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Forums - Research / WW2 |
This WW2 forum is intended for asking and discussing reference or historical related issues pertaining to WW2 (1939-1945) subjects. |
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| Subject: | Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot |  |
| Date: | Apr 29, 2008 | |
| From: | Christopher C. Tew | |
Steve, I was basing my comments on two specific cases/biographies written in the Panzer Aces books. The info I've read only puts tankers/assault gun personnel into infantry roles when, as you mention, there was no replacement vehicle available and the situation was basically out of control. When that happened, everyone did what necessity dictated.
Otherwise, panzer maintenance crew, including skilled mechanics, went into combat only when rear areas were overrun, but tankers were usually sent somewhere (the rearer ;-) areas or even back to Germany) to round up another vehicle. When a unit was disbanded or rendered weaponless, the members' location usually determined how they were used. If near another unit that needed personnel or near the rear, they went to assembly areas and from there to whoever needed their skills. If stuck in a combat zone, they could well end up as infantry, but only as a last resort. Kids or geezers like me could be given a Panzerfaust or rifle and shown how to point and shoot in a few minutes and one or two practice rounds. Driving a tank or operating a radio set, aiming a tank cannon or loading its rounds, took considerably more training and skill, and time to replace wasted crews was not a luxury Germany had.
Yrs,
CTew |
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 | Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Brian Kelly - Apr 28, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Roy Chow - Apr 28, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Christopher C. Tew - Apr 28, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Dan - Apr 28, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Juan Contreras - Apr 29, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Steve Camley - Apr 29, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Christopher C. Tew - Apr 29, 2008 |
| . . . Good theatrical depiction - David Nickels - Apr 29, 2008 |
| . . . . . . You're a Soldier first and Tank Crew second - Michael Magyar - Apr 29, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . I would say it depends - David Nickels - Apr 30, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Richard Griffith - Apr 29, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Gazza Hollett - Apr 29, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Neil Oram - Apr 30, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Christopher C. Tew - Apr 30, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Gazza Hollett - Apr 30, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - a. syalabi - Apr 30, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Panzer Crew fighting on foot - Anthony Sewards - Apr 30, 2008 |
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