Profile of Lümmel

Personenkraftwagen Volkswagen Typ 82 "VW Kübelwagen" axis

Production: 1940-1945
Number Built: approx. 50,400
Crew: 1-4
Weight: 0,71 t
Engine Output: 25 hp
Speed on Roads: 83 km/h

The Kübelwagen was the standard passenger car of the Wehrmacht!





The Kübelwagen's development was based on the civilian KdF-Wagen (KdF - Kraft durch Freude - German for: "Strength through Joy"); a car which never went into series production since all ressources were required for wartime production. The KdF-Wagen, however, was used after the Second World War as the basis from which the Volkswagen Beetle was developed.

The Kübelwagen's design was simple and robust. Despite lacking four-wheel drive, the vehicle proved extremely reliable in rough terrain. And together with its air-cooled engine it could be used under the most unfavourable conditions.





The name "Kübelwagen" (literally translated as: "bucket car") is derived from the very deep bucket-like seats that were used in many military vehicles. These seats were meant to provide some protection from falling out.

Thus, the terms "Kübelsitzwagen" (bucket seat car") or Kübelwagen had originally been used to decribe a whole group of vehcles. In time, however, the name became so associated with the Volkswagen car that it basically became the unofficial designation of that model. Until today, the Kübelwagen has remained a symbol of the Wehrmacht, and is used accordingly often in film productions.

Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" axis

Production: 1944-1945
Number Built: 2,584
Crew: 4
Weight: 16 t
Engine Ouput: 160
Speed on Roads: 42 km/h
Armament: 75 mm PaK L/48 gun
7,92 mm machine gun

The Hetzer was based on the Czech TNHP tank, which the Wehrmacht employed under the name 38 (t) (see previous post). Instead of the usual rotating turret, the chassis was fitted with a solid armour structure. This allowed it ti incorporate a 7.5 cm gun since the new casemate-like structure provided significantly more space for the barrel's recoil. The vehicle could also be built a lot simpler and more cost-effectively than a tank featuring a rotating turret.



The disadvantage, as with all casemate tanks, was that firing required the complete vehicle to first take up a position to the centre of the arc. Only then the gunner could relay the gun to a limited extend.

The reuslting vehicle was very flat, extremely manoeuvreble and well armoured. The sloped armour plates ensured that many enemy rounds were deflected. This disadvantage of the compact design was an extreme lack of space for the crew inside.

The Hetzer was one exception from the Wehrmacht trend to build ever larger and heavier vehicles. Unlike all the other German tanks destroyers, the Hetzer was continued to be used after the war: In the army of Czechoslovakia and Switzerland.

There are several King Tigers existing in the world, and the only one which still runs is in France, at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur.

That being said, nice thread !

Of course you're right, i misunderstood the information that was attached to the exhibition!

Zündapp KS 750 axis

Production: 1941-1945
Number built: 18,286 (for Army only)
Weight: 0,4 t
Engine Output: 26 hp
Speed on Roads: 95 km/h

The Zündapp KS 750 was developed especially for the use in war.



The army has many tasks for motorcycles: They are used for message transmission, traffic control, and reconnaissance. Many of these motorcycles used by the Wehrmacht for these purposes were actually models from the civilian market. They were only slightly adapted and sent out on deployment. Often they did not meet the requirements of war.



The Zündapp KS 750, in contrast, was developed especially for the use in war. Its strong engine, reverse gear and driven sidecar wheel made it particularly suited for cross-country use.



These very expensive and powerful motorcycles were nicknamed "war elephants".

Motorcycles like the KS 750 played an important role in Wehrmacht doctrine. They gave troops speed and mobility, even away from roads.


(Emblem of the Africa Corps)

Volkswagen Typ 166 "VW Schwimmwagen" axis

Production: 1942-1944
Number Built: 14,276
Crew: 1-4
Weight: 0,91 t
Engine Output: 25 hp
Speed on Roads: 80 km/h
Speed on Water: 10 km/h

The Schwimmwagen is one of the best known Wehrmacht vehicles!



The Schwimmwagen's development was based on the VW Kübelwagen. The Kübelwagen already had, despite a lacking four wheel drive - good off-road characteristics that were sufficient for most tasks. But based on its experiences during the campaign against Poland, the Wehrmacht demanded a vehicle with even better Off-Road capabilieites. In view of the European geography, this primarily meant havin an amphibious vehicle. Bodies of water, after all, are the main obstacles to troop movement in Europe.


(Did this thing really float?)


(Better start paddling, Hans!)

The Kübelwagen was consequently eqipped with a four-wheel dirve to make it even more efficient on land. Most notably, it was furnished with a floatable bodytub and a screw propeller at its rear. The Schwimmwagen could drive throught bodies of water without requiring lengthy preparation. The combination of its four-wheel drive and amphibious capability made the Schwimmwagen one of the best all-terrain vehicles.





The downside was that the vehicle was complex and expensive. Therefore, conciderably less Schwimmwagens than Kübelwagens were built. Particularly SS divisions, the Fallschirmjäger, engineer units abnd other units of special importance or with a special reputation were equipped with the Schwimmwagen.