Centurytracks No. 2: The Half-Tracks Mittlererpanzerkraftwagen Sd.Kfz 251

With more than 15,000 units produced, the Mittlererpanzerkraftwagen (MTW), alias Sd.Kfz.251, was the first mass-produced armoured vehicle of the German military industry, just ahead of the famous Panzer IV and its variants. Beginning its career quietly during the Polish Campaign in 1939, it would appear on every battlefield of the Second World War. It was aboard their disarmed Sd.Kfz.251s that the last German motorised troops made their way to prisoner-of-war camps in May 1945. The MTW was originally designed as an armoured vehicle intended to transport and protect the riflemen (Schützen) accompanying the tanks during their advances. Its roles multiplied throughout the conflict — fire support, command, communications, ambulance, artillery observation, etc. In time, it became the true workhorse of the Heer's mechanised units.

With more than 15,000 built, the Mittlererpanzerkraftwagen (MTW), better known as the Sd.Kfz.251, was the first most produced AFV by the German industry, before the famous Pz IV. and its variants. Unconspiciously beginning its career during the Polish Campaign in 1939, it was later found on all the World War 2 battlefields. It is on their disarmed Sd.Kfz.251s that the last German mechanized troops went to the POW camps in May 1945. Designed to transport and protect the soldiers fighting along the tanks during the advances, the roles of this armoured vehicle grew during the whole war adding support, command, communication, ambulance, artillery observation post duties, etc. The author describes in details the story of this true workhorse of the Heer mechanized units.