Background

During World War I, the British and French successively launched their tanks starting in 1916. The most popular ones were the British Mark series and the French Renault FT and Saint-Chamond. These tanks caused significant trouble for the German Empire, prompting the Germans to start developing their own tanks.

I. World War I

In 1918, after a few years of development, Germany finally rolled out their new tank, the A7V. Although the German Army ordered 200 of these tanks, only 17 were in service before the end of the war. Most were scrapped after Germany surrendered.

II. Interwar Era & Early Stage of World War II

After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles banned Germany from developing tanks. However, in 1922, Soviet Russia and the Weimar Republic (Germany) signed the Treaty of Rapallo, allowing Germany to secretly send soldiers to Soviet Russia for training. In 1929, the Kama Tank School in Kazan, Russia, was founded, allowing Germany to test its tanks. During this period, Germany tested tanks like the Leichttraktor (meaning “light tractor”) and the Großtraktor (meaning “large tractor”), marking the start of modern German tank development.

In the 1930s, after the Nazi Party came to power, Germany began mass-producing tanks. The Panzer I, initially designed as a training vehicle, later participated in the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

Since the Panzer I was underpowered (it only had machine guns as weapons), the German government called for a new design. In 1935, the Panzer II was produced, featuring better armor and a 20mm cannon. It played an important role in the Battle of Poland and the Battle of France.

In 1937, one of Germany’s most important tanks, the Panzer III, entered service. Throughout the war, the Panzer III saw numerous models (A to N), with its armament evolving from a 37mm cannon (1930s) to a 75mm cannon (1940s). Meanwhile, in 1939, the famous Panzer IV entered service, featuring a 75mm cannon that made it a formidable tank throughout the war.

In conclusion, the Panzer II, III, and IV played crucial roles in the early stages of World War II. But what happened next?

III. Mid-Stage of World War II

In 1939, World War II broke out. Using the Blitzkrieg tactic, which relied on the combined power of tanks and planes, Germany swiftly defeated most European countries. Even France, which had the strongest army at the time, was defeated. In 1941, Germany began its invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa). Initially, the Germans pushed the Soviet Army back to Moscow. However, in December 1941, Germany lost the Battle of Moscow, marking the start of the 4-year Russo-German War.

Initially, the tanks produced in the 1930s were still powerful enough to contend with Soviet tanks. However, once the Soviet Union began mass production of the formidable KV series and T-34 series, the situation changed. Germany needed a more powerful tank to compete.

In 1942, the most famous heavy tank in history, the Tiger I (or Panzer VI), entered service. With its powerful 88mm cannon, the threat posed by Soviet tanks diminished, and the Allies feared the Tiger I so much that they often called for air support whenever they encountered one.

In 1943, the Soviet Union started producing the well-known T-34-85 tank to counter Germany’s Tiger I. In response, Germany realized the Tiger I’s mobility was insufficient. Thus, in 1943, the Panther tank was introduced. It boasted better mobility and firepower. Its longer 75mm cannon was even more powerful than the Tiger I’s 88mm cannon. The Panther first appeared during the Battle of Kursk and soon evolved into many models (Panther A to Panther G), becoming one of the best tanks Germany ever produced.

IV. The Final Fantasy of the Empire

In 1944, the Allies landed in Normandy, France, signaling the beginning of the collapse of the Nazi Empire. However, Adolf Hitler still believed Germany could win the war. As a result, many ambitious and often impractical tank designs emerged between 1944 and 1945.

In 1944, the Tiger II (or King Tiger) entered service to compete with the American Pershing tanks and Soviet IS-2 tanks. Weighing 70 tonnes, it was one of the heaviest tanks ever produced. Unfortunately, it had a high failure rate and had little impact on the war.

The most extreme tank Germany ever built was the Panzer VIII “Maus” (meaning “mouse”). It had a powerful 12.8 cm cannon and a 75mm cannon. Weighing a staggering 188 tonnes, it remains the heaviest tank ever built. However, it never entered mass production. Originally, two prototypes were built, but they were destroyed in 1944. Fortunately, the Soviet Union combined the turret and hull of the prototypes, rebuilding it for display at the Kubinka Tank Museum in Russia.

V. Conclusion

From 1918 to 1945, Germany produced many different kinds of tanks, with most being highly successful. As a result, many of these tanks have appeared in modern pop culture. The designs of German tanks have also inspired many modern MBTs (Main Battle Tanks). There is no doubt that Germany had a significant impact on the history of tank development.