PANZERS OF KASSERINE THE AFRIKA KORPS IN TUNISIA CAMPAIGN SERIES Gena thet ai)‘The author wishes published books book were all ‘ The Panzers 6 The Afrika Korps in Tunisia, ‘Campaign Series in Australia ‘thefactorypublishing (©2008 The FaGtory Publishing All sights reserved, Apso fr destngl and Patent Act, 1988, no prt ofthis pub clerical, chemical, mechanics, ope ngs Should he assed ot publ ISBN 978-0-08046311-8 titra ei + beans OW “Para Team thas Yongsene, af ret ig, Claude Gilono Cove asratas - el Dennis Oliver ¢ Designed nd Layout ‘The Factory Graphic Design Studio. “wi thefactorystudio.com. sd by jedia Pry Lid —Readers should note that Ihave endeavoured to use unit designations and formation titles in their original German, Where these terms are either ‘obscure or overly complicated I have supplied an English translation or equivalent. However, abbreviations which are well known or obvious - such as P2D for Panzer Division - should require no further elaboration, In official Wehrmacht correspondence, a battalion - usually referred to as an abteilung and in some eases a bataillon - was described using roman hnumerals, while companies and regiments used arabic numbers. Thus, U/PzRegt 7, refers to the 2nd Battalion of Panzer Regiment 7, while ‘iPaRegt 7 relers to the regiment's 2nd Company. This system is used here, ‘Any attempt to construct a tre and complete order of battle for this long, ‘and arduous campaign ranging from 14 November 1942, when the frst ppanzers rolled into Tunisia, 0 12 May 1943 and the surrender of Axis forces in North Afric, would at best be illusory and i in any ease beyond the scope of this shor photographic essay. FFor the greater part of the campaign, the German and Italian armoured ‘units that fought in Tunisia were divided between 5.Panzer Armee (or ‘more correctly, Panzer Armee Oberkommando 5 - usually abbreviated to Pz. AOK 5 - created on 8 December 1942) in northern Tunisia and the Deutsches ltalianisehe Panzer Armee inthe south. The southern force was renamed 1. Ialinische Armee on 30 January 1943 and contained the famous Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK) which had retreated into Tunisia from Libya on 13 February 1943, On 23 February Heores Gruppe Arka (Anny Group Affiea) was ereated and commanded all Axis ground forces in North Africa Most units serving in Tunisia were frequently transferred between commands and often fought in improvised Kampgruppen, which regularly mixed elements from different formations. For that reason, tis study is limited to the AFVs sent to North Alrica from Novernber 1942 to the end of the campaign. For obvious reasons most of these arrived at ‘Tunisian harbours, ‘The Panzer divisions in the bridgehead were the newly arrived 10.P2D With the veteran 21.PeD and 15.PaD, The 21.P2D was sent to North ‘Attica asthe 5. Leichte Division, becoming 21, P2D late in 1941(1). This ‘as quickly followed by the 15..P2D (2). As a reaction to the Operation ‘Torch landings on 8 November 1942, 10. P2D) was immediately sent to ‘Tunisia to bolster the bridgehead and counter the ‘second front whieh the landings had created, threatening Rommel in full retreat from El Alamein @. ‘There were reorganisations in theatre such as that of 17 January 1943, when I/PcReg 5 of 21.PzD was removed from its parent formation, attached to 15.PaD and renamed Il /PrReg 8. A new /PrReg 5 was create from surplus assets already in Tunis (13 Pek IIT lang, 6 Pakw IIL ‘Ausf and 17 Pzkow TV lang) and a new IlPz Reg 5 obtained by simply renaming PzAbt 190 whose 2.Kompanio with 6 P2kw Ils had been diverted to the DAK in early November 1942. ‘The last major change in organisation was ordered on 26 February 1943, ‘when it was planned that each division should be made up of two medium battalions, each of four companies with 22 Prkw IVs each (obviously the Jang version by this time). In reality this Could only be implemented with the material on hand in Tunisia and thus remained largely theoretical Another, pethaps more important modification carried out at this time affected the most potent armoured units within Pz AOK S at this time ~ the Tiger battalions ‘The Wehrmacht’ heavy tank units deployed to