A look at the use of the iconic Junkers 87 Stuka during the Battle of Britain.

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WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE?

THE WEHRMACHT’S WORKHORSE 
The Panzer IV was the ‘standard’ German workhorse tank throughout the Second World War and Thomas Anderson charts its development and operational use from 1939 to 1945. 

LETTERS FROM STALINGRAD 

Powerful extracts from the last desperate letters of soldiers trapped at Stalingrad were reported on by army censors, the report held in German state archives. We take a glimpse at what they contained. 

 

FLEMISH LIONS 

During the Second World War, large numbers of Belgians served willingly as volunteers in the Germany army. Jon Trigg outlines the background to this intriguing and controversial story. 

 

THE HORNET’S STING 

Drawing on recently uncovered German archive material, we present a unique look at the Nashorn SdKfz. 164 ‘Hornisse’ tank destroyer of the Second World War.

 

WITHDRAWN FROM ACTION? 

The Junkers 87 Stuka and its part in the Battle of Britain is often misrepresented in terms of its supposed withdrawal from action. The Editor, Andy Saunders, sets the record straight. 

 

GERMANS OF THE LONGEST DAY 

Many of those who had parts in the epic 1960s D-Day film had served in the military during the Second World War and we look at the fascinating military service of German actors in the film. 

 

ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND AWARDS 

The grandiose and extraordinary Grand Cross in Onyx, uniquely produced for Hermann Göring, is put under a highly detailed forensic spotlight by our specialist contributor, Dietrich Maerz.

 

SOLDAT 

Through a veteran’s surviving paperwork and medals, Robin Schäfer unlocks the remarkable story of Dr Franz Bäke, a dentistturned-soldier and one of the Wehrmacht’s leading Panzer ‘aces’. 

 

HIGH NOON DUEL OVER LONDON

 On 15 September 1940, ‘Battle of Britain Day’, a Dornier 17-Z was famously brought down over central London after colliding with a Hurricane fighter. Andy Saunders separates myth from reality. 

FLEMISH LIONS 

During the Second World War, large numbers of Belgians served willingly as volunteers in the Germany army. Jon Trigg outlines the background to what is an intriguing story. It is one which became somewhat controversial in post-war Belgium as many of those who volunteered for military duty in the service of the Nazis faced prosecution and degrees of ostracisation from an understandably vengeful population when they tried to return home after the war. 

 

PANZERSCHRECK

Robin Schäfer makes a detailed study of the famous Second World War German anti-tank weapon, the Panzerschreck. 

 

CONFLICT ARCHAEOLOGY 

Continuing the theme of 15 September 1940, the Iron Cross team unravel the history behind another Dornier 17-Z lost that same day after initially unidentified wreckage emerged from a French beach. 

 

IMAGES OF WAR 

Our focus for this issue is two remarkable studio portrait photos of German soldiers before they marched off to war, each one of them posing with studio ‘prop’ rifles which are captured British SMLEs. 

 

FILM POSTERS 

Our film poster looks at a Luftwaffe-themed film produced during the early years of the war which focussed on Spain, France and operations over England.