Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf F1 | Ostfront Caucasus 1942

Panzerkampfwagen IV ausf F1, 3rd Panzer Division "Berlin Bear", Ukraine-Caucasus regions 1942

Deutschen Workhorse
German Panzer IV tank of 3rd Panzer Division during its Army Group South offensive into southern Soviet Union regions of

Ukraine and Caucasus, 1942.

Painted in standard Panzer Grey, a typical depiction of German armor camouflage from 1935 to 1943. 1.35 1970s-era Italeri model kit, air brushed Panzer Grey, weathered with Black and Tan enamel paints.

3rd Panzer Division was formed in Berlin-Germany, hence adopted the "Berlin Bear" insignia. With sudden Ostfront (Eastern Front) stalemate on central region at Moscow in Dec. 1941, Germans shifted their 1942 offensive into southern region to control Ukrainian wheat production and Caucasus oil fields.

Nov. 1942 saw 3rd Panzer Division advanced as far as Grozny in Caucasus region, where it suffered major losses repelling Soviet counter attacks.

This problem compounded by Soviet encirclement of German army at Stalingrad, thus fearing encirclement itself, all German forces in Caucasus region hastily retreated eastward across Don river at Rostov city to establish new defensive lines. Germans never regained territories lost in this region.

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http://uwemilitaria.org/2-Track/Panzer4F1