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| The reporter of Signal was reporting from Serbia on board of one of the leading panzers of the 'Ghost Division', a nick-name the division got during the French campaign when operating near Abbeville and Dunkirk. 'Tuesday 8 april 1941: the advance starts. In the early morning the Yugoslavian border was passes by German tanks, with the reporter in the command tank 'Erika'. The commander gives orders for the driver and other crew members. The lens of my camera is placed in the visor next to the main gun.' |
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| 'Artillery fire stopped most restistance along the 'Europe-Asia-route', and our tanks advance to cover the operation against Serbian bunkers in the hills. When we are entering a village, artillery sections of the Morawa-division try to stop our tanks. An enemy anti-tank gun is positioned near the church. But we have to go on! Our tank fires past the enemy gun, and shells explode near our own vehicle. Suddenly a radio message from the tank behind us: 'tank Schimmelman to tank Erika: enemy artillery is concentrating on your vehicle, change position immediately and take cover!' We turn on the spot, the treads rattle, and soon thereafter our previous place is hit by artillery. Our artillery prepares the village for an assault, and we attack. Resistance breaks before we even enter the village, and a group of armed men is taken prisoner.' |
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| 'Our panzer started moving sidewards on the bad road, making it hard to take pictures. A village with a windmill is the last point of restistance in front of Belgrade, and our group is moving forwards slowly. In front of us, behind the tank, is a motor-driver, ready to take an important message back to our headquarters. After a while we have a break, and we can take care of our panzer Erika. Treads and parts are investigated, since the roads and the terrain demands a lot of our vehicle. Especially munition has to be loaded, delivered by support groups.' |
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| 'In the evening our group has halted, and sentries are placed. The night is cold, and a group of men stands around the fire, singing and passing around a bottle. They have fought for a week, but are now too excited to go to sleep. It was one of the most impressive hours of this campaign: this particular night in front of Belgrade.' |
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