Press Photo – Tiger I Tank in Italy, 1944

Original wartime German press photograph, issued by the Heeres Propaganda-Kompanie (PK), showing a Tiger I heavy tank (tactical number 13) being camouflaged by its crew using foliage near a thatched building. The image captures the crew of a Heer Tiger unit preparing their vehicle in the Italian theater of operations during the summer of 1944.

The reverse retains the original typed PK caption slip (Nur für den Dienstgebrauch!), dated 2 July 1944, and issued by Propaganda-Kompanie HKLz.Ca. The accompanying text reads:

“Der Panther verschwindet in natürlicher Tarnung, um den Gegner auffangen zu lassen.”
(“The Panther disappears into natural camouflage to surprise the enemy.”)

Stamped and approved for release on 13 July 1944, with full censorship markings and verification stamps. Despite the text mentioning “Panther,” the image clearly depicts a Tiger I tank, a not-uncommon misidentification by wartime correspondents.

Item Details

• Original wartime Heeres-PK photograph.

• Date: 2 July 1944 (released 13 July 1944).

• Location: Italy.

• Photographer: Uffz. Elle (Propaganda-Kompanie HKLz.Ca).

• Subject: Tiger I tank (13) being camouflaged by crew near a thatched building.

• Size: Approx. 13 × 18 cm.

• Condition: Excellent; minimal age wear, crisp photo quality, and full caption slip with PK and censorship stamps preserved.

Collector’s Note

A fine and authentic Propaganda-Kompanie press photograph showing a Tiger I heavy tank in Italy during mid-1944. Fully documented with original typed caption, official PK stamp, and release date, this is a rare, high-quality image of a Tiger crew in field conditions with full wartime provenance.