This article on military tanks relates to the history of the tanks serving in the German Army from World War I, the interwar period, and the Panzers of the German Wehrmacht during World War II, the Cold War and the modern age.
Video Tanks in the German Army
Ikhtisar
The development of the tanks in World War I began as an attempt to break the deadlock that war had brought to the Western Front. Britain and France both began experimenting in 1915, and placed tanks in combat from 1916 and 1917. Germany, on the other hand, was slower to develop tanks, concentrating on anti-tank weapons.
The German response to the simple early success of Allied tanks was A7V, which, like several other tanks of the time, was based on traces of caterpillars of a kind found in American Holt Tractors. Initially unconvinced that the tanks were a serious threat, the High Command ordered only twenty A7Vs, who took part in some action between March and October 1918. They suffered many design errors, and Germany actually used more captured British tanks than the A7V. When it became clear that the tank could play an important role on the battlefield, Germany began working on design for heavy and light tanks, but only a small number of prototypes were completed by the end of the War.
After the Armistice, all the tanks in German hands were confiscated. Almost everything is finally removed, and postwar agreements prohibit the former Central Block from building or owning tanks.
On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Although he initially led a coalition government, he quickly removed his government counterparts. He ignored the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles (1919) and began to rearm, agreeing to the development of many of the German tank designs he exhibited.
The German army first used the Panzer I tank, along with the Panzer II, but its flagship was Panzer III and Panzer IV which was released in 1937. IV became the backbone of the German panzer forces and the power behind blitzkrieg. During the invasion of Russia in 1941, Germany invented a sophisticated and technologically advanced T-34 Soviet tank. This caused Germany to develop Panther or Panzer V as an answer. His 75mm rifle could pierce the new Soviet tank. Germany also developed a heavy Tiger I, which was released in 1942. Tiger can defeat Allied tanks and soon join the Tiger II, also known as King Tiger, but too few are produced to turn the tide.
One interesting note is the reliability of poor German tanks like Panther and Tiger; Constant mechanical failure means that the German tank division is rarely able to fill a full tank and is often reduced to below 50% combat readiness. The Last Battle book by Cornelius Ryan mentions about 7 million foreign workers forced into Germany to work in factories and businesses --- many of them on military assembly lines. Ryan specifically writes about these foreign workers in the manufacture of German tanks, which sabotages every part they can and may have contributed to the extent of damage to German tanks in the field. These specially affected tanks were built later in the war (such as Panther and Tiger) when forced labor replaced the German workforce in their factory.
In the Battle of the Kursk, when the new Panther tanks came to move to their assembly area, 45 out of 200 experienced mechanical problems that needed repair. A good example is the GroÃÆ'Ÿdeutschland Division, which has the battalion of two new Panther Ausf battalions. D tanks are under operational control before the battle. After the launch of Fortress Operation, the new Panthers were plagued by technical problems, suffered fire engines and mechanical damage, many before reaching the battle, where the division was heavily involved. It may also have influenced the role of the GroÃÆ'Ÿdeutschland Division in the upcoming epic Battle of Prokhorovka epic, where it is held as a reserve, its Panther tanks are unattractive as most are damaged at the time the battle begins.
There may also be a problem with the Tiger tanks. Tiger reliability issues are well known and documented; Tiger units often enter the lower border of the battle due to damage. It is rare for a Tiger unit to complete a road without losing a vehicle due to damage. Jagdtiger, built on an extended Tiger II chassis, suffers from a variety of mechanical and technical problems and is often damaged; eventually more Jagdtiger lost due to mechanical problems or lack of fuel than enemy action.
German factories and industries were destroyed at the end of World War II, but in the 1950s, the country began to look at designing new tanks. The next tank design began as a collaborative project between Germany and France in the 1950s, but the partnership ended, and the final design was ordered by the Bundeswehr, the German Leopard 1 production began in 1965. In total, 6,485 Leopard I tanks were built, of which 4,744 battle tanks and 1741 is a utility and anti-aircraft variant, excluding eight prototypes and pre-series vehicles. Leopard quickly became a standard European troop, and eventually served as a major battle tank in Germany. It was replaced by Leopard 2.
Maps Tanks in the German Army
German design and development
The construction of the German tank can be traced back to 1911, when Austrian Oberleutenant Gunther Burstyn proposed designs for "motor vehicle rifles" ("MotorgeschÃÆ'¼tz") with turrets. He patented his design in 1912 in Germany but never developed beyond paper.
World War I
After British tanks began to take action on September 15, 1916, the German Army immediately demanded their own land. After the emergence of the first British tanks on the Western Front, the Ministry of War established an expert committee of leading engineering companies, responsible for Allgemeines Kriegsdepartement, Abteilung 7, Verkehrswesen ("Public War Department, 7th Branch, Transportation") , The project to design and build the first German tank was placed under the direction of Joseph Vollmer, the leading German designer and manufacturer of automobiles. He was chosen to design German tanks of World War I A7V, and GroÃÆ'Ÿkampfwagen or K-Wagen. K-Wagen was a German super-heavy tank, two prototypes nearing completion at the end of World War I.
The A7V tank that actually entered the war, known as Sturmpanzerwagen A7V, was named after a committee that oversaw its development. It weighs about 30 tons, capable of crossing a ditch to a width of 1.5 meters, has armaments including cannons in front and rear as well as several machine guns, and reaches a top speed of at least 12 km/h. The walking fixtures were based on the Holt tractor, part copied from samples borrowed from the Austrian army. After the initial plan was distributed with the Army in December 1917, the design was extended into a universal chassis that could be used as a base for tank and unarmoured Carrier operators (Æ' w w w <<<<<<<<). Supported by two Daimler engines, this tank was first shown in the Spring Attack of 1918. Internally, the Sturmpanzerwagen was narrow, smelly and noisy. No less than 18 people are called to make the machine full of potential. With the main gun 57 mm in front, the internal operator has access to two 7.92 mm machine guns on the back along with the other four along the sides of the steel beast - two sideways. Each machine gun needs to be handled by two further personnel per rifle - a firer and re-supplier of ammunition. The engine is at the bottom center of the design with the main gear components under the back. A two-man crew will carry a 57 mm main weapon, one shot while the other loads weapons. Two drivers sit at the top of the center of the area that operates the rudder and lever control. Stowage is allocated to individual crew weapons in the form of rifles. During the final design, the rear-facing canon was removed and the number of machine guns increased to six. The Grab strap provided throughout the design has plenty of headroom space for the average warrior, though the journey is made for an uneasy and uncomfortable journey.
