Military Vehicles - Austria: Books - History, Types and Construction

100 Jahre Panzerwaffe im österreichischen Heer

The history of the Austrian Panzerwaffe. A story of political and military mistakes, but also a story of technical masterpieces of Austrian military technology, which produced revolutionary developments (from the world's first wheeled tank to the world's first battle tank to the world's most modern infantry fighting vehicle).

An Austrian fate. It is hard to imagine how history would have turned out differently if those responsible had appreciated the value of these developments from the very beginning. For long periods of time, the inventive spirit of industry was stifled and the army was denied the (vital) equipment and weapons it needed.

This book aims to show the success story of the Austrian Panzerwaffe and domestic military technology. However, it is also intended to give the soldiers and technicians of all ranks who achieved these feats and who established the outstanding reputation of the Austrian Panzerwaffe worldwide the recognition they deserve...

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Der Steyr 680 des Österreichischen Bundesheeres

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The Steyr 680 became the main transport vehicle of the Austrian Armed Forces from the late 1960s. It was used mainly for carrying supplies and troops, offering space for a driver, co-driver, and up to 18 soldiers.
Based on civilian models, the military version was adapted to army needs and replaced the less powerful Steyr 580 g.

Two versions were produced: a two-axle and a three-axle truck. The initial two-axle model proved insufficient compared with the American GMC, leading to the introduction of a three-axle version.
In nearly 40 years of service, the Steyr 680 became, alongside the Haflinger and Pinzgauer, one of Austria's most iconic military vehicles, familiar to generations of soldiers.

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Der Steyr-Puch Haflinger des Österreichischen Bundesheeres

The Steyr-Puch Haflinger is now a cult vehicle. Its museum home is the Puch Museum in Graz, where many variants are displayed. It can still be seen on the road, and thanks to the internet, there is a global community of Haflinger fans.

Walter Blasi describes in his book the long journey of this vehicle to becoming a key pillar of the Austrian Armed Forces. The groundwork for the Haflinger was laid in 1956, and the first prototypes were built in 1957.
The test drives by the Graz testing department attracted great public interest. In 1959, the vehicle went into series production as the "Haflinger Type 700 AP".
The name "Haflinger" comes from a well-proven mountain horse of the armed forces and was spontaneously coined during a demonstration. From 1958, the vehicle was tested in several military units.
The Haflinger was used for commanders, command posts, and small radio teams. The standard version was four-seater, the radio Haflinger three-seater.
The vehicle became a military export hit. 80 percent of the production was exported to 110 countries. In the 1970s, many vehicles were exported to Africa. The decline in demand was gradually offset by orders for its larger brother, the Pinzgauer.

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Der Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer des Österreichischen Bundesheeres

After his book on the Haflinger, Walter Blasi now presents a richly illustrated documentation of its successor, the Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer of the Austrian Armed Forces. The Pinzgauer, considered one of the world's best off-road vehicles, gained international acclaim and cult status.
Demand for a larger, more powerful vehicle led to series production in 1964. Prototypes had already been tested in 1965.

Two main versions were built: 4×4 and 6×6, adapted to different tasks. Initially fitted with a petrol engine, the model was later equipped with a diesel engine.
Several thousand vehicles were supplied to the Austrian and Swiss armies. After nearly 30 years of production and about 24.000 units, manufacturing ceased in Graz in 2000.

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Panzerfahrzeuge der österreichischen Armee - seit 1904

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Austria's armed forces possess a remarkable range of armored vehicles. The first models were built by Austro-Daimler between 1903 and 1905. In the 1930s, the army used various Italian tankettes.
After World War II, modern armored units were formed, initially equipped with American and French vehicles such as the AMX-13. Later, domestic designs like the Kürassier tank destroyer were introduced. Today, the German Leopard 2A4 serves as the Austrian Army's main battle tank.

In this richly illustrated book, military historian Franz Felberbauer presents a complete overview of Austria's armored vehicles - from Steyr ADGZ, Kürassier and Ulan to Pandur, Dingo, and Leopard 2A4.
The book includes technical data, historical context, and rare photographs. The author also contributed to the technical development of several vehicles himself.

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