The Panzer V, also called the Panther, and the Tiger, or Panzer VI were meant as an answer to the shortcomings of their predecessors. Under the insistence of Hitler and Eastern Front generals, two new design were quickly put on the drawing board. For the first time, an unpleasant feeling of inferiority spread through the Wehrmacht, especially after the merciless winter of December 1941-February 1942. When German officers received alarming reports of Soviet "invincible tanks", investigation followed on some captured KV-1s and T-34s. ![]() Operation Barbarossa: The Eastern Front (1941-42) ![]() This model became the mainstay of the German armor until 1945. But as the limitations of the former became evident, the latter was quickly upgraded with long-barrel, high velocity AT guns. In this Wehrmacht duo, the Panzer III was intended to deal with other tanks, while the Panzer IV provided infantry support. It borrowed many components from the Panzer III, but mounted a 75 mm (2.95 in) howitzer intended to deal against fortified positions. Conceived by Guderian and developed in 1936 as a support medium tank (Begleitwagen), it was available in limited quantities during the battle of France, but formed a large part of the Wehrmacht in the summer of 1941, during Operation Barbarossa. By then, another model became available in great numbers, the Panzer IV. The Panzer III, after armor and gun upgrades, formed the bulk of the Wehrmacht, until late 1942. But these drawback were compensated by many other qualities, including reliability, speed, a radio and a three-man turret. L upgrade, all mounted the same 37 mm (1.46 in) main gun, completely inefficient against the well armored medium tanks of the Allies, and the armor was quite weak. After a long elaboration, both technical and theoretical, this first true German medium tank entered mass production quite late, with the Ausf. But the real game changer was the Panzer III. The Panzer II remained in service for quite a long time. Despite this, they were forced into combat, mostly as scout vehicles. The Panzer I and II were considered transitional models, designed for training and to prepare the industry for future, more advanced, vehicles. Panzer development (1936-45) Tanks available prior to the Campaign of France (1940) There were capable against the armored vehicles of neighboring powers, like Czechoslovakia and Poland, but not against those of France, and even less against the USSR. Two years later, the German tank force was augmented by the Panzer II and the first Panzer IIIs. In 1934, the first Panzerkampfwagen I was issued to the Wehrmacht, with the ordnance (Waffenamt) designation Sd.Kfz. Many models were developed in Sweden or the Soviet Union, earning some much valued experience. Later on, in 1933, maneuvers incorporated "dummy tanks", until the industry would be ready to work on the first indigenous model. Only a handful armored cars were retained for police duties. In 1919, the drastic Versailles treaty imposed severe limitations on military personal and material, and it also forbade tank construction. ![]() ![]() Several light tanks were also considered, but none reached production in time. The A7V, a mobile fortress, was their only successful attempt in this direction, and only a handful were produced until the armistice. However, after the successes of isolated British tanks, which made their way into German lines, they first began to consider an appropriate response, and then a tank of their own. It was thought that tanks were too vulnerable1. They mostly relied on special infantry units to perform breakthroughs, like the famous Sturmtruppen. 7/2 FLAK 36 * Feuerleitpanzer auf Zugkraftwagen 8t * Sd.Kfz.9/1 ARV * 8.8 cm Flak 18 auf SdKfz.8 * Sd.Kfz.10 gepanzert * SdKfz.10 * SZwgn-12 DB10 Gpz * Somua MCG (S307(f) * Somua MCL (S303(f) * Unic TU1 U305(f) Aftermath of the Versailles treatyĭuring WW1, after the initial shock, the Germans paid little attention to the idea of tanks in trench warfare. VW Kübelwagen * VW Schwimmwagen * Kettenkrad SdKfz.2 * SdKfz.3 Maultier * SdKfz.6 * SdKfz.6/2 FLAK 37 * SdKfz.6/3 * Sd.Kfz.7/1 FV38 * Sd.Kfz. GERMAN ARMOUR WW2 Note: This is the old historic archive (2011) Archived articles (and upcoming) Panzer III * Jagdtiger Tiger Ausf B * Panzer VI Tiger I * Ferdinand/Elefant * ADGZ * Marder-I * Jagdpanzer 38 Hetzer * Sdkfz-231 6-rad * Sfkfz-4 Panzerwerfer * Grille * Flakpanzer I * Wespe * SdKfz.247 * SdKfz.263 * Projects & prototypes * Maus * Landwasserschlepper * SdKfz.254 * Leichte Radschlepper laffly W 15T(f) * Bunkerflak * Bergepanzer III * Bergepanzer IV * Bergepanther * Bergetiger * Bergepanzer 38(t) * Bergepanzer T-34 * Landwasserschlepper II * Wurfrahmen 40 * Karl-Gerät * StuH 42 * StuIG 33B * Goliath * Springer * Borgward IV * VK 20 series * VK 4502 (P) * Gep.
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