North Africa were schwere Panzer Abteilung SO1 ( sPzAbt) and sPzAbt 504. Bach comprised at the time a headquarters (Stab) company and 2 tank companies, the third ‘company was only authorised sometime later. Insufficient production of the new heavy tank and doubts about the materiel needed in this kind of unit led to the deployment of a large number of Prkw IT Ausf Ns within the heavy battalions. As part ofthe 26 February 1943 reorganisation, the remaining tanks of both units were to be consolidated and become the third battalion of the panzer regiments of 10.P2D and 1S. PzD._ In actuality, only 10. P2D benefited from the order when 1 and 2/sPzAbt 301 became 7 and 8/P2Regt 7, The increasing losses and the late arrival of| SPZAbt S04 meant that 15\P2D never received its Tigers and 11 surviving tanks from sPZAbtSO1 were allocated to sPzAbt S04 - which retained its independent staus «on 17 March 1943 (4), Although a complex and often difficult subject, the system of vehicle markings should receive some brief mention here. Examples are also shown in the illustrations and photographs. Markings typically consisted fof a national marking - the well known Balkenkreuze - a divisional insignia (and/or sub-unit insignia) plus a three digit tacical number ‘whose meaning usually conformed to an established system. The fist ligt signified the company -1 to 4 in the first battalion and 5 to 8 in the second. The second digit identified the platoon, with each company containing 3 or 4 platoons, and the lst denoted the individual tank within the platoon or Zug. There were 5 tanks to a platoon, Regarding equipment, the leicive (ight) companies ofa bation differed from the mutlere (medium) only in the main tank used - Pekw Ils and Prkw IVs respectively. The Befehlspanzer or command tanks were suitably modified Paw Ills, a smaller version - refered :0 as Klein based on the obsolete Pekw I having by this time been phased out. But the true’ Panzers were not the only AFVs in use in Tunisia, Apart from the many captured vehicles - exact numbers do not seer to have been Kept or survived - Sd.Kfz.139 Marder Ills armed wi the Sov “7 .462em Pak 39 on the chassis ofthe Czech Pzkw 38 (0 arrived with 10. P2D, a total of nine being used by 3/Panzerjiger Abteilung 90 in Addition to at least another 27 which served with 15.P2D and 21. PzD plus 15 replacements received since 1942. Also Sd.Ktz, 138 Marder Ils with the 7.Sem Pak 40 on the Prkw 38 (0) chassis were also used in the bridgehead with nine sent to 21. PeD up to March 1943 and at least five received as replacements by 3schnelle Abt 334 of 334, Infanterie Division. This division had arrived in North Africa with nine Sd.K1z.135 Marder I the 7 Sem Pak 40 on the Lorraine Tractor chassis - in early January 1943. The Sturmgeschitzen were not forgotten and the six Stug II Ausf Fi8s sent to Africa (two being lost at sea) had a complicated and fascinating history which unfortunately cannot be covered in detail here. ‘The 1 Batterie! Sturmgeschitz Abicilung 242 was quickly subordinated to 10PzD as its 13. Bauerie ‘Panzer Anillery Regt 90 (5). It was reorganised and renamed Stug Batterie 90 on 30/04/43. aly was not absent from this last phase of the fighting in North Africa Tis armoured elements were now limited, principally found in the Centauro Armoured Division (numbered 13ist, with its 31 Reggimento (Carr). Ie was a division only in name as theoretical organisition had no real meaning in Tunisia atthe time with mounting losses and litle hope of either replacements or reinforcements. The Regiment's main armoured vehicles were MI441 medium tanks and. the much more powerful Semovente da 75/18s SP assault guns (a short 75mm gun in a fixed superstructure utilising the same chassis asthe MI4/41 tank), The lighter ‘Semovente da 47/32 was also present in numbers. Ths latter vehicle was armed with a 47mm AT gun in an open-iopped superstructure on the ‘L6/40 light tank chassis) 1. The 5. Leichte Division was formed as an emengeney measure from clements of 3 Panzer Division to aid the collapsing Ialian forces in North Africa. Its first important action as 21 Panzer Division was during ‘operation Crusader in November 1941. 