Achtung Panzer - Remembrance

Today is the 4th of May. Remembrance Day in the Netherlands. So it is perhaps fitting that on this day we talk about a tank that represents the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has been raging for over four years now. No longer headline news but still being fought. Lest we forget.

The T-72 in Groenlo. Fuji GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4, Acros film simulation. 

The T-72

The topic of today's Achtung Panzer is the Soviet/Russian T-72 Main Battle Tank (MTB). Introduced in 1973, it was a further development of the T-64 MTB. Around 25,000 units were produced. Our version is a T-72B which entered production in 1985. I understand that this tank was knocked out during the battle for Kyiv in March, 2022. It ran on a French-supplied mine and was disabled.

The tank, together with an Ukrainian ambulance, is a travelling exhibit now in the care of the Vrijheidsmuseum (freedom museum) in Groesbeek. Its first appearance outside of Ukraine was in Berlin, parked in front of the Russian Embassy as a protest against the war. It has since been seen in Amsterdam, Groesbeek and now Groenlo where I caught sight of it.

Fuji GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4

Russian markings

The turret is marked MRVSP KN-TN-7455

According to Oryx, the Russians lost 365 T-72B's during the war until May 2026. Confirmed losses, that is.

The turret and fuselage are marked MRVSP KN-TN-7455 in Cyrillic. Anyone for its meaning? Let me know in the comments.

Achtung Panzer - Ede's liberator

The city of Ede in the Netherlands was liberated on April 17th, 1945. To commemorate this fact, a Sherman tank was placed at the outskirts of Ede as a memorial in 1990.

Cougar, shot with a Canon EOS-1 fitted with a 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens and loaded with Agfaphoto APX 400 black and white film.

The war diary of the OKW (Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht) [Armed forces high command, the supreme German military command and control staff during World War Two] reports on Monday, the 16th of April 1945: "Fortgang der kämpfe um die "Festung Holland"... an der Rheinfront noch Rühe" [progress on the battle of the "Citadel Holland"... quiet on the Rhine front]. In fact, that day the first Canadian tanks of the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade, part of the British 49th 'Polar Bear' Infantry Division roll towards Ede.

In the early evening of the 16th of April, 1945 the 147th Brigade of the 49th Infantry Division is tasked to liberate Ede. The brigade consists of three batallions: The 11th battalion 'The Royal Scots Fusiliers', the 1st battalion 'The Leicestershire Regiment' and the 7th battalion 'The duke of Wellington's Regiment'. The 147th Brigade is supported by the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade and A and C Squadrons, the 11th Regiment 'The Ontario Regiment' and A and C Squadrons of the 14th Regiment 'The Calgary Regiment' are tasked to support the drive towards Ede. Every Squadron consists of twenty Sherman tanks.

Canon EOS-1, 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, Agfa APX 400

Ede is but one of several targets in the Veluwe area and the task of capturing Ede itself is given to the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the supporting Squadrons from the Calgary Regiment. They leave Arnhem at 18:00 hours, C Squadron with their Sherman tanks in the lead. After a few skirmishes they stop at dusk, around 21:00 hours. The advance along the N224 highway to Ede will continue tomorrow.

Fuji GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4, Acros film simulation

The next day the war diary of the OKB reports on the British-Canadian actions: "Bei Arnheim erweiterte der gegner seinen Brückenkopf und gelangte über die Strasse nach Appeldoorn [sic]" [The enemy extended their bridgehead at Arnhem and reached Apeldoorn over the (N224) highway]. At 05:00 hours the advance towards Ede continues, again with C Squadron in the lead. At around 06:00 hours a small battle erupts at the Drieberg hill which overlooks the N224. This needs to be taken before the Royal Scots Fusiliers can advance further. After an artillery barrage Shermans from C Squadron roll up the hill and capture two German anti-tank cannons with their crews, members of the 34. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "Landstorm Nederland "[34th SS volunteer Grenadier Division "Landstorm Nederland"], Dutchmen fighting for Germany. After taking the hill the allies advance over the Ginkelse Heide towards the Simon Stevin barracks just outside of Ede. Here they join battle with the 34th SS Division. C Squadron comes into action again, dispatching four Sherman tanks. Two of these are regular Sherman V tanks armed with a 75mm gun, the other two are Sherman IB tanks equipped with a 105mm howitzer gun. In the fighting at and around the barracks the Sherman IB's are in their element. 

After this engagement the tanks advance to Ede. As part of the N224 is blocked the tanks advance via the Arnhemseweg before they reach the N224 again. Now this part of the force splits up, one part follows the Arnhemseweg towards the centre of Ede, the other part follows the N224 before turning towards the centre of town. The first allied Sherman tanks roll into Ede.

Fujifilm GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4

It is at this location that we meet our Sherman tank 81 years later. Named Cougar, she looks brand new. She was fully restored in Delft in 2022-2024 and relocated from her old location at the roundabout on the N224 to her current location close by. 

This Sherman tank is displayed in the markings of a tank from C Squadron, 14th Regiment 'The Calgary Regiment'. It represents the tank used by Captain Davies and his crew. Davies and his crew drove a regular Sherman V tank. This tank however is an M4(105) 105mm howitzer equipped version. This tank was built by Chrysler with construction number 57562 and US Army serial number 30104244. The tank was part of the tank fleet of the Royal Dutch Army after the war and was stored at Soesterberg before it was donated to Ede. 

Fujifilm GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4

From 1990 to 2022 it was marked as T212125 with the number 13 in a green circle on the turret. It was however discovered that these markings were incorrect and it was decided to change her markings to 31 in a blue circle. It kept serial number T212125 and the name Cougar. Why Cougar? All tanks of C Squadron had a name beginning with a C, hence the choice for Cougar.

Click on the images to enlarge

Atlantikwall - chapter one

After a slow start this project is gaining traction. Last month Joeri and I visited the Bunker museum in IJmuiden to gain some background knowledge on the Atlantikwall, information that we could incorporate into our project. Last week we returned to that area as there is a collection of Atlantikwall bunkers half buried in the dunes there. Once part of the Vestung IJmuiden (IJmuiden citadel), these once mighty fortifications now seem to function mostly as canvas for intrepid spray can artists. 

On this part of the journey, I opted for the Fujifilm GFX 100S II fitted with the Fujinon GF 45-100mm f/4 LM OIS WR lens. Given that the day was mostly cloudy I wanted black and white images and selected the Fujifilm Acros with red filter film simulation to get that effect.

This is a Krupp built 120mm naval gun dating from 1896. Guns like these would have armed the now empty bunkers. This particular gun was placed aboard the cruiser Hr. Ms. Friesland. When Friesland was taken out of service in 1913 her 120mm cannons were removed and used for coastal defense.

Joeri in action. Check out his thoughts here.

Range finding bunker in front, gun bunker behind.

Buried in the dunes.

What's up doc?

Machine gun position.

Nature always wins.

Click on the photographs to enlarge.

Going forward I intend to add medium format film to this project. I've acquired a couple of Harman Technology rolls especially for this project and will probably use a Pentax 645 or Pentax 67 to shoot them with.