Panzer crew grave with wheels and tracks

[Theodor]

Hi guys, recently got this photo. Interesting, that parts of the tank - tracks and wheels - are used for the gave, most likely of the Panzer crew. Also a hat is put on the grave marker.

From the parts, do you recognize, what tank was that? Probably Pz II or III? The location is former Yugoslavia, not long after the German invasion. Searching for the names on the Volksbund site, it seems the place is near Kumanovo, then in Yugoslavia, now in Macedonia. Here they are /there were many Nusch, but looking for the possible date of early 1941, this one came. And then Schimmerl's entry confirmed it completely!/:

Nusch

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%"><tbody><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Nachname:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Nusch </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Vorname:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Otto Hans </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Dienstgrad:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Leutnant </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Geburtsdatum:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">15.02.1917 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Geburtsort:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Berlin-Schöneberg </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Todes-/Vermisstendatum:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">06.04.1941 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Todes-/Vermisstenort:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Kumanovo, 25 km ostw. </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td width="100%">

Otto Hans Nusch wurde noch nicht auf einen vom Volksbund errichteten Soldatenfriedhof überführt oder konnte im Rahmen unserer Umbettungsarbeiten nicht geborgen werden. </td></tr></tbody></table>

Schimmerl

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%"><tbody><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Nachname:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Schimmerl </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Vorname:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Ferdinand </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Dienstgrad:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Oberschütze </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Geburtsdatum:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">23.07.1919 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Geburtsort:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Traun </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Todes-/Vermisstendatum:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">06.04.1941 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Todes-/Vermisstenort:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Kumanovo, 25 km ostw. </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td width="100%">

Ferdinand Schimmerl wurde noch nicht auf einen vom Volksbund errichteten Soldatenfriedhof überführt oder konnte im Rahmen unserer Umbettungsarbeiten nicht geborgen werden. </td></tr></tbody></table>

Kenner

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%"><tbody><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Nachname:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Kenner </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Vorname:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Paul </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Dienstgrad:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Unteroffizier </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Geburtsdatum:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">11.04.1915 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Geburtsort:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Stuttgart </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Todes-/Vermisstendatum:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">06.04.1941 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="headtabelle" width="36%">Todes-/Vermisstenort:</td> <td class="bodytabelle" width="64%">Paßhöhe zw. Kriva-Palanka-Kumanovo </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td width="100%">

Paul Kenner wurde noch nicht auf einen vom Volksbund errichteten Soldatenfriedhof überführt oder konnte im Rahmen unserer Umbettungsarbeiten nicht geborgen werden. </td></tr></tbody></table>

....mann - unfortunately could not read his name!

So, what was the tank of those unfortunate soldiers?

[RTY]

Pz.II tank tracks and wheels.
The crew consists of 3 men.

[BenVK]

Notice the black sidecap placed on top of the cross. I've never seen that before, helmets yes but never a cap.

[Oelsardine]

Dust in the wind

Hi,

the fourth man:

Nachname: Axmann
Vorname: Hermann
Dienstgrad: Oberschütze
Geburtsdatum: 10.12.1911
Geburtsort: Wien

Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 06.04.1941
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Kumanow, 25 km ostw.

You should send a scan of the picture with the names of the fallen to the Volksbund. Maybe a Relative of the four men is on the search for some infos.


Regards,

Axel

[Dallas]

Roadwheels appear to be Panzer II.

[Theodor]

Thank you very much, Axel! I tried many combinations, but could not read it - it is indeed Axmann!! Yes, this is a great idea, it may be useful for them, I will send them a scan! Unfortunately I do not speak German, but the scan doesn't need too much words, they will understand

Hi,

the fourth man:

Nachname: Axmann
Vorname: Hermann
Dienstgrad: Oberschütze
Geburtsdatum: 10.12.1911
Geburtsort: Wien

Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 06.04.1941
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Kumanow, 25 km ostw.

You should send a scan of the picture with the names of the fallen to the Volksbund. Maybe a Relative of the four men is on the search for some infos.


Regards,

Axel

[adlerfan53]

Cool stuff. I would say Mark II as well. This being an early picture of a grave this is logical. The grave setup is really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[zeugmeister]

...and maybe her Grave can be find now ...

[Theodor]

...and maybe her Grave can be find now ...

Interesting, is it Unknown? I can not understand what the Volksbund site says about it. Is it unknown to the Volksbund organization, or unknown at all?

Here is a map of the area, Kumanovo and Kriva palanka, this is nowadays in the northern part of Macedonia.

[Bullitt]

panzergrave

Hi

what strikes me is that several pics exist like this but its always a grave "decorated" with panzer II parts ( wheels and tracks)

never saw a grave like this with some panther wheels ?

was this a standard thing to do only for Panzer II troops???

ciao
Bullitt

[Homerr]

Similar pictures:

[Larrister]

Another. track type unknown.

[Bill Gaynor]

I was looking at these pictures and after seeing others I have to say that the Germans took alot of time and care in burying their dead in the field with all the grave decorations and sculpted mounding of the earth over the grave. You don't see that with the Allies much if at all.

[jiipee76]

That picture have also one shell.Very nice grave for a tanker.

[MikeP]

US graves were generally put into large established cemetaries.
Sometimes they were buried where they died, but even then recovered and relocated.
Postwar many were returned home for burial.

Since the Germans subsequently got booted out of these areas, I don't know what their eventual plans were.