2. The 15.Panzer Division was from 33.Infantere Division and Panzer Regiment 8 of 10-Panzer Division and arrived in North A\tica in May 194. 3. Lest it be thought inexperienced and untried, in its short Iie 10 Panzer Division had taken part in the invasion of Poland in 1939, France in 1940, fought in Russia in 1041 and 1942. 4. Only the Stab and 1/sPzAbt $04 crossed into Tunisia, battalion remaining in Sicily 5. The German Army's Sturmgesehitz, or assault gun, units were controlled at that time by the Inspector General of Arillery and therefore used the terminology of that arm - jn this case Batterie instead of KompanieUnits of 10.P2D made good use of the vehicles of 3 Battalion, 6 Armoured Infantry Regiment (US Ist Armoured Division) captured during the fist phase of the Kasserine Pass fighting on 20 Pebruary. Most sill carry thet original US markings. Some of these M3 Half- ‘tracks already have the mine racks on the sides adopted in August 1942. The vehicle in the background of the first photo is a Dodge _1/2 Ton, either a WC 21 (or 22 when fitted with a front mounted winch). Eva)‘More photographs of he column seen on page 4 taken by German war correspondents. This, hhalfstrack, COMMANDO YANK aka GRENADIER, carries an MG tripod on the mudguard. The date is 21 February 1943 and the prospect of victory for the Germans was sill high -the dea was to turn the Allied front and capture or destroy their supply bases. (NAKA) The name LOADED - LOCKED (the full nickname is visible on This is probably an ambulance half-track with Red Cross markings ‘another photo) is a rather appropriate for a half-track carrying judging by the tarpaulin in place and lack of armament. (NARA) ‘unfortunate Gls bagged by 10.P2D. (NARA) M3 halftracks towing US made M3A1 Antitank guns. These were stil effective against most of the German and Talla Wank they faced when properly used - that is for flank shots. But the Commonwealth units were better equipped with the 6 Pounder (S7mm), available since mid-1942. (vara)a ‘The German corepondent «or mare corecty PK for Praga Rompante «continued thelr photo report and erssed the path of he BAR Kamofgruppe ain elements rom 152). Here, are seen two SaKfe 289 Ou ofthe 126 made om July 943 to October 149. These vehicles crred shor 7Sem L124 guns left oer fom the Pckw IV program afer ished tothe longer 43 gun (NARA) A rare bird was also captured on film, an SdKf:251 Ausf B wi a Som Pak 38 - minus is wheels «five above the driver's postion. The DAK insignia is clearly visible on the rear access door. The shield forthe AA MG at the rear of te hulls also uncommon - it was probably moved from the front. (NARA) A (otal of 80 of these T28B1 AA halftracks were built and 78 sent to Tunisia with the US Army's 443rd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion. They carried a37mm AA gun with ovo water cooled 50 MGs, and usually towed a I-Ton trailer loaded with ammunition. As can be seen here, the Germans ‘managed fo capture at least one intact example. (NARA)‘The heavier anti-tank guns used by DAK units at this time were often modified 7.62cm Soviet guns - here a Model 1936 - that were captured in huge numbers during Operation Barbarossa and sent to Africa in early 1942 in an effort to combat newer Allied tanks. The 7m Pak 40 was sill rare in Tunisia as priority was given tothe Eastern Front, howeser 10.PeD did have a number on hand. (NARA) The Bish 25 Pounder was alg cptred in age mumibers bythe DAK and they were immediately pu to se by ther new omnes Although not as poveral sth 105mm hots aera HE shel ammanition es pena. The German often tong the gars vere some Rnd of tutomatic airy nen th aby of he Wylde a ‘an of shes (NARA)dhe PK cameramen have moved toa tank unit, here 15.P2D or more exacily the DAK K IIL Ausf N with an ace of spade insignia on the turrets i n0 real link to Rommel. Longe barrelled Pokw TVs can be seen in the background. (NARA) In this photograph and that at ‘bore right can be seen two views fof a Pokw Ill Ausf J with track shoes applied as additional armour. The long serving, veteran tank crews of the DAK usually carried more stowage on ‘their tanks than the novly arrived. |ARA)In is next move, the PK camera