Archival photograph from September 1939 showing German bicycle infantry inspecting an abandoned Polish Vickers Mk. E light tank featuring unique engine cooling modifications.
German Soldiers Inspect Abandoned Polish Vickers 6-Ton Tank (September 1939)
This detailed photograph taken in September 1939 during the Invasion of Poland (Kampania wrześniowa) captures German infantrymen inspecting a disabled and abandoned Polish Vickers 6-Ton (Mk. E) light tank.
The scene illustrates both the diversity of armored vehicles fielded by the Polish Army (Wojsko Polskie) and the mobile reconnaissance elements of the advancing German forces during the opening campaign of World War II in Europe.
Technical Specifications and Polish Modifications
The photograph provides distinct visual markers of the modified Polish variant of the British-designed Vickers 6-Ton tank:
- Twin-Turret Configuration (Type A): The vehicle shown is a two-turret (dwubieżnikowy) light tank variant originally armed with light machine guns for infantry support operations.
- Modified Air Intake Scoop: The most noticeable feature on the rear hull is the large raised armored air intake structure. Polish military engineers replaced the original British Armstrong Siddeley gasoline engines with heavier, more powerful license-built Saurer VBLDb diesel engines, requiring additional airflow and cooling cowlings.
- Suspension Damage: The lower hull displays damaged track assemblies and road wheels, indicating the tank was abandoned following mechanical failure or localized artillery damage.
- Bicycle Infantry Reconnaissance: The German soldiers examining the vehicle belong to a bicycle squadron (Radfahr-Schwadron), carrying their equipment alongside light civilian/military bicycles lying in the foreground.
Historical Context: Vickers Tanks in the 1939 Campaign
In the early 1930s, Poland purchased 50 Vickers Mk. E tanks from Great Britain, which served as the technical foundation for the domestic 7TP light tank development. In September 1939, modified Vickers tanks were deployed within the 121st and 122nd Light Tank Companies, as well as the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade commanded by Colonel Stanisław Maczek, providing valuable mobile firepower despite severe numerical inferiority.
📍 Location: Poland
📅 Date: September 1939
📷 Photographer: Unknown (German Army / Propaganda Company)
📰 Primary Source: WWII Military Vehicle Historical Archives
Recommended reading:
- Polish Armor in 1939: Deployment and combat performance of Vickers Mk. E and 7TP tanks
- Vickers 6-Ton Tank Legacy: How the British design influenced Soviet T-26 and Polish 7TP tanks
- Wehrmacht Bicycle Units: Organization and reconnaissance role of Radfahr-Schwadronen in 1939
- 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade: Stanisław Maczek's motorized unit in the September Campaign