Jagdpanzer - Germany: Books - History and Models (1/3)

German Tank Destroyers

During the early days of World War II, the need for motorized antitank units became evident as traditional horse- or automobile-drawn units proved ineffective due to their slow pace. Initially mounted on obsolete tank chassis like the Panzerjäger I and II, German engineers later utilized the robust Panzer IV, Panther, and Tiger chassis for tank destroyers.
Recognizing the superiority of enemy antitank guns during the invasion of France and facing formidable Soviet tanks during Barbarossa, German forces swiftly adapted.

In response to the appearance of the potent Soviet T-34 in 1941, Germany introduced the motorized Panzerjäger, offering increased speed and mobility. Subsequent enhancements, such as the 7.5cm gun in 1942, were influenced by frontline reports. Successful conversions, including the lightweight Hetzer based on the modified Panzer 38(t), became formidable tank destroyers deployed effectively by the Wehrmacht.

This illustrated account, featuring hundreds of period photos, thoroughly examines the development and deployment of various tank destroyer models throughout World War II.

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Sturmartillerie & Panzerjäger 1939-45 (Osprey)

Originally the German assault gun was designed as an infantry support weapon, but the changing conditions of the battlefields of the Second World War forced it to adapt to perform a number of different roles, most importantly as a tank destroyer, although the infantry support role was never wholly discarded. If the much-glamorised Panzer divisions were the sword of the German army then the assault gun and tank destroyer units were its shield. As the Panzers' grip on the battlefield began to fail, though, it was left to the assault gun and tank destroyer crews to take up the burden.
This volume details the gun's technical development, illustrated with a two-page annotated cutaway.

Contents: Introduction - The Conception - The Stug III Assualt Gun - Manning and Organisation - Tactics - Active Service - Tank Destroyers - Tank Destroyer Tactics - The Key to Mobility - Endnote - The Plates.

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The History of the Panzerjäger (Volume 1): Origins and Evolution 1939-42

The German Panzerjäger, or Panzerjägertruppe, was one of the most innovative fighting arms of World War II and its story has never properly been told. Many books have focused on an element of the story - the Hetzer, Jagdpanzer, Jagdpanther. However this is the first time that the whole story of the development and organization of Nazi Germany's anti-tank force will have been covered, from its earliest origins in World War I, through its development in the interwar period, and its baptism of fire in the early days of World War II.

This is the first of two volumes that will trace the story through the glory years of Blitzkrieg and the improvements that were made when Soviet tanks were first encountered, leading to new weapons, tactics and organization.
It is packed with previously unpublished wartime photographs, combat reports, and detailed charts and statistics to give an unparalleled account of this unique arm of the Wehrmacht.

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The History of the Panzerjäger (Volume 2) - From Stalingrad to Berlin 1943-45

The German Panzerjäger, or Panzerjägertruppe, was one of the most innovative fighting arms of World War II and its story has never properly been told, until now. Many books have focused on an element of the story - the Hetzer, Jagdpanzer, and Jagdpanther - but this two-volume series represents the first time that the whole history of the development and organization of Nazi Germany's anti-tank force has been revealed. This second volume takes up the story in the mid-war years and follows the development of the Panzerjäger, describing the innovative new vehicles such as the Ferdinand, Elefant and Nashorn.

German Armoured Fighting Vehicle specialist Thomas Anderson also analyses the key role it performed in the War in the Desert and across the Eastern Front, and ultimately in the defence of the Reich itself.

Packed with previously unpublished wartime photographs, combat reports, and detailed charts and statistics, this book offers an unparalleled account of this unique arm of the Wehrmacht.

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Hitler's Tank Destroyers - Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)

Dedicated German anti-tank vehicles made their first major appearance in the Second World War as combatants developed effective armoured vehicles and tactics. Some were little more than stopgap solutions, mounting an anti-tank gun on a tracked vehicle to give mobility, while others were more sophisticated designs.

The book covers the development and technology throughout the war that led to tank destroyers like the Panzerjger I, Sturmgeschtz, Marders, Nashorn.
Hetzer, Jagdpanzer, Elefant, Jagdtiger IV and Jagdpanther vehicles being developed.
As the war progressed the tank destroyers fire power became more lethal to meet the ever increasing threat against Soviet armour. Larger and more powerful variants entered the battlefield, but due the overwhelming enemy opposition they were compelled not only to attack armour, but to support ground troops too.

This comprehensive account covers all the Nazis mobile anti-tank vehicles in words and images.

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Panzerjäger vs KV-1 - Eastern Front, 1941-42 (Osprey)

On the Soviet side, based upon lessons from the Spanish Civil War, the Red Army decided to develop a heavy "breakthrough" tank to smash enemy infantry defenses. This resulted in the KV-1 and KV-2 tanks, introduced in 1939.

At the start of Operation Barbarossa, both these tanks were virtually invulnerable to the weapons of the Panzerjäger and demonstrated their ability to overrun German infantry on several occasions. This advantage gave the Red Army a window of opportunity between the fall of 1941 and the spring of 1942 to use their heavy tanks to repel the German invasion in a series of desperate counteroffensives.

Yet the window of Soviet advantage was a narrow one and the duel between the Soviet KV heavy tanks and German Panzerjäger had a major impact upon the struggle for the strategic initiative in 1941-42.

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Panzerjäger on the Battlefield

In "Panzerjäger on the Battlefield", Jon Feenstra looks at the German tank-hunters in the 15th book in the 'on the Battlefield' series. Large landscape photos, unseen content from private collections all wrapped up in a hardcover.

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