In theory, the idea of ​​armored boxes with all kinds of deadly hardware looks healthy. But in practice, the great design is far from perfect. The vehicle was very heavy, making it impractical to use on uneven terrain. The system is slow too, often means it can go beyond the kardieri to be helped. The short track of the tractor system also makes the vehicle relatively unsafe and uncontrolled in some cases. If the A7V has one saving grace, it is that total armor protection for the crew is second to none - even when compared to British design - more than an inch in some areas. Twenty of these tanks were produced, and the first one was ready in October 1917. The A7V was first used at St Quentin on 21 March 1918. Although some features, such as the popping tracks and thicker armor, made it even better. than the British tanks at the time, the A7V was less successful as a combat vehicle. The main problem concerns the mechanical reliability and difficulties he encounters across the enemy's trenches.
On the arrival of Sturmpanzerwagen, Germany has successfully developed their own brand of armor penetrating projectiles as well. Toward the end of the First World War, it was clear that the A7V failed, too slow and awkward in acting and slow to build. Therefore, it was decided that a lighter tank was needed that could spearhead the assault and which could be mass-produced, and called Sturmpanzerwagen Oberschlesien.
Thirteen companies bid for the contract and in mid 1918 the design development by Captain MÃÆ'¼ller was assigned to Oberschlesien Eisenwerk from Gleiwitz, who had completed some of the two prototypes in October 1918. It was a radical design for fast-moving, lightweight armored attack tanks.
The Oberschlesien includes tracks that are placed under the tank and are only wrapped around half of it. The armor design is sacrificed for speed and requires only a 180 hp engine for a body weighing 19 tons, giving it a projected ground speed of 14 km/h (8.7 mph).
The tank featured sophisticated features such as the main gun mounted above the tank in the central swivel tower, separate battle and engine compartment, rear mounted engine and low running track. Both the test models ordered and the planned "Oberschlesien II" fixes were completed before the end of the war.
In the end, time runs out on the new design and the limitations of the A7V design, and being part of the losing side of the war and fighting in a defensive position, all leading to the first very average experiment in the realm of tank design for Germany.
Interwar Period
The First World War I 1919 Versailles treaty prohibited the design, manufacture and placement of tanks within the Reichswehr. When the German Empire fell to the Allies, the winners encouraged severe restrictions on the capabilities of war making in the country and Germany bore the brunt of the error in the west and were forced to sign the Versailles Treaty in June 1919. Limitations for ground troops included 100,000-strong infantry soldiers, there are not any tanks and only a few armored vehicles for spot duty. The German army became the shell of the previous self. Paragraph Twenty-four of the treaties provided for a fine of 100,000-marks and imprisonment of up to six months for anyone who "[produced] armored vehicles, tanks or similar machines, which could turn into military use".
Regardless of the limited labor and technical imposed on the German Army by the Treaty of Versailles, some Reichswehr officers founded the clandestine General Staff to study World War I and develop future strategies and tactics. One of the Reichswehr's officers, Hans von Seeckt, became Commander-in-Chief. Seeckt took to heart the lessons learned in the Great War and began rewriting the foundations of the German Army. The infantry remains the heart and soul of the planned attack, but the tank will be the spearhead of action that can destroy the enemy's defenses through speed, power and firepower. Tactics involving separation of enemy formations and counteractions involve clamping movements to surround and eventually annihilate the enemy as a whole. In 1926, the German Army doctrine was all rewritten to fulfill this vision. Although initially the concept of tanks as a weapon of war moves met with apathy, the German industry was quietly encouraged to look into the design of the tanks, while quiet cooperation was made with the Soviet Union. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Germany worked closely with Russia in the development of armored vehicles in Kama, near Kazan in the Soviet Union. There is also a small military cooperation with Sweden, including the extraction of technical data that proved invaluable for early German tank designs.
In early 1926 German companies, including Rheinmetall and Daimler-Benz, produced a prototype armed with a large 75-millimeter ( GroÃÆ'Ÿtractor , "large tractor" cannon, named for covering its windows. vehicle). Only two years later the new prototype Leichttractor ("light tractor"), manufactured by a German company, was armed with a 37 millimeter KwK L/45 weapon. The development of Neubaufahrzeug (German for "new construction vehicles") began in 1933 when the Reichswehr awarded a contract for the development of a Gro¶tractor ("heavy tractor") to Rheinmetall and Krupp. GroÃÆ'Ÿtractor is the codename for the development of heavy tanks, Germany is still forbidden to develop tanks under the terms of the Versailles Treaty. The Rheinmetall and Krupp design resemble each other for the most part, the main difference being the placement of weapons. Each has a main turret armed with main weapon KwK L/24 75 mm and 37 mm secondary KwK L/45. Rheinmetall design mounted second rifle above 75 mm KwK L/24, while Krupp design has been installed next to 75 mm KwK L/24. Both designs have a secondary turret mounted to the front and the back of the main turret. Turret is slightly adapted Panzer I turret, with standard machine gun weaponry.
The Rheinmetall design is designated as PzKpfw NbFz V (PanzerKampfwagen NeubauFahrzeug V), and Krupp PzKpfw NbFz VI design. It was intended that this design would fulfill the role of heavy tanks in armored strength, but the design proved too complicated and unreliable for this role. Nevertheless, the development continues to allow the new German military to gain experience with multi-troweted tanks.
In 1934 Rheinmetall built two mild steel prototypes, both with their own tower designs. Three other prototypes were built with precise armor and Krupp turrets in 1935 and 1936. The Groyreqtractors were then used for a short period with the Panzer Division 1; Leichttraktor remains tested until 1935.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, German tank theory was spearheaded by two figures: General Oswald Lutz and his chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Heinz Guderian. Guderian became more influential than both and his ideas were widely publicized. Like its contemporary Sir Sirwell Hobart, Guderian originally envisaged armored corps ( panzerkorps ) consisting of several types of tanks. These include slow infantry tanks, armed with small caliber cannons and several machine guns. Infantry tanks, according to Guderian, should be given heavy armor to defend against enemy and artillery anti-tank weapons. He also envisioned a rapid breakthrough tank, similar to a British cruiser tank, which would be an armored weapon against enemy anti-tank weapons and had a 75 millimeter (2.95 inch) main weapon. Lastly, Germany will need heavy tanks, armed with large 150-millimeter (5.9 in) cannons to defeat enemy fortresses, and even stronger armor. Such a tank will require a weight of 70 to 100 tons and is completely impractical given the day's manufacturing capabilities.
