Panzer IV - Duitsland: boeken - historie, typen en techniek (1/3)

Der von 1937 bis zum Kriegsende produzierte Panzerkampfwagen IV wurde anfangs nur in geringen Stückzahlen hergestellt, aber schliesslich mit 8500 Exemplaren der meistgebaute deutsche Panzer.
Mit kurzer Kanone war er ursprünglich als Unterstützungsfahrzeug gedacht, jedoch änderte sich sein Einsatzspektrum mit dem Einbau einer langen Kanone grundlegend. Er war in der zweiten Kriegshälfte der wichtigste deutsche Panzer.

Mit Fotos, Risszeichnungen und technischen Daten dokumentierte Panzer-Experte Walter J. Spielberger die Prototypen-Entwicklung, die verschiedenen Entwürfe sowie die Serienausfertigungen. Angereichert mit über 40 neuen Bildern.

With emphasis on detail this book from the Spielberger series shows in factory, test and combat photographs, and detailed line drawings, all production models, prototypes and modifications of the Panzer IV tank. Covers also all variations, including all vehicles that used the Panzer IV chassis.

In the village of St. Valentin in the western part of Lower Austria a major defense industry developed during WW II. The Nibelungen Werk was planned under the code name "Spielwarenfabrik" (Toy Factory) as the largest and most modern German tank assembly plant with generous settlement systems. In spite of wartime restrictions during the construction and during the production the plant eventually became during the production period 1941-1945 the most important and largest manufacturer of the Panzerkampfwagen IV. Today agricultural tractors are produced in the remaining buildings.

The author grew up in the immediate vicinity of the former Nibelungen Werk and some of his family members have worked in this factory. He has succeeded to collect an important number of pictures from public and private archives.
This book will give the interested reader a very detailed insight into the formation and in the operation of this tank assembly plant. This detailed historical documentation is underlined by the presentation of mostly unpublished images and documentary material from the company archives.

This book is the final documentation on the Panzerkampfwagen IV series, the most often-built German tank of World War II and presents the exact chronology of the vehicle's development from 1935-45, plus many hitherto unknown and pioneering test vehicles.
The authors discuss the origin of the “Large Tractor”, the so-called Neubau (New-Built) Vehicle and the attempts in 1944 to install the 7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 42 L/70 of the “Panther” onto the Panzer IV. The authors have dedicated an entire chapter to armament, and action in all war theaters.

The Panzer IV programme was started in 1934, forming, alongside the Panzer IIs and IIIs, the schnellen Truppen, the force that was to become the Panzerwaffe.
At first, German planners envisioned the tank in a secondary role, but during the invasions of The Low Countries and France, it took on a more central role. When the Panzerwaffe turned east to attack the Soviet Union, the Panzer IV initially fared poorly against the better-armed T-34.

However, upgrades to its gun and armour protection saw it perform far better, not only against Soviet armour but also against British and American tanks in North Africa and Italy. In 1944, it was slowly replaced by the Panzer V Panther, but the dire strategic situation meant that it bore the brunt of the Allied D-Day invasion and its aftermath, and it remained in service until the end of the war.

Fully illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs, this fascinating study from German armour expert Thomas Anderson tells the complete story of Germany's most widely produced tank of World War II, from its design and development to its many upgrades and variants.

The Panzerkampfwagen IV, or Panzer IV as it is more popularly known, formed the backbone of Germany's tank formations during WWII. With production totaling more than 8,500, the Panzer IV was the most plentiful German tank of the war, and the only German tank that remained in production for the duration of the conflict.

Through more than 180 photos, this volume chronicles the design, development, and operational deployment of this ubiquitous German tank.
This material is arranged in nine chapters, each focusing on a specific production model (Ausfuhrung) of the tank.

Comprehensive tables reveal the details of the performance and technical specifications of each variant. A concise, easy to read text, and detailed photographic captions expose the secrets of this iconic tank.