwaffe. (AGA / F-00542-056)

In the following page. Scheme 1. Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 101) tank, October 1935/1937. The
camouflage was according the regulations dated on 20th April 1933, it was made up of Erdgelb Nr. 17,
Braun Nr. 18 and Grün Nr. 28 blotches. As the shapes were different in every vehicle, they were all
unique. (Illustration made by the author)

24
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

SCHEME 1

Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 101), October 1935-1937.

25
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

SCHEME 2

Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 101), 1937-1940.

26
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

Obviously, the armoured material was the first one taking good profit of these rules.
The inner parts of these vehicles (both armoured vehicles with closing roof and
tanks) had been painted some shining hue named Elfenbein Nr. 20 (ivory): there were
no changes made on this matter.

Also in 1938, but dated on 20th September, the Luftwaffe adopted the Dunkelgrau/
Dunkelbraun scheme, which was put into force in the Besondere Luftwaffenbestim-
mungen 1938, Nr. 46 (Special orders of the Air Force in 1938, No. 416), in short B.L.B.
38, Nr. 416, following the regulations of the Heer Order Nr. 340. In this particular
case, it was stated that motorcycles (including sidecars) and Command Staff vehi-
cles should be finished only using Dunkelgrau. This grey hue was not the same used
by Heer, it was really a slightly bluish and light one known and registered as Blaugrau
Nr. 4 (blue grey). Sooner, it was ordered that all vehicles painted the old three-colour
scheme had to be repainted according to the regulations in vigour.

For the whole 1938, new armoured units were created. Between April and November
four leichte Divisionen or le.Div. (light divisions) were formed; in each one the nucleus
was a Panzerabteilung or Pz.Abt. and just as in Pz.Abt. of those existing Pz.Div. it
had four Kompanien o Kp. (companies). Two new Panzerdivisionen were formed in
November too: the 4. Pz.Div. and the 5. Pz.Div., with the same organic structure as
the rest but this time the number of tanks was reduced to 320 (the inventory and the
stock could significantly change from one regiment to another) and the infantry got
reinforced with a larger number of troops. Later, in wartime, a tank destroyer battal-
ion and an anti-aircraft battery were added.

1939-1940, first campaigns

On 1st September 1939 the WWII broke out. All German armoured divisions, includ-
ing the 10. Pz.Div. formed in April 1939 and which was still incomplete, took active
part in the invasion of Poland. More than 2,690 tanks, among those 3,263 in stock
(we have made further research on this matter but unfortunately the authors do not
In the previous page. Scheme 2. Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 101) tank, 1937/1940. Camouflage agree on the figures), were light tanks, Pz.Kpfw. I and II. The 1., 2., 3., 4. and 5.
scheme in accordance with the rule H.M. 37, Nr. 340, made up of Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 and Dunkelbraun
Panzerdivisionen had still their basic structure although the slow production of tanks
Nr. 45. The white rectangle and the crosses were painted for the first time on 13th July 1939. The crosses
of some tanks were repainted yellow during the Polish campaign. (Illustration made by the author) forced to reduce the number of companies (three in each battalion) with three or four
sections with five tanks each.
In this page. Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C tank painted Dunkelgrau and camouflaged with Dunkelbraun using a
gun sprayer. The edges of the blotches were done at first, next the smudges got filled, sometimes the Four Heer’s Infanteriedivisionen (mot.) or divisions of motorised (mechanized) infan-
perimeter was perfectly defined but the inside wasn’t covered in a homogeneous way. (Archives Anto- try took active part in this campaign, these had been formed in 1937 along with three
nio Gonzalez) SS units (named Waffen-SS in 1940, it was the armed force of the SS).

27
 These were infantry regiments completely mechanized with the same equipment as
Heer whose vehicles and anti-tank guns were painted according to the regulations
in vigour. The Waffen-SS would expand so greatly that soon it would rely on several
divisions. In the Western Front these forces would always be under the Oberkom-
mando der Wehrmacht (Armed Forces High Staff) or OKW operative control, but in
the Eastern Front, under Oberkommando des Heeres (Army High Staff) or OKH.

Between October 1939 and January 1940 the four leichte Divisionen were reinforced
and transformed into 6., 7., 8. and 9. Pz.Div. The three first ones had a Pz.Rgt. and a
Pz.Abt. (that means three Pz.Abt. in each division), while the last one had a Pz.Rgt.
(two Pz.Abt.) Like the Infanteriedivisionen (infantry divisions), these units started to
be slowly equipped with the first self-propelled artillery guns built, named Panzer-
jäger (tank destroyers). Then the Wehrmacht had ten Panzerdivisionen with 2,582
tanks (from a total number of 3,505) which took active part in the Western Campaign
on 10th May 1940.

So many authors state that during these operations and previously in Poland most
German armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) were solely painted Dunkelgrau. It seems
evident that this hue along with Dunkelbraun were really dark so in all black and
white photographs it is so complicated to perceive the outline of the camouflage
blots especially if the paint has been applied with a gun sprayer and more particu-
larly in all vehicles covered in dust. In any case, we have found evidence (in both
campaigns) of material painted two camouflage colours or exclusively painted Dun-
kelgrau (Scheme 3).

On 12th June 1940, the units were categorically banned to buy the paint to suppliers,
the paints had to be delivered exclusively through official distribution channels; the
units would only be delivered Dunkelgrau. This guideline was included in the regula-

In this page. Kl.Pz.Bef.Wg. (Sd.Kfz. 265) Command tank built on the chassis of an older Panzer I.
The camouflage scheme is made up of Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 and Dunkelbraun Nr. 45. Some vehicles were
delivered to units with no assembly for the machine-gun (mainly due to production delays). (Archives
Antonio González)

In the following page. Scheme 3. Pz.Kpfw.38(t) Ausf. C tank, 1940/1943. Monochrome pattern in ac-
cordance with the rule H.M. 40, Nr. 864. It was exclusively made up of Dunkelgrau Nr. 46, which would
be named Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 from 10th February 1941. (Illustration made by the author)

28
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

SCHEME 3

Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. C, 1940-1943.

29
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

Panzerregiment, March 1939

30
Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

* To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

31
32
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

tion H.M. 40, Nr. 864 dated on 31st July which intended to save paint and stipulated
the Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 shade as the only one to be applied to all Wehrmacht’s vehi-
cles and equipment (at that very moment there was a huge amount of vehicles main-
ly due to captured material). This colour had shown to be quite effective when hiding
vehicles in urban areas, under the building shadows or in forests under the wooded
parts. Nevertheless, when in open field, it was not really the best choice so any bet-
ter option had to be found in a near future. Anyway, the colour photographs put into
evidence the old Dunkelgrau/Dunkelbraun pattern well into the latter part of 1942.

Once the operations in France were done, Hitler ordered the creation of ten new
Panzerdivisionen; it was necessary to halve the number of tanks of those existing
at the time so the surplus could be re-assigned. Acting that way, and considering
a few Infanteriedivisionen, most of these motorised (mechanized) or Inf.Div. (mot.),
ten Panzerdivisionen (from 11. Pz.Div. to 20. Pz.Div.) were organised from August to
November 1940. Then the nucleus was a Panzerregiment with two Panzerabteilun-
gen, (except the 18. Pz.Div., which relied on a Panzerbrigade with two Pz.Rgt. until
May 1941).

The number of colours included in the RAL Nr. 840 B2 chart had progressively in-
creased and reached 100 hues; as it became much necessary to rationalize it, at the
request of the Wehrmacht, this register was fully revised between 1939 and 1940. It
was given a new code RAL Nr. 840 R. Now the hues were all matt and were classified
in nine main groups numbered 1 to 9 (with a 0) so 10 matched the yellow group, 20
the orange lot, 30 the reds, 40 the violets and so on. Besides, every colour in a group
was given a two-figure number to mark its position into that group (for instance, the
tenth colour in the brown range matched the reference RAL 8010). According with this revision, the references were the following ones:

Braun Nr. 18: RAL 8010

Feldgrau Nr. 3: RAL 6006
Elfenbein Nr. 20: RAL 1001
Blaugrau Nr. 4: RAL 7016
Grün Nr. 28: RAL 6007
Schwarz Nr. 5: RAL 9005
Dunkelbraun Nr. 45: RAL 7017
Erdgelb Nr. 17: RAL 8002
In the previous page. The eye-catching crosses attracted the fire of antitank guns, that’s why so many Dunkelgrau Nr. 46: RAL 7021
crews like the one of this Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. D, were forced to improvise on the go and to hide them.
Just thirty tanks were built that matched this model. (AGA / F-00528-24)

In this page. After the Polish campaign it was decided adopting a low-visibility cross (with a hollow
centre) like the ones in this Neubaufahrzeug Ausf. B photographed in Norway in April 1940. The em- Later and in order to avoid any unwanted mistake when transcribing data, the name
blem of the Panzerabteilung zur besonderen Verwendung 40 (armoured battalion for special operations No. of the colour got added in an unofficial way in front of the reference, since 10th Febru-
40) is clearly visible in the glacis of the vehicle in close-up. ( JCISAT / F-0139) ary 1941 the colours were named as in the chart in page 37.

33
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

34
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

Above these lines. The march down dusty paths created a patina that covered the vehicles and al-
lowed a sort of natural camouflage. The crew of this Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. F had removed part of the dust
in the turret for the emblem (a lion) to be visible. This was a unique emblem belonging exclusively to
the battalion. (AGA / F-00517-009)

In the previous page. Dunkelgrau paint showed to be quite efficient to camouflage the material in
the shadows, in forest areas or in building parts. There is an antitank PaK 36 piece in close-up and
a Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. A in the background, both painted Dunkelgrau. Just thirty-five Panzer IV tanks,
matching this variant, were built. (AGA / F-00517-09)

Right, above. During the campaign in the Balkans, the colours in accordance with the regulations
prior to 1937 were in use again. These were applied to paint camouflage blotches to some vehicles.
Note the Erdgelb and Grün blotches (probably) onto the standard Dunkelgrau in these Sd.Kfz. 253 and
Sd.Kfz. 251 halftracks. (Archives JCISAT)

Right, below. The darker shade of Dunkelgrau and Dunkelbraun avoided any contrast. In fact, when the
camouflage blotches had been gun sprayed their borders were blurred enough. The smudges are clearly
visible in the hood of the Horch Kfz. 15 automobile. (waralbum.ru)

35
36
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

These were the names frequently used (but note that they were unofficial names so
a same colour was named in different ways). As one can notice RAL 8010 had been
removed.

Elfenbein RAL 1001 Dunkelbraun RAL 7017

Feldgrau RAL 6006 Dunkelgrau RAL 7021
Grün RAL 6007 Erdgelb RAL 8002
Blaugrau RAL 7016 Schwarz RAL 9005

Afrikakorps

As the British forces breathtakingly progressed in the North of Africa and the Ital-
ian forces were in very poor conditions, Hitler made up his mind and quickly sent
German forces to balance the situation. This expeditionary force was called DAK
or Deutsches Afrikakorps (German Africa Corps); it was put under Erwin Rommel’s
command and became legendary.

The first German units landed in Tripoli’s harbour by the mid-February 1941. The
forces of 5. le.Div., were among these troops. This was an armoured unit that had a
120-tank Pz.Rgt. which had been formed quite in haste using elements from the 3.
Pz.Div.

Due to the lack of time, both the material and the vehicles of this expeditionary force
were painted Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 (pretty inadequate in those lands). The crews
were able to solve the problem by smearing mud onto their vehicles (mixing sand and water or applying a coat of oil for the sand to stick through sprinkling). This was
a temporary solution as the Dunkelgrau tended to show underneath. Probably some
of the vehicles were repainted using Italian paints such as Grigio verde (grey green)
or Giallo sabbia (yellow sand) from the Regio Esercito (Royal Army).

In the previous page. Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. G, Pz.Rgt. 5, 21. Pz.Div.: a photograph taken in Cyrenaica On 17th March the OKH issued the regulation H.M. 41, Nr. 281, that ruled the use of
(Libya) in 1941. During the western campaign the tactical numbers had been labelled in big size so, two camouflage colours for the North-African operations theatre: Gelbbraun RAL
when in combat, the Commanders could identify the tanks in their own units. ( JCISAT-0138) 8000 (yellow brown) and Graugrün RAL 7008 (literally grey green but in fact grey-
ish khaki). These shades are thought to cover respectively 2/3 (67%) and 1/3 (33%)
In this page. Western Campaign, 1940. Pz.Kpfw. 38(t), 7. Panzer-Division. There is a white rectangle of the vehicle surface reminding the old Dunkelgrau/Dunkelbraun scheme with its
for air identification in the engine deck. Some bright yellow canvases were used in the same period as blurred edges. At the same time, the small pieces and the wheels should be painted
the aviators weren’t able to see the white markings covered in dust. (waralbum.ru) one colour only, either Dunkelgrau or Dunkelbraun. The German civil industry had

37
 been using these hues during a certain period of time for different purposes (just as it
had used all other camouflage colours applied to military vehicles in wartime). While
RAL 8000 was employed for painting the metropolitan electrical trains in Berlin, RAL
7008 was used in railway network metallic structures. Both of them were too dark to
suit the desert camouflages so a year later some more appropriate hues would be
picked (Scheme 4).

The regulations related to camouflage used to be applied immediately in the facto-

ries, just after the issuing, although from time to time the old colours were applied
until stocks were exhausted. In the battlefront the situation was really different: as
complying with all the regulations depended on the supplies, the war operations,
the enemy moves or the exhausted troopers, the fulfilment could take a few weeks.
This happened constantly in wartime. Furthermore, the combat units did not apply
the regulations by the book so when there was enough paint most Afrikakorps’ ar-
moured vehicles were repainted exclusively RAL 8000. This could be done in a less
homogeneous way so the task took very little time (due to rush and circumstances).
In case there was a lack of paint sometimes the Germans also made good use of
all those paints taken from their enemies: the vehicles coming from a war booty had
their own original colours but were added grand crosses in order to avoid any mis-
understanding.

By the spring 1941, the DAK was reinforced with the 15. Pz.Div.; while in August, the
5. le.Div. was promoted to armoured division and renamed 21. Pz.Div. At the same
time, a light unit was formed and one year later this would be equipped with a Pz.Abt.
and renamed 90. Afrika Div.

In this page. Command halftrack vehicle Sd.Kfz. 253 of Art.Rgt. (mot.) 155 (155 motorised artillery
regiment), 21. Panzerdivision. The camouflage scheme is made up of Gelbbraun RAL 8000 and Graugrün
RAL 7008. The poor contrast between the shades was even more evident when the paint got bleached
under the sun and got covered by dust and dirt. (Signal)

In the following page. Scheme 4. Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf F (Sd.Kfz. 121), 1941-42. Camouflage pattern for
the North of Africa in accordance with the rule H.M. 41, Nr. 281. Similar to the European one (as far as
shapes are concerned but with different shades), this scheme is made up of big clouds painted Gelbbraun
RAL 8000 and Graugrün RAL 7008. (Illustration made by the author)

38
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

SCHEME 4

Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F (Sd.Kfz. 121), 1941-1942.

