Panzer III cover

Description

This highly illustrated title details the history of the Panzer III throughout World War II, from its early development in the pre-war years through its pivotal role in the Blitzkrieg campaigns in Poland and Western Europe and its eventual obsolescence on the Eastern Front.

The Panzer III was the mainstay of the German armored force in the early years of World War II, and spearheaded the victories in Poland, Western Europe, and the Balkans. Designed and developed in the mid-1930s, it was originally equipped with a 3.7cm gun and with 30mm thick armor. Early combat in Poland and France saw the need for this to be upgraded, and later models were armed with a 5cm KwK L/42 gun and had the frontal armor reinforced to 60mm by adding extra plating. This later version proved to be particularly effective during the campaigns in the Balkans and against British armor in the North African desert campaign. However, in the first months of Operation Barbarossa -- the German invasion of the Soviet Union -- it became obvious to battlefield commanders that the Panzer III had become obsolete as a main battle tank and it began to be replaced by the Panzer IV as the main front-line battle tank. The Panzer III was relegated to a secondary role, but its chassis proved the basis for the Sturmgeschutz III, which became the most widespread German armored vehicle of World War II.

Table of Contents

Blitzkrieg Panzer

1. Development
2. Production Begins
3. Combat in Poland
4. Combat in France
5. Further Development
6. The Balkan Invasion
7. North Africa
8. The Invasion of Russia
9. Progress
10: In Africa
11. Russia–1942/43
12. Support Vehicles

Index
Acknowledgements

Product details

Published Feb 22 2022
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 304
ISBN 9781472845870
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Fully illustrated throughout in b&w
Dimensions 242 x 190 mm
Series General Military
Short code GNM
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Thomas Anderson

Thomas Anderson is a specialist on German armoured…

Resources

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