In the early 1930s, the German Army asked several German companies to collect some prototypes of light and medium-sized tanks that were funded. At this time, the Army has no formal action plan in terms of what is needed realistically. Lightweight tanks can be available in large quantities at relatively low prices while medium tanks provide firepower but are expensive. After all, the German industrial infrastructure - both post-war limitations and the economic blow caused by the 1929 crash - made an easy call to the German Army - the pursuit would be for the development of light tanks to begin with.
In 1931, Major General Oswald Lutz was appointed "Motor Transport Inspector" in the German Army (Reichswehr) with Heinz Guderian as Chief of Staff and they began building the German Armed Forces and light training tank program to train the future. personnel of Panzer Division. In 1932, the specifications for light tanks (5-ton) were fabricated and issued to Rheinmetall, Krupp, Henschel, MAN and Daimler Benz.
Immediately after rising to power in Germany, Adolf Hitler approved the creation of Germany's first panzer division. Simplifying the previous proposal, Guderian suggested the design of the main combat vehicle to be developed later into Panzer III, and a breakthrough tank, Panzer IV. There is no design that appeals to Guderian. As a temporary substitute, the German Army ordered a preliminary vehicle to train the German tank crew. It became Panzer I.
The Panzera I intended not only to train the German panzer troops, but to prepare the German industry for the mass production of tanks in the near future: engineering feat difficult for now. In July 1932, Krupp revealed a prototype of LandswerkÃ, KruppÃ, A , or LKA, with a slanted front slip plate and a large central casemate, a design strongly influenced by the British Larden Carden tank. The tank was armed with two Dreyse machine guns measuring 7.92 millimeters (0.312 inches) of MG-13. Known machine guns are mostly useless against even light armor tanks from time, limiting my Panzera to training and anti-infantry roles with design.
The mass-produced LKA version was designed by collaborative teams from Daimler-Benz, Henschel, Krupp, MAN, and Rheinmetall, exchanging casemates with rotating turrets. This version was accepted into service after testing in 1934. Although this tank was referred to as La S and LKA far beyond the commencement of production, its official designation, commissioned in 1938, was PanzerkampfwagenÃ, I AusfÃÆ'¼hrung.Ã, A ('model A' or, more precisely, 'batch A'). The first fifteen tanks, manufactured between February and March 1934, did not include a rotating turret and were used for crew training. After this, production is transferred to a combat version of the tank.
His debut (combat test) was during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1938). First 32 PzKpfw I along with one Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen I arrived in October 1936. Only 106 tanks, (102 Ausf A, Ausf B and 4 Kleiner Panzer Befehlswagen I) saw service with Condor Legion (Major Ritter von Thoma's Panzer Abteilung 88 also known as Abteilung Drohne) and Nationalist General Francois. Pz.Abt.88 with 3 companies based in Cubas near Toledo, where German instructors train Spanish crews in the future, while the unit is used to train duties and combat (eg Attack in Madrid). Panzerkampfwagen I tank was proved defeated by the Soviet T-26 and BT-5 given to Republican forces. But Panzerkampfwagen I was also a propaganda tool and as part of the performances of the Third Reich and its military forces in the years leading up to the start of World War II.
Lessons learned from Panzerkampfwagen I give German designers and manufacturers valuable experience in designing and producing the upcoming new panzer generation. Although, my Panzerkampfwagen is not a remarkable tank fighter, it proves to be an excellent training tank and most of the panzer crew are trained in Panzerkampfwagen I until the end of the war or operate it in battle as their first armored vehicle.
Germany also built SdKfz 265 Panzerbefehlswagen was the first objective command tank designed by the German Army, converted from Panzer I Ausf B, and was the main German command tank operating at the beginning of World War II.
In 1934, delays in the design and production of Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks became increasingly apparent. Design for the temporary tank requested from Krupp, MAN, Henschel, and Daimler-Benz. The final design is based on Panzer I, but is larger, and with a turret put a 20 mm anti-tank gun. The Panzer II appeared in the requirements of the German Ordnance Department enacted in 1934, this time proposing the development of a 10-ton light tank with 20mm cannon and 7.92mm machine gun weaponry. As in developing Panzer I, it became common practice for the new Germans, now entirely under Hitler, to round the rules of the Versailles Treaty and develop its war system under peaceful disguises like agricultural equipment. Thus, the design of this new light tank falls under the designation of "Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper 100" (or "LaS 100") under the guise that it is an agricultural tractor. The Panzer II is about 50% heavier than I and adds the 20 mm Solothurn cannon as the main weapon and increases the maximum armor by up to 30 mm. Production began in 1935, but it took another eighteen months for the first battle-ready tank to be delivered. It was also sent to Spain from 1937, and PzKpfw II proved more capable of fighting mild infantry, but no better when confronted with capable tank weapons or other tanks. Although the production of this weakness continued until 1941, when the outbreak of war, the German Army had 955 PzKpfw II and nearly 4000 built totally.
The Panzer II was designed before the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War experience indicated that anti-tap armor was required for tanks to survive in modern battlefields as before, armor was designed to stop machine guns and shell fragments. Production began in 1935, and in July 1937, Panzer II was cleaned and ready for production and in 1939, about 1,226 Panzer IIs were in circulation.
While Panzer I proved to be the spearhead of this initial invasion, Panzer II formed the backbone of the early forays. The plan is to produce a better and armed version of the light tank to sustain the limitations of Panzer I as well as provide invaluable training to the tank crew. Underpowered, under armor and lightly armed, Panzer II has difficulty especially on anti-tank weapons at close range. Nevertheless, the war is already on the horizon so time is of the essence and Panzer IIIs and Panzer IV are more deadly being developed and mass produced soon for the upcoming battle.
