Africa

PzKw III Ausf. H, North Africa
(Source)

Willi Hoffmeister stepped out of the maintenance tent and marveled once again at just how hot it was. He wondered what the rest of his old unit was experiencing in eastern Europe.

They had received orders while in transit to the east, they were going to be added to the newly formed 15th Panzer Division in North Africa under Rommel. Not just him and his crew but the entire company had been waylaid and sent south to take ship for Africa.

With not one tank to their name.

The lowest ranking, and least experienced crewman on the tank they would get someday, was also down in the dumps. He had expected a chance to move up in the world, perhaps to loader. After all Horst Krebs was now an Oberpanzerschütze¹ and was now the gunner. Neuhäuser was depressed that a new crewman had joined the crew, an Oberpanzerschütze who had been in the Panzerwaffe² since 1936.

Lutz Schumacher had had numerous run-ins with the military justice system. Mostly from problems with being unable to hold his liquor. Which explained his low rank after five years in the army. He had been promoted scarcely a month ago. He'd also been decorated with the Iron Cross 2nd Class for bravery in action during the invasion of Greece.

Still, his former commander welcomed the opportunity to get rid of him when the paperwork had come down looking for men to fill the ranks of the 15th Panzer. The transition from a Light division to a full up Panzer division required more men. So a number of commanders throughout the army found it convenient to lose their disciplinary problems.

All in all, Schumacher was a good combat soldier, as long as he stayed out of the booze. Which was scarce in North Africa to begin with. Hoffmeister expected no problems from the new man, but he had cautioned him.

"Keep your nose clean Schumacher and stay away from the Soldatenkantine,³ then we shall get along just fine."

Schumacher had demonstrated his abilities as a loader during the crew's transition to the PzKw III Ausf. H back at the Panzerschule, so Hoffmeister had no worries in that respect.

Now if they could only be issued a vehicle!

Two days later they were assigned to a platoon, and a refurbished PzKw III, just out of the repair shops. The platoon leader, one Oberfeldwebel Kurt Weber, welcomed them to Africa and the 15th Panzer. He had been an original member of the division's predecessor, the 5th Light Division.

"So Willi, where have you boys served before?"

Hoffmeister was a little surprised at the man's informality, but as he was quickly learning, they did things differently in the Deutsches Afrika Korps.

"We didn't make it to Poland, but we fought through Belgium and France. We were on our way to the East when we received orders for the entire company to join the 15th. But here we are, in a new company. Why Sir?"

"Ah, we needed to fill out the existing companies with experienced men, that's why. You boys have got Panzer 413. She's fresh out of the workshops, new tracks, new motor, and now a new crew."

"What happened to the old crew?" Neuhäuser asked. Hoffmeister winced when his bow gunner posed that question.

"Two of them are dead, one was invalided back to Germany. The survivors were sent on home leave. If you inspect your vehicle carefully, you'll see some markings on the inner turret wall where English small arms fire got in through an open hatch."

"In combat, they had a hatch open?" Neuhäuser asked incredulously.

The Oberfeldwebel laughed and said, "You think it's hot out here in the open? Wait until you've been inside your Panzer for anything over ten minutes."

At that point the Oberfeldwebel held up his left arm to show the underside of his forearm, which looked to have been burned.

"Be careful where you place parts of your body on the outside of the vehicle. I burned this leaning out of my hatch to talk to a motorcycle courier. Wear long sleeves in and on the Panzer. Seems insane, but it helps."

Hoffmeister nodded and thanked the Oberfeldwebel . Turning to his crew he said, "All right lads, let's check out our new ride!"

¹ Roughly a senior private, Private First Class in the U.S. Army would be an equivalent rank.

² The Armored Force, the tank branch of the German Army.

³ A place behind the lines where a soldier might relax, get something strong to drink, or get food other than Army food.