SDKFZ MP44 What Unit ? Pzr Grnd SS ?

[jimd211545s]

Ok we a have halftrack with three troopers and a MP44 so its late war. Cant get a clear enough scan to see the collar tab on the soldier in the middle but I think it looks like an SS tab? could be panzer troops? faint unit markings on the front of the halftrack, Any thoughts on who, where, when welcome.

[Simon H]

Interesting study. Not that it really helps you much, but I think the MP44 is in fact an MP43, so it's not necessarily as late as you might think.

[grumblejones]

A cuffband is clearly visible on the left sleeve of the trooper on the far left. This would be consistent with an SS unit. The tactical symbol on the front of the halftrack denotes Armored Infantry...aka Panzer Grenadier. The R beside the symbol may indicate the halftrack is part of a command unit.

The setting appears to be Western European based on the tiled roof. This could be Italy in 1943, France or Holland in 1944. The weather appears to be something other than winter, which again allows for the locations considered above. The MG-42 and MP44 suggest the 43 to 44 time-frame as well.

The figure on the far right does not have a visible cuffband or the Hoheitsabzeichen on his left sleeve, so we may have mix of service branches in this picture.

The polished boots and generally neat appearance of this troops also lends itself to a non-combat setting and could lean more strongly to SS troops in Italy in 1943.

These are just guesses based on what we can see from the picture.

[Charles Trang]

The vehicle is a SdKfz.251 Ausf.D so the picture was probably taken in 1944.