39
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

On these lines. Command tank Pz.Bef.Wg. III Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 267), Stabskompanie, I Abteilung/Pz.Rgt.
5, 21. Pz.Div. The lettering and numbering “I01” have been partially covered by the camouflage paint
Braun RAL 8020. This kind of tank is equipped with different radio stations. The turret was fixed, the
gun was a fake. After losing the simulated gun in a skirmish, the crew had made good use of a wood
stick to replace it. (waralbum.ru)

Right, above. The extreme conditions of the weather in the desert with sandstorms and temperatures
changing drastically affected the paint. This 75-mm PaK 40 antitank gun shows remainders of a worn
and bleached coat of Gelbbraun RAL 8000 onto right-from-the-factory Dunkelgrau RAL 7021. (waral-
bum.ru)

Right, below. Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. G attached to the Staff Company of a Panzerregiment, as shown by
the tactical numbers “1R” visible in the storage bin (Rommelkiste) in the turret rear. It is a Pz.Rgt. 8,
15. Pz.Div. In the lower half of the hull the coat of Braun RAL 8020 had nearly vanished because of
the abrasive effect of the sand. The white cross in the 20-liter Kraftstoff showed it contained water.
(waralbum.ru)

In the following page. Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F2 camouflaged according to the 1942 regulations, with
gun sprayed Grau RAL 7027 blotches onto the general coat of Braun RAL 8020. In B/W photographs
these light colours cannot be clearly identified. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

40
Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

41
 1941, Barbarossa

Acting against the regulations was a common practice in Europe and become a con-
stant for the whole conflict. During the campaign in the Balkans and Greece, in April
1941, most vehicles were painted Dunkelgrau, although there were also armoured
means with camouflage blotches of Braun RAL 8010, Feldgrau RAL 6006 or some
of the colours used before the Order H.M. 38, Nr. 687 was in vigour. The three first
Sturmgeschützabteilungen (assault gun battalions) took active part in these opera-
tions each one with three batteries of six StuG. III. These units showed to be so really
efficient that from that moment on, the number got constantly increased.

On 22nd June 1941, the Operation Barbarossa (aka the attack against the USSR)
was launched. The Germans deployed seventeen Panzerdivisionen in the spear-
head. 3,377 tanks took active part in the Offensive (from a total number of 5,262
in the Panzerwaffe’s inventory). More than 50% were light tanks (there were two
times more Pz.Kpfw. I and II than Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) and 35(t), or even more). The ninth
part were Pz.Kpfw. IV tanks and the rest were Pz.Kpfw. III. Most AFVs along with
soft-skinned vehicles were painted Dunkelgrau, but as in the Balkans, a part of the
material was not camouflaged by the book. These vehicles had been painted some
colours which were not included in the regulations in vigour. The OKH had been
quite optimistic, and had foreseen a victory against the USSR after a short conflict
that would had lasted just a few weeks. It was supposed to be finished before the
winter so no winter warm clothing had been foreseen for the crews, no special oil
for the guns, and no antifreeze for the engines… and obviously no winter paint. The
first snows fell in October, but until 18th November there was no instructions from
the OKH. In that very date the OKH issued a regulation H.M. 41, Nr. 1128, to rule all
units sent to Norway, Finland and Russia about the use of water-soluble paint Weiss

In this page. A group of Panzer III tanks, Pz.Rgt. 15, 11. Pz.Div. was approaching a Russian village
in their way to Moscow. The unofficial emblem of the division, a motorised ghost waving a sword can
be seen in the rear part of the first tank. The Balkenkreuz is a hollow one merely outlined with white
paint. (Signal)

In the following page. From the moment the first snow fell in the Eastern front, in the autumn 1941,
the Germans were forced to improvise a camouflage on the go (white paint was not available). The dark
shade of this Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F was turned into a lighter hue using bits of white chalk. (waralbum.ru)

42
43
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

Panzerregiment, November 1941

44
Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

* To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

45
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

the whole war). A much efficient trick was placing branches, foliage or hay onto the
vehicles’ surface so their silhouette got broken; so many times mud was also em-
ployed to give them the shade of the ground so they could remain unnoticed.

On the other hand and although there were no regulations referred to this matter,
a large number of colour photographs taken in Russia and in the North of Africa
in the 1941-42 period, show tanks, assault guns, self-propelled artillery and soft-
skinned vehicles painted greyish light hues. In 1941, and named Technischen Lief-
erbedingungen (technical specifications), in short TL, the OKH had issued a large
series of regulations that focus on so many matters related to paint. Both the kind
of primer and the right type of paint according to chemical composition, charac-
teristics, corrosion, and fuel or fire resistance were stated. These (primer and paint)
were meant to cover all possible materials (wood, aluminium, steel…) or equipment
(ammunition, guns, vehicles…). The weather conditions and the geographic areas
had also been taken into consideration. The list of colours in the TL 6303 B in-
cluded some grey hues, such as Marinegrau RAL 7002 (Navy grey), Grau RAL 7003
(grey) or Hellgrau RAL 7009 (light grey), that were used in the production of some
mechanical components. We wonder if Tomáš Chorý’s statement included in his
book ‘Camouflage Colors. Wehrmacht Heer, 1939-1945’ about some of these hues
used during the manufacturing process to paint the outer surface of the armoured
vehicles, is true.
RAL 9001 (white) excellent to camouflage the vehicles in all snowy environments.
The white paint had to be removed once the snow had melted. The delivery of paint On 25th March 1942, a new regulation, H.M. 42, Nr. 315, referring to camouflage of all
supply took a few weeks more or there were no deliveries at all so it was necessary vehicles on duty in the North of Africa was issued. This rule focussed on the use of
improvising. In order to camouflage the vehicles, lime (once diluted in water or chalk), two new colours, Braun RAL 8020 (light brown) and Grau RAL 7027 (literally means
snow blocks or even white fabric canvases were used. grey but it was a grey beige). As in the former instruction, the shades were to be
distributed through irregular blotches with blurred edges (according to the usual 2/3
Meantime, between September and November 1941, three new armoured divisions and 1/3 proportion) respectively and on the vehicle surface. The small pieces and
had been formed 22. Pz.Div., 23. Pz.Div. and 24. Pz.Div., which were sent to the East- the wheels had to be painted one colour only. The units were supposed to ask for
ern Front in 1942. the paints supply once the stocks were exhausted. The new shades were lighter so

1942, re-organisation

By the spring 1942, the winter camouflage was removed; the RAL 9001 could be
easily removed with a big brush and soda or petrol as this did not damage the Dun-
kelgrau hue underneath. During this period, as the woods and the fields were turning
to green, it became necessary finding a different camouflage colour. Some mimick- In this page. Heavy Command armoured vehicle Sd.Kfz. 247 Ausf. B attached to the 3. Pz.Div. Dur-
ing blotches had to be painted onto Dunkelgrau so the old paints were in use again, ing the Eastern campaign it became evident that Dunkelgrau paint was totally inadequate to mimic the
especially Grün RAL 6007 (there was enough stock of this shade so it was in use for vehicles in the immense steppe. (waralbum.ru)

46
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

On these lines. The shortage of tools forced the crews to sharpen their wits for distributing the white
paint onto the armour. The men of this Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. E are applying the paint with some hay
bushes. (waralbum.ru)

Left, above. In all tanks like this Panzer III and in armoured vehicles with a closed roof, the inside
of the hatches was painted the same colour as the outer part, so if open these would not stand out.
(waralbum.ru)

Left, below. After the winter, the coat of white paint had to be removed. Note, in the picture, the
crew of a Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. C halftrack cleaning the white coat with a water bucket, a brush, a piece
of cloth and hay bushes tied with some wire. (waralbum.ru)

47
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

reduced to one in each Pz.Rgt. On 1st July 1942, the number of tanks in the whole
Eastern Front added up to 2,535. The expectations could be met as Speer was ap-
pointed Minister of the Reich for armament and war production and Guderian was
promoted as Panzertruppen Inspector (armoured troops): this involving a continuous
increase and a rationalisation of the production. The expectations were also met at
the expense of DAK since a great quantity of material, that was intended to go to
the North of Africa, was sent to Russia. These tanks left the factories with their new
‘tropical’ camouflage and this pattern showed to be effective in the barren landscape
of the Caucasus; sometimes the crews added camouflage blotches using different
colours, usually Grün RAL 6007. On 3rd July 1942, the OKH issued a new instruction,
H.M. 42, Nr. 600 that ordered to use, in Crete, the same compulsory camouflage
scheme in force in the North of Africa.

In the spring the first Heer’s schwerer Panzerabteilungen (heavy tanks’ battalions)
or schw. Pz.Abt. were being organised, these were some independent units with an
elitist character which were equipped a few months later with the new Tiger heavy
tanks. From September to November two new armoured organisations were formed,
26. Pz.Div. and 27. Pz.Div., and the Waffen-SS ‘LSSAH’, ‘Das Reich’, ‘Totenkopf’
and ‘Wiking’ divisions were renamed Panzergrenadierdivisionen or Pz.Gren.Div. (ar-
moured infantry divisions).

As far as the Luftwaffe’s ground troops are concerned, in July 1942 the Regiment
(mot.) ‘Hermann Göring’ (motorised or mechanized regiment) was re-structured as
a brigade, although in October in was enlarged to become a division with a struc-
ture recalling the Heer’s Panzerdivisionen one. The new name would be Fallschirm-
Panzerdivision ‘Hermann Göring’, in short Fsch.Pz.Div. ‘HG’ (armoured parachutist
division ‘HG’).

they seemed quite appropriate for the desert. Quite soon, the Afrikakorps started to Meanwhile, when in autumn there was a certain heterogeneity so the situation had
receive the material from the factories already painted the Braun/Grau scheme or become a bit chaotic with much differently camouflaged vehicles deployed in the
simply painted Braun RAL 8020 (Scheme 5).

After the winter 1941-42 in the Eastern Front, both the Panzerdivisionen and the
In this page. The standardised colours from March 1942 for the north of Africa were lighter than the
Infanteriedivisionen (mot.) had lost a grand amount of material. This had to be re- ones considered in previous regulations. This Sd.Kfz. 222 had a camouflage made up of gun sprayed
placed: a much difficult task in such a short notice. A new unit was formed in Febru- Grau RAL 7027 blotches onto a coat of Braun RAL 8020. ( JCISAT / F-0178)
ary 1942, the 25. Pz.Div. that was intended to take active part in Fall Blau Operation
(this offensive would be taking place early in the summer in the Southern sector of In the following page. Scheme 5. Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J (Sd.Kfz. 141/1) tank, 1942-1943. Camouflage
the Eastern Front). The Pz.Rgt. were all reinforced through a third Pz.Abt. while some scheme for the north of Africa in accordance with the rule H.M. 42, Nr. 315; it is made up of a general
Inf.Div. (mot.) were given a Pz.Abt.; these decisions implied that, in some relatively layer of Braun RAL 8020 with some Grau RAL 7027 blotches onto. These covered the 33% of the sur-
quiet sectors such as North and Centre sectors, the number of Pz.Abt. had to be face. (Illustration made by the author)

48
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

SCHEME 5

Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J (Sd.Kfz. 141/1), 1942-1943.

49
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

Panzerabteilung, February 1943 * To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

50
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

On these lines. In 1942 the atypical schemes became a common practice in the Eastern Front just like
the one in this Pz. Kpfw. IV Ausf. F2, painted Gelbbraun RAL 8000 with dark Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 or
Dunkelbraun RAL 7017 paint strokes and lighter Braun RAL 8020 touches. (waralbum.ru)

Left above. Panzerbefehlswagen III, 3. Pz.Div. scrapped and left in Kharkov in 1942. It has been painted
Dunkelgrau RAL 7021; the division emblems appear in the front plate (next to the driver’s visor) and the
chassis number. The tactical number in the turret matches the I. Abt. (waralbum.ru)

Left below. Winter 1942-1943. The Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. E and Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N of schw. Pz.Abt.
502, deployed in the Leningrad sector, were camouflaged with smudges painted Weiss which allowed
to see the original Dunkelgrau paint. (waralbum.ru)

51
 Eastern Front. Some AFVs were painted Dunkelgrau, some showed desert schemes
while some other had camouflages made up of blotches painted diverse colours. It
was clear that a new regulation was a must to fulfil the Commanders’ requirements,
the OKH had to start working. On the other hand, as winter 1942-43 approached
there was no issues related to paint Weiss RAL 9001 delivery. All units were given
enough so they could camouflage the material on duty. From January 1943, they
were delivered some tanks already painted Weiss RAL 9001 coming right from the
factories.

Eventually, on 18th February 1943 the OKH issued the Ordinance H.M. 43, Nr. 181,
that ruled the use of a new paint, Dunkelgelb nach Muster (dark yellow according to
standard, as a sample was supplied), to replace all the schemes which were in vigour
up to this point. This shade was chosen as it seemed the perfect colour for the North
of Africa, Crete and Europe.

1943, re-structuration

Early 1943, each division ‘LSSAH’, ‘Das Reich’ or ‘Totenkopf’ was reinforced with a
schw. Pz.Kp. or company of heavy Tiger tanks.

In February 1943 a few armoured and motorised (mechanized) divisions got de-
stroyed in Stalingrad or so battered after the Caucasus retreat that they have to be
disbarred. The war in Africa had ended in May 1943, in Tunisia, this meant the loss
of veteran units. After these huge catastrophes and with the possibility of a summer
offensive, the armoured forces had to be re-structured with great effort. A few Pz.Div.
were re-organized with the remains of such a disaster: the 10., 22. and 27. Pz.Div.
were never re-built, while the 15. Pz.Div. was re-organised as 15. Pz.Gren.Div. It also
happened to Inf.Div. (mot.), named at that moment Pz.Gren.Div.; like the 60. Inf.Div.
(mot.) destroyed in Stalingrad, which was re-organised as 60. Pz.Gren.Div. (it was
renamed Pz.Gren.Div. ‘Feldherrnhalle’ later).

In this page. Spring 1943. A Panzerjäger Marder II crossing a Russian village. Under the worn winter
camouflage (Weiss RAL 9001) the standard Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 is clearly visible. The position of the
cross and the size are quite unusual. (waralbum.ru)

52
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

Schwere Panzerabteilung, March 1943 * To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

53
54
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

In spring the Panzergrenadierdivisonen were reinforced with some armoured bat-

talion equipped with StuG. III, an antitank battalion and a reconnaissance battalion.
Nevertheless, the Pz.Gren.Div. ‘Grossdeutschland’, an elite unit, which had been
given a Pz.Abt. the previous year, relied on a complete Pz.Rgt. just like a Pz.Div.;
besides, a schw. Pz.Kp. was attached to it before the summer so it became a schw.
Pz.Abt. with three Tiger tank companies. In the meantime, new schw. Pz.Abt. had
been formed, the increasing production of heavy tanks allowed the Germans to give
these units forty-five Tiger each. For the whole year a few SS-Pz.Gren.Div. were
formed too. The Waffen-SS’ heavy tanks companies left the units they came from so
three independent schw. SS-Pz.Abt. could be formed.

