Hobby Master Archive

In May of 1940 one of the elite German armored divisions was the 1st Panzer Division. During this period the 1st joined the XIX Corps headed by General Heinz Guderian who was about to advance into France through what the Allies thought was the impenetrable by tanks; Ardennes Forest. By June of 1940 France was forced to sign an armistice that ended the German campaign. The German Army very rarely used specialized tanker trucks to transport fuel. To keep the machines of war going large numbers of regular transport trucks belonging to the Nachschubdienste (Supply Services) were used as “Fuel Trucks”. The trucks would go to the nearest railway station and take on 200L fuel barrels or the 20L “Wehrmachtskanistern”, more commonly known as Jerry Cans. This type of 20L can was also used for carrying water and marked with “Wasser 20 L”. Originally these trucks carrying fuel were marked with large warning signs on the doors and/or sides as well as the rear. An example of the warning was “Feuergefahrlich - Rauchen verboten!” (Flammable - No smoking!). As the war progressed these signs were reduced in size and in some cases removed completely. If the truck didn’t have warning signs painted on it then signs that read “Rauchen verboten! B u. G.” (No smoking, Fuel and equipment". B -Fuel) were placed around the vehicle.