Looking for internet photo of wintertime Pz 4 tank commander

[BB75]

Hello-

A number of years ago I found a picture on the internet and am wondering if anyone else saw it and still has a link for it. I have never seen the photo in a book. It may have been at a European (Austrian?) militaria website but I cannot remember for certain.

It showed a Panzer 4 tank commander in his cupola. He is wearing white camo, with the padded toque and looks really cold. He is not looking at the camera. There appeared to be a clipboard or notebook visible which struck me as, I dunno, a bit on the human side of the whole thing. In the background are a number of other Panzer IVs, and on the nearest one are a couple of tankers looking towards the camera. One might have a fur cap on and is standing on the tank. Everything is white. The ground, the tanks, the clothes and it appears to be snowing. Trees in the distance? I can't remember if the tanks have their skirts. I think tank tracks are visible in the snow and it looks like the tanks are assembled for an operation. No unit or uniform markings are visible. A neat photo which I would love to see again and bookmark!

Thanks for any help.

Brian

[reinaart]

Hi, I think this must be the pic you are referring to. It's from the Dutch "Beeldbank WO2" site. I think the pic shows Pz.IV's of 20.PD near Witebsk.



Arjan

[BB75]

That is the one!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much!

[Jock Auld]

It is the picture that personifies many an Armoured vehicle commander.

The common thought being perhaps 'what the fcuk am I doing here?'.

Jock

[BB75]

The notebook/binder is what knocks me out. Never having been involved in such activities in peacetime or otherwise it looks out of place to me, but in a lot of pics of knocked out tanks, there is often a bunch of paper, and other things, strewn about.

[jmark]

The notebook/binder is what knocks me out.

It's probably his mapboard/map-case.

Jason

[jmark]

Hi, I think this must be the pic you are referring to. It's from the Dutch "Beeldbank WO2" site. I think the pic shows Pz.IV's of 20.PD near Witebsk.

Arjan

By the way, great work Arjan!

[Jock Auld]

The notebook/binder is what knocks me out. Never having been involved in such activities in peacetime or otherwise it looks out of place to me, but in a lot of pics of knocked out tanks, there is often a bunch of paper, and other things, strewn about.

Mate,

It is not in the slightest out of place, I think most AFV commanders will at some point have hade something similar to jot down notes, in my case it had 'Fire plan' proforma and Secure Order Cards (SOCs), all a necessary evil within armoured warfare! I think the only difference in the picture was how cold he was and I used lumocolour to write where he had 'Chinagraph', and he was against a proper enemy!

Jock