Captured tanks and armored cars in German service


By affixing the German Cross to captured tanks new units were created. Their fighting value was not very great but they were useful in securing occupied territories. Turning a looted tank into one's own by painting on the German Cross was always dangerous. From a distance they were not recognizable as one's own. The decision to shoot or not had to depend solely upon the impression the tank made on the gunner. This often resulted in tanks being shot at by tanks or guns of the same side. 
A captured Russian tractor
A captured Matilda tank in the desert
The Germans captured thousands of Russian vehicles including many Komsomoletz STZ-3 tractors (above, left). Though many vehicles remained Russian green, this example has been repainted dark grey. 

In the Balkans tanks which were looted during the 1940 French campaign were in action against Tito's partisans. Hundreds of French tanks had been captured but their one-man turrets did not fit the German tactical pattern so that they were of little use to the panzer divisions. However, captured French Hotchkiss Char Leger H-39s were used extensively for anti-partisan duties in Yugoslavia. Some captured French tanks retained their French Army green, but the vehicle below, left appears to have been repainted German dark yellow.
To increase the number of combat vehicles, captured Russian T-34's were frequently integrated into German panzer units. In addition to the lack of spare parts, these tanks were also handicapped by their large identification markings, which made an easy aiming point for enemy gunners.
A Russian T-26 B1 with a large German cross
An obviously marked T34/76
A Soviet T-34 Model 1943
Sherman V "Firefly"

  Captured enemy armored vehicles
 
A
B
C
D
A: A captured US M8 armored car retained its olive drab color scheme but had a large cross in white. 
B: An Italian AB 41 has been re-marked in German insignia. When Italy left the Axis in 1943, many Italian units in Yugoslavia were rounded up by the Wehrmacht and their equipment impressed into German service. 
C: A captured South Africa Marmon-Harrington armored car, repainted in 21. Panzer Division markings in Tunesia.
D: An American M3 halftrack still with olive drab color scheme, and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in the car behind