World War II
The prototype Neubaufahrzeuge multi turret heavy tanks were used primarily for pre-war propaganda and their role was extended by the German invasion of Norway, when a special Panzerabteilung was formed which took three armored prototypes with them to Oslo. They saw several battles there, with one being blown up by German engineers when trapped in swamps near ÃÆ'â € | ndalsnes. The other prototype was finally canceled.
During the war, the German tank design went through at least three generations, plus a small constant variation. The first generation includes unimaginable prewar vehicles like Mark (or Panzerkampfwagen) I and II, which are similar to Russian T-26s and T series and British cruiser tanks.
Panzer II (Sd.Kfz.121) is larger than Panzer I but it also does not prove to be very effective in combat, even though it was Panzertruppen's main battle tank until 1940/41. The main armament of the 20mm cannon was quite adequate at the time it was introduced into service but soon proved to be a losing weapon.
After the French Fall, due to poor cross-country performance, some of the older Panzerkampfwagen II tanks were taken from the service, and an improved and modified version replaced them armed with the newer KwK 38 L/55 20mm cannon. But since then the Panzerkampfwagen II tank was removed and the remaining chassis used as a base for Marder II tank destroyers (Sd.Kfz.131) and Wespe (Sd.Kfz.124) self-propelled howitzer.
The second generation is the heavier Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks. Ideally, the panzer division tank battalions each have three medium-sized Panzer III firms and one large Panzer IV company. Germany began transforming their tank battalions into the majority of middle tanks Mark III and IV soon after the 1940 French campaign, thereby stealing the marches in the Soviet and British, which still have outdated equipment. Panzer III is the first of German Panzers equipped with an intercom system for communication in the tank. Then all Panzers are equipped with this device, which proved very effective during the battle. Panzer III was designed as a platoon commander (ZugfÃÆ'¼hrerwagen) and was the first main/medium battle tank in Germany. Panzer III formed most of the Supervision Division's strength during the early years of the war. Also, in 1940/41, efforts were made to standardize the production of Panzer III and Panzer IV but as soon as further development was discontinued.
However, the emergence of several new generation T-34 and KV-1 tanks in Russia during 1941 forced Germany to start the race for superior shield and weapon power. The third generation includes many different variants, but the most important designs are Mark V (Panther) and Mark VI (Tiger) tanks.
First encountered on June 23, 1941, T-34 defeated the existing Panzer III and IV. At the urging of General Heinz Guderian, a special Panzerkommision was sent to the Eastern Front to assess the T-34. Among the most significant features of the Soviet tanks are the tilted armor, which gives much increased deflection of the shot and also increases the effective armor thickness against penetration, wide band, which increases mobility over soft soils, and 76.2 mm rifles, which has good armor penetration and fired high effective explosive bullets.
Daimler-Benz and MAN were tasked with designing a new 30- to 35-ton tank, named VK30.02, which resembles the shape of a hull and T-34 tower. Like the T-34, the DB design has a rear drive sprocket. Unlike the T-34, the DB design has a three-person turret crew: commander, gunner, and loader. But because the planned 75 mm L/70 rifle is much longer and heavier than the T-34, installing it in the Daimler-Benz tower is difficult. Both designs were reviewed during the period from January to March 1942. Todt's Reichminister, and later, his successor Albert Speer, both recommended DB design for Hitler but reviews by a special commission appointed by Hitler in May 1942 ultimately chose the design MAN. Hitler approved of this decision after reviewing it overnight. One of the main reasons given for this decision is that the MAN design uses an existing turret designed by Rheinmetall-Borsig, while the DB design will require a new turret to be designed and manufactured, substantially delaying the start of production. The mild steel prototype was produced in September 1942 and, after testing at Kummersdorf, was officially accepted. It was put into direct production. However, the commencement of production is delayed, mainly because too few special machine tools are required for ship hull machining. Finish tanks were produced in December and suffered from reliability problems as a result of this haste. The demand for these tanks is so high that manufacturers soon expand beyond MAN to include Daimler-Benz, Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen-Hannover (MNH) and Henschel & amp; Sohn in Kassel.
The initial production target is 250 tanks per month in MAN. This increased to 600 per month in January 1943. Despite a definite effort, this figure was never achieved due to disruptions by Allied bombing, manufacturing bottlenecks, and other difficulties. Production in 1943 averaged 148 per month. In 1944, an average of 315 per month (3,777 built that year), peaked at 380 in July and ended around late March 1945, with at least 6,000 totally built. Frontline combat strength reached its peak on September 1, 1944 at 2,304 tanks, but in the same month the number of 692 tank records was reported missing.
The Tiger is different from previous German tanks especially in its design philosophy. Its predecessors balance mobility, armor and weapons, and are sometimes defeated by their opponents.
The Tiger I represents a new approach that emphasizes weapons and armor. While heavy, the tank is no slower than the best of its opponents. However, with over 50 metric tons of deadweight, suspensions, gearboxes and other such items have clearly reached their design limit and frequent damage. The design study for the new heavy tank was started in 1937, without production planning. The renewed impetus for the Tiger was provided by the Soviet quality of the T-34 encountered in 1941. Although its general design and layout in general is similar to that of the previous middle tank, Panzer IV, the Tiger weighed more than doubled. This is due to the thicker armor, larger main weapons, fuel volume and larger ammunition storage, larger engines, and stronger transmissions and suspensions. The development of one of World War II's most famous tanks was not completed until after the war began and the first Tiger I heavy tank first appeared in July 1942.
The first production tribe was ready in August 1942 and from July 1942, 1.355 Tiger was produced until the end of August 1944. Tiger production reached its highest point in April 1944, when 105 produced. The main reason for the quantity produced is the difficult production of Tiger and its cost. Of the entire number generated about 500 view services with sSSPzAbts. On June 7, 1943, the Japanese ambassador in Germany, General Oshima was shown Harimau from sPzAbt 502. The Tiger single was later sold to Japan in 1943, but was never delivered due to the war situation and lent by the Japanese to the German Army (sSSPzAbt 101).
Tiger I is armed with a powerful 88mm gun (originally developed from a 88mm Flak 36 L/56 rifle) which makes it a very dangerous opponent for any Allied tanks, and its thick (but not dashing) armor makes it almost indestructible. Both Sherman with 76mm and T-34/85 rifles have a chance against Tiger just from close range. The rule applied by the British regarding tiger involvement is that five Shermans are required to destroy one Tiger, but only one Sherman will return from the engagement.
