Captured Jeeps

[USAFpj]

When German forces captured US vehicles either through European, Russian, or African battlefields, was it common for them to then repaint the entire vehicle? I've seen quite a few images of captured jeeps and Dodges, but because the images are black/white, its hard to tell if they're now Panzer Grey?

Here's an image for example. Either Russian lend lease or German captured? And what color has it been painted

[Michael O.]

It’s hard to say from the B&W photos if some were repainted but I’ve seen many photos of German Forces driving captured Allied vehicles with the national insignia intact and some with German battle flags draped over the hoods.

There are also some photos of captured/recovered American aircraft with the Balkan cross painted over the US national insignia.

[Farrell Fox]

[Post Deleted By Author]

[dpcd67]

Just based on all the photos I have seen, as well as the impracticability of painting a vehicle in the field, I think that none were repainted; just add a cross, or a flag so your own side doesn't shoot you, and drive the hell out of it.

[Chuck Lutz]

In the African campaign, both the British and the Germans used captured vehicles, used captured paint to paint them that desert sand-type coor and the Germans even used British uniforms out there as supplies dwindled due to shipping losses in the Mediterranean Sea.

However, if the question is about MARKINGS, there are photos from several theaters of German vehicles with their battle flags on the hood to let friendly air crews know who they were...when the Germans has air superiority. When German forces captured vehicles/tanks from US or Russian or British forces, it was not so easy to repaint the entire tank with the current color scheme but removing the stars and adding the Cross on them was important.

So...to answer your initial question...did either side completely repaint vehicles they captured...probably not very many.

[mgizinski]

There is a scene in the movie "The Young Lions" where the Germans drive up in a captured Jeep while in North Africa. "Beutefahrzeug" is painted on the side of the Jeep. It means "booty vehicle". I thought that was an interesting detail in the movie.

Michael Gizinski

[17thAirborne]

There is a scene in the movie "The Young Lions" where the Germans drive up in a captured Jeep while in North Africa. "Beutefahrzeug" is painted on the side of the Jeep. It means "booty vehicle". I thought that was an interesting detail in the movie.

Michael Gizinski

Good eye. Saw that just two weeks ago.

[JD136]

I have a picture that my dad took during WW2 of a captured American B24 bomber with the cross's painted on it.

[GSS]

There is a description in this great WW2 book by Birdwood of an allied convoy in North Africa getting attacked by an axis plane. Soldiers got off the vehicles but did not fire back.....pilot disengaged thinking that it was shooting at axis troops driving allied vehicles.....apparently was not uncommon to be using captured equipment.

https://www.amazon.com/Sikh-Regiment-Se ... 1781519994

[Ingo]

Here are a few

Ingo

[Ingo]

more

[Mark Jesic]

Thanks for posting, these are really interesting, did we ever use captured German vehicles ?

[Ingo]

Remembering a film when a german OPEL rove through cologne with US markings on.

and for sure, lot of captured Schwimmwagen

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q ... 7291590680

[Mark Jesic]

Thanks Ingo, you learn so much on this site.

[David]

The grass is always greener on the other side?