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One of the original Tigers of "Das Reich", this tank is whitewashed for the battle of Kharkiv, though its underlying "tropical" green colour is showing through, on the turret bin. The tactical number is not painted in black; it's easy to believe that it was formed by masking off the underlying "tropical" paint. A flat "mickey mouse" figure is amusingly attached to the starter handle stored on the glacis plate. We can clearly see the small cleats that were added on 11 February to the tracks of these Tigers, in response to the icy roads.
Another publication states: "Next to the Tiger are sitting SS-Ostuf. Walter Reininghaus (IV Zug.), SS-Ostuf. Gerlach (III Zug.) and SS-Ostuf. Philipp Theiss (II Zug.). On the Tiger with cigarette is tank commander SS-Uscha. A.Glagow."
The turret, at least, is the same one seen on another photo of Tiger "821". A second photo of "821" was taken at this spot.
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