Tiger I heavy tanks initially received the designation of Panzerkampfwagen VI H (8.8 cm) Ausf H1 - Sd.Kfz.182, but later in March 1943, redesigned for Panzerkampfwagen Tiger (8.8 cm L/56) Ausf E - Sd. Kfz.181. It is often referred to as Tiger, Tiger I and PzKpfw VI. Officially there is only the type of Tiger tank that is produced, but during the duration of production increase is done.
Planning for the Tiger II began as early as May 1941, a year before Tiger I entered production. In the autumn of 1942/January 1943, the designers began working on a new heavy tank that would eventually replace Tiger I. In January 1943, Hitler ordered a new Tiger to be armed with a long 88mm gun and had a 150mm frontal armor and a 80mm side. steel. The front and side plates should be tilted and interlocked, resulting in a design similar to the later PzKpfw V Panther (Sd.Kfz.171). It shared many of Panzer V Panther and Tiger II production components beginning in January 1944 and ending in March 1945 with only 489 production vehicles.
Unfortunately for Germany, their emphasis on gun protection and strength jeopardizes the mobility and reliability of their tanks. German production was also unable to compete with volumes produced by Allied countries-in 1943, for example, Germany produced only 5,966 tanks, compared with 29,497 for the United States, 7,476 for England, and about 20,000 for the Soviet Union.
The alternative to constant change in tank design is to standardize some basic designs and mass produce them even though the technology has advanced to new improvements. This is the solution of Germany's main opponents. The Soviet T-34, for example, is an excellent basic design that survived the war with only one major change in weaponry, (main gun 76.2 mm to 85 mm).
Cold War
After the war, the Germans were given US equipment and armored Panzerlehrbataillon troops established in April 1956. The Leopard tank project began in November 1956 to develop a modern German tank, Standard Panzer, to replace the M47 and M48 tanks Patton made by the Bundeswehr in the United States, which, although recently sent to the newly re-formed German army, quickly became obsolete.
Production was established at Krauss-Maffei Munich from early 1964 onwards, with the first batch deliveries between September, 1965 and July 1966. Leopard was immediately purchased from Germany by a number of NATO members and other allies.
After the first batch was delivered, the next three batches were the Leopard 1A1 model, which included the new Cadillac-Gage rifle stabilization system, allowing the tank to fire effectively while moving. The 1A1 also adds a now famous "skirt" along side to protect the top track, and a new thermal jacket on the gun barrel to control the heating. Less important change is to use a rectangular rubber block tied to the tread with a pin instead of the previous two "pin" shaped "pin". Rubber blocks can be easily replaced with metal X-shaped crampons for movement on ice and snow in winter.
Between 1974 and 1977 all engines in the first four batches were brought to the same Leopard 1A1A1 standard, and were given an additional turret armor developed by Blohm & amp; Voss. The PZB 200 image intensification system is installed in a large box at the top right of the gun, creating Leopard 1A1A2. Further enhancement with SEM80/90 all-digital radio creates Leopard 1A1A3.
In mid-1976 a prototype called Leopard 2AV ( Austere Version ) had a simplified fire control system, assembled and shipped to the United States. It arrived in the US in late August 1976, and a comparison test between the Leopard 2 and XM1 (prototype names for the M1 Abrams) prototype was held from September 1 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, which lasted until December 1976. The US Army reported that Leopard 2 and XM1 were comparable in firepower and mobility, but XM1 is superior in armor protection. (Today we know this is true in terms of exposure to empty loads, but against the Leopard 2 attack is almost twice as well protected as the original M1.)
In September 1977 1800 Leopard 2 was ordered, and the first five batches were delivered on October 25, 1979. Leopard 2 was made in many variations and became very popular for export in the nineties, when the shrinking German army offered much of its Leopard 2s advantage at a discount. It became quite successful in Europe that the manufacturer started calling it Euro Leopard, but with further non-European orders, the name "Global-LEOPARD" is now used instead. However, France, England, and Italy all have their own current MBTs (Leclerc, Challenger 2 and Ariete).
Post Cold War
In 1984 Germany planned to develop a new MBT called Panzerkampfwagen 2000 (PzKW 2000). In 1988 the requirement for this tank was published, it was designed not as a conventional tank, it had to incorporate advanced digital technology and a new 140 mm gun. To achieve a higher armor protection level having the same weight limit as the Leopard 2, the PZKW 2000 crew was reduced to just two people, who were in the stomach.
To test the concept of these two new crew, two Leopard 1 tanks (called VT-2000 ) have been modified. PzKW 2000 was canceled due to political changes during 1989 and 1990.
The next major German battle tank project is part of the Neue Gepanzerte Plattform program (new armored program), which is intended to develop three general plattform versions: the first for tanks, the second for infantry and combat vehicles last designed to be used for support vehicles such as SPAAGS. The tank will be armed with a 140 mm rifle, guarded by only two people and using modular composite armor. Therefore, the weight of this vehicle will be between 55 tons and 77 tons. The project was canceled in 2001. No real prototype was made, only one ExperimentaltrÃÆ'¤ger Gesamtschutz (EGS), a test-bed armor, was built. The SPZ Puma is based on some parts of the infantry combat vehicle vehicle Neue Gepanzerte Plattform.
Combat history
World War I
A7V was first used in combat on March 21, 1918. Five tanks under the command of Hauptmann Greiff were deployed north of St. Canal. Quentin. Three of the A7Vs suffered mechanical failures before they entered the battle but the remaining pair helped stop small UK breakthroughs in the area, but instead saw little fighting that day.
The first tank of fighting tanks in history occurred on 24 April 1918 when three A7Vs (including chassis number 561, known as "Nixe") took part in the attack with infantry by chance meeting three Mark IV (two armed female machine gun tanks and one The man with two 6-pound rifles) near Villers-Bretonneux. During the battle, tanks on both sides are damaged. According to the main tank commander, Second Lieutenant Frank Mitchell, IV Mk Women fell back after being damaged by armor piercing bullets. They can not damage A7V with their own machine guns. Mitchell then attacked the main German tank, commanded by Second Lieutenant Wilhelm Biltz, with 6 pounders of his own tank and dropped him. He hit her three times, and killed five crew when they were released. The Mark IV shoots enemy tanks and moves, tactics that become classics for the next 50 years. He then proceeded to expel some infantry with a shot of the case. The remaining two A7Vs in turn resigned. When the Lt. tank Mitchell pulled out of action, seven Whippet tanks also involving infantry. Four of them were eliminated in battle, one of the A7Vs destroyed one Whippet and damaged three (three Whippets again destroyed by German artillery). The Mitchell tank lost its mark toward the end of the battle of mortar shells and was abandoned. The damaged A7V was later discovered by German forces.