As we have previously stated and according to Ordinance H.M. 43, Nr. 181, dated
in February 1943, the armoured material quit the factories painted Dunkelgelb (dark
yellow). This wasn’t a shade specifically developed for the war industry but a mus-
tard yellow hue from the civil industry that had been used for a long time to paint
farm machinery. It had been chosen because the war was taking place in differ-
ent environments and landscapes (there were combats in Tunisia up to May 1943),
therefore, it was necessary to take good profit of stocks of ochre pigment and the
resulting paint was really useful in all battlefronts. This was not included in the RAL
Nr. 840 B2 chart (there was no number code). In order to specify the exact shade,
a tag was added at the end Dunkelgelb nach Muster. A few weeks later it was given
a number code and was named Dunkelgelb RAL 7028. At that very moment the nu-
ance slightly turned into a greyish yellow. In any case, it seems quite probable that
the manufacturers employed standard paint surpluses (used for the North of Africa
and Crete) along with ochre pigment.

At the same time, the aforementioned instruction ruled the use of those colours that
had to be delivered to units; the crews had to paint camouflage blotches onto the
vehicles’ surface, according to the Commanders’ criteria, and basing on the land-
scapes characteristics. These colours were: Dunkelgelb, Rotbraun RAL 8017 (red-
dish brown) and olive green, used by Luftwaffe to camouflage their land buildings;
Previous page. Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G tank (middle production). The overall coat of Dunkelgelb RAL a few weeks later the last colour was recorded as Olivgrün RAL 6003. The paints
7028 applied in the factory had been covered with Grün RAL 6007 blotches. The name “Germaine” is were delivered in a sort of concentrated paste, packed in containers (2.00 or 20.00
labelled in the driver’s visor armoured cover (Fahrersehklappe). (waralbum.ru) kilograms) which could be thinned either with water or petrol and which could be ap-
plied with a flat paintbrush or a gun sprayer. It dried quite quickly. The regulation also
In this page. Sturmhaubitze 42 heading to Russia. The armoured vehicles were painted Dunkelgelb insisted in a sensible use of those pastes, always the necessary minimum quantity
RAL 7028 in the factories. Once arrived the camouflage depended on the Commander’s choice. The due to the lack of raw materials and the transport and distribution costs. It was also
paint was supplied in paste form (Olivgrün RAL 6003 and Rotbraun RAL 8017). (waralbum.ru) advised to break the silhouette and the shape of the vehicles through the use of dif-

55
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

BEUTEPANZER
During World War II the Germans made good use of all kind of artillery guns and vehicles
taken from their enemies. Among all those vehicles we need to emphasise the use of
tanks, these were named Beutepanzer. After both the Polish and the Western campaigns,
the captured tanks were mainly used for crew training purposes. Once launched the East-
ern campaign, the Germans understood that in order to fight the Russian tanks it was ab-
solutely necessary equipping their own tanks with much more powerful guns; a temporary
solution consisted in the use of French chassis as self-propelled carriages for installing
their artillery. On the other hand, the Beutepanzer were still on duty for personnel training
purposes and were equally given to police units that combatted the guerrilla groups which
operated in the rear-guard (considered terrorists).

As far as Soviet material was concerned, for the whole 1941, the German captured a huge
quantity although just a part could be repaired. The light tanks were re-used as artillery
tractors or were entrusted secondary tasks. Their usual operating lifetime ended once they
endured serious malfunctions as there were no available spare parts. Nevertheless, both
the T-34 and the KV-1 were highly appreciated. In fact and because the Eastern Front
demanded so many resources, in 1942 the Germans focussed on repairing the captured
T-34. These were sometimes attached to tank destroyer battalions, they were placed in the ferent colours: the best results were achieved by painting big irregular blotches. This
rear areas for the friend fire not to reach them in the middle of the battle. meant a radical change as these somehow new camouflage hues recalled the old
ones used by Reichswehr (Scheme 6).
The units were forced to inform about all material captured from their enemies; then, it was
sent to rear-guard warehouses to be checked and repaired. Next, it was painted German These regulations would also be adopted by the Luftwaffe, and on 1st April 1943
colours and marked with big Balkenkreuze (bar-straight crosses). In spite of those regu- the Luftwaffendienstvorschrift 1943, Nr. 698 (Ordinance of the Air Force in 1943,
lations and mainly due to war conditions, when a first-line unit captured a tank it did not
inform but made good use of it in combats after painting Balkenkreuze or Swastika in the
No. 698), in short L.Dv. 43, Nr. 698, got issued (compared to Heer, there were some
four sides and in the roof. differences). The colour RAL 7028 was named Gelbgrau (yellow grey) and it was
specified that the occupying and reserve forces should paint their vehicles and their
In the Heeres Waffenamt inventory (Weapons and Army Material Department) the vehicles material according to that new rule, the sooner the better, while the units deployed in
coming from war booties were given a German name which identified the kind of vehicle
plus an origin designation, a three-digit code and a tiny letter to show the original country it
came from (the letter appearing bracketed). As far as the tanks are concerned the name in
short was Pz.Kpfw. the number starting by a ‘7’. The Czech ones with a (t) for tschechisch;
Polish ones a (p) for polnisch; the French tanks (f) for französisch; the British vehicles an
(e) for englisch; the Russians an (r) for russisch; the Americans an (a) for amerikanisch and
after the fall of Mussolini, the Italian vehicles were given an (i) for italienisch. In this page. Tank built in the USSR: KV-I (mod. 1940) captured and renamed Pz.Kpfw. KW-I A
753(r) by the Germans. This one was attached to the 1. Kp./Pz.Rgt. 10 8. Pz.Div., for drivers’ training
purposes. (waralbum.ru)

In the following page. Scheme 6. Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 161/2), 1943-1945. Scheme according
to the rule H.M. 43, Nr. 181, made up of a general coat of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 with Rotbraun RAL
8017 and Olivgrün RAL 6003 blotches onto. (Illustration made by the author)

56
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

SCHEME 6

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 161/2), 1943-1945.

57
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

Pz.StuG.Abt. (Pz.Gren.Div.), June 1943 * To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

58
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

On these lines. Usually, the crews were entrusted the camouflage. One of the men in the picture is
gun spraying paint blotches onto the armour of this Jagdpanther tank destroyer. His gun sprayer is con-
nected to an air compressor (waralbum.ru)

Right, above. In the spring 1944, while it was reorganizing in France, Pz.Rgt. 3, 2. Pz.Div. was de-
livered some new tanks. These Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H were camouflaged with a gun sprayer by making
wide paint strokes of Rotbraun RAL 8017 and Olivgrün RAL 6003 or Grün RAL 6007 onto Dunkelgelb
RAL 7028 applied in the factory (waralbum.ru)

Right, below. Radschlepper Ost (Porsche typ 175) with its new camouflage colours. From March 1943
Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 paint turned into a slightly greyish shade, greyer than the previous Dunkelgelb
nach Muster. This photo was taken in 1944. (waralbum.ru)

59
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

ZIMMERIT
During WWII, Germany designed a magnetic antitank mine; as it was dish-shaped it was
named Tellermine. This was used by the infantry troopers and meant a great thread for
armoured vehicles. At the possibility of the enemy using this kind of weapon, in 1943 the
German chemical industry developed and anti-magnetic paste that would be covering the
tanks armour through a shrivelled and rough layer to impede the mines to stick. This prod-
uct was designed and developed by a Berlin firm CWZ (Chemische Werke Zimmer AG)
called Zimmerit. It was light and poorly flammable, easily sticking to metallic surfaces and
could be repaired quite quickly in campaign by the crews. According to a report written by
the British Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee dated in July 1945, the Zimmerit was
made up of 40% barium sulphate, 25% polyvinyl acetate, 15% ochre pigment, 10% zinc
sulphide and 10% wood fibre. The whole was diluted in benzene.

A few stages were necessary for totally apply the product; the armour surface did not
require any previous work, just a layer of anticorrosive paint. Next, using a blade or a
spatula a 2-mm coat was evenly applied. Then it had to dry for almost four hours and it
could be hardened using the flame of a welding torch working at a 5-cm distance; the
high temperatures eased the thinners to evaporate and allowed the paste to stick to the
steel. Then, a second layer was applied, 4-mm thick, which was textured with the spatula
or with some rollers with engraved patterns. After four hours, the welding torch was used
to harden the surface of the Zimmerit and to remove the surplus of dampness. This was
compulsory as with no welding torch it would take eight days to the paste to cure and set,
which was totally unfeasible. Despite all those steps, the tanks exiting the factories had
their composite not completely dry, especially in winter time.
the battlefront should only do it if absolutely necessary. The paint-paste containers
The paste was used for the first time in October 1943, in factories and in campaign work- meant for the Luftwaffe were of two different weighs: the big fifty kilograms ones and
shops. Some authors pointed out that in August it was distributed to factories. It was the small two kilogram containers.
applied to vertical and slightly tilted surfaces, to the hull, the turret, and the casemate of
all armoured vehicles on tracks (except halftracks and self-propelled artillery). That is, all
When the distribution of the paste started and in order to save paint, it was agreed
those areas that could be reached by a man on foot, so a man capable of sticking or fixing
a magnetic mine (Scheme 7). that the old vehicles would not be totally repainted but just added blotches onto.
Dunkelgelb paint was usually applied and evenly distributed (the other shades were
On 7th September 1944, Generaloberst Heinz Wilhelm Guderian signed an Order that
should enter into force immediately. This rule meant the cessation of the Zimmerit appli-
cation. Two days later this file was distributed in the factories producing armoured vehi-
cles. The cause is still unclear, perhaps a false rumour that stated that the rounds hitting In this page. Detail of the Zimmerit that covered the walls of the turret. This was a Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger
the vehicle could cause flame points and turn this product into fire. Another probable Ausf. B attached to the schw. Pz.Abt. 503. (waralbum.ru)
motive was the increase of the weight of all those vehicles covered with Zimmerit which
also involved a larger fuel consumption. It was necessary to make the production much In the following page. Scheme 7. Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 171) tank, autumn 1943. The
simpler, on the other hand the Allies did not use magnetic mines; this stopped the use of
Zimmerit is applied on the armour, the compost did not appear in the horizontal surfaces nor in the
Zimmerit.
Schürzen. This material really increased the weight of the Panther up to 160 kg. (Illustration made by
the author)

60
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

SCHEME 7

Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 171), autumn 1943.

61
62
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

unevenly distributed). Maybe because of this and as the vehicles quitting the facto-
ries painted Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 strongly contrasted with the rest once in situ (the
paint was so light!) the crews were forced to improvise and camouflage these using
mud. Some old colours in stock were used too, particularly Grün RAL 6007 (this one
would be in use until the end of the war) but so many armoured means weren’t paint-
ed any camouflage. It is necessary to point out that some tanks, assault guns and
tank destroyers shown in different colour photographs taken during the 1943-1944
period, were painted light grey just the way they were when they quit the factories.
We suppose that there were stocks of Grau RAL 7027.

As far as Olivgrün RAL 6003 and Rotbraun RAL 8017 were concerned (just as it
happened to Dunkelgelb RAL 7028) the nuance could vary a lot. The German in-
dustry endured the lack of raw materials and the paint manufacturers, from time
to time and depending on availability, were forced to deliver pigments which did
not meet the standards. Therefore, among paint batches the differences could be
significant (especially if they had been produced in different factories). On the other
hand, both the thinner and the paint tools were responsible for the finished look of
the colours. The fuel was the best thinner for paint in paste form as it became long
lasting but the men were in lack of fuel in the battlefront. They usually chose water
which helped (once the paint dried) to avoid abrasion. This paint could only be re-
moved subsequently using petrol. Obviously, it was not safe water and could have
some oil residues (or some liquids) so the paint became a bit more unstable and a
bit less long-lasting. It also depended on the dilution degree of the paste and on the
painting tool (gun sprayers for a thin coat or a few thicker coats of paint applied with
a paintbrush). This made both the colour and the nuance to become quite different.
Grün RAL 6003 could vary from light olive green to dark green while Rotbraun RAL On 1st July 1943 the counting of tanks and assault guns deployed in the Eastern
8017 could change from chestnut light brown to much dark chocolate. Front amounted to 3,524. In that very date, the theoretical organisation of a Pz.Rgt.
consisted of two battalions with four companies each, ninety-six tanks in each bat-
talion and eight tanks in the Regiment HQ Company or Stabskompanie (aka a num-
ber of 200 tanks in each division). Some times and in case of special orders, seven
Flammpanzer (flame-thrower tanks) were added. These instructions were not fulfilled
in practice and so many regiments merely had one battalion with four companies
while in the regiments relying in two battalions, each one had only three companies.
The eastern Front demanded so much material, it was difficult to replace so the ar-
In the previous page. The RAL 6003 and RAL 8017 blotches did not allow the RAL 7028 shade
to appear in the Schürzen of this Sturmhaubitze 42. The shadows of the Zimmerit texture don’t let us ap- moured groups were never completely equipped. In fact, usually there was no avail-
preciate the shape of the blotches in the casemate and the hull. ( JCISAT / F-0163) able material to equip the fourth platoon in each company.

In this page. This small motorbike tractor or kleines Kettenkraftkrad (Sd.Kfz. 2) and the standard trailer The Germans deployed around 2,700 tanks and assault guns preparing Operation
named Sonderanhänger 1 were completely painted Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, this was usual in all vehicles Zitadelle, the Offensive over the great salient that created the front line in the sector
operating in the second line. ( JCISAT / F-0145) of Kursk. Most tanks matched the lasted variants of Pz.Kpfw. III and Pz.Kpfw. IV,

63
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

Panzerregiment, November 1943

64
Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

* To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

65
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

‘Das Reich’, 3. SS-Pz.Div. ‘Totenkopf’, 5. SS-Pz.Div. ‘Wiking’, 9. SS-Pz.Div. ‘Hohen-

staufen’, 10. SS-Pz.Div. ‘Frundsberg’ and 12. SS-Pz.Div. ‘Hitlerjugend’. On the other
hand, Heer’s 18. Pz.Div. was disbanded in October after enduring severe losses in
the Kiev area; the remainders were used to organise the 18. Artilleriedivision (18th
artillery division).

In October 1943, the tanks exited the factories painted Dunkelgelb plus a coat of
Weiss RAL 9002 (white), a sort of winter camouflage. The RAL 9002, which was also
distributed among the units was enough to repaint all the vehicles on duty. This had a
slightly greyish nuance especially if compared to the old RAL 9001. The next spring,
once the ground would not be covered in snow the remainders of white paint would
be removed as usual.

