Kampfgruppe peiper get stuck in La gleize
During the last days of the Battle of the Bulge, Kampfgruppe Peiper and SS-Obersturmführer Dollinger abondoned this Königstiger (213) near La Gleize. This specific tank was part of the 501st Heavy SS Panzer Battallion. It was burned out and the barrel destroyed at the time but has since then been renovated by the museum. This short clip in Swedish with English "subtitles" was recorded in La Gleize, Belgium in May 2007.
La Gleize
Belgium
The Google Map to the right shows La Gleize, Belgium. The Königstiger can actually be seen in this satellite photo but the red arrow has been placed there to assist you.
Gregory A. Walden and his website about KGP Peiper
http://www.ss501panzer.com/Peiper_Trail_Part_4.htm
December 44 Historical Museum in La Gleize
The Wikepedia link to the Tiger II a.k.a. Königstiger
Additional resources
The Königstiger vs.
The Volvo V70
Königstiger
Weight: 76 tons
Frontal armor: 145 mm
Grenades: 80
Crew: 5
Volvo V70
Weight 1.2 tons
The damage to the tank on the right is not done in actual combat. An American unit used to the imobilized vehicle for target practice.
(Above) Paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger) are riding on the back of a Königstiger (Tiger II) in the afternoon of December 17th, 1944. This Tiger belonged to Kampfgruppe Sandig.
Note the variety of weapons: ”MG42” machine gun, the Brittish ”Sten MKII”, ”Gew43” automatic rifle and the new ”STG44”. The Waffen-SS motorcyclist is riding a DKW NZ350.
This specific Tiger is the ”222”. It made it to Stavelot but there it was lost to ”Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501” on December 19th, 1944.
There are many pictures from the offensive with this Tiger II and the Paratroopers onboard. They are posing for the propaganda team ”embedded” with them and despite the light-hearted look of them difficult times lay just ahead. The picture was taken just before (south of) ”Ligneuville” and Tiger ”222” turned to Stavelot before reaching ”Ligneuville”. The cameramen apparantly stuck with the tank all the way to Stavelot.
Jean-Paul Pallud have made a good overview of Tiger ”222” in his book ”Battle of the Bulge - Then and Now”. Also Philip Vorwald pinpoints a few of the Tiger ”222” locations in his book ”Battle of the Bulge - Through the Lens”.
