Evolution of German Tanks

By JWeisenbach

  • Leichttraktor Vs.Kfz.31

    The Leichttraktor Vs.Kfz.31 was another example of Germany rounding the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty prior to World War 2.

  • Panzerkampfwagen Neubaufahrzeug (PzKpfW NbFz V / VI)

    The prewar German Neubaufahrzeug was a short-lived heavy tank program netting just five vehicles.

  • SdKfz 101 Panzer I

    The Panzer I Light Tank began the long line of successful, fast-moving tanks common to the German blitzkreig.

  • SdKfz 121 Panzer II

    The Panzer II was an interim light tank design meant to hold ground until production of the Panzer III and Panzer IV medium tanks came online,

  • SdKfz 265 Panzerbefehlswagen

    The SdKfz 265 Panzerbefehlswagen was a successful Comand Tank conversion of the Panzer I Light Tank series for the Germans heading into World War 2.

  • SdKfz 161 Panzer IV

    The Panzer IV medium tank remained in production for the German Army throughout the entire war.

  • SdKfz 141 Panzer III

    The effective German Army Panzer III Medium Tank was evolved substantially during the war years from 1939 to 1945.

  • SdKfz 135 Marder I (Marten I)

    The Marder I was designed to meet the ever-growing power of Soviet armor in the form of the T-34 and Kliment Voroshilov tanks.

  • 10.5cm K gepanzerte Selbstfahrlafette IVa Dicker Max

    Like several other notable German projects of World War 2, the 10.5cm K gepanzerte Selbstfahrlafette was abandoned in whole, just two pilot vehicles produced.

  • 15 cm slG 33 auff Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwage II

    The 15 cm was a German tank destroyer chassis designed around a 150mm field artillery cannon. Only 12 were built.

  • SdKfz 138 Marder III (Marten III)

    A Marder III Auf M, the final incarnation of the Marder series, with gun emplacement moved to the rear.

  • Geschutzpanzer 39H(f) 7.5cm PaK 40 Hotchkiss (Marder I)

    Supplies of captured French Hotchkiss H35 Light Tanks made the German Geschutpanzer 39H 7.5cm PaK 40 tank destroyer possible.

  • 5cm PaK auf Pz.Kpfw.II SOnderfahrgestell 901

    The Pz.Sfl.Ic tank destroyer combined the PaK 36 anti-tank gun with the chassis of the proven Panzer II tank series. Only two pilot vehicles were ever produced.

  • 12.8 cm Slebstfahrlafette auf VK3001(H) Sturer Emil

    There were only two Sturer Emil tank destroyers completed, one lost to action and the other captured by the Soviets in Stalingrad.

  • SdKfz 181 Panzer VI / Tiger I

    The PzKpfW VI Heavy Tank saw extensive combat action on all fronts during World War 2 and proved itself a formidable foe to the Allies.

  • SdKfz 164 hornisse / Nashorm

    Though mobility was a constant issue for the powerful Nashorm design, her crews experienced a great level of success in taking on enemy tanks from long range.

  • SdKfz 123 Panzerspahwagen II (Luchs)

    In-the-field reliability issues ultimately limited production of the Panzer Luchs series to just 100 examples.

  • SdKfz 131/132 Marder II (Marten II)

    The Marder II tank destroyer was an antitank conversion based on the PzKpfw II main battle tank series.

  • Krupp Landkreuzer P.1000 Ratte

    If it was completed during the fighting of World War 2, the Landkreuzer P.1000 Ratte would have been the largest tank ever produced.

  • SdKfz 205 Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus

    For its time, the Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus was the heaviest tank prototype to see completion during World War 2.

  • SdKfz 184 Panzerjager Tiger (P) Ferdinand/Elephant

    The limited production SdKfz 184 appeared under the name of Ferdinand in 1943 before Hitler himself had the name changed to elephant in 1944.

  • SdKfz 182 Panzer VIB Tiger II / King Tiger

    The Tiger II was the definitive German tank of World War 2 and the pinnacle of Panzer tank design by the end of the conflict.

  • SdKfz 171 Panzer V / Panther

    The Panther ultimately became the best German Tank in service during World War 2

  • SdKfz 167 StuG IV Sturmgeshutz IV

    The StuG IV Assault Gun further improved on the successful StuG design, becoming the Pinnacle model of the series.

  • SdKfz 162 Jagdpanzer IV (Panzerjager 39)

    The Jagdpanzer IV became a very successful dedicated tank destroyer for the Germans during the latter half of World War 2.

  • Jagdpanzer 28(t) Hetzer

    The Jagdpanzer Hetzer was one of the more successful conversions of the Czech LT vz 38 light tank chassis.

  • Aufklarungspanzerwagen 38 (2cm) (SdKfz 140/1)

    The Czech-originated 38t light tank chassis formed the basis for the Aufklarungspanzerwagen 38 fast reconnaissance tank of the German Army during World War 2.

  • 7.5cm PaK 40/1 AUF Geschutzenwagen FCM(f)

    The 7.5cm Geschutzenwagen FCM tank destroyer, also known as Marder (, was based on the captured French FCM-36 series tanks.

  • SdKfz 186 Jagdtiger

    The Jagdtiger was an optimistic, yet powerful, German tank destroyer design that was ultimately fielded in limited numbers.

  • SdKfz 173 Jagdpanther Panzerjager V

    The German Army Jadpanther tank destroyer was a superb purpose-built tank destroyer built on speed and firepower.

  • SdKfz 162/1 Panzer IV/70(V)

  • Panzerkampfwagen E-100 (Tiger Maus)

    The first prototype of the Tiger Maus was only half-complete when the allies overtook her development facility.