Panzer I and II - Germany: books - history, types and construction (1/2)

Panzers I and II and Their Variants - From Reichswehr to Wehrmacht (Spielberger)

This book in the Spielberger series described the technical and tactical development of these light tanks - from the Reichswehr years to the World War II campaigns in Poland, France and Russia.

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Light Panzers

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The light Panzers of the first German tank divisions were intended only as training or temporary machines until better-armed PzKpfw III and IV became available. Despite their limits, they played an important part in German victories between 1939 and 1942.

This book describes the development and organization of the PzKpfw I (1934) and PzKpfw II (1936). It also explains how the German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 and later of Czechoslovakia provided two Czech light tanks, adopted as the PzKpfw 35(t) and 38(t). These vehicles served widely in Poland, France, and during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

From late 1941, most were removed from front-line duty, but their chassis continued in use for self-propelled guns and tank destroyers until the end of the war.

Written by German armour specialist Thomas Anderson, this study draws on archives, combat reports, and rare photographs. Richly illustrated, it examines the role of light Panzers in the early campaigns of World War II.

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Hitler's Light Tanks : Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)

Hitler's Wehrmacht led the way in armoured warfare as the successful blitzkriegs in Poland and North West Europe in 1940 so convincingly proved. The contribution of light tanks such as Panzers I, II and 35(t) was critical.
As the war spread to the Balkans, north Africa and the invasion of Russia, German engineers worked tirelessly modifying existing light tanks and developing new models. The growing Soviet armoured threat, in particular, spawned tank destroyers such as the Marder III Panzerjäger, SdKfz 138/1 and 139.

Anti-aircraft variants included the Flakpanzer 38(t) and the SdKfz 140/1 was a reconnaissance tank armed with a 20mm turret-mounted gun, developed from the SdKfz 22 armoured car, whereas the Aufklarungerspanzer 38(t) carried a 7.5cm gun in the support reconnaissance role.
In the final stages of the war light tanks were phased out and the Marder and 38 (t) were up-gunned; the Wespe was adapted from the Panzer II chassis.

This superbly illustrated book gives a comprehensive overview of the multitude of vehicles and variants that came into service. With the text and captions providing technical data, the images show this formidable array of fighting vehicles in action across the theatres of war.

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German Light Panzers 1932-1945 (Osprey)

The light tanks of the Panzerwaffe make a fascinating subject for technical and historical study. Operation Barbarossa was the light tanks' swan song: thoroughly experienced and at the peak of self-confidence, the Panzergruppen brought Moscow to almost within Hitler's grasp. However, the effectiveness and popularity of the light panzers was only proven because Hitler's Panzerwaffe (despite their technical excellence) was poorly equipped. The critically short supply of the Panzerkampfwagen III and IV placed an ever-increasing onus on the light tanks that filled out the Panzerwaffe's ranks during the glory years.

In this book, Bryan Perrett examines the evolution of the PzKpfw I and II.

Contents: Design and Development - The Tanks - Organisation - Tactics - Active Service - Specifications.

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Panzer I und II - und ihre Abarten (Spielberger)

In fact, they were clearly inferior to most of the enemy tanks in terms of combat power and armor from the start. But the German arms industry could not keep up with the production of the far more powerful Panzerkampfwagen III and IV. As a result, the Wehrmacht had to make extensive use of these light combat vehicles - originally intended as training tanks - in the early years of the Second World War.

Walter Spielberger describes everything related to the Panzerkampfwagen I and II: their development, their variants and meticulous details of the technology, armament and equipment.

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