Hobby

Beutepanzer T-34 mod 1941/42 with its crew.
German Beutepanzer Markings
by J.C Von Winterbach

Captured Russian vehicles have always been of interest to me. But when I read Evan’s great article on German Panzer markings, I thought I would add German Beutepanzers to the list.

Read Evan's article on German Panzer Markings here...

Learn more about German Beutepanzer Modifications here...

Playing with Beutepanzers in your army can add quite a nice gaming experience. But that’s only half of the fun with painting and modeling the Beutepanzers being the other half.

Tactical Markings

The numbering system used on the Beutepanzers were the same as those of the normal German tanks being the three-digit or four-digit standard (1024, 895, 354, 48, 9, etc.)

But some of these Beutepanzers received a different numbering system called the E-Mark. This numbering system includes the letter “E”, followed by a roman numeral and a further two-digit or a three-digit number. On most assumptions the letter “E” indicates Erbeutet (Captured).

Right: The E-Mark system for some Beutepanzer types.

Designation
Beutepanzer Types

E I
KV

E II
T-28

E III
BT

E IV
T-26

E V
T-27

E VI
T-34

E VII
T-38

Beutepanzer T-34 mod 1941/42 showing the location of some of its identification marks.
Position of Markings

The areas where these identification marks were located where mainly on the frontal, sides and rear panels of the turret and hull. The turret hatches and the barrel of the main gun, as well as under the barrel of the main gun, and track guards were also used as locations for identification marks. These signs were usually painted considerably large.

Left: Beutepanzer T-34 mod 1941/42 showing the location of some of its identification marks.

Other Markings

Some of the markings found to be painted on the Beutepanzers ranged from the Balkenkreuz, Swastikas, Divisional or Sub-Divisional Insignias, individual inscriptions or simply a German flag.

Among the individual inscriptions found on the Beutepanzer were the names of Soldiers (Emil, Karl, Radetzski, Jaeger, etc.), the names of wild animals (Tiger, Leopard, etc.), the names of municipals or provinces (Dantzig, Saar, etc.).

Kill Rings (Victory Rings) where also paint onto the barrel of the main gun to show how many victories the Beutepanzer & its crew had accomplished.

Tank Colors

Beutepanzers saw just as much change to their paint schemes as the rest of the German Armored Core due to the different periods, areas of operation, seasons and special needs.

Right: Beutepanzer T-34 mod 41/42’s with a nice camouflage paint scheme.

See Casey's Beutepanzers here...

Beutepanzer T-70’s with a camouflage paint scheme.
Left: Beutepanzer T-70’s with a camouflage paint scheme.

You can field a German Mittlere Panzerkompanie made up entirely of T-34 odr 1942 for Mid-war on page 32 of Eastern Front.

Learn more about Eastern Front here...

For starters, a lot of the Beutepanzers were repainted in the German Panzer Grey color, but as times went forward, these tanks also changed as the German tanks changed. From the beginning of 1943 they began to use camouflage patterns (Please refer to Art of War II for a complete list of German Camouflage painting schemes throughout the periods) on the Beutepanzer. These tanks also followed the winter camouflage paint scheme.

Learn more about the German Armour Paint Set here...

Learn more about the Art of War II here...

But records & photos also show that a ot of these tanks were left with their original colour scheme and went unchanged, except for their identification markings.

Recommended Site

Please visit the following site: http://beute.narod.ru/ for more photos and information on Beutepanzers.

And a special thank you goes out to Vasily Diounov for the photos from his site and the permission for their use as illustrations for this painting guide.

I sincerely hope the photos and information help those of you with questions about Beutepanzer in German service.

~ J.C Von Winterbach.

Examples of Beutepanzers using Flags for Identification

T-34 mod 1941/42 using a flag that’s tied down to the top hatch of the turret.

T-34 mod 1942/43 using a flag that’s tied down on the rear panel of the turret.

T-34/85 using a flag that’s tied down on the rear panel of the turret.

M4 Sherman (M4A2) using a flag that’s tied down on the front panel of the tank.

T-70 using a flag that’s tied down on the front panel of the tank.

Examples of Beutepanzers using the Standard German Numbering System

T-34 mod 1941/42 using a one-digit number on the side (Rear section) of the turret. T-34 with L11 using a two-digit number on the side (Rear section) of the turret.

T-34 mod 1941/42 using a four-digit number on the side (Rear section) of the turret. T-34 mod 1941/42 using a three-digit number on the side (Frontal section) of the turret.

T-34 mod 1942/43 using a three-digit number on the side (Frontal section) of the turret & on the rear panel of the turret.

