World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
7 Feb 2011 05:50:06 PM

Photograph of Tiger # 732, of Schwere Panzer
Abteilung 501, still drawing in the locals.
Say are those tankers, playing chess?, if so
let's take a look, let's see who's winning...

QUEEN TAKES PAWN...

Queen takes pawn. Bishop takes Knight's pawn
Rook to King One, Queen to Bishop Six, Bishop takes pawn, Knight takes Bishop..Looks
like you're right...

This is not a fictional Chess Game, moves are
based on Roesch vs. Schlage, Chess Match held
in Hamburg, Germany in 1910.

After watching 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968 I became interested in the game, I do play a fair game of chess myself.

2.  Bill says:
8 Feb 2011 11:47:40 AM

What does sPzAbt.501 mean? schwere Panzer Abteilung. Heavy Armor Division/Section

3.  Bill says:
13 Feb 2011 06:45:33 PM

Photo of Tiger 732 at the Roman site of
El Djem, Tunis February 1943.
The Tiger was assigned to 7. Kompanie Panzer-Regiment, 1Oth Panzer Division.
Former 1.Kompanie sPz.Abt.501

4. David Byrden says:
27 Jan 2013 10:23:13 AM

Well spotted, Bill, but I disagree on one point. Tigers were not yet renumbered in the 700s by the end of February. Also, the actions in February were to the west of El Djem.
I think this is 18 March 1943, when PR 7 was marching from Tunis to Maknassy.

5.  Bill says:
24 Mar 2013 05:16:55 PM

Thanks for your comment this is what historical inforation I have.
Look at the photograph the Tiger's turret number is number 732 photo could have been taken before or after the time line you stated.
There will always be more than one view of a wartime photograph.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Let's take a look at Tiger number 732 in above photograph. What does that turret number mean
7th Company, 3rd Platoon, 2nd Tank.

Battalion Level Command & Recon tanks had 2 numbers (I.e. 03) Regimental HQ & Recon also had 2 nunbers, but had an (R) as well (I.e. R04) as the war continued, so did the turret numbers hope this helps you out...

6. David Byrden says:
8 Jan 2016 02:24:09 AM

>> "photo could have been taken before or after the time line you stated."

If you look at the other photos taken at the same time (on the same negative strip at the Bundesarchiv, with the same local people in them) it becomes clear that we're in El Jem.

Then, if you look at the movements of PR7 in 1943, you will find that 18 March 1943 is the only time they could have been in El Jem heading south. And all the Tigers in these photos are travelling south. So that's how I deduced the date.