team photographed a column of 10.P:D tanks, most probably from 4itcRest7. Tracks were also used as supplementary armour around the hull front. Stowage was less promin ut «large box on the right mudguard was added while efting in France in 1942 and is quite characteristic ofthis regiment in Tunisia. The mu Drakes are stl covered indicating that combat isnot imminent - though ‘he gun could sill be fred in an emergency without adverse results, (NARA)‘Behind the last Pokw IV of dth company were the Pzkw IIs of 21P-Regt 7. The unit usually painted the company number in white on the Rommeliste and ther unofficial insignia can be seen nest fo that. The platoon and tank number were painted in a smaller size and in a dark plate, The lang versions are by this time very prominent, the shorter gun having lost much of ts usefulnessThe companies of PaRegt 7 were usually homogencous - Pekw IITs in the Leichte companies (1 (0 3 in first battalion and 5 to Tin the second) and Pz IVs in the Mittere companies (4 in fist batalion and 8 in the second). No Pokw ML Ausf N were issued to 10.P:D hile refiting in France, but the division may have received some as replacements during the African ‘campaign. Mos, if not all, Pckw Ills were the lang tersion withthe long Sem Kw gun, This was referred to by the Germans as the 1160 which indicated that the length of the barrel was 60 times the calibre = that iyTy oi Pht i ae z Be ea hae . 7 : SOT ee area eae ina, a 51 ge: tal oi ese This Krapp Protze is towing a 2em Flak gun obscured by tint nootanene superiority over Tunisia for some rime and the Stukas were ‘much feared by Allied troops. The tde slowly turned later inthe campaign and Axis air transports were especially iodo ofthe Geren tn aes op om [Betiieetnptee st)‘tripod installed in the fighting dass windscreen isin ull view as the Beg MeccaEirack was probably an earlier p ly matked with the Balkenty ng SK fe 263 (8 rad) was ome of the 207 m January 1943.11 yas more an armoured communication vehicle than a true armoured ear, armed with a single 792mm MG 34. (NARA) lence alePzkw IIT Ausf.J (L 60 ). 21.Panzer Division. Kasserine. February 1943 Pzkw IIT Ausf N (Ausf J chassis ). 15.Panzer Division. Kasserine. February 1943. 15.Panzer Division. Pzkw Il Ausf N ( Ausf J chassis ). I Panzer Regiment 5, 21.Panzer Division. February 1943. J Panzer Regiment 8.Pzkw Il Ausf J (L 42 ). 21-Panzer Division, Kasserine. Febr Bente M3 Half-track. 5 Panzer Grenadier Regiment 69, 10.Panzer Division. Tunisia, February 1943. ruary 1943. J. 21.Panzer Division. Kasserine. February 1943. Pekw IT Ausf J (L 60). 10.Panzer Division. g Timisia. February 1943, Panzer Regiment 7. ars 10.Panzer Division.Pzkw Il Ausf N, Stab schwere Panzer Abteilung 501 Tunisia, late 1942 early 1943. Pzkw IIT Ausf N. 1 schwere Panzer Abteilung 501. Tunisia, late 1942 early 1943. Prk IIT Ausf N. sl schwere Panzer Abteilung 501 Tunisia, late 1942 early 1943. Pzhw Ill Ausf N. Possibly of 8 Panzer Regiment 7. . Tunisia 19413 mam __| Pzkw Ii Ausf N. Unknown, but possibly 21.Panzer Division. Ttaly en route to Tunisia, 1943Cam Tiger I. Number 141. 1 schwere Panzer Abteilung 501. Tunisia, late 1942 Tiger I. Number 724. 7 Panzer Regiment 7. Tunisia, March 1943. Or In tote February the tanks of sPeAbt 301 were transferred tome 71h and 8th wit Companys of PeRegt 7 and re-aumbered accordingly. This tank was formerly No 112 as shown above Tiger I. Number 131. J schwere Panzer Abteilung 504. This illustration is based on the ‘surviving example on display atthe RAC Museum, Bovington Opinion is eivided over the eget colours used forthe 32 Tigers sent to Tins. Those shown here are depicted in a hase coat ORAL 8000 with a disrnprve pattern, where ‘pplicable, of RAL 7008 However i's feasible that ‘any ofthese tanks were repainted at various tines with paint ‘of unioiown origin and o scheme of overall green is areal possibility Tiger I. Number 142. I schwere Panzer Abteihng 504. aff Tunisia 1943 2The PK cameramen also found columns from 21PD during their tour of the battlefield. Here the the staff of the first The effect of accurate enemy fire has been to strip all the added protection from this Pokw I Interestingly, the tracks