: T-34 mod 1942/43 using a two-digit number on the side (Front section) of the turret. T-34/85 using a three-digit number on the side (Front section) of the turret.

T-34 mod 1942/43 using a one-digit number on the side (Rear section) of the turret, as well as on the front panel of the tank.

M4 Sherman using a three-digit number on the side (Mid section) of the turret.nel of the turret. T-70’s using a single-digit & two-digit number on the side (Rear section) of the turrets.

Examples of Beutepanzers using the E-Mark German Numbering System

T-34 mod 1941/42 using an E-Mark number on the side (Frontal section) of the tank.

Left: T-34 mod 1941/42 using an E-Mark numbering system on the side (Rear section) of the turret.

Examples of Identification Marks Locations on Beutepanzers

T-34 mod 1941/42 using a German Cross on the side (Rear section) of the turret, and on the rear panel of the tank

: T-34 mod 1941/42 using a German Cross on the rear turret panel, and on the rear panel of the tank.

T-34 mod 1942/43 using a German Cross on the side (Front section) of the turret, on the rear panel of the turret, & on the rear panel of the tank and on the side (Mid section) of the tank.

T-34 mod 1942/43 using a Swastika on the side (Front section) of the turret, on the side (Mid section) of the turret & under the barrel of the tank. T-34 mod 1942/43 using a German Cross on the side (Front section) of the turret, on the side (Rear section) of the turret & on the front panel of the tank.

T-34 mod 1942/43 using a Swastika on the sides (Rear sections) of the turret, on rear panel of the turret, on the hatch (Rear section), & on the rear panel of the tank.

T-34/85 using a German Cross on the rear panel of the turret.

M4 Sherman using a German Cross on the side (Mid section) of the turret & on the front panel of the tank.

T-70 using a German Cross on the rear panel of the turret & on the rear panel of the tank.

Examples of Different National Insignias on Beutepanzers

T-34 mod 1941/42 using a standard German Cross. T-34 mod 1942/43 using German Crosses painted only with white.

T-34 mod 1941/42 using solid white German Crosses. T-34 mod 1941/42 using a German Cross painted only with black.

T-34 mod 1941/42 using Swastika’s painted only with white. T-34 mod 1942/43 using a solid black German Crosses.

T-34 mod 1942/43 using a standard German Cross with additional black outlining. T-34 mod 1942/43 using a black German Cross painted on a white square background.

Examples of Writing on Beutepanzers

T-34 mod 1941/42 with some writing on the side (Front section) of the turret, and on the front panel of the tank.

T-34 mod 1942/43 with some writing on the bottom of the turret. “Erbeutet Pz. Abt. 21” “Captured Tank of the 21st Tank Division”

T-34/85 with some writing on the side (Front section) of the turret & on the barrel behind the turret. “Erbeutet I./3” “Captured Tank 1st Battalion / 3rd Company”

M4 Sherman with some writing on the side (Mid section) of the tank. “Für OKH, Prü erbeutet durch I. / Pz.Rgt.5” “For OKH, Examination. Captured by I. / Pz.Rgt.5”

Examples of Division Insignia on Beutepanzers

Right: T-34 mod 1941/42 with a Divisional Insignia on the side (Front section) of the turret.

Below: 3^rd SS Panzer Division Insignia.

3rd SS Panzer Division.

T-34 mod 1941/42 with a Divisional Insignia on the side (Front section) of the turret.

Left: T-34 mod 1941/42 with a Divisional Insignia on the side (Rear section) of the turret.

Below: 1.Ski-Jaeger-Division Insignia.

Left: T-34 mod 1941/42 with a Divisional Insignia on the side (Front section) of the turret.

Below: 3^rd Panzer Division Insignal.

3rd Panzer Division Insignal.

T-34 mod 1941/42 with a Divisional Insignia on the side (Front section) of the turret.

T-34 mod 1941/42 with SS Lightning Strikes on the front fender.
Left: T-34 mod 1941/42 with SS Runes on the front fender.

Below: SS Runes.

T-34 mod 1941/42 with a Divisional Insignia on the side (Front section) of the turret.

Left: T-34 mod 1942/43 with a Divisional Insignia on the side (Front section) of the turret.

Below: Großdeutschland Division Insignia.

"Großdeutschland" Division Insignia

T-34 mod 1942/43 with a Divisional Insignia on the side (Front section) of the turret.

Examples of Kill Rings on Beutepanzers

T-34 mod 1941/42 with Kill rings painted on the turret.

Examples of German National Insignias used on Beutepanzers

Last Updated On Thursday, February 3, 2011 by Blake at Battlefront