Panzer Iv The Workhorse Of The Panzerwaffe

The final years of World War II saw the legendary Panzerwaffe face its most difficult challenges, with Allied troops landing at Normandy and storming across the continent and the Russians gaining the upper hand on the Eastern Front. As Germany fought fiercely to hold on to the advantages gained in the early years, they relied heavily on the Panzer IV, the Panzer V Panther and the StuG III – the backbone of their infamous armoured divisions – to hold back their advancing opponents. This second volume on the Panzerwaffe offers a comprehensive guide to the final years of Germany's most famous fighting force, covering the further use of the Panzer IV, the role played by the StuG III assault gun and the battlefield debut of the formidable Panther. Explosive combat reports and rare archive photographs help uncover the final years of the Panzers, from their defence against the D-Day landings and the role they played in the Ardennes Offensive to their valiant last stand in Berlin.

The Panzer IV programme was started in 1934, forming, alongside the Panzer IIs and IIIs, the schnellen Truppen, the force that was to become the Panzerwaffe. At first, German planners envisioned the tank in a secondary role, but during the invasions of The Low Countries and France, it took on a more central role. When the Panzerwaffe turned east to attack the Soviet Union, the Panzer IV initially fared poorly against the better-armed T-34. However, upgrades to its gun and armour protection saw it perform far better, not only against Soviet armour but also against British and American tanks in North Africa and Italy. In 1944, it was slowly replaced by the Panzer V Panther, but the dire strategic situation meant that it bore the brunt of the Allied D-Day invasion and its aftermath, and it remained in service until the end of the war. Fully illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs, this fascinating study from German armour expert Thomas Anderson tells the complete story of Germany's most widely produced tank of World War II, from its design and development to its many upgrades and variants.

The Panzerkampfwagen IV has often been referred to as the 'workhorse' of the German Army in World War II. This important weapon went through several upgrades and improvements and was the only German tank to have been produced continuously throughout the entire war. This book specifically deals with the short-barrelled Panzer IV, built until February 1942, which saw service from the invasion of Poland, through the fall of Western Europe and the campaigns of North Africa to the steppes of the Soviet Union. This book takes on a series of increasingly complex construction projects covering all the major Panzer IV types, including the rare multi-turreted Neubau-Panzerkampfwagen IV.

The Panzerkampfwagen IV has often been referred to as the workhorse of the German Army in World War II. This important weapon went through several upgrades and improvements during its lifetime and is the only German tank to have been produced continuously throughout the entire war. In his previous title, Modelling the Early Panzerkampfwagen IV, Tom Cockle covered the early production Panzer IV. This book will cover the later versions of the tank, from those that were initially equipped with the 7.5cm KwK 40 L/43 to versions which were mounted with the L/48 gun. Step-by-step photographs show how to model this tank across various scales and at various skill levels, making this book ideal for both beginners as well as advanced modellers interested in minuscule detail, scratch built extras and rare tank markings.

The original how-to manual for handling the German tank in World War II, edited and translated by the Emmy Award-winning historian and author. During the Second World War, Tiger tank crews had to be trained as quickly and effectively as possible. To assist in this process General Heinz Guderian authorized the publication of the Tigerfibel, the illustrated manual which was issued to Tiger I crews from 1943 onwards. This highly unorthodox publication was full of risqué drawings and humorous illustrations and was designed to convey complex battlefield instructions in a simple and memorable manner. This unique primary source has now been translated into English by Emmy Award-winning historian Bob Carruthers and published with a new overview and introduction. It makes for indispensable reading for anyone interested in tank warfare in World War II. The manual contains everything the reader could ever wish to know concerning how the crews were instructed to handle the Tiger I under combat conditions, including detailed instructions on aiming, firing, ammunition and close combat. There are extensive sections on maintenance, driving, radio operation and the essentials of commanding the heavy tank. This priceless information is now being made available to a wider English-speaking audience as an electronic publication for the first time. Fascinating and highly accessible, the Tigerfibel is essential and rewarding reading for all those interested in the history of this famous tank. This book is part of the Hitler’s War Machine series which draws on primary sources and contemporary documents to provide a new insight into the true nature of Hitler’s Wehrmacht.