1944-1945, the end

Early 1944, two new armoured divisions were formed, the Panzer-Lehr-Division and
the 116. Pz.Div.; both had their own baptism of fire in Normandy. The first one was
organised earlier that year with instructors and highly qualified staff coming from
different armoured war schools, while the second one was organised with the re-
mainders of the former 16. Pz.Gren.Div. In June 1944, the last Heer’s heavy tanks
battalion, the schw. Pz.Abt. 510 was organised; the Tiger tanks were being gradually
removed from these battalions and had been replaced by new Tiger Ausf. B, ones
also known as Tiger II.

although some Tiger tanks also took active part. At the same time 200 new Panther
medium tanks would be tested in combat. These were mainly attached to independ-
ent 10. Panzerbrigade, a unit created with this particular purpose and attached tem-
porarily to the Pz.Gren.Div. ‘Grossdeutschland’, while a few vehicles were delivered
to Waffen-SS divisions. A new tank destroyer would be tested too, the Ferdinand
one, designed by Porsche. The battle that took place in July and was followed by
a counterattack in August, involved so many important losses (around 1,500 tanks)
that Panzerwaffe never recovered and the initiative was taken over by the Soviets;
In this page. Photographed in the Baltic area in 1944, this Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Ausf. D halftrack has been
from that moment on the III Reich played a defensive role. Meantime, on 25th July,
painted Grün and Rotbraun blotches so just a few tiny areas of original Dunkelgelb are visible. To com-
Mussolini had been forced from power (fifteen days after the Allied landing in Sicilia) plete the camouflage the crew placed some branches onto the armour. (Archives Ricardo Recio)
and, fearing an Italian deception, the Germans sent troops to occupy the north of the
country. The Allied landed in Salerno in September. In the following page. In their way to Rome, these two soldiers of the US Army are checking a
Marder III Ausf. H from 71. Inf. Div. Next to division emblem, a clover, the tactical marking of self-pro-
In fall time, the Waffen-SS divisions were assigned a number and some were pro- pelled antitank company is visible. Some Olivgrün and Rotbraun blotches are applied with a paintbrush
moted to SS-Pz.Div. These ones were renamed 1. SS-Pz.Div. ‘LSSAH’, 2. SS-Pz.Div. onto the Dunkelgelb coat. This created a motley camouflage. (waralbum.ru)

66
67
 The Battle of Kursk had took place the previous year and from that moment on the
German forces had been bound to gradually retreat. In April 1944, the Germans left
Crimea and crossed River Bug in the southern USSR. The Allied slowly progressed
in Italy, Rome fell on 4th June 1944. Two days later, the Allied landed in Normandy, a
few divisions were transferred from the East to France. On 22nd June, the Red Army
launched a massive attack over Belarus that broke the front, the Group of Armies
Centre was destroyed and the Group of Armies North was forced to retreat to avoid
the siege. The Russian Forces reached the gates of Warsaw in July and entered
Eastern Prussia and the Balkans in August. On 25th August, Paris was liberated.
Technically the III Reich had lost the War.

The German factories were enduring much fierce air raids, this disrupted the ar-
moured vehicles’ production. There had been problems with deliveries and serious
lack of raw materials. Until then, each company should rely on 22 tanks but, on 1st
April, the quantity was reduced to 17. In September, the theoretical organigram of a
Pz.Div. was made up of one armoured regiment with an HQ Company (eight tanks),
two battalions, one of these equipped with a Panther (L/70) and the other one with
a Panzer IV (L/48) or a Panzer IV (L/70), each battalion with an HQ Company (eight
tanks), four combat companies with seventeen tanks each (fourteen from November)
and a service company; two regiments of motorized (mechanized) infantry with two
battalions each, one artillery regiment, a tank destroyer battalion, a reconnaissance
battalion, one engineer (Pionierbataillon) battalion, an antiaircraft artillery battalion,
a signal (Nachrichtenabteilung) group, a field replacement battalion (Feldersatz-
bataillon); a surgery medical battalion, an administration detachment, a transports
detachment, a workshop and a postal service. Despite the tanks production had
gradually increased, in practice the required conditions were not met and the num-
ber of armoured means was never large enough to cover the battlefront needs. Be-
sides, more and more often, the knocked-out tanks were replaced by assault guns

In this page. The Zimmerit pattern we know nowadays and which was named Waffel was of common
use in assault guns and howitzers made by Alkett like this late StuG. III Ausf. G. There was ochre pig-
ment in the composition so once the Zimmerit got chipped or detached because of shrapnel the contrast
with Dunkelgelb paint was not really evident. (Archives Ricardo Recio)

In the following page. The air supremacy of the Allied forces in Normandy nearly impeded the
movement of the German vehicles in daylight. The best method to mask the material for this not to be
identified or to go unnoticed was to cover it with branches, like this StuG. III Ausf. G. (waralbum.ru)

68
69
70
(the production was much quicker and cheaper) and so many Pz.Div. were partially
equipped with those assault guns. At the end the number of tanks in each company
was reduced to ten.

Late 1944 the StuG.Abt., then named Sturmartilleriebrigaden (assault artillery bri-
gades) started to be reorganised de facto like real brigades, equipped with forty-five
assault guns or a mix of assault guns and tank destroyers and a Begleit-Grenadier-
batterie (battery of supporting grenadiers).

For the whole 1944, the supplies were getting more and more scarce, the III Reich
was enduring fiercest Allied air raids. The production of both fuel and weapons got
affected. When the combat units were delivered new vehicles these were exclusively
painted Dunkelgelb, as we have written before. The harassed units really had very
little time and energy to paint camouflage blotches (in addition, paint was rarely
available). The first thing the crews did was tying branches to the armour or the hull
to hide the vehicles from the enemies’ aviation. A provisory solution that showed
to be quite effective anyway. Besides, the campaign workshops in the rear-guard
had also very little time, the men could repair the vehicles but could not paint them
before sending them back to the first line. In August, the Heeres Waffenamt ordered
the manufacturers to deliver all armoured vehicles already painted with camouflage
blotches (onto the general Dunkelgelb layer some big blotches with well-defined
edges painted Olivgrün and Rotbraun). On the other hand, it was necessary to stand-
ardise the camouflages so a bunch of specifications was prepared focusing on three
basic schemes meant for different seasons.

In the previous page. The best method to mask an armoured vehicle or at least to make the identifica-
tion so difficult was to cover it with branches, tied with a wire along the surface, just like this StuG. III
Ausf. G. See, close to it, a destroyed Russian tank T-34/76 model 1943. ( JCISAT / F-0141)

In this page. Artillery material captured by the Allied Forces in Normandy. Note onto the Dunkelgelb
layer Rotbraun RAL 8017 and Grün RAL 6007 (dark green shade), or Rotbraun RAL 8017 and Olivgrün
RAL 6003 (medium green shade) camouflage blotches. The self-propelled ones are solely painted RAL
7028 and RAL 6007. (Archives DBA)

71
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

Schwere Panzerabteilung, August 1944 *To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

72
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

On these lines. In the mudguard of this Mercedes-Benz 170V (W36) a shield with a black bison (this
was the insignia of the schw. Pz.Abt. 508). This car, like the Pz.Kpfw. Tiger Ausf. E in the background
were painted Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, Grün 6007 and Rotbraun 8017. (waralbum.ru)

Right, above. Like some other tanks belonging to the 26. Pz.Div. photographed in Italy, this early
Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H had a complicated camouflage with smudges and bits of Grün and Rotbraun distrib-
uted in a random way to darken the general look. (waralbum.ru)

Right, below. This photo was taken in Belgium in December 1944, this late Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf.
G has a three-colour pattern designed for the end of the summer and the beginning of the autumn. The
position of the crosses, in both sides of the turret is quite unusual. (waralbum.ru)

73
 The first one was meant for the end of the summer and the beginning of the autumn
and consisted in big Olivgrün RAL 6003 and Rotbraun RAL 8017 blotches distributed
over a layer of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, so each colour would cover approximately 1/3 of
the vehicle surface. These blotches had to be completed with a mottled pattern of each
colour onto the shade which was placed next. This scheme would be known as Hinter-
halt (ambush) and simulated the chiaroscuro effect produced by the sun rays through
the foliage and was excellent to hide the tanks in the middle of the forest (Scheme 8).

The second one was meant for the late autumn till the end of the winter period and
was made up of a general layer of Weiss RAL 9002 which had to totally cover the ve-
hicle although some complementary blots were allowed using some different hues.
This scheme was a perfect one for all grounds covered by snow.

The third one was thought for springtime and early summer, and consisted of a RAL
6003 base with big RAL 8017 blotches and thin RAL 7028 lines. The final general
colour was pretty dark, excellent when vegetation was so lush.

At the end of August a great number of armoured vehicles were exiting the factories
painted the first scheme (sometimes with no mottled pattern at all, this probably
to be on time or to save paint). This caused that in September, only Dunkelgelb
and Olivgrün hues were applied (sometimes just the first one) directly painted onto
the antirust primer Rot RAL 8012 (brownish red) that covered the armour plates. In
November, the third scheme was being applied in the factories. The camouflage
blotches could be painted with a big flat paintbrush or with a gun sprayer (usually
a gun sprayer); the highly qualified personnel was entrusted this kind of work. They
worked with the paint gun sprayer and made good use of stencils and templates so
the edges of the blotches were not blurred but precise and sharp. In any case, the
serious lack of raw materials make the compliance of the rule so difficult and a great
number of tanks exit the factories solely painted Dunkelgelb or added Dunkelgelb
blots onto the Rot primer.

In this page. The outstanding air supremacy of the Allied forces reduced the movements of the Ger-
man vehicles during the day, as once these were in movement it was quite simple to spot them. This
Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. J was destroyed in France by US aviation. (waralbum.ru)

In the following page. Scheme 8. Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182) tank, 1944-1945. Camou-
flage scheme for the spring or the beginning of the summer. Big blotches and small specks are mixed
using the following colours: Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, Rotbraun RAL 8017 and Olivgrün RAL 6003. (Il-
lustration made by the author)

74
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

SCHEME 8

Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182), 1944-1945.

75
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

Panzerregiment, November 1944

76
Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

* To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

77
78
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

Because of that lack of raw materials, the manufacturers had been ordered on 25th
August to stop painting the inner part of the tanks and assault guns (just a coat of
primer: Rot RAL 8012). Obviously it gave rise of all sorts of complaints and on 23rd
January 1945 it was ordered to paint the inner part of the Panzer turrets using Elfen-
bein RAL 1001. As far as the StuG. were concerned, the area from the line of the
mudguards to the roof of the casemate was painted too.

In October, the Fallschirm-Panzerkorps ‘HG’ (parachutist armoured corps ‘HG’) was

organised with two divisions, the one called Fsch.Pz.Div. 1 ‘HG’ and the recently
formed Fsch.Pz.Gren.Div. 2 ‘HG’. Two months later, the Panzerkorps ‘GD’ (armoured
corps ‘GD’) was formed: this was made up of the Pz.Gren.Div. ‘GD’ and the Pz.Gren.
Div. ‘Brandenburg’.

On 16th December the German launched a brave attack over the Ardennes, the Op-
eration Wacht am Rhein (lookout in the Rhine). At that very moment the number of
tanks operating in the Western Front added up to 1,216. The first advance was suc-
cessful but soon the Operation got bogged down when the fuel was scarce and this
forced the units to retreat to the starting point. The battle lasted a month and a half
and the last reserves got exhausted; around 610 tanks and assault guns got lost.
Anyway, these would be much more necessary in the Eastern Front as the Soviets
had launched the offensive by the mid-January.

In 1945, the organization chart of the Panzerdivisionen had to be re-structured to

adapt to the available vehicles: one of those two battalions in each armoured regi-
ment was turned into a Panzergrenadiere or mechanized infantry, with no tanks,
while the other one (presumably) should be organized having four companies (two
In the previous page. Daimler-Benz premises, October 1944. Equipped with viewer and infrared
Panzer IV and two Panther companies). In practice, all vehicles of any kind and able
projector FG1250. This Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G has been added Olivgrün and Dunkelgelb blotches
and specks right onto the antirust Rot RAL 8012 primer. The primer is clearly noticeable in the wheels.
to shoot, were attached to these Panzerabteilungen, more particularly the StuG. III.
(waralbum.ru) assault guns. This new structure removed any formal differences between a Pz.Div.
and a Pz.Gren.Div.
In this page. Eastern Prussia, March 1945. This old Sd.Kfz. 7/1 was painted Dunkelgrau RAL 7021
in the factory; under a worn coat of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, the old hue is noticeable. In one side of the On 2nd January 1945 a new Ordinance was in vigour, H.M. 45, Nr. 52, which ruled the
hood the number “307” has been labelled inside a circle. The windshield and the cab are covered with military vehicles newly manufactured and regulated the use of RAL 6003 as a base
a camouflage fabric named Zeltbahn. (waralbum.ru) colour instead of RAL 7028. On the other hand, the use of RAL 7028 was specifically

79
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

In January 1945 the Führer Begleitbrigade and the Führer Grenadierbrigade, cre-
ated the last autumn were promoted (exclusively in name) to Panzerdivisonen. From
January to March some new armoured units were formed with personnel from re-
serve and training units or from remainders of some destroyed divisions and were
assigned a reduced number of armoured vehicles. Some of these such as Pz.Div.
‘Holstein’, ‘Schleisen’ (‘Döberitz’) and ‘Jüterbog’, were torn apart to reinforce the bat-
tered units deployed in the front line of the battle, while the 232. Pz.Div. (‘Tatra’) was
annihilated a few weeks after reaching the battlefront. Some other such as Pz.Gren.
Div. ‘Kurmark’ or Pz.Div. ‘Müncheberg’, would combat until the survivors were taken
prisoners at the end of the war. In March, the Pz.Div. ‘FHH 1’ and the Pz.Div. ‘FHH 2’
were formed using the remainders of both the Pz.Gren.Div. ‘Feldherrnhalle’ and the
13. Pz.Div. (both destroyed in Budapest). April 1945 saw the start of Pz.Div. ‘Clause-
witz’ organisation although this unit was still incomplete in May. The last months
and weeks were chaotic, Kampfgruppen (groups of combat) were organised with
remainders of units destroyed in combat; these groups were mainly improvised and
consisted of infantry units supported by some tanks or assault guns. In fact, during
that confusing period the organic structure had disappeared.

