Operation Eilbote : a Pz.3 crossing Oued Maarouf

This Pz.3, numbered 03, is part of Kampfgruppe Lüder, a battle group from s.Pz.Abt. 501. Tiger 142 can be seen ahead of the other vehicles. It is 20 January 1943 and they are travelling to fight Allied forces around Spikha, as part of Operation "Eilbote 1". At this point they must leave the road, travel north for a short distance along the Oued Maarouf, and climb the ridge that we can see at the right to enter the Karachoum Gap. A German propaganda team took this opportunity to photograph the vehicles extensively.