| A Nazi German column of armored fighting vehicles moves down a Polish road during Polenfeldzug (“Polish Campaign”). The vehicle closest to the camera is a Panzerfunkwagen (“Armored Radio Vehicle”), Sonderkraftfahrzeug (“Special vehicle”) 263. This view is a still frame from the 1940 film Der Feldzug in Polen (“The Campaign in Poland”) as Nazi German Heer communications units move down a Polish road. The Panzerfunkwagen – armoured radio vehicle – (Sd. Kfz. 263) (8-Rad) was made from early 1937 to January 1943. It was more an armoured radio station than a scout car. It was not used by reconnaissance units, exclusively. Signals units and higher staffs had such vehicles, too. A radio mast was installed behind the large superstructure which could be elevated to a high of 9 meters (30 feet). The mast would be tethered to the ground for stability, meaning the vehicle would remain stationary. The crew had enigma machines on board to encrypt signals. In the event they had to abandon the vehicle, they were expected to destroy the enigma machines 1st. For self-defense, the crew of 5 men had 1 MG-34 7.92 millimeter (0.31 caliber) machine gun as its main weapon. The Panzerfunkwagen Sonderkraftfahrzeug 263 was a fairly rare vehicle. Only 207 were produced from 1937 to January 1943. Radios, not panzers, were critical to Germany’s fast moving new warfare. Other nations had tanks and aircraft; Germany’s innovation was producing radios in large quantities, so everyone was communicating by radio. Orders were coming faster than Polish forces could adapt. Air and ground assets could pivot quickly depending on the needs of battle. Vehicles like the Panzerfunkwagen Sonderkraftfahrzeug 263 were critical to controlling the Blitzkrieg. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0768.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.29 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 4758 x 3077 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Kriegsberichter |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 1, 1939 |
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| Country | Poland |
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| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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