On 7th May 1945, a week after Hitler committed suicide, Generaloberst Alfred Jodl,
Chief of the General Staff for the High Command of the Armed Forces (OKW), signed
in front of the Allies the instruments of the Wehrmacht’s unconditional surrender; the
operations would cease on 8th May 1945 at 23:01 P.M. It was estimated that, at that
very moment, the Panzerwaffe still counted on around 2,900 armoured vehicles.

forbidden for all big vehicles as these became too noticeable and visible from the
air when they were transported in railway platforms. The rule equally focussed on
multicolour camouflage schemes and stated that Olivgrün RAL 6003, Rotbraun RAL
8017 and Gelb RAL 7028 Ausgabe 1944 (yellow RAL 7028 variant 1944) should be
applied in order each colour would cover the same area as the other hues. The refer-
ence to Gelb RAL 7028 Ausgabe 1944 lead us to think of the lack of ochre pigment
(huge reserves got lost in France and Italy), so in 1944 the necessary quantity of
Dunkelgelb paint could not be produced. To solve this issue and from that moment
on, the composition of the paint had to be altered to cover the needs and that made
In this page. This Jagdpanzer 38 (Sd.Kfz. 138/2) Hetzer tank destroyer was photographed in the Skoda
the shade to significantly vary. Despite the chaos caused by the massive raids some
premises in Pilsen at the end of the war. The three-colour camouflage pattern was achieved by high-
manufacturers started to meet the regulations although they usually were forced to qualified personnel that made good use of stencils. Next to the front peephole, three black fake peep-
adapt to both the paint and the means’ availability. That is, so many armoured vehi- holes have been painted to fool the enemy shooters. (waralbum.ru)
cles exited the manufactures exclusively painted Dunkelgelb or added Dunkelgelb
and Olivgrün blotches (or diverse green hues from different origins) applied directly In the following page. Germany, March 1945, an American soldier carefully checking an abandoned
onto the Rot RAL 8012 primer. It seemed that from time to time, the old Dunkelgrau Panzerjäger Jagdpanther. The tank destroyer was painted Olivgrün RAL 6003 in the factory but because
RAL 7021 was used to make camouflage blots in some three-colour schemes. of the paint applied randomly, the Rot RAL 8012 primer is still visible in some areas. (Archives DBA)

80
81
 Hitler, III Reich and the WWII

Panzerregiment, November 1944

82
Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

* To identify the vehicles, go to page 126

83
84
 Panzerwaffe Tarnfarben (1917-1945)

CAMOUFLAGE SCHEMES
AND UNITS’ EMBLEMS
In all those pages previous to this chapter, we have made a further revision on the
colours used by the German Army during the 1914-1945 period. These shades
were mainly used to camouflage vehicles and artillery guns. From 1937, there
were different ordinances or guidelines issued from OKH referring to the use of
paints. In spite of so many changes made, a result of the experience in wartime,
there was a certain agreement about the patterns in use. In the last part of World
War II some armoured vehicles were painted camouflage patterns that reminded
the schemes applied to Sturmpanzerwagen (assault tanks) during WWI.

During World War I it became evident that applying camouflage to artillery guns was B.A.K.P. 20 headquarters was assigned their camouflage. Sometimes, they were
absolutely necessary. After conducting experiences with different shades, it was able to achieve quite complicated and fancy patterns.
agreed that the best ones were Ocker, Grün and Braun. There was no compulsory
law in the Army regarding the painting standards so the universal Feldgrau colour, In 1923, during the Reichswehr period, a pattern was ruled for every military vehicle
used to paint all material, could substantially vary depending on manufacturers and made up of blotches and using colours reminding the ones in use during the War,
batches. This statement is true if we consider a few complementary colours which this time named Erdgelb, Grün and Braun. That pattern was in vigour until 1937; a
were, so often, the only ones available at a very particular moment in a very particu- couple of years after the forming of the Wehrmacht, new colours such as Dunkelgrau
lar location. As far as the assault tanks are concerned, at the beginning, these were and Dunkelbraun were introduced. The new scheme showed to be excellent to hide
painted with any material or shade on hand. Soon after, the personnel deployed in the material either in the shadows of the buildings or in the woods but was much
inappropriate when in open field. In any case, it was a lesser evil as Panzerwaffe
had been developing at a dizzying pace during the Blitzkrieg. For the whole Eastern
campaign, the old colours were employed to paint camouflage blotches.
In the previous page. The heavy Jagdtiger tank destroyers were built from February 1944 to May
1945. These were delivered to schw. Pz.Jäg.Abt. 512 and 653. The pictured one had been in the schw.
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 653. The blotches of the camouflage scheme had been directly gun sprayed onto the Rot Later, the course of events led to substantially change the camouflages. In 1943, the
RAL 8012 primer. (waralbum.ru) use of a new universal standardized colour was ruled; we are referring to Dunkelgelb
which was meant to be added some blotches of Rotbraun and Olivgrün at the discre-
In this page. When the Dunkelgelb was put in use, the vehicles on duty were camouflaged with Dunkel- tion of the unit Commander. So many times, the camouflage patterns depended on
gelb blotches painted onto the old shades. This Waffen-SS Sd.Kfz. 250/1 was painted at first Dunkelgrau the availability of these two colours, so in 1944 the OKH ordered the manufacturers to
and Grün or Dunkelbraun. (waralbum.ru) deliver already camouflaged vehicles and to use Olivgrün paint as background colour.

85
 7,7 cm leichte Feld Kanone (l.F.K.) 16, Western Front, 1917

On these lines. The research ordered by the Reichsheer Command referred to cam- was camouflaged, using a paintbrush, with blotches of three different colours. Prob-
ouflage of artillery pieces was undertaken in the 1916-1917 period. The air observa- ably two different shades of Lehmgelb, lighter and darker ones, along with Rotbraun.
tion revealed that the best colours for the material to go unnoticed were Braun, Grün It is feasible that the shades were Lehmgelb, Rotbraun and Grün.
y Ocker so the use of these shades became general and usual. Nevertheless, very The Abt. 1 was the only detachment which used a unit emblem: skull and crossbones
often, it was necessary to take into consideration available shades. Usually two or appearing in the bow of all assault tanks. In May, this unit adopted the number system
three different colours were applied to paint the camouflage blotches. Sometimes which was already in use in the detachments equipped with captured tanks. A small
these blotches were profiled with some black paint like in the light 7.7-cm calibre cam- number, that showed the position of the tank in the unit, was outlined in both sides
paign gun model 1916. Notice the following shades: Braun, Grün, Ocker and original and was surrounded by a big ring. As it was the first detachment, both the ring and the
Feldgrau separated by black lines. This scheme was applied frequently to the steel number were painted white. The national emblem, the Eisernes Kreuz or Iron Cross,
helmets worn by assault troopers and from September 1918 it was in use in tanks too was put in both the right and the left of the ring and the rear part of the hull and also in
(obviously with much bigger blotches). the big aeration grilles in the roof (oversized) in order to ease the identification (for both
aviators and German artillery watchers). This A7V had also two crosses in the bow,
In the following page. This vehicle, from the second production batch, exited the one at each side of the gun. Early October 1918 a new model of cross was adopted,
Daimler factory painted medium Feldgrau. It was delivered to Abt. 1 in April 1918 and the Balkenkreuz or straight cross (Greek).

86
A7V Sturmpanzerwagen 562 “Herkules”, Abteilung 1, River Matz, France, 9 June 1918

87
 Schwerer Kampfwagen (Beute), Abt. 12, Briey, France, September 1918

The two 6-pounder British guns were replaced in the Beutepanzer Male by some 5.7-cm which can be identified because of the red colour of the ring-shaped tactical marking. A
Maxim Nordenfelt (same model as the ones in the A7V). As the shields were smaller than particular hue had been assigned to each detachment Abt. 11 (white), Abt. 12 (red), Abt.
the original ones, the gaps between the shields and the armour had to be sealed using 13 (yellow), Abt. 14 (blue), Abt. 15 (green) and Abt. 16 (brown). The armoured vehicle had
steel stripes. On the other hand, the ball mount of the front machine-gun was adapted a new camouflage scheme named Buntfarben Anstrich, made up of Feldgrau, Rotbraun
to assemble a 13-mm Tankgewehr antitank rifle. Besides, the difficulty of adapting the and Ocker blotches outlined by Schwarz lines. It was an early variant of the pattern so
side ball mount to assemble the German MG 08 machine-guns forced to keep the none of the colour stood out and the blotches had a pretty irregular shape. The national
British Lewis. These had to be converted to shoot 7.92-mm German ammunition. The emblems (the Iron Crosses) were present in the sides, in the front and the rear parts of
illustration shows one of these tanks, more particularly the second tank in Abteilung 12, the hull and on the casemate’s roof (see further detail).

88
 A7V Geländewagen, A.K.K.(R) 1111, north of France, April 1918
The Geländewagen, also known as Überlandwagen, was a vehicle on tracks devoted The Geländewagen were only painted Feldgrau (the illustration shows the darker va-
to the transport of supplies and ammunition. This is one of the eight vehicles, with riant of this hue) and had the number of the chassis labelled white in both the front
chassis numbered 508 to 515, which were attached to the first experimental transport and the rear parts of the chassis and the imperial eagle in the sides of the loading
column named Armee-Kraftwagen-Kolonne (Raupe) 1111 or 1111 Army Automobile platforms. Some of those vehicles had registration numbers painted in both bow and
Column (on tracks). The unit was formed late September 1917 and was sent to the stern (left side) but not in this case. The A.K.K. (R) 1111 emblem was a white octagon
north of France in November where it was on duty until the end of the War. with a slender Swastika inside. Besides, this drawing can be found in both the front
and the rear parts of the loading platform but this time to the right. We can see a white
“3” figure in the sides of the cab. That means this was the third vehicle of the column.

89
 A7V Sturmpanzerwagen 504 “Schnuck”, Abteilung 2, Fremicourt, France, 31st August 1918

90
 Schwerer Kampfwagen (Beute) 155, Kokampf, Leipzig, Germany, 19th May 1919

In the previous page. Until September 1918 there was no default camouflage As we had written, the white colour matched the Abt. 1 while the red hue matched the
scheme, the shape of the blotches painted in the armour was pretty irregular. This Abt. 2. Theoretically the yellow shade matched the Abt. 3, but a numbering identifica-
A7V from the first production batch and with Krupp armour shows the usual set of tion system was never used.
colours: big blotches of Lehmgelb and Rotbraun onto a general layer of Feldgrau.
A usual practice was giving the tanks their own names, the A7V with chassis num- On these lines. This is one of the Beutepanzer or booty tanks Mk. IV Female employed
ber 504 was given the name of “Schnuck”, labelled white in the upper right corner by the Kokampf. In all the Mk. IV the original Lewis machine-guns had been modified
of the bow and the upper left corner of the stern. to shoot German rounds but this vehicle is equipped with Maschinengewehr 08 or
The assault tanks in the Abteilung 2 had Roman figures labelled, from “I” to “V”, to MG 08, the Reichsheer standard machine-gun. On the other hand, it has no charac-
identify their position in the unit. From April to May these numerals were white and teristic rails to cut wire fences usually along the upper part of the hull. It is painted
were put, in duplicate, in the front and the rear parts of the hull, in both sides of the the multicolour camouflage scheme, according to regulations issued in September
crosses. Before the end of May the numbers were removed and were outlined in the 1918, named Buntfarben Anstrich. That pattern consisted of big blotches in three or
centre of each side armour plate, just where the cross had been drawn. Then the four different colours outlined with Schwarz; the hues appearing in the illustration are
inside was filled with red, the shade that matched the Abt. 2. New Iron Crosses were Feldgrau, Rotbraun, light Lehmgelb and dark Lehmgelb. Behind the sponsons, in both
painted in the sides of the numbers, so there were two crosses in each side, one in sides, there is a skull with crossbones which was the Freikorps emblem. Just in front
the front, one in the rear part and two in the roof. of these, a white frame with the phrase Kokampf Nr. 155 Abt. 01 is visible.

91
 Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 101), Panzergruppe Drohne, Madrid, (Spain), December 1936

A Heer contigent operating in Spain under the code name Gruppe Imker (Beekeeper and twenty-one Panzer I Ausf. B in the third company. Each company had three sec-
Group) was attached to Panzergruppe Drohne (Armoured Group Drone), also known tions of five tanks and a command tank, the remainders were supposed to cover the
as Panzergruppe Thoma after the family name of the Commander. The Group was losses.
made up of personnel coming from Pz.Rgt. 6 of 3. Pz.Div. Then, a contingent from These tanks were camouflaged according to regulations dated on 1933. Also, Span-
the Pz.Rgt. 4 of 2. Pz.Div. joined them. In December 1936 it had HQ coy, three tanks ish Monarchic flags were painted in the front and the rear in order to minimize the risk
companies, a transport company, a workshop company, a training antitank unit and of these vehicles to be mistaken with those employed by the enemy. During the first
an armoury. Along with different transport vehicles and 37-mm antitank guns, it also part of the war, the Panzer I was also painted a rhomboid in the rear of the combat
had three Command Panzer I, thirty-eight Panzer I model A (one of these with no up- chamber whose colour could vary depending on the company. The position of the
per structure, for the drivers’ training) split into the first and the second companies vehicle in the company was shown by a white lettering labelled in the glacis.

92
 Sd.Kfz. 11, non-identified unit, Germany, 1937
This artillery tractor (medium calibre) with 3-ton capability was named leichter Zug- so the edges of the blotches got blurred. On the left front mudguard, the pennant
kraftwagen 3t (Sd.Kfz. 11). It shows a Buntfarben Anstrich scheme. The pattern, used during the training exercises is visible. For the whole period, a few units as-
which had been specified in the regulations issued in 1933 consisted of Grün Nr. signed a letter to each vehicle in accordance with its position in the group; these
28, Braun Nr. 18 and Erdgelb Nr. 17 blotches. The last hues had also been distrib- letters were usually painted white in the front part (sometimes in both sides and in
uted along the canvases that covered the upper part of the cabin and the loading the rear part) so probably this halftrack had a letter labelled in the front right mud-
platform to equally camouflage them. The paint was applied with a gun sprayer tool guard.

93
 Sd.Kfz. 232 (6-Rad), 2. Pz.Div., Vienna, Austria, March 1938
This was one of the Heer armoured vehicles that took active part in the parade Anstrich camouflage (that is before the 1937 regulations) made up of Grün Nr.
which took place after the Anschluss (annexation). Austria became a province of 28, Braun Nr. 18 and Erdgelb Nr. 17 blotches which had been outlined with thin
the III Reich in March 1938. This is a schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Fu) or heavy Schwarz Nr. 5 lines made with a gun sprayer. The vehicle had no markings or
armoured vehicle devoted to reconnaissance and equipped with a radio station. emblems only the Heer registration number “WH-36075” under the radiator grille
There are no weapons in the turret. Both the 20-mm KwK 30 gun and the MG 34 and in the rear mudguards. Some red circular markings can be appreciated in the
machine-gun had been disassembled before the parade in order to emphasize registration plates: it was the Feldpostnummer or the number of the post office
the pacific character of the event. The vehicle had been painted a Buntfarben given to every unit.

