Hitler's Great Panzer Heist: Germany's Foreign Armor in Action, 1939-45

by Anthony Tucker-Jones

Overview

The prowess of the German panzers is the stuff of legend, but it is not generally known that Hitler stole thousands of British, Czech, French, Italian, Polish, and Soviet tanks and armored fighting vehicles to feed his war machine. At its height, more than 25 percent of the German tank force was of foreign origin. In this fascinating and meticulously researched investigation, Anthony Tucker-Jones tells this hitherto unrecorded story, describing how captured fighting vehicles were reused by the German military throughout World War II.

Previously untold story of armored vehicles in World War II

Explains how foreign tanks made the German blitzkrieg of 1939-41 possible and were used in battles like Kursk, the Bulge, and many others

Covers tanks, self-propelled guns, assault guns, armored cars, and personnel carriers

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811703635
Publisher:	Stackpole Books
Publication date:	05/15/2008
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Anthony Tucker-Jones is deputy editor of Warships International Fleet Review. He lives in England.

Table of Contents

Introduction and acknowledgements     vii
Guderian's Czech Connection     1
Poland and the Low Countries     17
Dunkirk and North Africa     29
Rommel's Matildas     42
The French Heist     54
T-34 v T-34     67
Operation Axis     81
Recycling Uncle Sam     93
Unreliable Allies     104
Losing the Tank Production War     121
Impact of Hitler's Panzer Heist     138
Epilogue     147
Military Vehicles acquired by the Wehrmacht 1938-45     155
Foreign Armour Technical Specifications     156
Foreign Armoured Fighting Vehicle Designations     162
Breakdown of Foreign Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Numbers     166
German Units issued with Foreign Armour     174
Allied Armoureed and Cavalry Formations     179
German Armoured Fighting Vehicle Production 1938-45     181
German Panzer and Panzergrenadier Divisions 1935-45     184
Principal Captured Military Vehicle Manufacturers 1935-45     187
References     189
Bibliography     204
Index     208