Oct, 2020
From my collection.
Panzer driver served maintenance and repairing work for all device of hull (except for radio system). They must have covered engine, gearbox, wheels, tracks and battery, etc in broad, so the driver's manual needs to show each procedure of the work with picture.
We have seen the publications like this in various archives or collections so far, however I found this photo manual has the original monochrome photographs of the Tiger II driver's manual.
By the below presumption and the facts, it is considered made as the draft manual for the compilation of the official D 656/43 (Tiger II driver's manual) and is assumed to have been in the possession of "Oberfeldwebel Lessinghaus" prior to 1st September, 1944.
And it's not beyond my presumption but "Oberfeldwebel Lessinghaus" might be trained as tank driver and served the editorial work of D 656/43.
- Compare the handwritten "Handbuch für Tiger B" title text on the front cover, which is very similar to the text of the signature "Ofeldw. Lessinghaus = Oberfeldwebel Lessinghaus" on inside of the front cover.
- The inside cover reads D 656/43, and the book is accompanied by 116 black-and-white photos that closely resemble diagram of the work in the printed edition of D 656/43, with the same description of their works.
- The following pages of the printed edition (list of manuals relating to the Tiger II, engine air-cooling treatment diagram, gasoline tank and engine refueling tube connection diagram, turret drawing, and hull rear view) are not attached to this photo manual. It is assumed that these pages would be added in the work on the printed edition of D 656/43.
- The printed edition of D 656/43 was issued on 1st September, 1944.
It's thick and heavy. Hard cardboard cover and about 120 thick paper pages are tightened by three steel bolts and two steel plates (rusted).
Maybach HL210 illustration on the back cover.
On the back of the front cover,a handwritten Maybach HL230 structural drawing has a polite cursive signature of "Ofeldw. Lessinghaus = Oberfeldwebel Lessinghaus".
D 656/43
Zum Einlegen in das Gerät!
Pz Kpfw Tiger Ausführung B
Handbuch fur den Panzerfahrer.
Several reference manuals are listed, but we can't find the name of D 656/47 Tigerfibel for Tiger II.
Size and weight, Engine, etc specification
All monochrome photograph is very good condition without damages and spots.