94
 Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. A, non-identified unit, Poland, September 1939

On 13th July 1939 the Inspektorate 6 (Inspectorate for armoured and motorised units) Pz.Abt., in one of four leichte Divisionen. The tactical number, painted in the screwed
ordered that a white Balkenkreuz was painted in the four sides of all kind of armoured plates in both sides and the rear part of the hull, showed that it was the first tank of
German vehicles. As far as the tanks and the command tanks were concerned a white the first section of the four company (to be read from right to left). In both sides of
rectangle had also to be added on the rear engine deck for these to be identified by the turret the tactical marking of the armoured unit is outlined, a “Panzerraute” (sche-
the aviators. During the Polish campaign it became evident that the white crosses matic drawing of a tank) with the company colour inside. Historically, in Heer, 1st and
were too eye-catching and therefore attracted the fire of enemy’s antitank guns so 5th Companies were given the white shade, 2nd and 6th were given red, 3rd and 7th were
many crews repainted them yellow, Dunkelgrau or covered them with a coat of mud. given yellow and blue was meant for both 4th and 8th companies. It is odd: the “Panzer-
This Panzer 38(t) camouflaged in Dunkelgrau and Dunkelbraun was attached to a raute” is in an inverted position in the left side.

95
 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. B (Vs.Kfz. 622), 5. Pz.Div., Opatow, Poland, September 1939

The quantity of available Panzer IV operating in Poland was so scarce that each armoured make a distinction between Pz.Rgt. 15 and Pz.Rgt. 31. In the illustration: yellow markings
brigade could only rely on twenty-four vehicles, twelve in every regiment. These were in both sides and the rear part of the turret plus a vertical yellow line in upper rear part of
split in two sections of three tanks each in every battalion of these two ones attached to the hull. The white crosses are placed between the visors in the front hull and in the sides
each regiment. This vehicle belonged to 5. Pz.Div., one of the few armoured groups that and the rear part of the turret; these were some sort of national emblem. The rear engine
used specific marks during the campaign. Its tanks had some yellow rhomboids painted deck of the tank has not been pictured as in that particular period, not all the armoured
in the turret, sometimes crossed by a black centred line coming from top to bottom, to vehicles had a white rectangle for air identification painted there.

96
 Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C (Sd.Kfz. 121), Pz.Rgt. 15, 5. Pz.Div., Germany, early 1940
After the Polish experience, on 26th October a new order issued from the In 6 forced (yellow, later named Gelb RAL 1006) in all motor vehicles, including armoured ones
the erasing of the front cross in all armoured vehicles. On the other hand, the design of this kind of units. No bigger than 10x10-cm. Along with these specifications there
of the Balkenkreuz varied: the centre had to be open like the ones in the Luftwaffe air- were a list of markings used to identify every Pz.Div.
planes and be made up of four white stripes, L-shaped, about 2.5-cm wide. These 25- The Panzer II in the illustration camouflaged with Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 and Dunkelbraun
cm crosses (in each side) should be painted in the sides and in the rear superstructure Nr. 45, had been added the 5. Pz.Div. emblem in four sides; it was a Y-shaped inversed
of the hull (so not in the turret). rune followed by a dot. There was also a lion in the sides of the turret; this could match
On 1st November 1939, the In 6 issued a new Ordinance, this time referred to identifi- a Pz.Rgt. 15. unofficial emblem. After the campaign in the West this regiment was the
cation symbols for Panzerdivisionen. These would be immediately outlined using Gelb nucleus to form the new 11. Pz.Div.

97
 Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 101), 7. Pz.Div., Sivry, Belgium, May 1940

On these lines. This Panzer I Ausf. B had been painted Dunkelgrau and Dunkelbraun. In the following page. In 1940 the kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen I Ausf. B was a small
A bright yellow canvas had been tied to the rear deck. The Balkenkreuze, with their command tank based on the Panzer I Ausf. B which had become outdated. This ve-
own centre filled with black (for reducing their visibility) appear in the sides and the hicle in particular had been turned into an ambulance tank to be exclusively used by
rear part of the hull while, in four sides, there is a yellow inverted-Y rune followed by a medical officer appointed at Pz.Rgt. 35 or Pz.Rgt. 36, the two Panzerregimenter in
three dots which served as 7. Panzerdivision emblem. The red numbers are labelled the 4. Panzerdivision at that time. The unit emblem is visible in four sides; the vehicle
in the sides of the turret: they have been added some white rim in order to ease iden- had no weapons. There are many red crosses inside white circles, these drawings had
tification. been added even onto the old Balkenkreuze in the sides of the casemate. Besides,
there is a white rectangle for air identification on the engine deck.
98
Sanitätspanzer (Sd.Kfz. 265), 4. Pz.Div., France, May 1940

99
 StuG. III Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 142), Artillerie-Lehr-Regiment, Jüterbog, Germany, 1941-1942
The Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. B built by the firm Alkett with chassis number Fgst. Nr. oak leaves. This hallmark outlined using red and white can be found in the front
90111, was pictured in Jüterbog, in the premises of the Artillerie-Lehr-Regiment left mudguard and in the front plate of the casemate, close to the driver’s Fahr-
(Regiment made up of training and demonstrating units) showing a “tropical” camou- ersehklappe. In the same plate but in the right corner, notice a big A-lettering that
flage pattern. This was made up of clouds painted Graugrün RAL 7008 gun sprayed showed it was the first assault gun in this battery. The illustration includes a detail
onto a general Gelbbraun RAL 8000 layer in accordance with the regulations H.M. in the rear part of the vehicle; it is a sort of interpretation on the way the hallmarks
41, Nr. 281. The emblem of the unit was a bombard (old bomb) surrounded by some should have been placed in that area.

100
 Horch Kfz. 15, 4. Pz.Div., Ukraine, June 1941

This medium off-road passenger car has been assigned to one of the medical of- digits each with a blank space for these to be easily read. The Feldpostnummer is
ficers that were on duty in Schützenregiment 12 or Schützenregiment 33, both rifle inside the registration plate printed red. The Red Cross hallmarks painted Weiss
regiments and both motorised ones (motorised infantry) and which were a part of RAL 9001 and Rot RAL 3000 (red) are placed close to the registration plates, in the
4. Panzerdivision. The emblem of the division used by 1940 is visible in the right side rear doors (in some similar vehicles these could appear in the front doors and
front mudguard painted Gelb RAL 1006 (it appeared in some vehicles even in 1941 probably in the hood canopy too). The camouflage is made up of winding bands
and would be in use again during the 1944-45 period). Under the emblem there painted Grün RAL 6007, gun sprayed onto the original Dunkelgrau RAL 7021
is a generic tactical marking for motorised infantry units painted Weiss RAL 9001 applied in the factory. Using the gun sprayer makes the colour transition much
followed by a number “1” that matched the first company. These hallmarks are smoother and the edges of the blotches can be blurred. The Grün colour was not
repeated in the rear part of the vehicle. The registration plates (painted in the front in use any more by November 1938 but could be employed to draw camouflage
right mudguard and in the left side of the hatchback or rear door) had the letter- blots in some vehicles and tanks which took active part in Marita Operation by
ing “WH” labelled in black and are followed by six figures (the lettering matching April 1941 (the invasion of the Balkans and Greece) and in Barbarossa Operation
Wehrmacht and Heer). As usual, the figures are reunited in two groups of three in June. The hue was in use until the end of the War.
101
 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F (Sd.Kfz. 161), Pz.Rgt. 31, 5. Pz.Div., Ukraine, March 1942

This Panzer IV Ausf. F exited the factory painted Gelbbraun RAL 8000, it was garde of the turrets sides. The new insignia adopted in 1941 by 5. Panzerdivision,
attached to Panzerregiment 31 and was camouflaged with a gun sprayer (along a yellow “X” interchangeably painted onto a black or a red background, can be
with some other vehicles) by adding thin irregular lines using Dunkelgrau RAL seen in the front, the sides and the rear part of the hull. Next to some division
7021. In the right side of the upper structure of the hull, just above the aerial emblems appearing in the sides and the rear part there is a Balkenkreuz with its
protective wooden trough or channel, it had been added some black Fahrgestell- inner part filled with black paint. Finally, the tactical number is labelled only in
nummer (chassis number) 82273, whose figures are up to 4-cm high. both sides of the turret, on the visors’ covers using red to make a tiny drawing.
The aforementioned armoured regiment had a complicated insignia named “Rot In this case “451”, to be read from the right to the left, meant the first tank, fifth
Teufel” (red devil), drawn inside a black or grey rectangle placed in the avant- section, fourth company.
102
 Sd.Kfz.7/1, Heer non-identified unit, Caucasus, summer 1942
In springtime 1942, as it had already happened during the operations that took place in few units took active part in the “Fall Blau” Operation with their own vehicles covered with
the peninsula of Crimea in 1941, so many vehicles painted Dunkelgrau were camouflaged mud layers: the mud had been applied with a big flat paintbrush or with some different
using mud. This was a really efficient way to camouflage the vehicles: once the mud dried brushes or simply with the fingers. Note the medium 8-ton tractor equipped with a 20-mm
the shade mimicked so efficiently the colours in the environment. By the summer 1942, a quad anti-aircraft gun or mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t mit 2cm Flakvierling.

103
 Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L (Sd.Kfz. 141/1), Pz.Abt. 18, 18. Pz.Div., Orel, Russia, January 1943

When the 18. Pz.Div. was formed in October 1940 it was at first equipped with Tauch- insignia and the official insignia of the Division, a Y-shaped rune crossed by three
panzer (diving tanks) for the foreseen although never come true invasion of Great horizontal bars. We need to point out that the Pz.Rgt. 18 only relied on one Pz.Abt.
Britain. That’s why Pz.Rgt. 18 adopted an insignia made up of a shield with the char- since the spring 1942. The ‘wear and tear’ is quite visible in the photograph: a part of
acteristic Panzertruppen skull but placed onto winding lines that depicted the water the running gear, the mudguards, the gun, the commander’s cupola are missed along
in the English Channel. When the unit was delivered the usual tanks this emblem was with the “Rommelkiste” that should be screwed in the rear part of the turret. This unit
still in use. tanks had their emblems and their numbering put in the rear part of this stowage bin
The illustration is based on a photograph of a tank destroyed by the Soviets; a Panzer that’s why we have depicted them this way. The position of the Balkenkreuze is the
III Ausf. L camouflaged with Braun RAL 8020 and Grau RAL 7020. The tactical num- standard one, in both sides of the upper half of the hull and in the left rear part. The
bering appearing in the sides of the turret along with the characteristic Pz.Rgt. 18 division emblem is also painted next to the front driver’s visor.

104
 Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 181), schw. Pz.Abt. 504, Djebel Djaffa, Tunisia, April 1943
Just from the Henschel factory, this Tiger with series number 250122 was at- vehicle before the event, defying the regulations in vigour; just as some other
tached, late February 1943, to the schwere Panzerabteilung 504 (504 heavy tanks Tiger it exited the factory painted Gelbbraun RAL 8000 and Graugrün RAL 7008.
battalion) on assignment in Sicilia. It was attached to the first company so the In the front part and in the sides of the hull the tactical marking of the heavy ar-
tactical number “131” was labelled in the sides and the rear part of the turret. moured unit is visible with the number matching the first company while there is
Early March this company was sent to Tunisia. On 19 th April 1943, during an at- a cross in the centre of each side. These hallmarks did not appear in the bow or
tack in Djebel Djaffa, to the west of Goubellat where two Tiger tanks took active in the stern.
part, the “131” unskilled crew abandoned the tank after the shooting from a Brit- This was caught intact by the British troops and nowadays it is shown in display
ish Churchill (with no consequences at all). The illustration depicted the armoured in Bovington’s Tank Museum (UK).

105
 Panzerjäger Tiger (P) Ferdinand (Sd.Kfz. 184), schw. Pz.Jäg.Abt. 654, Kursk, Russia, July 1943
The schwere Panzerjägerabteilung 654 (654 Battalion of heavy tank destroyers) in during “Zitadelle” Operation was a capital “N” (after the family name of the com-
short schw. Pz.Jäg.Abt. 654, along with the schw. Pz.Jäg.Abt. 653, were respectively mander, the Hauptmann Noak). This emblem was usually painted white in the front
the II. Abt. and the I. Abt. from schwere Panzerjägerregiment 656 (656 heavy tank left mudguard and in the rear part of the casemate, in the left corner. The lettering
destroyers Regiment) a unit formed to test in combat the Ferdinand tank destroyers was followed by the abbreviation, in lowercase, “st”, if the tank destroyer was a
designed by Porsche. This big tank destroyers exited the factory finished in Dunkel- part of the Stab (Staff) or a number from one to three depending on the company.
gelb paint, with their Balkenkreuze painted in the sides and in the rear central part of Considering the regiment organization chart, the three companies were respectively
the hull. numbered 5. Kp., 6. Kp. and 7. Kp., so the tactical number “501” matched the first
The forty-four Ferdinand attached to schw. Pz.Jäg.Abt. 654 were camouflaged with command Ferdinand of 5. Kp. The numbering is labelled in the sides of the case-
a gun sprayer using either Grün RAL 6007 or Olivgrün RAL 6003, following a pattern mate and on the circular hatch placed in the rear, while the Balkenkreuze are just
of winding lines that interlaced creating a sort of net. The emblem of the battalion painted in the sides of the hull.

106
 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 161/2), Pz.Rgt. 3, 2. Pz.Div., Picardy, France, March 1944

After enduring severe losses in the central sector of Dnieper in January 1944, the pattern that partially hid the Balkenkreuze, (probably in purpose). The illustration
2. Panzerdivision was sent from the eastern Front to the Somme in France. There, depicted a tank with tactical number “825”, in both sides and in the rear part of
the crew could have some rest, the losses were covered and it was equipped the turret protective shield. The original colour of the gun’s barrel was Dunkel-
with some new material. The new Panzer IV delivered had the Fahrgestellnum- grau and was covered with Rotbraun and Olivgrün or Grün blotches. Like the rest
mer painted white with a stencil: it was made up of five figures and appeared of these Panzer IV in the regiment, the Schürzen (side skirts) are numbered and
next to the hull machine-gun. All these vehicles were camouflaged with a gun marked with some “L” or “R” lettering depending on the side (Rechte is for right,
sprayer and added Rotbraun and Olivgrün or Grün blotches. This was a motley Linke is for left).
107
 Grille Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138/1), non-identified unit, Normandy, France, June 1944
This 150-mm self-propelled howitzer named 15cm sIG33/1 (Sf) auf GW 38(t) “Grille” self-propelled howitzer. The letters were supposed to be painted the colour matching
(Sd.Kfz. 138/1) Ausf. H, had a rare camouflage pattern: some big diagonal bands the battery although, in this case (and quite often) the letter had been painted black
painted Olivgrün RAL 6003 and Rotbraun RAL 8017 that crossed the walls of the and gave no information related to any battery. The Balkenkreuze in both sides are
casemate from top to bottom. In the side armour the B-lettering is visible and allows hidden by these camouflage bands while the left rear part had not been covered. The
to identify it as the second one in the battery. This lettering was repeated probably in illustration is based in a photograph taken by the British in Saint-Lambert-sur-Dives,
the other side and in the rear part. There is a small tactical symbol below featuring a Low Normandy, in the summer 1944.