All 18 A7V available had been used that day with limited results; two fall into a hole, some have machine or weapon problems. After the counterattack, the three ended at the hands of the Allies. One can not be used and removed, used for shell testing by France, and the third is captured by Australia when the Infantry moves forward and drags it back to their line, Germany is still in the visible position of the tanks and shooting at them.
The name of the tank, "Mephisto" from the captured A7V is painted on the end facing the chassis of the 506 box-shaped box tank, as almost all German tanks in WW1 are named respectively.
A7V is not considered successful and other designs are planned by Germany, but the end of the war means no other tanks in development, or planned, will be completed (such as Oberschlesien, K-Wagen, LK I or LK II).
The last use in World War I from A7Vs was in October 1918; some canceled before the war ended in November.
The very limited production of the twenty A7V made a very limited contribution, and most of the tanks (less than a hundred total) deployed in action by Germany in World War I were captured by British Mark IV tanks (Beutepanzer ).
The A7V is something of a curse for the German tank crew to the point that Germany actually prefers to fight on captured British specimens instead of their own designs. British tanks were repaired and overhauled in workshops set up in Charleroi and re-armed with 57mm Maxim Nordenfelt weapon as their 6-pound substitute. Several French tanks (including the Renault FT light tank) were also arrested during the German attack in November 1918, but no known changes have been made.
Post World War I
After the war, many countries need to have tanks, but few have industrial resources to design and build them. During and after World War I, Britain and France were intellectual leaders in tank design, with other countries generally following and adopting their designs. Germany is one of the countries that started designing and building their own tanks. The Treaty of Versailles has severely restricted German industrial production.
Among the supporters of German mechanization, General Heinz Guderian was probably the most influential. The Guderian service in 1914 with radiotelegraphs to support cavalry units made him insist on radio in every armored vehicle. In 1929, as many British armor students were preparing for pure armor formation, Guderian became convinced that there was no point in developing tanks, or even moving parts of traditional weapons. All it takes is an entirely new mechanical formation of all weapons that will maximize the effects of the tank.
The German tanks did not conform to the Guderian concept standard. The Mark I is actually an armed machine gun tanket, which comes from personnel personnel Carden-Loyd England. Mark II does have a 20-mm cannon, but little armor protection. Germany, limited by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, is not permitted to produce any tanks of any kind and only a few armored cars. In 1926, an unofficial program of tank construction was initiated by Von Seeckt, commander of the Reichswehr. Built by the first Rheinmetall-Borsig grostractor similar to the existing British medium Mk II tank, 20 tons with a 75 mm pistol. These and other designs were tested by Soviet cooperation in tank schools in western Russia. In Germany, the right puppet tanks were used in training, apparently at the instigation of Major, Heinz Guderian, the staff's tactical instructor. Guderian has read Fuller, Liddell-Hart and other tank war theorists and he has the support of his commander to develop his theory into reality. In 1931, the German General Staff accepted plans for two types of tanks, medium tanks with 75 mm rifles and light vehicles with 37 mm rifles. While the design and subsequent construction work was carried out the German army used a variety of light tanks based on the British Carden-Lloyd chassis. The early tanks were coded Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper (La S), a term that survived until 1938. The first of these light tanks was run in early 1934, a five-ton Krupp design dubbed LKA1. The new government approved an initial order for 150 in 1934 as 1A La S Krupp, about 1500 of these lightweight tanks were built.
Then the German tank received a new title, Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfw or PzKw). The first machine to use was two PzKpfw I Ausf A, a 5.4-ton engine with a 3.5-liter petrol engine of 60-hp (45-kW) that had 13 mm armor and was armed with a 7.92 mm twin-engine gun. The design of the Panzerà tank light, I started in 1932 and mass production in 1934. The more common Ausf B is slightly larger to accommodate a 100 hp Maybach (75 kW) engine. Both models were sent to the Spanish Civil War to be tested, along with other new German weapons. From Spain it quickly became clear that the next generation of tanks would require better armor, greater reach and much heavier weapons. The experience with Panzer I during the Spanish Civil War helped shape the invasion of the German armored corps in Poland in 1939 and France in 1940. Panzer's appearance in combat was limited by the thin weaponry and light weaponry of two general-purpose machine guns. As a design devoted to training, my Panzer could not afford like other light tanks of that era, like the T-26.
PzKpfw II is about 50% heavier than I and adds 20 mm cannon Solothurn as the main weapon and increases maximum armor by up to 30 mm. In 1934, delays in the design and production of Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks became increasingly apparent. Design for the temporary tank requested from Krupp, MAN, Henschel, and Daimler-Benz. The final design is based on Panzer I, but is larger, and with a turret mounting a 20mm anti-tank gun makes it a tougher tank than PanzerÃ, I. Production began in 1935, but it took eighteen months for the first. tank ready for combat to ship. It was also sent to Spain from 1937, and PzKpfw II proved more capable of fighting mild infantry, but no better when confronted with capable tank weapons or other tanks. Although the production of this weakness continued until 1941, when the outbreak of war, the German Army had 955 PzKpfw II and nearly 4000 built totally.
The big push for German armor came with the acquisition of Czechoslovakia in 1938, giving the entire Czech weapon industry to Germany. The Czechs already have two main tank designs, the Skoda LT35 and Cesko-moravska Kolben Danek (CKD) TNHP. Skoda is a 10-ton machine with 37 mm main weapon and excellent cross-country capability; CKD is 8.5 tons and is also equipped with 37 mm rifles - because the extensive testing is a very reliable machine with high quality chassis. Both were brought to German panzer forces, as PzKpfw 35 (t) and PzKpfw 38 (t), and further production was ordered. CKD was renamed BÃÆ'¶hmisch-MÃÆ'¤hrische Maschinenfabrik AG (BMM) in 1940 and continued production until 1942, providing Wehrmacht with 1,168 PzKpfw 38 (t). In 1940, Czech tanks accounted for about a quarter of all German panzer troops.
