A7V tanks (WW 1) - Germany: books - history, types and construction

The Kaiser's Panzers - German Tanks of The First World War (Images of War)

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This book traces the development of German armoured vehicles during the First World War. The Imperial German Army was slow to adopt tanks in a conflict dominated by trench warfare and, by the Armistice of November 1918, had deployed only twenty A7V tanks.
To make up for this shortfall, captured British Mark IV tanks were repaired and put into service at a workshop in Belgium during the last year of the war. Some of these vehicles were later used by the Freikorps to suppress uprisings in Berlin and Leipzig.

Although German tanks had little impact on the war, two early commanders gained later prominence: Ernest Volckheim, an interwar armour theorist and later Panzer officer, and Josef "Sepp" Dietrich, SS general involved in the 1945 Malmedy massacre.

Drawing on contemporary records, newsreels, and press reports, "The Kaiser's Panzers- provides a richly illustrated account of Germany's first tanks, the foundation of the Panzer forces that emerged under the Third Reich.

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German Panzers 1914-18 (Osprey)

Panzer warfare is synonymous with the Wehrmacht of World War II.

This book examines the story of the Panzer's more mysterious ancestors, the little-known panzers of the Great War. Germany was very slow to develop armored vehicles compared to Britain and France. Efforts to catch-up proved difficult, and only a few dozen German A7V tanks were completed in time to take part in the final campaigns of 1918. As a result, the majority of German panzer units actually used captured British tanks, the Beutepanzer.
This book traces the development of German panzers of the World War One, including the A7V and its intended but unfinished stablemates.

Contents: Introduction - Early Roots - The Early Tank Program - The Cambrai Shock - A7V Variants ·Panzers in Training - Into Combat - Rebuilding the Tank Units - German Armored Cars in Combat - Final Tank Battles - Plan 1919 - Further Reading - Color Plate Commentary - Index.

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The German Tanks in WW I - The A7V and Early Tank Development

This book covers the earliest forms of German armored fighting vehicles used primarily in WW I, including the A7V tank.

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Mark IV vs A7V - Villers-Bretonneux 1918 (Osprey)

The German A7V and the British Mark IV were similar in weight, size, and speed, but differed significantly in armour, armament and maneuverability. The A7V had thicker armour, and had nearly double the horsepower per ton. The Mark IV's pair of side-mounted 6pdr cannons forced the vehicle to present its side arc to an enemy in order to fire one of its main guns. Possessing twice as many machine guns as the Mark IV, the A7V had a frontally mounted 57mm gun that proved capable of defeating the Mark IV's armour. The Mark IV's rhomboid design proved superior in crossing trenches, climbing obstacles and moving over rough terrain.
As the first tank-versus-tank engagement in history, the fighting around Villers-Bretonneux showcased the British Mark IV and German A7V designs. Although not purpose-built to combat enemy armour, both vehicles proved the viability of such operations, which during the postwar period led to key advances in suspension, armour, gunsights, ammunition, and command and control. While the British continued to develop their armoured forces, German armour development never materialized, and only in the postwar period did they address the issue.

This book describes the A7V and the Mark IV in detail.

Contents: Introduction - Chronology - Design and Development - Technical Specifications - The Combatants - The Strategic Situation - Combat - Statistics and Analysis - Further Reading - Index.

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Le char allemand A7V

The A7V was the only German tank of the First World War, which can be explained by General Ludendorff's lack of interest in armored vehicles. It was only built in about twenty examples, which did not prevent its use in all the major battles of 1918, starting with Operation Michael on March 21. Its small number prevented it from playing a real tactical role on the ground.

This 32-page booklet, illustrated with excellent period photographs and color illustrations by Éric Schwartz, is part of a series of monographs published by Ysec Éditions on the weapons and vehicles of the Great War.

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