German armoured train Panzerzug 22 – the gallery

This page is a supplement to pages about Polish armoured trains, especially armoured train nr. 54 "Grozny", containing additional photographs depicting captured Polish wagons in German service in armoured train nr. 22 (Panzerzug 22). See also our pages about Panzerzug 21 and Panzerzug 10b (11).

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Panzerzug 22 in 1942. In the foreground there is the artillery wagon from former Polish train nr. 54 ("Grozny"). Behind it: Bahnschutzwagen and armoured locomotive 54 651 (Ti3-4) with extra armour, added by the Germans. In the background, the assault wagon from Polish train nr. 52 ("Piłsudczyk") can be seen, and small artillery wagon. On both ends of the train there are flatcars.

Early photo of both Polish artillery wagons, already in German camouflage. Well visible are drum machine gun mountings in small wagon.

Similar photo as above – noteworthy is one of three diesel locomotives with Fiat 35 HP engines, built for Polish Army in Steam Locomotive Factory in Warsaw, apparently taken over by the Germans (as far as it is known, this photograph was first published and described on our page).

German Eisenbahn-Panzerzug 22 (PZ 22, Armoured Train No. 22) was commissioned on 10 July 1940, and declared ready in August 1940. The whole train was created of the rolling stock captured in 1939 in Poland: two artillery wagons, armoured locomotive and the assault wagon. Initially only the infantry wagon was of German origin – former railway security wagon (Bahnschutzwagen), adapted from a box freight wagon, with provisional internal protection.

The train initially consisted of:

• twin-turret, four-axle artillery wagon from former Polish train nr. 54 ("Grozny"), armed with two 75 mm guns (original number 450012);
• infantry wagon (Infanteriewagen) – two-axle wooden box freight wagon with provisional protection (Bahnschutzwagen), originating from German pre-war railway security train (Bahnschutzzug), probably from Oppeln (now: Opole) railway direction;
• armoured locomotive 54 651 – former Polish Ti3-4 of Ti3 class from train Nr. 54 "Grozny";
• command wagon with radio set (Kommandowagen) – two-axle steel assault wagon from Polish train Nr. 52 "Piłsudczyk";
• single-turret, two-axle small artillery wagon of Polish origin, with one 75 mm gun;
• two four-axle flatcars, used for transporting of engineering equipment and protection against mines.

The whole armoured train was armed with three Polish 75 mm wz.02/26 cannons, designated in German service as 7,5cm FK.02/26(p). Other armament initially consisted of original 7.92 mm Maxim MG 08 machine guns (designated wz.08 in Polish service), in significant drum mountings. Most probably the Germans did not use anti-aircraft machine gun turret on twin-turret artillery wagon, but the train had twin anti-aircraft MG 34 machine guns in a well in Bahnschutzwagen's roof. From 1941 the German replaced Polish drum MG mountings wih simple loop-holes for non-fixed infantry 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns. From spring 1942 (or earlier) the train received two 20 mm (2 cm) FlaK 38 AA guns on additional small partially armoured two-axle flatcars.

The crew of Panzerzug 22 in 1942 was 8 officers, 36 NCOs and 130 soldiers, armed with 16 light and 4 heavy machine guns, 103 carbines, 13 sub-machine guns, 71 pistols, 3 anti-tank rifles(?), 2 mortars 8 cm GrW 34 and a flamethrower.

Initially Panzerzug 22 stationed in Poland, from spring 1941 to autumn 1944 in France. Next it was sent to the Eastern Front in November 1944. It fought in Slovakia and Silesia, where it was destroyed on 11 February 1945.

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Both armoured trains created of former Polish stock together: the Panzerzug 21 on the left and the Panzerzug 22 on the right, in Cracov, summer 1940. Both trains had very smiliar artillery wagons from the train nr. 54 "Grozny", same small artillery wagons, and similar command wagons – they can be distinguished by different turrets of "Grozny's" artillery wagons, and antenna masts upon command wagons (seven in two rows in the PZ 21, with inward struts, and eight in the PZ 22, with outward struts). From the left, visible are:

• PZ 21: locomotive Ti3-13 from train nr. 52 ("Pilsudczyk"); the assault wagon from train nr.54 "Grozny"; the artillery wagon from train nr.52 ("Pilsudczyk");
• PZ 22: a flatcar; the artillery wagon from "Grozny" with two 75 mm guns and the Bahnschutzwagen.

For most of its life, since spring of 1941 until October 1944, the Panzerzug 22 was used in relatively safe occupation service in France, guarding the tracks. It stationed in Tours, and since 6 September 1941 in Niort. Above: the PZ 22 on exercises in western France, August 1941. Interesting view of the artillery wagon from former "Grozny". Behind it: the Bahnschutzwagen, and 54 651 (Ti3-4) locomotive with extra armour. The artillery wagon has removed drum MG mountings, and has a hatch in a barbette, but has no side screens of couplings yet. Note, that upper side edges of artillery turrets had been cut off to keep clearance.