Lighter tanks make up almost the entire German army, but the heavier tanks are at least in the prototype. In 1934 a number of heavy prototypes were built, based on about 75 or 105 mm of primary weapons. Designated Neubaufahrzeug (NbFz) and very similar to six contemporary Russian and British designs built by Rheinmetall and Krupp. Useful for the purpose of propaganda these tanks do not enter production, the naming of PzKpfw V and VI is then transferred to Panther production and Tiger type. With NbFz knowledge and light tank experience in Spain, German designers started to create their own designs.
PzKpfw III as the first German tank capable of firing bullet shells, although 37 mm rifles were considered less powerful but used for the sake of standardization with infantry. The official German appointment is Panzerkampfwagen III (abbreviated PzKpfw III ) which is translated as "armored combat vehicle", and it is intended to fight armored fighting others. vehicles and serves alongside Panzer IV that supports infantry. Constrained by existing bridges to a maximum weight of 24 tons, the development contract for Zugkraftwagen was issued at the end of 1936. Construction work continued until 1938 when Ausf D went into limited production, a 19-ton machine powered by 12 liters 320 hp (240 kW ), with a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and equipped with 30 mm armor throughout the round. Towards the outbreak of war about fifty has been completed and some see the service in Poland. Full-scale production did not begin until October 1939 because Ausf E, about 350 PzKpfw III in D and E variants was ready with the French invasion.
Spanish Civil War
On July 18, 1936, wars erupted on the Iberian peninsula when Spain was caught up in a civil war. After the initial insurgency chaos, the two parties united and began to consolidate their position - the Popular Front (Republic) and the Spanish Nationalist Front. In the early example of the proxy war, the two sides quickly received support from other countries, especially the Soviet Union and Germany, who wanted to test their tactics and equipment. The first shipment of foreign tanks, fifty Soviet T-26s, arrived on 15 October. The ship was under the supervision of Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine and Germany immediately retaliated by sending forty-one Panzer I to Spain a few days later. This first shipment was followed by four more submissions from Panzer I Ausf. B, with a total of 122 vehicles.
The first shipment of Panzer I was brought under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma in Gruppe Thoma (also referred to as Panzergruppe Drohne). Gruppe Thoma forms part of the Gruppe Imker, the landformation of the German Legion Condor, which fought on the side of Nationalist Franco. Between July and October, the rapid Nationalist advances from Sevilla to Toledo put them in a position to take on the Spanish capital, Madrid. Nationalist progress and the fall of Illescas city to Nationalist forces on October 18, 1936 led to the government of the Second Republic of the Popular Front, including President Manuel AzaÃÆ'Â ± a, escaping to Barcelona and Valencia. In an effort to stem the tide of the nationalists and gain important time for Madrid's defense, Soviet armor was placed south of the city under Colonel Krivoshein's command before the end of October. At this time, several T-26 tanks under the command of Captain Paul Arman were thrown into a Republican counter-attack directed toward the city of Torrejon de Velasco in an effort to trim the progress of the Nationalists to the north. This was the first tank battle in the Spanish Civil War. Despite the start of success, poor communication between the armor of the Soviet Republic and the infantry of the Spanish Republic led to the isolation of Captain Arman's forces and the subsequent destruction of a number of tanks. This battle also marks the first use of Molotov cocktails against tanks. Panzer Ritter von Thoma was championed by the Nationalists only a few days later on October 30th, and soon got into trouble. As the Nationalist forward armor, it was implicated by the battalion of the Commune de Paris, equipped with Soviet BA-10 armored cars. The 45-millimeter (1.7 inch) rifle in BA-10 is more than enough to paralyze the poorly armored Panzer I over a range of more than 500 meters (550 yd).
Despite the Panzer I would participate in almost every major nationalist attack in the war, the Nationalist army began deploying more captured T-26 tanks to offset their losses in protection and weapons. At one point, von Thoma offered up to 500 pesetas for each captured T-26. Although Panzer I was initially capable of disabling T-26s at close range - 150 meters (165 times) or less - using 7.92 millimeter armor retarding bullets, Republican tanks began to engage at the distance at which they were located. immune to machine guns from PanzerÃ, I.
Panzer I was increased to increase his death rate. On August 8, 1937, Major General GarcÃÆ'a Pallasar received a note from GeneralÃÆ'simo Francisco Franco stating the need for PanzerÃ, I (or negrillo , as the Spanish crew called them) with a 20-millimeter gun. Finally, the chosen part is the 1935 Breda Model, due to the design simplicity of competitors such as the German Flak 30. Furthermore, 20 mm Breda is capable of piercing steel diameter 40 millimeters at 250 meters (1.57 inches at 275 yd), which is more than enough to penetrate T-26 frontal armor. Although originally forty CV.35 Italian light tanks were ordered with Breda as a substitute for their original armament, this order was later canceled after being considered an adaptation of the same weapon to Panzer. I will produce better results. The prototype was ready in September 1937 and orders were placed after successful results. The installation of Breda in Panzer I requires the original turret to be opened at the top and then extended by a vertical supplement. Four of these tanks were completed at the Seville Armaments Factory, but further production was canceled because it was decided a sufficient number of Republic T-26 tanks had been captured to meet the demands of the Nationalist leader for the more deadly tanks. The Breda modification was not favored by the German crew, as the unprotected gap in the tower, designed to allow the tank commander to shoot, was discovered as a dangerous weak spot.
At the end of 1938, my other Panzer was sent to the Seville Armament Factory to install a 45 mm rifle, taken from a Soviet tank (T-26 or BT-5). The second was sent some time later to exchange the original armament for the 37 millimeter Maklen anti-tank rifle, which had been deployed to Asturias in late 1936 on the Soviet ship A. Andreiev. It remains unknown to what extent these trials and adaptations are completed, although it is safe to assume that no successful adaptation is off the drawing board.
Second World War
During the early campaigns of the Second World War, German light tanks, including Panzer I, formed the bulk of his armored powers. In March 1938, the German Army marched to Austria, suffering a level of mechanical damage of up to thirty percent. However, the experience revealed to Guderian some errors in German Panzerkorps and he then increased logistical support. Germany also has several other tanks that proved useful in the early part of the war. In October 1938, Germany again took Sudetenland Germany, and parts of the country in March 1939 were limited to Bohemia and Moravia. The retrieval of former German soil from the Czech-made state allows some Czech tank designs, such as Panzer 38 (t), and further variants and production, to be incorporated into the forces of the German Army. It also prepares German troops for the Polish invasion.
