Title:STURMGESCHÜTZ ABTEILUNG 200 AT VOVES AND PRACTICE FIRING TRIALS, LATE 1943 [Allocated Title]
Film Number:MGH 4244
Other titles:BECKER COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Scenes at Voves, November-December 1943; funeral of Lt Moendt; practice Flak shoot in Brittany; 'Panzerjäger' firing trials.
Description: (Section 1) A map shows the route of Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 200's journey from Mauron in Brittany. The unit's headquarters are shown in the town of Voves, south-east of Chartres, are shown. A local is seen with an ox cart. Two men of the unit load small wine(?) casks on to the back of a truck of kitbags and equipment. The daily food and cigarette ration on a notice board is shown. The church is shown in some detail.
(Section 2) Titles and a map indicate where Leutnant Moendt (also given as "Moeng" in one title) was killed while on manoeuvres with Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 200's Nr.1 and Nr.4 batteries on 18 November 1943. The last film taken of the officer is included. Troops of Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 200 are seen on parade in the military cemetery in Orleans for his funeral. Present at the imposing ceremony are Generalmajor Feuchtinger, the commanding officer of 21. Panzer Division and the dead man's parents. The film shows the procession, wreath laying and a speech by Feuchtinger. The cemetery contains a large number of other German soldiers' graves.
(Section 3) Major Becker, commander of Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 200, arrives in his Chevrolet/DAF field car at the "Flakschiessplatz Penmarch" on the Brittany coast. The film shows four mobile Flak detachments equipped with Unic 2cm Flak 38 half-tracks engaged in gunnery practice. One of the Flak crews are shown changing the barrel of their gun. The target drogue is recovered and examined for hits (none obviously visible).
(Section 4) Major Becker and other officers supervise firing trials of a Hotchkiss H-39 7.5cm PAK 40 'Panzerjäger'. The vehicle is shown from different angles firing at a target of a distant ridge. After the shoot, one of the targets, a rectangle of armour plate with a shell hole in the middle, is examined.
Alternative Title:BECKER COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Becker, Alfred (person)
Feuchtinger, Edgar (person)
German Army (Third Reich), Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 200 (regiment/service)
Keywords: armour, German - halftrack: Unic 2cm Flak 38 (object name)
armour, German - SPG: 7.5cm PAK 40 (sf) auf Geschutzwagen Hotchkiss H-39 (f) (object name)
ceremonies, German - event-related: [funeral] (object name)
Voves, Eure-et-Loire, 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: 341 ft; Running time: 14 mins