108
 Flakpanzer 38(t) Guepard (Sd.Kfz. 140), 21. Pz.Div., Normandy, France, June 1944

Along with other Afrikakorps units, 21. Panzerdivision was destroyed in Tunisia in (Sd.Kfz. 140), also known as “Guepard”. The armoured vehicles of this unit were
May 1943. During the summer 1944, a new armoured division was formed with per- added a scheme that recalled the geometric shapes that can be found in a Zeltbahn
sonnel from different occupation units, it was given number 21. This new 21. Panz- (soldier’s poncho fabric). It was made up of Olivgrün splintered blotches or using
erdivision was basically equipped with old French armoured vehicles (most turned Olivgrün and Rotbraun. The blots were painted with a paintbrush onto a general
into self-propelled guns) although it was subsequently delivered some other mate- layer of Dunkelgelb. In August 1944, that division was virtually annihilated during the
rial such this antiaircraft 2cm Flak 38 auf Selbstfahrlafette Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. M Battle of the Falaise Pocket.

109
 Kanonenwagen Sd.Kfz. 251/9 “Stummel” Ausf. D, 5. SS-Pz.Div. “Wiking”, Poland, August 1944

This halftrack equipped with a 75-mm Kampfwagenkanone 51 (Sfl) was attached to added to the division emblem in the front and the rear parts. This was a rune depicting
the 1. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 9 “Germania”, belonging to 5. SS-Pz. a Sun disc named “Sonnenrad” (a circular Swastika), and the tactical marking of the
Div. “Wiking”. The illustration is based in a few photographs taken during the summer armoured grenadiers, both painted white. Nevertheless, this vehicle hasn’t got any of
1944 while the unit was having a rest or was training in the Heidelager industrial site, those emblems (perhaps the photograph was taken before they were painted). There
in Debrica, southern Poland, after the fierce combats in Ukraine. The camouflage are no registration numbers or national insignias (Balkenkreuze) painted. The tacti-
blotches were made up of meandering long lines of Olivgrün RAL 6003 and Rotbraun cal numbers are labelled in the sides and the rear part of the combat chamber. The
RAL 8017, whose width is not homogeneous. These colours were gun sprayed onto numbers, recalling the ones painted in the tanks, are “147”, black numbers with white
the standard Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 applied in the factory; these were well-defined but outlining (to be read from the right to the left) showing that the vehicle was attached to
the edges seem a bit blurred. Another halftrack in this very unit had some outlining the fourth section and the first company.

110
 Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182), schw. Pz.Abt. 509, Sennelager, Germany, September 1944
On 8th September 1944, the schwere Panzerabteilung 509 quit the Eastern Front and rays passing through and creating shadows was perfectly mimicked. Due to the lack of
moved to Sennelager, in Padernborn, to be re-equipped with Tiger Ausf. B tanks also paint, during this period, the armour was not applied a general coat of Dunkelgelb RAL
known as Tiger II. It was merely delivered 11 tanks that allowed the crews, for the rest of 7028 and then blotches of Olivgrün RAL 6003 and Rotbraun RAL 8017 (complementary
this month and the following one, to get trained and to get used to these new armoured shades) and the motley pattern at the end. At first, a series of Dunkelgelb blotches, then
tanks. Early December 1944, these heavy tanks would be transferred to schwere SS- new ones with Olivgrün and Rotbraun in the free surface, so any colour should cover
Panzerabteilung 501. just its own space not hiding the other ones. The motley pattern was added at the end.
The illustration shows one of those Tiger Ausf. B with a standard camouflage (designed To use as less paint as possible, very often, the men just painted Dunkelgelb RAL 7028
to be used from the late summer to the early autumn). This scheme has been known and Olivgrün RAL 6003 blotches while the Rot RAL 8012 antirust primer was clearly vis-
after the war as “Ambush” or “Hinterhalt”. This pattern was intended to hide the tank ible. Some dots of Dunkelgelb and Olivgrün were added at the end. The Balkenkreuze
shape among the forest and the trees: the “chiaroscuro” effect of the leaves with the sun were painted as usual in both sides of the turret and in the rear part of the hull.

111
 Opel “Blitz” 3.6-36S (Kfz. 305), 9. SS-Pz.Div. “Hohenstaufen”, Arnhem, Holland, September 1944

This truck was one of the vehicles attached to the SS-Flakabteilung 9 “Hohenstaufen”, and then the inner part was filled. Acting the same way the free space between the
the anti-aircraft battalion of SS “Hohenstaufen” division. It had been painted a dark blotches was painted green. This was an industrious careful work as the standard
camouflage scheme made up of Rotbraun RAL 8017 and Olivgrün RAL 6003 blotches out-of-the-factory Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 had to be visible. As this is a light shade, the
which proved to be highly adequate in all those areas with thick and lush vegetation. edges of the other hues stood out. Unfortunately, the registration number in the pho-
The brown smudges were the first ones, the edges were drawn with a gun sprayer tograph is quite blurred so we cannot see any numbering.

112
 StuG. IV (Sd.Kfz. 167), Krupp factory, Essen, Germany, September 1944
This late Sturmgeschütz IV was probably among the last ones to be applied Zimmerit. This (see the detail in the hull’s rear plate). Nevertheless, the blots in the Schürzen are made up
anti-magnetic coat was hidden under the five Schürzen (armour skirts). The camouflage of of groups of big dots painted Rotbraun and Olivgrün. There is a free gap, so the Dunkel-
the hull and the casemate is made up of extended blotches painted Rotbraun RAL 8017 gelb base has been covered by mottled RAL 6003 and RAL 8017. Notice in the first and
and Olivgrün RAL 6003 and gun sprayed onto the general coat of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 the last Schürzen a darker Dunkelgelb hue. In the rear part there is still no Balkenkreuz.

113
 Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 171), MAN Factory, Germany, December 1944

On these lines. This illustration is based in a photograph taken in the premises of the On the other hand, the interior of the hatches, the traps or any other element that could
MAN factory. In the picture there is a Panther Ausf. G with chassis number “121306” be opened or that was visible from the outside, was finished with the same shade used in
painted according to Heeres Waffenamt specifications, with a scheme designed for the outer surface of the armour for these parts to go unnoticed. All those pieces enduring
springtime and the beginning of the summer. Onto a general layer of Olivgrün RAL 6003, ‘wear and tear’ like the handles of the hatches, the structure of the bulletproof glasses,
some Rotbraun RAL 8017 big blotches made with a gun sprayer along with some Dunkel- the dashboard, the driver’s pedals, the levers, the seats’ chassis, the fuse boxes, the
gelb RAL 7028 thin and stretched ones have been added. The overall shade is quite dark. support for the machine-gun, the gun sight and the steering wheels for turning and lift-
ing the gun, were usually painted Schwarz RAL 9005. There were variations between
In the following page. The inner part of both the German tanks and the armoured vehi- diverse manufacturers and sometimes these elements were painted Elfenbein. Some
cles with a closed roof was painted a light bright colour in order to alleviate the claustro- other pieces were painted Feldgrau RAL 6006, like radio stations, which could also be
phobia of any member of the crew in such a reduced space. Named Elfenbein RAL 1001, applied Dunkelgrau RAL 7021. On the other hand, the finish of different mechanical ele-
this hue was used to paint the roof and the walls of the combat chamber while the floor ments from the engine or the gearbox was achieved using Schwarz or Marinegrau RAL
and the inner part of the engine compartment was solely painted Rot RAL 8012 primer. 7002, Grau RAL 7003 and Hellgrau RAL 7009 primer paints (Grundierfarbe).

114
Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. J (Sd.Kfz. 161/2), 1944-1945

115
 Panzer IV L/70 (V) (Sd.Kfz.162/1), non-identified unit, Hungary, February-March 1945

In August 1944, the tanks, the tank-destroyers and the assault guns exited the facto- be delivered to combat units. This is a Panzer IV L/70 (V) tank from the third series
ries already camouflaged. From September, trying to shorten the delivery times and built in November 1944. The camouflage seems quite an impromptu work achieved by
use as less paint as possible, there was no general layer of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 or the crew. It is not intended breaking the silhouette of the tank but merely reducing the
Olivgrün RAL 6003 applied but just camouflage blotches directly drawn onto antirust contrast of the Rot hue in an open field. The scheme is made up of long and winding
Rot RAL 8012 coat (this allowed great surfaces of Rot RAL 8012 to be clearly visible). Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 paint strokes, painted onto the armour, the wheels and the gun.
It also happened that some vehicles like this Panzer IV L/70 (V) exited the assembly There is just a Balkenkreuz in each side and probably there is another one in the rear
line exclusively covered with antirust Rot RAL 8012 paint and were sent to depots to left part of the hull.

116
Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 171), LVI. Panzerkorps, in the surroundings of Küstrin, Germany, February 1945
The illustration is based in the well-known photograph of a column of late Panther Ausf. Dunkelgelb, was applied to outline the bands. The only marking in these Panther was a
G. The camouflage had been gun sprayed in the factory and was made up of Rot large Balkenkreuz placed in the rear part of the hull, particularly in the left stowage box.
RAL 8012 and Olivgrün RAL 6003 diagonal bands and thin lines of Dunkelgelb RAL It is really difficult to figure out the unit these tanks were attached to. Some publica-
7028. The Olivgrün hue had been applied allowing the Rot primer to be visible in the tions refer to Pz.Gren.Div. “Kurmark”, some others choose the LVI. Panzerkorps (ar-
sloped and vertical armour surfaces. The horizontal surfaces like the roof of the turret moured corps) integrating Pz.Div. “Müncheberg”, 20. Pz.Gren.Div. and 25. Pz.Gren.
or the upper part of the hull were completely covered with Olivgrün. The third colour, Div.

117
 Sd.Kfz. 234/4, Pz.Div. “FHH”, Czechoslovakia, May 1945

This schwerer Panzerspähwagen (7.5 cm Pak 40) or heavy reconnaissance armoured blotches located exactly the same place. It was attached to the Stabskompanie or
vehicle equipped with a 75-mm PaK 40 antitank gun had a camouflage made up of Staff Company of the Panzeraufklärungsabteilung (reconnaissance armoured detach-
Dunkelgelb, Rotbraun and Olivgrün dark edged blotches. The paint was gun sprayed ment) from Panzerkorps “Feldherrnhalle”. Apart from Heer registration numbers it had
also using some stencils. This work was achieved by high-qualified workers in the been only added the Balkenkreuze, one in each side of the hull and the other one in
factory premises. All vehicles produced there and from the same batch had their the rear. The inside part of the crosses is painted black.

118
 Marder III Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 138), Pz.Jäg.Abt. 346, 346. Inf.Div., Holland, May 1945
The 346. Infanteriedivision (346th Infantry Division) was formed in France in September vehicle shows the same camouflage scheme it had in Normandy. It was made up of
1942 and undertook occupation tasks (coast defence, security) until the D-Day land- Olivgrün blotches outlined with Rotbraun, gun sprayed onto a general coat of Dun-
ings in Normandy, then it was involved in such fierce combats that in August 1944 it kelgelb. The national emblems are placed under the tactical numbers in both sides
got nearly annihilated. It retreated to Holland to be re-organised and combatted until of the casemate. There is a third cross located in the left rear side. Apart from these
surrendering in May 1945 in the north of Arnhem. Panzerjägerabteilung 346 (346 tank emblems there are thirty-two white rings painted in the gun barrel that matched thirty-
destroyer battalion) was one of the units attached to the division. This late Panzerjäger two enemy vehicles destroyed. Notice, in the glacis, the name “Sofi” labelled in white
38(t) auf 7.5cm Pak 40/3 Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 138) “Marder III” belongs to it. The armoured using Gothic lettering.

119
 Jagdpanther (Sd.Kfz. 173), material warehouse, Meppen, Germany, May 1945

The Panzerjäger V Jagdpanther was one of the best combat vehicles designed by the forest areas full of vegetation. We must point out that the Allied Forces held the air
Germans during WWII. The one in the illustration is one among so many armoured supremacy and for a certain time the German Armed Forces had been fighting in
vehicles reunited in a huge warehouse after Germany surrendered. The warehouse a defensive position, stalking their enemies. The camouflage scheme is completed
for captured material was located Meppen (Lower Saxony). It was a late model with with narrow irregular bands painted Rotbraun RAL 8017 slightly sloping on the ar-
some assembled steel plates over the fan tower in the engine deck (in order to protect mour and with so much empty space between the lines. This pattern along with the
them against shrapnel). variants were usual among Jagdpanther and Panther built by MNH in 1945. The tank
In accordance with the rule Allgemeine Heeresmitteilungen 1945, Nummer 52, dat- destroyer has no tactical markings except the national insignia located as usually
ed on 2nd January, the tank destroyer is painted a general coat of Olivgrün RAL (in both sides of the front part of the casemate and in the left case in the rear part
6003. This green hue was mostly appropriated to hide the military vehicles in the of the hull).
120
 CAMOUFLAGE SCHEMES

Fig. 1: 1914-1919 Fig. 2: 1916-1918 Fig. 3: 1916-1918 Fig. 4: 1917-1918 Fig. 5: 1918-1919 Fig. 6: 1918-1919
Feldgrau Feldgrau/Ocker/Braun Feldgrau/Ocker/Braun Feldgrau/Ocker-dark and Feldgrau/Ocker-dark and Feldgrau/ Ocker-dark and
light shades-/Grün/Braun light shades-/Braun light shades-/Braun/Schwarz

Fig. 7: 1921-1941 Fig. 8: 1923-1933 Fig. 9: 1933-1938 Fig. 10: 1937-1940 Fig. 11: 1939-1943 Fig. 12: 1941-1942
Feldgrau Nr. 3 Erdgelb Nr. 17/Braun Nr. 18/ Erdgelb Nr. 17/Braun Dunkelbraun Nr. 45/ Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 Gelbbraun RAL 8000/
Grün Nr. 28/Schwarz Nr. 5 Nr. 18/Grün Nr. 28 Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 Graugrün RAL 7008

Fig. 13: 1941-1942 Fig. 14: 1941-1943 Fig. 15: 1941-1942 Fig. 16: 1942-1943 Fig. 17: 1943 Fig. 18: 1943-1945
Gelbbraun RAL 8000 Dunkelgrau RAL 7021/ Weiss RAL 9001 Braun RAL 8020/ Dunkelgrau RAL 7021/ Dunkelgelb RAL 7028
Grün RAL 6007 Grau RAL 7027 Dunkelgelb RAL 7028

Fig. 19: 1943-1945 Fig. 20: 1943-1945 Fig. 21: 1944-1945 Fig. 22: 1944-1945 Fig. 23: 1944-1945 Fig. 24: 1945
Dunkelgelb RAL 7028/Olivgrün Weiss RAL 9002 Dunkelgelb RAL 7028/ Rot RAL 8012/Dunkelgelb Olivgrün RAL 6003/ Olivgrün RAL 6003
RAL 6003/Rotbraun RAL 8017 Olivgrün RAL 6003/ RAL 7028 Rotbraun RAL 8017/
Rotbraun RAL 8017 Dunkelgelb RAL 7028

121
 PANZERDIVISIONEN EMBLEMS, HEER

1. Pz.Div. 1. Pz.Div. 1. Pz.Div. 1. Pz.Div. 1. Pz.Div. 2. Pz.Div. 2. Pz.Div. 2. Pz.Div. Pz.Rgt. 3 Pz.Rgt. 3
1940 2nd Semester 1940 Winter 1940-41 1941-42 1943-45 1939-40 2nd Semester 1940 1941-43 2. Pz.Div. 1941-42 2. Pz.Div. 1943

2. Pz.Div. 3. Pz.Div. 3. Pz.Div. 3. Pz.Div. 3. Pz.Div. 4. Pz.Div. 4. Pz.Div. 4. Pz.Div. 4. Pz.Div. 4. Pz.Div.
1943-45 1939-40 1940-45 Unofficial Zitadelle, 1943 1939 1940 1940-43 Zitadelle, 1943 1944-45

Pz.Rgt. 35 Pz.Abt.z.b.V. 40 Pz.Abt.z.b.V. 40 5. Pz.Div. 5. Pz.Div. 5. Pz.Div. 5. Pz.Div. Pz.Rgt. 31 6. Pz.Div. Pz.Abt. 65
4. Pz.Div. Spring 1940 (Neubaufahrzeug) 1940 1941-45 Variant Zitadelle, 1943 5. Pz.Div. 1940 6. Pz.Div.

