Flakvierling 38 of Panzer-Grenadier Division Großdeutschland

Today's colourised image is a Flakvierling crew of the Großdeutschland Division in training, taken on 5th November 1943.

The Flakvierling 38 was a quad mount version of the 2cm FlaK 38 and was introduced in 1940. The single 2cm FlaK guns were planned to be phased out early in the war in favour of 3.7cm cannon, as the latter was able to engage targets at much greater range and with several times the explosive force. In order to keep the 2cm gun viable, the Flakvierling 38 (literally ‘quadruple anti-aircraft cannon model 38’) was introduced to increase firepower whilst utilising weapons and ammunition that were already in production.

Previously Unknown US Gun Cam Footage, Germany 1945

In the last week some previously unknown colour Gun Camera footage has emerged from the Romano Archives. The footage was taken over Germany in 1945 from USAF P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers and features the strafing of a pair of locomotives and what appear to be industrial buildings next to them. The exact location of the attack is unknown, though appears to be one of the numerous industrial targets that were engaged by the USAF in March and April 1945. The last few seconds show what looks to be a grounded Luftwaffe jet aircraft or fuel dump exploding when hit from the air.

The Blitz in Colour

Between 7th September 1940 and 10th May 1941 the Luftwaffe launched a strategic bombing campaign against London and other key industrial cities in the United Kingdom, commonly know as The Blitz.

Throughout the UK over a million houses were damaged or destroyed and 40,000 civilians killed. Despite the intensity of the bombings, the stoicism of the British public and their 'Blitz Spirit' ensured that morale did not fall, and despite precautionary measures enacted throughout the affected cities, civilians endeavoured to continue with 'business as usual'.

StuG IV for Sale(!)

Some quite unusual news today, there is an original StuG IV for sale from a private collection in Latvia! It is very rare for original German fully-tracked vehicles to come onto the market, especially something as scarce as a StuG IV.

Click here for the advert on milweb.