| Original caption: “German tanks roll through city — German tanks rumble along a Belgrade street in a review staged after the german occupation of the Yugoslavian capital. city fell to German forces Sunday.” Panzerkampfwagen III pass by the House of the National Assembly in Belgrade (to the left, off camera) in what is today Nikola Pašić Square during the Nazi German victory parade after the capitulation of the Yugoslavians on April 17, 1941. The panzers are driving towards the Glavna pošta Srbije (“Main Post Office of Serbia”) On April 11, 1941, a German officer, SS-Standartenführer Fritz Klingenberg (December 17, 1912 – March 23, 1945) of 2.SS-Panzerdivision “Das Reich” with 6 men, moved into Belgrade to reconnoitre the city. After some scattered combat with Yugoslav troops, they entered the centre of the city with captured Yugoslav troops and a liberated German tourist. They went to City Hall and met Mayor Jevrem Tomić (1894 – ????), whereupon they bluffed about their size and incoming threats of bombardment. The city surrendered to them at 1845 hours on April 12. Klingenberg was awarded the Knight’s Cross for capturing the city, in effect capturing Belgrade with just himself, his 6 soldaten and the tourist. a victory parade of the conquerors of the city, led by 1.Panzergruppe, was held at 1200 Hours on April 13. Panzerkampfwagen III of 15.Panzer-Regiment, 11.Panzer-Division Gespensterdivision (“Ghost Division”) parade in front of their commanders: standing in the center is Generaloberst Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist (August 8, 1881 – November 13, 1954), Kommandant, 1.Panzergruppe; to his right is Generalleutnant Ludwig Crüwell (March 20, 1892 – September 25, 1958), Kommandant, 11.Panzer-Division; and on the left, in black uniform, is Oberstleutnant Gustav-Adolf Riebel (March 13, 1896 – August 23, 1942) Kommandant, 15.Panzer-Regiment. The defeat of Belgrade was also celebrated in the “Song of Armored Group Kleist”: “We were the victors of Belgrade; we defeated all resistance, and broke up with a false state!” Crüwell later fought under Rommel and after the war became chairman of the Africa Corps Veterans Association; Riebel was killed in 1942 at Stalingrad. Von Kleist died of a heart attack in Soviet captivity, as a war criminal, in 1954. At the spot from which these 3 officers once proudly watched their rolling tanks – today stand civilians, waiting for a bus. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0688.jpg |
| Image Size | 312.37 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2487 x 1729 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 13, 1941 |
| Location | |
| City | Belgrade |
| State or Province | Belgrade |
| Country | Yugoslavia |
| Archive | Russian State Military Archives |
| Record Number | F. 1511k. Op. 3. D. 47. L. 109 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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