When was the Panzer invented?

Panzer, German in full Panzerkampfwagen, series of battle tanks fielded by the German army in the 1930s and ’40s. The six tanks in the series constituted virtually all of Germany’s tank production from 1934 until the end of World War II in 1945.

Why were German tanks so good?

The German Tiger tank (above) had a more powerful main gun, heavier armor, and wider tracks than the American Sherman tank (below). The German 88 is more powerful than any American tank gun used during the course of most of the war.

Why are German tanks called Panzers?

The word means “armor” or “shell”. Even the name of the first tank used by the Germans in World War II, Panzer I, was short for Panzerkraftwagen I (armored fighting vehicle I). So after that, Panzer became the normal word for “tank” in German.

What happened to all the tanks after ww2?

Tanks were a different matter altogether. They could often be recovered from the battlefield, repaired and put back into service quickly. However, by the end of the war, most of these tanks were thoroughly worn out and nearly unserviceable.

What was the strongest tank in ww2?

Known as the “Panther”, the Panzer V was the mightiest of them all, with incredibly thick and sloped armor to ricochet most enemy shots, as well as a 75mm cannon that packed almost as much of a punch as the legendary Tiger tank’s 88mm cannon.

Are any ww2 tanks still in service?

One country is putting WWII-era M3 Stuarts and M4 Shermans into service today. The venerable tanks—which are now over seventy-five years old—were originally designed to fight the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS in Europe. …

What killed the most tanks in ww2?

The most famous German “panzer ace”, Michael Wittmann, is credited by Kurowski as having destroyed 60 tanks and nearly as many anti-tank guns in the course of a few days near Kiev in November 1943.

Why did the Germans upgrade the Panzer IV?

However as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, the Panzer IV had more development potential, with a larger turret ring to mount more powerful guns, so the two switched roles. It received various upgrades and design modifications, intended to counter new threats, extending its service life.

How many tanks were in a Panzer Division?

Ideally, each tank battalion in a panzer division was to have three medium companies of Panzer IIIs and one heavy company of Panzer IVs. On 11 January 1934, the German army wrote the specifications for a “medium tractor”, and issued them to a number of defense companies.

Where does the word Panzer come from in German?

Panzer ( / ˈpænzər /; German pronunciation: [ˈpantsɐ] ( listen)) is a German word that means ” armour “. It derives through the French word pancier, ” breastplate “, from Latin pantex, “belly”. The word is used in English and some other languages as a loanword in the context of the German military.

What was the Zimmerit paste used on the Panzer IV?

Zimmerit paste, to prevent magnetic charges attaching was also introduced on the Panzer IV. About 12,000 Panzer IV tanks (derived chassis included) were produced during the war, more than twice as many as the next German tank.