Wartime water color painting - "Dedin" 1941 - research project

[Oberbootsmann]

Hello. I'd like to show an interesting wartime water color painting which I bought some years ago in Germany.
The painting shows a group of German soldiers having a break outside a thatched house / barn. Their company car is parked in a car port.
The painting measures 41 cm x 31 cm and it is signed, titled and dated under the image with:

"... Moritz, Dedin, 41"

Dedin is a small Russian village which was occupied by the Germans between August 1941 and September 1943.
For more information read the end of the Wikipedia article passage "History of the village":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stary_Dzedzin

I would like to find out more about the painter "Moritz". Can someone read his first name?
Furthermore I would like to find out more about the unit which was based at Dedin at the time.
I've tried to do that by trying to read the license plate but didn't succeed.

I'll be very grateful for any further information.

Regards

[Oberbootsmann]

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[Oberbootsmann]

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[Oberbootsmann]

looks like an organisational symbol (painted in white) on the right wheel arch of the truck.

Thanks, Mousey. I haven't spotted that so far. What kind of symbol could that be? I'm not very familiar with those symbols. Perhaps there exists a list?

Regards

[Akira Takiguchi]

Apparently a Panzerjäger - a triangle, with two circles (motorized) underneath. The Truppenkennzeichen on the right fender reminds me of 5.ID. but I don't have any HGr. Mitte maps handy here unfortunately, can someone check the Biblio map to find the unit that was there then.

[Thälmannpionier]

maybe of help..

[Oberbootsmann]

maybe of help..

Thanks, how did you do that? First name could be "Max". Unfortunately there is no know painter with the name "Max Moritz".
I think the painter was one of the soldiers based at Dedin. Talented but just an amateur painter.

So I'll concentrate on that vehicle symbol.

Btw., while doing research on that symbol I found a very informative website regarding tactical symbols, license plates, uniforms, etc. of the WH:

http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/


Regards

[Oberbootsmann]

Apparently a Panzerjäger - a triangle, with two circles (motorized) underneath. The Truppenkennzeichen on the right fender reminds me of 5.ID. but I don't have any HGr. Mitte maps handy here unfortunately, can someone check the Biblio map to find the unit that was there then.

Thanks, Akira. I think you are right. I was able to find a photo of a Panzerjäger vehicle with a similar symbol.
Do you know someone from the forum who has the necessary documents to find out what unit was there at the time?

Regards

[randy@treadways]

I was going to check to see if Moritz is listed among the PK war artists (I understand there were 80 or so) in a book I have. But unfortunately that book is buried deep in a pile of storage boxes in my garage, unlikely to see the light of day anytime soon.

Maybe somebody else can check.

[jmark]

An interesting puzzle!

On the car, is that a roller mounted in front of the bumper? I feel like this is a feature of some French vehicles, but I am not sure. If it is French, then this Panzerjäger unit was partially equipped with captured vehicles.

I checked the Biblio book (Die Divisionen 1-5) and 5.Inf.Div. was nowhere near this village in 1941.

Is the artist's name "Max Moritz" or is it just his surname (something like "Maskovitz")?

Jason

[Akira Takiguchi]

Thanks, Akira. I think you are right. I was able to find a photo of a Panzerjäger vehicle with a similar symbol.
Do you know someone from the forum who has the necessary documents to find out what unit was there at the time?

Regards

If anyone has this book

http://books.stonebooks.com/book/1007383/

He will sure help us.

I have all the way thru Kreta but I haven't bought this one... I have original maps from Heeresgruppe Nord so I haven't really cared for Mitte / Süd maps!

P.S. Very nice photo of a Marder I! I know this series of photographs, but never saw this one from rear.

[Simon O.]

The vehicle looks very much like a Citroen Kegresse half track

[Oberbootsmann]

An interesting puzzle!

On the car, is that a roller mounted in front of the bumper? I feel like this is a feature of some French vehicles, but I am not sure. If it is French, then this Panzerjäger unit was partially equipped with captured vehicles.

I checked the Biblio book (Die Divisionen 1-5) and 5.Inf.Div. was nowhere near this village in 1941.

Is the artist's name "Max Moritz" or is it just his surname (something like "Maskovitz")?

Jason

Thanks Jason for checking the book.

I don't think that the entire signature is a last name. Both "M" are written in capitals IMO.

Regards

[Gerdan]

Oberbootsmann,

finally I found an artist with the Name "Max Moritz" . He came from Tirol/Austria and was born

6.1.1921 Kirchbichl, later living in Wörgel/Tirol. His main focus was sculptor. He studied in

Innsbruck (Kunstgewerbeschule). He was specialised in gravestones and sculptures.

The artistic work in the cemetery chapel in Langkampfen was made by him.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langkampfen

May be in Langkampfen they know if Max Moritz is still alive.

Gerdan

[randy@treadways]

Maybe in Langkampfen they'll know also whether he was with the military on the Russian front. If so, then one would think we've identified the right guy.

The age (born in 1921) seems right.