![]() ![]() This qualitative increase conferred the 1941 panzer divisions much more striking power. Kpfw 35(t) and 38(t) to 23%, while the light Pz. III and IV proportion increased to 42%, Pz. The tank modernization program could boast significant improvements by 22 June 1941. I and II accounted for 78% of the German tank park while the balance consisted of small numbers of Pz. In September 1939 only 11% of the tanks in the panzer divisions were medium-weight Pz. ![]() The quality of the German tanks had improved markedly since the invasion of Poland. Two reasons explain this outcome, one involving the tanks themselves and the other, the organization of the supporting arms. The Germans would never restore the second panzer regiment. Once the production of tanks increased, the OKH planned to reintroduce the second panzer regiment.ĭespite this decrease in tanks, the new 1941 panzer division demonstrated in practice to be a highly effective formation, and likely superior to its 19 predecessors. This change stemmed from Hitler’s resolution to double the number of panzer divisions and the incapacity of the German industry to manufacture enough tanks in time, which forced the reduction of the panzer regiments per division in half !. By the time of Barbarossa, the Germans had eliminated the brigade command, leaving the division with only 1 panzer regiment totaling 206 tanks on average !. Deemed too large, the Wehrmacht reduced the brigade for the battle against France to 258 tanks. At the outset of the war, it included a panzer brigade of 340 tanks in two regiments. Based on a study of its performance in battle, the Germans modified the organization of the armored division frequently. A mass of tanks on the attack repeatedly defeated an outnumbered anti-tank defense returning the mobility to the battlefield. Even the lightest of German tanks incorporated 13mm of hardened, homogeneous armor which was impervious to armor-piercing bullets fired from rifle-caliber machine guns !. During the Great War, abundant machine gun nests proved capable of defeating almost any attack on its tracks, but contemporary tanks enjoyed immunity against machine gunfire. The Panzer regiment of 2 or 3 tank battalions made up the core of the panzer division !. Designed to impart a high tempo to its maneuvers, it kept the enemies, whose operational rhythm was slower, always one step behind and therefore off-balance. They possessed the mobility to swiftly concentrate force at decisive times and places, and the firepower to deliver a formidable blow to enemy’s defenses smashing them open !. Motor-transport and railroad troops constitute the bulk of the supply troops !. Supply troops, operating in the rear areas, enabled combat and communication troops to carry out their tasks by furnishing food, fuel, lubricants, ammunition, spare parts, and other equipment. They received radio and telephone/teleprinter equipment for that purpose. Three types of troops were organized by the armies:Ĭombat troops, which did most of the fighting.Ĭommunication troops, that supported combat troops by intertwining the command, communication and control networks necessary for commanders to fight the battles. These vehicles complemented the combat units by pulling artillery guns, transporting infantry, and carrying supplies and other gear. The trend for more self-propelled artillery would continue during the war. On 22 June 1941, almost all artillery was towed even in armored divisions, but self-propelled artillery started to appear in small quantities: rocket launchers mounted on trucks (called Katyushas by the Soviets), AT and infantry guns on Panzer I chassis, AA 20mm guns on half-tracks and assault guns using the Panzer III chassis (StuG III). Mortars (low-velocity pieces with indirect fire. ![]() Infantry guns (low-velocity, direct fire mode guns)įield artillery (low-velocity howitzers, requiring forward observers to spot targets when firing in indirect fire mode !) Smaller explosives supplemented them (grenades, explosive charges, smoke charges and in the case of sappers, mines).Īnti-tank artillery (high-velocity, direct-fire mode ! guns) Pistols, rifles, carbines, submachine guns, machine guns, and AT rifles equipped engineer, reconnaissance and regular infantry units. German and Soviet army staffs combined four main categories of tools to fashion their land armies: ![]()
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