Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. G - 5th Light Division
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Panzer III Ausf. G from the Panzer Regiment 5, 5th Light Division, as being photographed during April 1941 in Derna Pass during Operation Sonnenblume.
This tank was the original tank (not the replacement) that arrived in Tripoli between March 3rd and 7th 1941, as a part of 1st Company, Panzer Regiment 5, 5th Light Division, later to become 21st Panzer Division.
They were rushed into action almost immediately and after several encounters, and taking El Aghelia on 24 March and Marsa el Brega on 31 March, Benghazi was taken on 4 April. After that, several columns were formed to sweep through Cyrenaica. 5th Light Division was split between Kampfgruppe Schwerin (minor elements) sent to Tmimi, Group Olbrich, which was sent to take Msus and then to continue to El Mechii and Group Streich, that was sent south over Ben Gania to Tobruk together with the Ariete Division (but was redirected later on to El Mechili).
After a quick and somewhat confusing rush, Mechili was captured on 7 April by Group Streich and Ariete Division, while Derna was captured on 8 April by Kampfgruppe Ponath. It is around this time and in this area between Derna and Mechili, where the reference photo I used for this build was taken.
5th Light Division continued fighting in North Africa and participated in all major battles. I am not sure what was happening exactly to this tank and its crew, but it was for sure destroyed during Operation Crusader. However, it might be the replacement tank and that the original tank was destroyed before that, sometimes between April and December 1941.
