1. Panzer Division (Vermacht)

SdKfz 251/1 Ausf A, 1. Panzer Division, Poland, Poland, September 1939. These were the first production run of the 251 series halftracks with 100 being produced in 1939. The 1. PD was the only unit issued these vehicles for the Polish Campaign. Mainly used as armored troop carriers, these halftracks would become multi-purpose vehicles for a great number of roles. Kit is by ICM, paint and markings are overall dark gray with solid white crosses (decals from spares)
 

SdKfz 251/1 Ausf A, 1. Panzer Division, Poland, September 1939. These were the first production run of the 251 series halftracks with 100 being produced in 1939. The 1. PD was the only unit issued these vehicles for the Polish Campaign. Mainly used as armored troop carriers, these halftracks would become multi-purpose vehicles for a great number of roles.  

SdKfz 251/1 Ausf A, 1. Panzer Division, Poland, September 1939. These were the first production run of the 251 series halftracks with 100 being produced in 1939. The 1. PD was the only unit issued these vehicles for the Polish Campaign. Mainly used as armored troop carriers, these halftracks would become multi-purpose vehicles for a great number of roles.  

PzKw II AusF C, Poland, September 1939. The PzKw II was ordered in 1936 as a stop-gap model to provide a training vehicle with a light canon to provide at least minimal armor piercing ability. This was needed as the PzKw III and PzKw IV (ordered in 1935) were not yet in production and further delays were anticipated. PzKw II, like the PzKw I, was never intended to be used as a combat tank, but by the time of the Polish Invasion less than 100 PzKw III's were completed and only about 200 PzKw IV. 1. Panzer Division was issued only 26 of the 130 PzKw III's required to fully equip, and it was therefore necessary to substitute PzKw I and II. Overall, the PzKw II performed very well but Polish AT guns claimed a number of kills. Kit is Tamiya PzKw II AusF C (Polish Campaign). 

PzKw II AusF C, Poland, September 1939. The PzKw II was ordered in 1936 as a stop-gap model to provide a training vehicle with a light canon to provide at least minimal armor piercing ability. This was needed as the PzKw III and PzKw IV (ordered in 1935) were not yet in production and further delays were anticipated. PzKw II, like the PzKw I, was never intended to be used as a combat tank, but by the time of the Polish Invasion less than 100 PzKw III's were completed and only about 200 PzKw IV. 1. Panzer Division was issued only 26 of the 130 PzKw III's required to fully equip, and it was therefore necessary to substitute PzKw I and II. Overall, the PzKw II performed very well but Polish AT guns claimed a number of kills. Kit is Tamiya PzKw II AusF C (Polish Campaign). 

PzKw II AusF C, Poland, September 1939. The PzKw II was ordered in 1936 as a stop-gap model to provide a training vehicle with a light canon to provide at least minimal armor piercing ability. This was needed as the PzKw III and PzKw IV (ordered in 1935) were not yet in production and further delays were anticipated. PzKw II, like the PzKw I, was never intended to be used as a combat tank, but by the time of the Polish Invasion less than 100 PzKw III's were completed and only about 200 PzKw IV. 1. Panzer Division was issued only 26 of the 130 PzKw III's required to fully equip, and it was therefore necessary to substitute PzKw I and II. Overall, the PzKw II performed very well but Polish AT guns claimed a number of kills. Kit is Tamiya PzKw II AusF C (Polish Campaign). 

PzKw II AusF C, Poland, September 1939. The PzKw II was ordered in 1936 as a stop-gap model to provide a training vehicle with a light canon to provide at least minimal armor piercing ability. This was needed as the PzKw III and PzKw IV (ordered in 1935) were not yet in production and further delays were anticipated. PzKw II, like the PzKw I, was never intended to be used as a combat tank, but by the time of the Polish Invasion less than 100 PzKw III's were completed and only about 200 PzKw IV. 1. Panzer Division was issued only 26 of the 130 PzKw III's required to fully equip, and it was therefore necessary to substitute PzKw I and II. Overall, the PzKw II performed very well but Polish AT guns claimed a number of kills. Kit is Tamiya PzKw II AusF C (Polish Campaign). 

PzKw V (Panther) Ausf G early production, 1. Panzer Division, Lake Balaton, Hungary, February 1945. 1. Panzer Division was first issued Panther tanks in August of 1944 while reforming from the Soviet Summer Offensive in Belarus (Bagration). After fighting defensive battles in Poland in late 1944, 1. Panzer Division was sent to Hungary where it fought at Lake Balaton and the attempt to relieve Budapest in February 1945. Once again, heavy losses were incurred and the division retreated to Austria and Bavaria until VE day where they surrendered to US Forces. Kit is Tamiya (from my 1990's stash), Tamiya Panther PE and Zimmermit stickers, Verlinden TC figure. Paint and markings: I did a 3 color camo as it may have been issued in Summer of 1944. then added whitewash and weathering. Decals were from spares as the 1990's decals fell apart once placed in water. 

PzKw V (Panther) Ausf G early production, 1. Panzer Division, Lake Balaton, Hungary, February 1945. 1. Panzer Division was first issued Panther tanks in August of 1944 while reforming from the Soviet Summer Offensive in Belarus (Bagration). After fighting defensive battles in Poland in late 1944, 1. Panzer Division was sent to Hungary where it fought at Lake Balaton and the attempt to relieve Budapest in February 1945. Once again, heavy losses were incurred and the division retreated to Austria and Bavaria until VE day where they surrendered to US Forces.