VISIT BY GENERALFELDMARSCHALL VON RUNDSTEDT AND BY GENERALOBERST GUDERIAN, 1943 [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: VISIT BY GENERALFELDMARSCHALL VON RUNDSTEDT AND BY GENERALOBERST GUDERIAN, 1943 [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 4242
  • Other titles: BECKER COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: An inspection by von Rundstedt of Major Becker's unit (the 'Gepanzerte Artillerie Brigade' of Schnelle Brigade West) in early 1943 and Guderian at 21. Panzer Division manoeuvres in mid-1943.
  • Description: (Section 1) Titles on the film suggest that this is a visit by von Rundstedt to Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 200 with the dates December 1943 and January 1944; the film however appears to be a visit in early 1943 to the 'gepanzerte Artillerie Brigade' of Schnelle Brigade West, as the unit was then called. Von Rundstedt accompanied by Generalmajor Feuchtinger and Major Becker inspect some of Becker's AFVs and transport in the Forêt de St Germain near the unit's base. At another location Von Rundstedt is introduced to a line-up of officers before taking up position on the roadside to watch a motor past of gepanzerte Artillerie Brigade vehicles led by Major Becker in a Laffly field car. Among the vehicles in the parade, all products of the 'Baustab Becker' refitting enterprise, are FCM 7.5cm PAK 40 and FCM 10.5cm leFH 16 self propelled guns, Unic 2cm Flak 38 half-tracks, Unic half-track supply carriers, Vickers 'Munipanzer' carriers, a Somua 7.5cm PAK 40 half-track and a number of motorcycles and motorcycle combinations, observation, communication and command vehicles. Some of the Laffly cars have very wobbly front wheels. (Section 2) Guderian is greeted by Generalmajor Feuchtinger in August(?) 1943 at the latter's headquarters in a French village. After some introductions and inspections, the film shows 21. Panzer Division manoeuvres with Guderian and Feuchtinger looking on. Motorcycle combinations drive up and down a stretch of road, panzer-grenadiers dash along ditches and patrol woodland, and take up combat positions in the village. Youthful soldiers creep along a line of wheat sheaves, only to hastily retreat when the 'enemy' responds to their fire. A heavily camouflaged Unic 2cm Flak 38 half-track from Becker's unit is seen. Guderian gives a pep talk to a group of officers, and examines some of the unusual AFVs produced by 'Baustab Becker', including a well fitted Citroën mobile workshop lorry. Several weapons briefly demonstrate their fire power - a 'Reihenwerfer' multiple mortar, an FCM self-propelled gun, a Lorraine Schlepper self-propelled gun, a Somua 7.5cm PAK half-track.
  • Alternative Title: BECKER COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: MGH 4242
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (MGH 4242)
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1943
  • Production Country: Germany
  • Production Details:
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Rundstedt, Gerd von (person) Becker, Alfred (person) Feuchtinger, Edgar (person) Guderian, Heinz (person) German Army (Third Reich), Gepanzerte Artillerie Brigade (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: armour, German - halftrack: Somua Reihenwerfer (object name) armour, German - SPG: FCM 7.5cm PAK 40 Panzerjager (object name) armour, German - SPG: 10.5cm leFH 16 auf FCM(f) (object name) armour, German - SPG: Lorraine 10.5cm leFH 16 (object name) armour, German - halftrack: Somua 7.5cm PAK 40 (object name) armour, German - halftrack: Unic 2cm Flak 38 (object name) armour, German - carrier: Munipanzer (object name) armour, French - halftrack: Unic & [impressed] (object name) transport, French military - car: Laffly field car & [impressed] (object name) transport, French military - truck: Citroën & [impressed] (object name) armour, French - carrier: Tracteur Blinde 37L, trailer & [Allied] (object name) Maisons-Lafitte, Yvelines, France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: German Subtitle language: German
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 378 ft; Running time: 16 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MGH 4242

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