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The artillery wagon from Polish train nr. 54 "Grozny" in Panzerzug 22, probably in 1942. The wagon was originally a Soviet one, probably constructed in Izhorski Works, then captured by the Polish. It was fitted with two turrets of the same Krasnoye Sormovo works type, armed with 75 mm cannons (on contrary to the other such wagon, used in Panzerzug 21). Clearly visible is a small hatch under the turret, being apparently the German improvement, to enable passing between wagons. Armoured screens protecting buffers and couplings are added by the Germans, as is a searchlight on the turret. It seems, that the wagon has number "2" on the side.

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Small artillery wagon of Panzerzug 22, armed with 7,5cm FK.02/26(p) (75mm wz.02/26) gun. This wagon was built in Poland upon open freight wagon chassis, and was initially used in 1920 in "Bartosz Glowacki" armoured train. In 1930s it was modified, by cutting off the corners to fit four MG mountings, and replacing side doors. Before the war it remained in a reserve. In September 1939 it was used, along with the second such wagon, in the training train of the 2nd Armoured Train Unit, abandoned near Jaroslaw. The Germans have replaced its drum HMG mountings with simple MG loop-holes, like on the photograph. Probably also new owners made a small window in end doors (visible open). Noteworthy is "C 5" number on side doors. The second such wagon was used in Panzerzug 21.

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Small artillery wagon of Panzerzug 22, and former assault wagon of Polish armoured train nr. 52 "Pilsudczyk". On the left, part of four-axle flatcar is visible, with interesting form of a brake(?) crank.

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The Kommandowagen (command wagon) from Panzerzug 22 – former assault wagon of Polish armoured train nr. 52 "Pilsudczyk". The crew is preparing to raise a telescopic long-range pole aerial (this was German modification). The Germans had replaced two drum MG mountings on each side with simple MG ports.

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The Ti3-4 locomotive, modified in German service in 1941 by adding additional armour plating in Schneider-Creusot works, changing its silhouette completely. More photos of the locomotive in a gallery.

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Leading two-axle anti-aircraft flatcar with 2 cm Flak 38 AA gun, and four-axle flatcar with the gun's transport trailer upon it. Probably 1942 year.

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The 2 cm Flak 38 AA gun, probably provisionally seated upon standard four-axle flatcar (there is no shelter in flatcar's rear, which AA flatcar had, and the train should have its four-axle flatcar next to the artillery wagon). A crewman holds 1-meter rangefinder.

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Partly obscured, but interesting scene from a small railway station, probably in France. The locomotive Ti3-4 is being watered.

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As above – well visible are significant side hatches of the artillery wagon. The photograph taken around 1941 (the wagon has no screens of couplings).

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Panzerzug 22 in spring of 1944. The train underwent some modernization since 1943; first of all the armoured locomotive was changed to more powerful and newer French series 140 C in 1944 (axle configuration 1-4-0 / 1'D, produced in 1913-1920), visible here. Anti-aircraft flatcars (Flakwagen) had been equipped with 20 mm quad guns Flakvierling 38 instead of single guns (one is barely visible at the end), and the train received additional small two-axle flatcars for mine protection, preceding AA flatcars. The command wagon from former "Piłsudczyk" received modified radio equipment and new clothes line aerial, hanging loosely, with all midle masts removed. Also visible is the artillery wagon from former "Grozny" – apparently its turrets' side edges were cut off to bigger extent, than initially.

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After Italy's surrender, Panzerzug 22 patrolled in south-eastern France and northern Italy from September 1943 to March 1944. The photo shows it at Mentona station in autumn 1943 (in previously Italian-occupied small strip of France). Note bicycles on the flatcar. →

In November 1944 Panzerzug 22 was moved to the Eastern Front, to Army Group 'A'. It still retained its artillery wagon of "Grozny" with two 75 mm guns and the command wagon of "Pilsudczyk", other wagons are not sure due to lack of photographs. It was supplemented with two anti-tank wagons (Panzerjägerwagen), with 7.5 cm KwK 40 AT-guns in PzKpfw-IV tank turrets. Apart from these, it had two special flatcars (Panzerträgerwagen) carrying light tanks PzKpfw-38(t) (armed with 37 mm guns), used for reconnaissance. For most of its life the train also had armoured cars Panhard 204(f), riding on rails, used as reconnaissance draisines. Temporarily, until January 1945, the train had armoured motor car PT 22 subordinated (of Soviet MBV D-2 type). The train's commander from October 1944 until the end was Hptm. Philipp von Villiez.

From November 1944, Panzerug 22 patrolled tracks in Slovakia, then in February 1945, during Soviet offensive, it was withdrawn to Silesia, to Army Group 'Center'. It fought at a bridgehead on the Oder near Steinau (now Ścinawa, Poland), but was destroyed by Soviet tanks on 11 February 1945 in Sprottau (now Szprotawa, Poland)^[4].

Poor quality, but this is last known photograph of Panzerzug 22, in November 1944 in Slovakia. On the right, the Panzerträgerwagen flatcar for PzKpfw-38(t) light tank, and possibly the Panzerjägerwagen. In the centre there might be barely disitnguished the command wagon from "Piłsudczyk", and farther, twin-turret wagon from "Groźny" (with its significant outline of lower skirt).

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