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first to the unit signs:
1940:
Inverted Y with one dot = 5. PD
Inverted Y with two dots = 6. PD
Inverted Y with three dots = 7. PD
X = 8. PD
XX = 9. PD
/ = 10. PD
1941:
X = 5. PD
XX = 6. PD
Y = 7. PD
Y with one stroke = 8. PD
Y with two strokes = 9. PD
Y with three strokes = 10. PD
8. PD can definitively be ruled out. In 1940, it used small numbers on rhomboid plates. In 1941, it introduced a new system. A large number for the company (Panzer IV companies 4, 8, 12) was painted on the turret side and the other numbers were painted in small size to the upper hull sides.
7. PD is more confusing. For 1940 we should have in mind, that Pz.Abt. 66 was not an organic part of Pz.Rgt. 25. In 1941, it was integrated as III./Pz.Rgt. 25.
I know Panzer IV numbers from 7. PD 3xx, 4xx, 7xx, 8xx, 11xx and 12xx. Craig, you are absolutely right that Pz.Rgt. 25 had 4xx, 8xx and 12xx numbers for the Panzer IV companies in 1941. I'm not absolutely sure about 1940. There is a photo of a Panzer IV Ausf. B/C number 712 with the 1940 division insignia. Another photo shows 712 together with 321. There you can see that 3. Kompanie had the numbers partly over the turret hatch but 7. Kompanie not. The numbers of 7. Kompanie were higher than the numbers of 3. Kompanie. It seems, that 3. Kp. repositioned the numbers after the France campaign. There is a whole series of photos of 3. Kp. showing the numbers placed in front of the turret hatch and not painted on it (or are these vehicles from Pz.Abt. 66?).
I think in 1941, 3. Kp. became 4. Kp. and 7. Kp. became 8. Kp. and the Panzer IV Kp. of Pz.Abt. 66 became 12. Kp.
8. Kp. had similar size and position of the numbers than 7. Kp. in 1940.
To the number of Christians Panzer IV: The colour seems to be plain white. I have seen some photos of 7. PD Panzer IV's, where the second colour seems to be a relatively bright red. In some light positions, it is hard to see the second colour. Another possibility is, that simply the number was not finished when the photo was taken. We should have in mind that many Panzer's were delivered to the units just some day's bevore the campaign started (in September 1939, Pz.Rgt. 25 had only 6 Pz. IV, and Pz.Abt. 66 had no Pz. IV).
I still believe that Christians Panzers are from 7. PD. No other unit using such large numners had a 7. Kompanie in 1940 and 1941.
