Panzer IV at War: 1939-1945

by Paul Thomas

Overview

With comprehensive captions and text this superb book tells the story of the production of the Panzer IV to the key battles in Poland, France, North Africa, Italy, Russia and North West Europe. Initially the Panzer IV was designed as an infantry support tank, but soon proved to be so diverse and effective that it earned a unique tactical role on the battlefield.

The book shows how the Panzer IV evolved and describes how the Germans carefully utilized all available reserves and resources into building numerous variants that went into production and saw action on the battlefield. It depicts how these formidable tanks were adapted and up-gunned to face the ever increasing enemy threat.

Between 1936 and 1945, over 8,000 Panzer IV’s were built. For most of the war this tank was a match for its opponents’ heavy tanks and quickly and effectively demonstrated its superiority on the battlefield.

The Panzer IV was the only German tank to remain in production during the war. Its chassis was converted into more models than any other Panzers that entered service. As well as the various prototype projects and command tanks, observation vehicles, ammunition carriers, recovery vehicles, amphibious armored ferry vehicles that saw service, the book will show a multiple of converted anti-tank propelled vehicles.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848846814
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	07/03/2012
Series:	Images of War
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Paul Thomas is an expert on WW2 fighting vehicles and avid collector of contemporary images. He lives in Braintree.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Chapter 1 Blitzkrieg, 1939-1941 5

Chapter 2 Barbarossa, 1941 19

Chapter 3 Russia, 1943-1943 52

Chapter 4 Russian and Western Front, 1943-1944 66

Chapter 5 Last Year of Operations, 1944-1945 89

Appendix: Panzer Camouflage and Panzer IV Variants 134