on the lower hull were obsiously in place when the camouflage was ‘applied. This tank does not appear to ‘and is probably repairable. (VARA pit oe araithe shit nis ihe tare se rer rn, park obcarad by the spare tracks. A possible tion section. (NARA) yy hh ph cr rer i eer ets DeNAl ate er swore pdt bu oe oc vas ee eae Serre atpeagl) Mote eens vee pont ow ime A et ttIn this photograph and that shown below at the efi, to Pekow IVs lang ofthe same column seen ‘om page 23, advance towards the front. The second tank has an unusual portrait of a woman, ‘applied in chalk, on the mudguard flap. (NARA)‘Top let: That 21.P=D employed mixed companies with both Pek Hs and Pekw IVs can be seen by this sequence of photos which are taken from the same roll Top right: Correct track tension was an important consideration “even during short moves. Here two crewmen adjust he tracks on a Pk TV Ausf G or F. Note the short muffler introduced on these models. Bottom left the high level of morale and confidence ofthe Pancerwafe is evident in the faces of this Pskw HIT crew. The tank commander wears his headphones in the uswal way - one ear with a headphone on and the other uncovered to listen to the surrounding sounds. Bottom right: The terrain ‘encountered in Tunisia was far more green and lsh tha that ofthe Western Desert and camouflage in the shape of nets - as seen here on this Pokw ITT lang ~ or local foliage is commonly encountered in contemporary ‘phoiographs. Nowe thatthe spare road wheels are already worn, indicative ‘perhaps of the supply problems faced in North Africa. (NARA) 2P01 ge aces ae A yer Pao dd hate 8 Cod — Te sa Le, Ve ea ee eee See a ne ee eee eee Ce ee rer at ee eer rr PeeAbove and left: Two views of the same Prkw TT lang. Sandbags have been fitted in Jront of the gun shield 10 replace the missing 20mm plate. The face hardened plates were particularly ‘effective against earlier types of Allied anti-tank shells, Breaking their ps before they could penetrate the main armour plates. Bottom left: A rear view of the same 8-cwt lorry seen on page 23. The Ietiers FP probably stand for Feld Post = the number was allocated oa unit for security reasons allowing the mail to be forwarded without disclosing the unit location Bottom right: A short barrelled Pchw I. Markings were ether few or covered by stowage. (NARA)A Pek II of 2LP2D - a command vehicle judging by te rectangular pennant. (NARA) A Poh IV Ausf G (the Ausf F2 denomination ‘eas only used for a short time in 1942, Ausf G seas the correct designation after that time. The suspension and powertrain were reaching their limite and designers could not up armour the turret front to the same level as the front hull (80mm), soit remained 50 mm thick to the end (of prodiction in 1945. (NARA)op: Tiger battalions in Tunisia ‘were mostly employed in small Kampfgrappe in an effort 10 support larger units. The Pek I Ausf Ns were particularly sefil for infantry support with their low velocity but powerful 75cm HE shells. Centre: a Pz IIL Ausf N from s Pe Abt $01 with a Tiger in the background. A frequent sight because the Pz Is ‘had reconnaissance and support roles in the Tiger units up to 1943. The fap over the gunner's vision port is opened, revealing the armoured glass. Bottom: Two views ofthe same SdKfe 251 Ausf C from 21.P2D, probably seen laier inthe campaign. The SSS ivisional insignia is of the more 4 geomerric pattern, often seen towards the end of the war in North Africa. (NARA)Rett. Gar eee 9m ok, & ~~ @ Lis complete Wilt hai unit's famous.'Stalking Tiger’ insignia on the turrébheloW@lite tactical number. The other is in Tunisia, sP:Abt 504, had led when the battles Ground Kasserine took place. The exact location and date sunknow(NARA) 2 = = - Se This Pek III Ausf N, No 124, is stil brand new and in perfect shape. The desert bound-pancers were ordered to be painted in a two colour camouflage scheme of RAL 8020 with a disruptive patern of RAL7027. This was to be factory applied with the later colour covering about 1/3 of the surface area. The pwo Pokw ILI Ausf Ns seen here however appear to carry a plain, one colour scheme, probably RAL 8020.Cane ee eee ee ee ee a aC been carefully camouflaged