The Innocence of Youth
Based on a period photograph, this vignette shows children playing on the fuselage of a Fieseler Fi 103 Reichenberg IV manned bomb. This weapon was developed in 1944 on the basis of the famous V1 flying bomb in order to improve its accuracy; dropped from a He 111 carrier aircraft, the Fi 103, now propelled by its jet engine, had a range of around 30 minutes; the pilot had a very small chance of parachuting before the device hit its target but, like his comrades in the ‘Leonidas’ unit, he had volunteered for what was almost certainly a suicide mission. Apart from a few fanatics, such as Otto Skorzeny and Hannah Reich, who were both heavily involved in the project, this type of mission was not really to the liking of the Nazi authorities and the programme was abandoned in March 1945 before a single mission could be carried out.
By Dominique Jadoul
The Jagdpanzer 38(t)
A hunter that combines efficiency and production economy.
The Jagdpanzer 38(t), also known as the Hetzer, is a German tank fighter designed during the Second World War. It is based on the chassis of the Czechoslovak T-38 light tank, itself derived from the Panzer 38(t), an infantry tank used by the German army from 1939. The Jagdpanzer 38(t) was developed from 1943 onwards, in response to the need to produce a light, efficient tank fighter capable of fighting Soviet and Allied armoured vehicles, while being easier to produce.
The vehicle was equipped with a Pak 39 75mm anti-tank gun, which enabled it to destroy most enemy tanks. Its low profile and sloping armour provided good protection against enemy fire. The Hetzer was 6.5 metres long and weighed around 16 tonnes, making it relatively mobile and manoeuvrable despite its modest size.
In the field, the 38(t) Jagdpanzer proved extremely effective in ambush fighting and long-range attacks. Its small size made it easy to conceal in the terrain, and it was often deployed in small units to support infantry or armoured units. However, its relatively light armour, although effective against small-calibre weapons, made it vulnerable to attacks by more powerful tanks or artillery.
Despite its limitations, the Jagdpanzer 38(t) left its mark on the history of armoured vehicles in the Second World War. It symbolises German efforts to maximise the effectiveness of their armed forces while overcoming the production and logistical challenges of the war. After the end of the conflict, some captured examples were used by other countries' armies, notably the Czechoslovak forces.
By Florence Trigallez