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland using seventy-two divisions (including 16 reserve infantry divisions in OKH reserves), including seven panzer divisions (1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 10., "Kempf" ) and four light divisions (1., 2., 3., 4.). Three days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany. Seven panzer and four light divisions are arranged in five troops, forming two army groups. The battalion strength of the Panzer Division 1 includes not less than fourteen Panzer I, while six other divisions including thirty-four. In total there are about 2,700 tanks available for the Polish invasion, but only 310 heavier Panzer III and IV tanks are available. Germany has 1,400 Panzer Is ready during the invasion. In addition, 350 tanks are Czech designs - the rest are Panzer II or Panzer II. The invasion was quick and Poland's last resistance bags surrendered on 6 October.
The entire campaign has been going on for five weeks (with the help of the invading Soviet forces on September 17), and the success of the German tank in the campaign was concluded in response to Hitler on September 5: when asked if it was a dive bomber destroying the Polish artillery regiment, Guderian replied "No, our panzer!"
Poland suffered nearly 190,000 casualties (including about 66,300 dead) in the campaign, Germany about 55,000 (including about 35,000 injured). However, about 832 tanks (including 320 PzI, 259 PzII, 40 Pz III, 76 PzIV, 77 Pz35 (t), 13 PzBef III, 7 PzBef 38 (t), 34 PzBef and some Pz38 (t)) were lost during the campaign, about 341 of whom never returned to service. It represents about one-third of the German armor used for the Polish campaign. During the campaign no less than half the German tanks were not available due to maintenance problems or enemy action, and from all the tanks, my Panzer proved most vulnerable to Polish anti-tank guns.
Furthermore, it was found that the handling of armored troops during the campaign left a lot to be desired. During the early Guderian attacks in northern Poland, his corps was held back to coordinate with the infantry for some time, preventing faster progress. It was not until the Southern Group Army got its attention from Warsaw at the Battle of Bzura, the Guderian armor completely released. There is still a lingering tendency to order German armor, even if in an independent division, to cover the progress of infantry or the sides of advanced infantrymen. Although tank production was increased to 125 tanks per month after the Polish Campaign, the loss forced Germany to withdraw further power from Czech tank designs, and light tanks continued to form the majority of German armored forces.
The Czechoslovakian occupation of March 1939 gave the German military a large number of high-quality, no-cost weapons from the Czech military warehouse. There is enough equipment for about 40 army divisions. Germany integrates the Czech industry, especially the Skoda factory, into a part of German military production machinery and continues to produce tanks and other weapons for Germany. So when Germany invaded France, three German Panzer divisions were equipped with Czech tanks. One division is equipped with a Czech type 35 (10 ton) light tank renamed Panzer 35, and two divisions equipped with a 38 lamp tank (10 tons) renamed Panzer 38. Panzer 35 has a crew of four and carries a 37mm Czech ( with 72 rounds) and two machine guns, one coaxial and fixed on the front lines until 1942, when they were converted to another role. Panzer 38 has a crew of four and carries a 37mm Czech weapon (with 90 rounds) and two machine guns, one coaxial and one in front (with 2,550 rounds). 1400 tanks were produced for the German army from 1939-1942 and many variants used their chassis, including Hetzer, tank shooter with 75mm pistol.
Despite his obsolescence, Panzer I was also used in the French invasion of May 1940. Of the 2,574 tanks available for the campaign, no fewer than 523 belonged to Panzer I. In addition, there were only 627 PanzerÃ, III and IV. At least one-fifth of German armor consists of Panzer I, while nearly four-fifths are light tanks of one kind or another, including 955 Panzer II, 106 Czech Panzer 35 (t), and 228 Panzer 38 (t). For their defense, the French boasted up to 4,000 tanks, including 300 Char B1, armed with a 47-millimeter (1.7 inch) weapon in the turret and a larger 75-millimeter (2.95 inches) low speed in the hull. France also has about 250 Somua S-35, widely regarded as one of the best tanks of the time, armed with the same 47 millimeter main weapon and protected by almost 55 millimeters (2.17 inches) of armor at its thickest point. Nevertheless, France also deployed more than 3,000 light tanks, including about 500 of the first World War FT-17s. The two main advantages enjoyed by German armor are radios that allow them to coordinate faster than their British or French counterparts and their superior tactical doctrine.
The last major campaign in which my Panzer formed the bulk of armored forces was Operation Barbarossa June 22, 1941. 3,300 German tanks including about 410 Panzer I. At the end of the month, most of the Red Army found itself trapped in a pocket Minsk, and on September 21 Kiev has fallen, thus allowing Germany to concentrate on their final destination, Moscow.
The StuG III assault rifle is used in Operation Barbarossa and is an effective antitank weapon in the Panzer Army.
Regardless of the success of the German shield in the Soviet Union, between June and September most of the German officers were surprised to find their tanks lower than newer Soviet models, the T-34 and Kliment Voroshilov (KV) series. The Northern Army Group quickly realized that no tank gun currently used by German armor could penetrate the thick armor of KV-1. The performance of the Red Army during the Battle of Moscow and the growing number of new Soviet tanks made it clear Panzer I am not fit for this front. Some of the less-fighting Panzers in combat, I was assigned to transport the truck through mud to overcome the logistical problems ahead.
The decline of Italy in Egypt and their colonies in Libya caused Hitler to send a plane to Sicily, and blocking troops to North Africa. The blockade was placed under the command of Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel and included the 5th Division of Light and the 15th Panzer Division. The troops landed in Tunis on February 12, 1941. Upon arrival, Rommel had about 150 tanks, about half PanzerÃ, III and IV. The rest are PanzerÃ, I and II, although Panzer I is replaced immediately. On April 6, 1941, the Germans attacked Yugoslavia and Greece, with fourteen divisions attacking Greece from neighboring Bulgaria, which at that time joined the Tripartite Pact. The Yugoslav invasion included no fewer than six panzer divisions, still deploying PanzerÃ, I. Yugoslavia surrendered April 17, 1941, and Greece fell on 30 April 1941.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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