Something a little different this week. Last year we received an incredible restoration from our good friend Dmitry Bushmakov of Bushmakov Restorations: the world’s only Sd.Kfz. 251/20 Falke, Germany’s infrared night vision half track. Rather than filming the restoration, Dmitry organised a film shoot to take us inside one of the most fascinating technological subjects of WWII.
Dmitry explains how the vehicle recreates the Falke most photographed at Bad Fallingbostel in 1945, right down to the camouflage and the three infrared lamps: one for driving, a driver’s IR lamp that rotates with the steering wheel, and one illuminating the machine gunner’s position. But the Falke never fought alone. It was part of a whole night fighting system that included Panthers, huge IR floodlights, and the infantry’s own night vision equipment.
Enter Johannes, who brings what may be the only complete, working reproduction of the Vampir system, the StG 44 night vision rig. Built with Udo from a direct copy of an original ground-dug image converter, using original Vampir parts recovered by divers from a German lake, and calibrated against the only reliable primary source: a British report from June 1945. The battery box, the gas mask canister transformer stepping 6 volts up to around 11,000, the 8 kilogram rifle, and the tube that, like a real vampire, can never see sunlight.
Then the myth busting. Grenadiers riding on Panthers with Vampirs. Night fighters attacking through the Seelow Heights. Twelve soldiers crammed into a half track. With the real kit and the real vehicle, Dmitry and Johannes put those stories to the test, and come up with a compelling theory for why every Falke had those benches.
What are your theories on German WWII night fighting equipment? Tell us in the comments.
Huge thanks to Dmitry Bushmakov, Johannes Schweitzer and Pavel Oskin Photography for arranging this fantastic film shoot.
📺 More WWII German armour, the Wespe restoration: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWYZuCQ-NHUOZ_frOvDwZNBqaEyv3X_W9
🎟️ AusArmourfest 2027 tickets are LIVE! Get yours HERE ⏩ https://bit.ly/AusArmourfest2027
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Intro
00:28 – The World’s Only Falke
00:36 – Recreating the Bad Fallingbostel Vehicle
01:06 – Three Infrared Lamps Explained
01:46 – A Whole Night Fighting System
02:02 – Meet Johannes
02:30 – The Legendary Vampir
03:00 – How Do You Rebuild a Vampir?
03:52 – A Direct Copy of an Original
04:29 – The British Report, June 1945
05:25 – Inside the Battery Box
06:09 – Recovered by Divers From a German Lake
06:38 – A Six Nation Joint Venture
07:37 – Test Device, Fuses and Rare Plugs
08:46 – 6 Volts to 11,000 Volts
09:30 – An 8 Kilogram Rifle
10:02 – Like a Real Vampire: No Sunlight (or Garlic)
10:30 – The Only Complete, Working Vampir
11:29 – Myth: Night Fighters on a Panther
12:13 – 70 Metres
12:33 – Falke and Uhu Combined
13:10 – 30 Kilograms of Kit
13:45 – Why the Benches?
15:05 – You Can’t Look Through It for Long
16:00 – Getting Out Under Fire
16:41 – Myth: 12 Soldiers Inside
17:10 – Thanks
🎥 Filmed by Pavel Oskin Photography
The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum is home to the largest collection of armoured vehicles and artillery in the Southern Hemisphere, located in Cairns, North Queensland. We are dedicated to the collection, preservation, restoration and display of military vehicles from the 1800s to present day. Our collection includes over 220 armoured vehicles and artillery pieces from 15 countries.
🔧 Visit us: https://www.ausarmour.com
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#WWII #NightVision #Vampir #StG44 #Falke #Sdkfz251 #MilitaryHistory
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