1st SS-Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (1.SS-Pz.Div. LSSAH)

Panther tanks and Schmmwagen of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", part XXXXVIII Panzer Corps, assemble near the town of Fastiv in mid November 1943, which at that time was located on the left flank of the Soviet incursion into the German lines, to provide the heavy armoured punch for the counteroffensive being planned by Field Marshal Erich von Manstein. Behind the wheel of the Schwimmwagen is SS-Hauptsturmführer Gustav Knittel, commander of 1st SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion LSSAH. At this time the Leibstandarte had a battalion of 95 Panthers in its order of battle, organized in four companies. The Division was to be one of two strike groups, which were going to cut into the flank of the Soviet First Ukrainian Front to surround and destroy the Third Tank Army's armoured groups. The Das Reich and 25th Panzer Divisions were to screen the Leibstandarte’s left flank as it moved northwards.

Ukraine, November 1943

Panzer Grenadier Division Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler" - early 1943, probably in the area of Kharkov.

Elements of SS Panzer Regiment I./1

1.SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"

somewhere in France during the Battle of Normandy.

PzKpfw 747(r) (captured T-34) from 1. SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler", on the background PzKpfw VI "Tiger" tank from this unit. 

Kharkov, 1943. 

In the February, 1943 LSSAH had five captured t-34 tanks.

Unit of the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler and his Sd.Kfz. 10/4 with an ad hoc trailer, 1941 or 1942

schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101 "LSSAH", Tiger 232 northern France, spring 1944.

1st SS-Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" in Kharkov, February-March 1943

Motorcyclists from 1st SS-Panzer Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler

Zundapp KS 600 ? with sidecar

East front 1941-07

Panzer IV from 1st SS-Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler",

Paris, July 1942

The motorcyclists from 1st SS-Panzergrenadier Division "LSSAH"

PzKpfw V Panther from 1st SS-Panzer Regiment in Eeklo Belgium.

StuG III Ausf.G belonging to the 1st SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH in the area of Orel, 

July 1943 during the Battle of Kursk

In the long lull between the end of the western campaign and the start of operations in the east, German forces received extensive combat training and new equipment. At this period, "Leibstandarte" was garrisoned at Metz. The unit was upgraded from motorised reinforced infantry regiment to motorized brigade. 

On the picture Panzerjäger I and StuG III in the background.

Metz, February 1941

1st SS-Panzer-Division ""Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"" in the russian mud.....

Tiger I middle production of 1st SS-Pz.-Korps "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" ,

In the foreground Volkswagen Typ 166 Schwimmwagen.

North France 1944

1st SS-Panzer Division "LSSAH"

Hungary 1945

An early Sturmgeschütz III G during the Charkov operation. Note mount for the MG 34 in front of the loader´s hatch; that is a field modification.

SS-Standartenführer Theodor "Teddy" Wisch and SS-Sturmbannführer Joachim "Jochen" Peiper. At this time (March 1943), Wisch is commander of SS-Panzergrenadierregiment 2, Peiper is in charge of the 3rd (armoured) bataillon. Wisch succeeded Sepp Dietrich as pisional commander some weeks later, Peiper took over SS-Panzerregiment 1 that November.

LSSAH

Panzer IV Ausf.F2, from 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"

France 1942