Ede, Holland 1945

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Very interesting pictures Jon, thanks for sharing!

[Alex van de Wetering]

t's possible that I've posted these photos previously. If so, my apology to the moderator. Jon

Jon, I haven't seen these before.....so thanks for sharing!

I wonder if that Char B is one of the German Flammpanzer versions that were active around Arnhem??

Alex

[Jon McGrath]

In the photo of the Panther (?), there appears to be "fencing", on either side, that looks to me like tank tracks. If so, might this have been a hastily placed defensive position?

Alex, I checked my "statistics" and see that I had posted the photos previously. I just re-discovered them this week and unintentionally re-posted.

Jon

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Jon McGrath

In the photo of the Panther (?), there appears to be "fencing", on either side, that looks to me like tank tracks. If so, might this have been a hastily placed defensive position?

It is a Panther Ausführung G, and the tracks are Panther tracks. Not sure why they would be snaking along there, but I get the impression they have been placed there to form a fence for some reason. In the left foreground (so behind the tank) there is also a drive sprocket ring, probably from this same Panther.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jon McGrath

Alex, I checked my "statistics" and see that I had posted the photos previously. I just re-discovered them this week and unintentionally re-posted.

Jon indeed you did, I see I even replied to it. Have now merged the two threads.

It is no problem to bring a topic back to top every now and then because you'll get new readers and responses. It is not unheard of here on MLU that a thread 10+ years old is revived

[David Dunlop]

The turret on that Sherman Flail looks VERY disconnected from the hull and the background building in that photo looks very similar to the one behind the Panther. It might be possible to pinpoint the area in Ede from that building, if it has survived, and learn a bit more about what happened to both vehicles.

David

[David Herbert]

Yes, well spotted David. Also there is a high wire fence between the tanks and the building that looks the same in both photos. The Sherman has certainly been blown up and the turret moved back about a foot.

David

[David Dunlop]

A long shot perhaps, but could those photos have been taken in the area of the Simon Stevinkrausene Barracks complex in Ede?

Another possible search direction might be to determine what unit was using Sherman Flails in Ede and if Regimental Diaries list any fatal casualties, when and where. As for time, I would think 17 - 24 April 1944 would be a likely start point.

David

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Jon McGrath

Alex, I checked my "statistics" and see that I had posted the photos previously. I just re-discovered them this week and unintentionally re-posted.
Jon

Better safe than sorry, Jon.....as the pictures are very interesting.

but I get the impression they have been placed there to form a fence for some reason.

My thought exactly. Heavy duty tracks as a replacement for a damaged fence?
In that case I think it's more likely a house or school in the background, rather than one of the army barracks.
Ede at one point had 5 or more Army bases! I visited the sites a few months ago. The whole area is turned into a residential area; some buildings were taken down, while others were redeveloped into houses.

Alex