CENTURYTRACKS 3: GERMAN ANTITANK GUNS & TRACTORS 1933-1945 Panzer Abwer Kanone

German antitank guns and their tractors. 1933/1945

The battle tank was to become the dominant weapon in Second World War land combat. Faced with these steel behemoths, every belligerent developed its own antitank arsenal. Germany, already innovative with its Panzers and above all in their tactical use through Blitzkrieg, was no exception. Mostly equipped with 3.7cm and Czech-made 4.7cm guns at the start of the conflict, the German Army proved capable of adapting, and the evolution of antitank guns and ammunition kept pace with that of tanks — increasing armour being countered by increasing calibres reaching up to 12.8cm by the end of the war. But an antitank gun is nothing without the means to bring it rapidly to the front line, and the tractors used to move the pieces were equally numerous, all the more so as the German Army did not hesitate to reuse the myriad tractors captured from its adversaries. It is therefore entirely natural that these two types of equipment — very different, yet so closely linked in their use — are studied together in this volume.

German antitanks guns and tractors 1933 - -1945

The battle tank was the most important weapon during the World War 2 land fighting. Facing these steel giants, each belligerent developed its own antitank armoury. Germany did the same, already being much innovative by its Panzers and above all their use during the Blitzkrieg. Mostly equipped with 3.7cm and Czech 4.7cm guns when the war began, the German Army succeeded in adopting new AT guns and ammunition able to remain to the point in the gun/armour race – even moving to 12.8cm calibre in the end. But an AT gun is not worth much if it cannot be quickly moved to the front and the tractors were innumerable; especially because the German Army did not refrain to use the myriads of ones they captured. This is why these two types of assets, much different but so closely linked, are studied in this new Centurytracks.