6. Pz.Div. 6. Pz.Div. 6. Pz.Div. 6. Pz.Div. 7. Pz.Div. 7. Pz.Div. 7. Pz.Div. 8. Pz.Div. 8. Pz.Div. 9. Pz.Div.
Sep.-Oct. 1941 1941-45 Zitadelle, 1943 Zitadelle, 1943 1940 1941-45 Zitadelle, 1943 1940 1941-45 1939-40

9. Pz.Div. 9. Pz.Div. 9. Pz.Div. 9. Pz.Div. 10. Pz.Div. 10. Pz.Div. Pz.Rgt. 8 Pz.Rgt. 7 10. Pz.Div. 11. Pz.Div.
1940 Late 1940 1941-45 Temporary 1939-40 1940 10. Pz.Div. 1940 10. Pz.Div. 1941-43 1940-45

122
 PANZERDIVISIONEN EMBLEMS, HEER

11. Pz.Div. 11. Pz.Div. 11. Pz.Div. 12. Pz.Div. 12. Pz.Div. 13. Pz.Div. 14. Pz.Div. 15. Pz.Div. 15. Pz.Div. Pz.Rgt. 8
Unofficial Zitadelle, 1943 Zitadelle, 1943 1940-45 Summer 1943 1940-45 1940-45 1941-43 Variant 15. Pz.Div.

Pz.Rgt. 8 DAK DAK 16. Pz.Div. 16. Pz.Div. 17. Pz.Div. 10. Pz.Brig. 18. Pz.Div. Pz.Rgt. 18, 1940-42 19. Pz.Div.
Variant 1941-43 1941-43 1940-45 Variant 1940-45 Zitadelle, 1943 1940-43 Pz.Abt. 18, 1942-43 1940-45
18. Pz.Div.

19. Pz.Div. 20. Pz.Div. 20. Pz.Div. 20. Pz.Div. Pz.Rgt. 20 5. le.Div. 21. Pz.Div. 21. Pz.Div. 21. Pz.Div. 22. Pz.Div.
Zitadelle, 1943 1940-43 1943-45 Variant 20. Pz.Div. 1941 1941-43 Variant Summer 1943 1941-43

23. Pz.Div. 23. Pz.Div. Pz.Rgt. 201 24. Pz.Div. 24. Pz.Div. 24. Pz.Div. 25. Pz.Div. 25. Pz.Div. 25. Pz.Div. 26. Pz.Div.
1941-45 Unofficial 23. Pz.Div. 1941 1941-45 1943-45 1942-45 1942-45 1945 1942-45

26. Pz.Div. 27. Pz.Div. 27. Pz.Div. 116. Pz.Div. Pz.Lehr-Div. Pz.Lehr-Rgt. 130 II./Pz.Lehr-Rgt. 130 Führer Begleit Div. Führer Gren.Div. Pz.Div. Müncheberg
Variant 1942-43 Temporary 1944-45 1944-45 Pz.Lehr-Div. Pz.Lehr-Div. 1945 1945 1945

123
 PANZERGRENADIERDIVISIONEN EMBLEMS, HEER

3. Inf.Div.(mot.) 3. Pz.Gren.Div. 10. Pz.Gren.Div. 15. Pz.Gren.Div. Pz.Gren.Rgt. 104 Pz.Gren.Rgt. 129 Pz.Abt. 115 16. Inf.Div.(mot.) 16. Pz.Gren.Div.
Until January 1943 1943-45 1943-45 1943-45 15. Pz.Gren.Div. 15. Pz.Gren.Div. 15. Pz.Gren.Div. 1941-43 1943-44
1943 1943 1943

18. Pz.Gren.Div. 20. Inf.Div.(mot.) 20. Pz.Gren.Div. 22. Pz.Gren.Div. 25. Pz.Gren.Div. 25. Pz.Gren.Div. 29. Inf.Div.(mot.) 60. Inf.Div.(mot.) Pz.Gren.Div. “FHH”
1943-45 Until June 1943 1943-45 “Luftlande” 1943-45 Variant Until June 1943 Until January 1943 1943-45
1943-45 29. Pz.Gren.Div. 1943-45 60. Pz.Gren.Div. 1943

Pz.Korps “FHH” 90. Pz.Gren.Div. Pz.Gren.Div. Pz.Gren.Div. Pz.Gren.Div. Inf.Div.(mot ) “GD” until May 1943 Pz.Gren.Div. “GD” Pz.Gren.Div. “GD”
1945 1943-45 “Brandenburg” “Brandenburg” “Kurmark” Pz.Gren.Div. “Grossdeutschland” 1943-45 Variant Variant
1944-45 Variant 1945

ARMOURED UNITS, LUFTWAFFE

Brig. “HG” 1942 Pz.Div. “HG” 1943 Fsch.Pz.Div. 2 “HG” Fsch.Pz.Korps “HG”
Div. “HG” 1942-43 Fsch.Pz.Div. 1 “HG” 1944-45 1944-45
1944-45

124
 ARMORED UNITS EMBLEMS, WAFFEN SS

SS-Div. “LSSAH” SS-Pz.Gren.Div. 1. SS-Pz.Div. “LSSAH” SS-Pz.Gren.Div. “Das Reich” 1942-43 “Das Reich” SS-Pz.Gren.Div. “Totenkopf ” 1942-43
1942 “LSSAH” 1942-43 “LSSAH” 1943-45 Zitadelle, 1943 2. SS-Pz.Div. “Das Reich” 1943-45 Zitadelle, 1943 3. SS-Pz.Div. “Totenkopf ” 1943-45

SS-Pz.Gren.Div. “Totenkopf ” 3. SS-Pz.Div. 4. SS-Polizei SS-Pz.Gren.Div. “Wiking” 1942-43 7. SS-Freiw.Geb.Div. “Prinz Eugen” SS-Pz.Gren.Div.
Zitadelle, 1943 “Totenkopf ” 1943-45 Pz.Gren.Div. 1943-45 5. SS-Pz.Div. “Wiking” 1943-45 “Prinz Eugen” 1943-44 Variant “Hohenstaufen” 1943
9. SS-Pz.Div. 1943-45

SS-Pz.Gren.Div. “Hohenstaufen” 1943 SS-Pz.Gren.Div. “Karl der Grosse” 1943 “Frundsberg” “Frundsberg” 11. SS-Freiw.Pz.Gren. SS-Pz.Gren.Div. “Hitlerjugend” 1943
9. SS-Pz.Div. “Hohenstaufen” 1943-45 10. SS-Pz.Div. “Frundsberg” 1943-45 Variant Variant Div. “Nordland” 12. SS-Pz.Div. “Hitlerjugend” 1943-45
1943-45

“Hitlerjugend” 16. SS-Pz.Gren.Div. “Reichsführer SS” “Reichsführer SS” “Reichsführer SS” 17. SS-Pz.Gren.Div. 18. SS-Freiw.Pz.Gren.
Variant “Reichsführer SS” Variant Variant Variant “Götz von Berlichingen” Div. “Horst Wessel”
1943-45 1943-45 1943-45 1944-45

125
 Key to vehicle identification, 1/180 scale

126
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Bender Publishing, California, USA, 1998. alemán en la Guerra de España 1936-39”, Colección Imker vol. I, Quirón Ediciones, Valladolid, 2003.
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New York, USA, 2004. Russia, 2002.
ARCHER, Lee & AUERBACH, William. Panzerwrecks 4. German Armour 1944-45, William MUTHER, Alfred. Das Gerät der leichten Artillerie vor, in und nach dem Weltkrieg, Bernard &
Auerbach, New York, USA, 2007. Graefe, Berlin, Germany, 1925.
ARCHER, Lee & AUERBACH, William. Panzerwrecks 11. Normandy 2, William Auerbach, New York, PERRETT, Bryan & HADLER, Terry. “German Light Panzers 1932-42”, Vanguard No. 33, Osprey
USA, 2010. Publishing, London, UK, 1983.
BATTISTELI, Pier Paolo. “Panzer Divisions: The Blitzkrieg Years 1939-40”, Battle Orders No. 32, PERRETT, Bryan, CHAPPEL, Mike & BADROCKE, Mike. “Sturmartillerie & Panzerjäger 1939-45”,
Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK, 2007. New Vanguard No. 34, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK, 1999.
BATTISTELI, Pier Paolo. “Panzer Divisions: The Eastern Front 1941-43”, Battle Orders No. 35, REGENBERG, Werner & SCHEIBERT, Horst. “Captured tanks under the German flag, Russian
Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK, 2008. battle tanks”, Schiffer Military, Schiffer Publishing, Pennsylvania, USA, 1990.
BATTISTELI, Pier Paolo. “Panzer Divisions 1944-45”, Battle Orders No 38, Osprey Publishing, REGENBERG, Werner. “Captured American & British Tanks under the German flag”, Schiffer
Oxford, UK, 2009. Military History, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, USA, 1993.
BLOCK, Martin, LIEVONEN, Jari & TERLISTEN, Detlev. “15cm sIG33/1 (Sf) auf GW 38(t) “Grille” (Sd. SCHEIBERT, Horst. “Deutsche schwere 6-Rad-Panzerspähwagen”, Waffen Arsenal No. 89, Podzun
Kfz. 138/1) Part. 2: Ausf. H”, Nuts & Bolts No. 26, Nuts & Bolts Verlag, Neumünster, Germany, 2010. Pallas Verlag, Dorheim, Germany, 1984.
CHORÝ, Tomáš. Camouflage Colors. Wehrmacht Heer, 1939-1945, Aura Design Studio, Czech SCHNEIDER, Wolfgang & STRASHEIM, Rainer. “Deutsche Kampfwagen im 1. Weltkrieg”, Waffen
Republic, 2000. Arsenal No. 112, Podzun Pallas Verlag, Dorheim, Germany, 1988.
DE LANNOY, François & CHARITA, Josef. Panzertruppen, Les troupes blindées allemandes 1935- SCHNEIDER, Wolfgang. Tigers in combat I, J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc., Manitoba, Canada,
1945, Editions Heimdal, Bayeux, France, 2001. 1994.
FLEISCHER, Wolfgang. “Military vehicles of the Reichswehr”, Schiffer Military/Aviation History, SCHNEIDER, Wolfgang. Tigers in combat II, J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc., Manitoba, Canada,
Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, USA, 1996. 1998.
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Publishing, Atglen, USA, 1994. Militärfahrzeuge No. 6, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany, 1993.
JENTZ, Thomas L., Panzertruppen, 1933-1942, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, USA, 1996. SPIELBERGER, Walter J. “Sturmgeschütze, Entwicklung und Fertigung der s PaK”, Militärfahrzeuge
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Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, USA, 1997. World War One No. 1001, Jochen Vollert-Tankograd Publishing, Erlangen, Germany, 2010.
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Publications, Maryland, USA, 1997. Verlag, Neumünster, Germany, 2008.
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LEDWOCH, Janusz. “Panzer IV/70”, en Militaria no 152, Wydawnictwo Militaria, Warsaw, Poland, TROJCA, Waldemar. “Pz.Kpfw. V Panther vol. 2”, Tank power No. 2, AJ-Press, Gdansk, Poland,
2002. 1999.
MC. NAIR, Ronald. Les Panzers. Les divisions de Panzers du Heer, Editions Heimdal, Bayeux, Different Authors. Tiger Tank Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 181). Owners´ Workshops
France, 1991. manual, The Tank Museum-Haynes Publishing, Somerset, UK, 2011.
MC. NAIR, Ronald. Les Panzers (2). Les divisions de Panzers SS et les bataillons indépendants, ZALOGA, Steven J. Blitzkrieg. Armour camouflage and markings. 1939-1940, Arms and Armour
Editions Heimdal, Bayeux, France, 1992. Press, London, UK, 1990.
MELLEMAN, Tadeusz. “Ferdinand Elefant vol. 1”, Gun power No. 22, AJ-Press, Gdansk, Poland, ZALOGA, Steven J. & DELF, Brian. “German Panzers 1914-18” New Vanguard No. 127, Osprey
2004. Publishing, Oxford, UK, 2006.

127
PANZERWAFFE TARNFARBEN
Camouflage Colours and Organization of the German Armoured Force (1917-1945)
During the Great War, the assault tanks in
the German units merely played an anec-
dotal role. Due to the restrictions enforced
by the Treaty of Versailles, the first training
unit for armoured forces wasn’t organised
(secretly) until 1933. The existence of the
first three Panzerdivisionen of that new
German Army was officially revealed in
1935. The armoured troops or Panzer-
truppen were an independent branch of
the Army, with their own command. This
allowed concentrating the tanks in divi-
sions so units were capable of significantly
strategic deployments. General Heinz Gu-
derian forged both words: Panzerwaffe to
refer to the armoured force and Panzer-
truppen to identify the elitist armoured
troops which would conquer half of Eu-
rope in the following years.

The evolution of the camouflage schemes

painted in tanks and vehicles of German
armoured units is analysed in the book
along with the organisation of these Ger-
man units during WWI and WWII and for
the whole interwar period.

ABT722
ISBN: 978-84-120935-0-6

[email protected]
www.abteilung502.com