over drab base Coat and marked withthe division's insignia rae ee eee a Oar a ae eee me es Cet oT) ‘This photograph and that at left above show the first vo images from a report depicting Tiger No 141 during ‘am engine overhaul inthe open. The trailer in the background is a US made I ton version, an early type nding by the pneumatic dolly wheel the later model having a metallic one. The crane used to if the Tiger's ‘engine is mounted on a 4.5 ton truck, here a Bitssing-NAG. The Tigers from LIsPzAbt S01 had peculiar features, such asthe relocated headlights which were moved to avoid the barrel when the turret traversed and the early front mudguards, Note thatthe Rommelkiste varies sligh from the approved version. (NARA)The Feifel pr-fiters, seen here disconnected inthe centre, were installed beginning in October 1942. These are of the frst type with a simplified model appearing in March 1943. The slotted shrouds over the exhaust silencers are also characteristic ofthe I Kompanie. In the background is a Dodge 4x4 _ Ton truck, the direct successor ofthe Dodge - 3/4 Ton depicted on page 4. (NARA) 2»ii bt tank gun ore ipa ae concen ion ih. his photograph shown a rare Schwere ace epee onan ” Bi is she erborne version omit special transport trailer (NARA) “43 30tent guns for bquithly phased out with the ed tanks with Tungsten shoehuowerer this expensive ammunition 2 31The ultimate fate of nearly al the Pancers in Tunisia. Here a Pzhw III - from 10.P:D - atthe end ofthe Kasserine Battle. (NARA) "This Tiger Twas much more thoroughly damaged to deny it the Allis. Several of these huge and powerful tanks had already been captured however ae thes ere studied with ere interest. NARA) 32Pakw I Pakw Il Pakw IV Befehlspanzer | Tiger 1 Notes Paw ill Tn NorihAftiea_| 4 |46 in total comprising Tam oial comprising | Unknown | 4] Of these tanks, 2 February 1942 8 kurz (Sem L/42 gun) | -2 kurz (7Sem L/24 gun) 11 were unservisabl. =22 Jang (Sem L/60 gun) |= 12 Jang (7-Sem Li3) 22 Pakw IV Jang were in 6 AustN (7m L'24 gun) transit to North Africa’ P2avr 190 |Sor7 |52 (approximately half of 10 2 =| arriving in Nov 1942 (90.Leichte Div) these were Ausf N) SPzAbt SOT : 25 Aust N : : 20 | BNovember 1947 January 1943 SPAB SO : Te lang = : TI] March and ApaT TOS 10. PeD 19 89 (no AusfN) 3 6 = [27November to ' December 1942, heavy losses at sea by Svand 8 Kompanien Milere) Komp] Pang Tang 7 Forming aKG rom P2D Hermann Goering Reinforcements | 3 114 T Nov 198210 1 May 198 Total in Tunisia |28 or 30 282 154 ‘Atleast | 31 #11 cach were allocated to 21.P2D and 15 PzD, Not included in the above totals are 2 Pckw Il 32 Pzkw Il, 40 Pzkw IV and 3 Befehlspanzer III lost at sea No Tigers were lost in transit, all crossing to North A\ica on Siebel ferries and similar craft F Samples of Avis Insignia used in North Afra A,B and C: Variations of the Afrika Korps Palm symbol. A border ofthe original Pancergrau colour was often left as in C.D. Halian, fifth tank of the 2nd Plasoon, Ist Company of an armoured regiment (red and white). E. Htalian, 3rd Platoon, 2nd Company, 31 Regalmento Carr (blue and white). F and G. Variations of 2/.Pancer Division. H and I. Variations of 15 Panzer Division, unusually this division used red markings.) and K. 10.Pancer Division. L. Pancer Regiment 7, 10Pancer Division. M. Unknown, but possibly 15 Panzer Disision. Red dlamond with white border and lack number. N. Variations of sewhere Panzer Abieilung SOL. The Stalking Tiger symbol was depicted in black and black and yellow in atleast two different variants. O, P,Q and R. Variations of the German nationel insignia, the Balkenkreuz. The syle shown in Q was often applied to captured vehiclesIn the first months of 1943 Axis forces in North Africa were caught between two advancing mies in the Tunisian bridgehead. Short of men, ‘weapons and supplies the veterans of the Afrika Korps were still able to pack lable punch. Using many previously unpublished photographs and full colour 1S respected French writer and researcher Claude Gillono the final months of some of Germany's most famous soldiers, Claude is well known as the author of Tiger I and French Shermans of the Lib numerous magazine articles.