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Beutepanzers of World War II: Captured tanks and AFVs in German service
Illustrated with original artwork and archive photos, this is the history of Germany's extensive use of captured tanks in World War II.
In this book Steven J. Zaloga, one of the world's leading armor authorities, uncovers the history of one of the least-known aspects of Germany's World War II the extensive use of captured armored vehicles, “Beutepanzer.” The best came from the fall of France, and the Somua S 35 and Panhard 178 proved popular in German service. Others, such as the antique Renault FT, were used for secondary tasks such as anti-partisan missions and airfield protection. Most curious of all were the “Becker conversions,” a private venture of a German artillery officer with family industry, who mechanized his unit's towed artillery and went on to oversee the modernization and upgunning of many French Beutepanzers. These would play a particularly important role in Normandy in 1944.
Although the Wehrmacht captured large numbers of Soviet tanks, these saw very limited service, and most were sent to the smelters. When Italy switched sides in September 1943, the Italian AFV industry continued producing tanks and AFVs for the Wehrmacht, while tanks and AFVs captured from other Allied armies including Britain and the US were generally used on a small, improvised scale.
Illustrated with superb new profiles and some rare archive photos, this is a concise guide to an intriguing element of World War II armor.
In this book Steven J. Zaloga, one of the world's leading armor authorities, uncovers the history of one of the least-known aspects of Germany's World War II the extensive use of captured armored vehicles, “Beutepanzer.” The best came from the fall of France, and the Somua S 35 and Panhard 178 proved popular in German service. Others, such as the antique Renault FT, were used for secondary tasks such as anti-partisan missions and airfield protection. Most curious of all were the “Becker conversions,” a private venture of a German artillery officer with family industry, who mechanized his unit's towed artillery and went on to oversee the modernization and upgunning of many French Beutepanzers. These would play a particularly important role in Normandy in 1944.
Although the Wehrmacht captured large numbers of Soviet tanks, these saw very limited service, and most were sent to the smelters. When Italy switched sides in September 1943, the Italian AFV industry continued producing tanks and AFVs for the Wehrmacht, while tanks and AFVs captured from other Allied armies including Britain and the US were generally used on a small, improvised scale.
Illustrated with superb new profiles and some rare archive photos, this is a concise guide to an intriguing element of World War II armor.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2024
About the author
Steven J. Zaloga
381 books77 followersSteven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology. He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank. His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower. He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.
Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.
Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.
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November 21, 2024
By the end of 1940, the Nazis found themselves masters of most of Europe, and involved in a titanic Struggle with the British Empire. They also found they had inherited or stolen, depending on how one looked at it, the Military resources of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Belgium, Holland, and most of all France. The trucks, sidearms, and artillery from these armies were easy to integrate into Wehrmacht tactical doctrine and formations, but the Armoured Fighting Vehicles took more time and adaptation. Steven J Zaloga- America's foremost Armoured Warfare expert- give us a quick introduction to this topic in the Classic Osprey Publishing style in this number 332 in the New Vanguard Series. These "borrowed' tanks and AFVs were called Beutepanzer - "War Booty Tanks"- and as the war went on, were an important part of Nazi forces- used for Police and anti-Resistance/Partisan units mainly, but sometimes by first line soldiers. It makes for a very interesting book- especially as the war continues- bringing Soviet tanks into the picture in 1941, and Italian vehicles in 1943. Even the general audience reader will find this story interesting, given the many challenges to using "enemy " gear.
One of the strengths of the Allied effort in WWII was the standardisation of vehicles- a few key designs manufactured in truly massive number in the factories of the United States. The Germans could only dream of such industrial power- even with the whole of Europe at their feet. Even when they owned the factories that had built the original weapons - they found it hard to manage them- and especially to create enough spare parts to keep the fleets operational at all times. The highlights were two full battalions of Captured T-34 Tanks operated by German Tank divisions for a while in 1943, and the re-creation of the 21st Panzer Division - destroyed in North Africa- re-formed in Normandy in 1943-44 with loads of converted and adapted former French AFVs. In both cases the units did not last long. Zaloga explains the levels of difficulty getting value out of all this equipment, and how trying to use it effectively proved a strategic mirage for the Nazi Empire.
There are few adult themes and little or no graphic injury passages, so this is a fine read for the Junior Reader over 11/12 years with an interest in history or vehicles. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, this book is really quite interesting. The Gamer gets a lot of great paint schemes for Early war vehicles being used into mid war- and ideas for counter insurgency units and scenarios. The modeler gets a lot of build/diorama ideas- using vehicles one naturally associates with Nazi enemies. The Military Enthusiast gets an interesting side story of WWII explained by one of the greats. General readers may find themselves fascinated by the nuts and bolts of Nazi kleptocracy. It is a compelling story of making do and mending in the name of evil.
One of the strengths of the Allied effort in WWII was the standardisation of vehicles- a few key designs manufactured in truly massive number in the factories of the United States. The Germans could only dream of such industrial power- even with the whole of Europe at their feet. Even when they owned the factories that had built the original weapons - they found it hard to manage them- and especially to create enough spare parts to keep the fleets operational at all times. The highlights were two full battalions of Captured T-34 Tanks operated by German Tank divisions for a while in 1943, and the re-creation of the 21st Panzer Division - destroyed in North Africa- re-formed in Normandy in 1943-44 with loads of converted and adapted former French AFVs. In both cases the units did not last long. Zaloga explains the levels of difficulty getting value out of all this equipment, and how trying to use it effectively proved a strategic mirage for the Nazi Empire.
There are few adult themes and little or no graphic injury passages, so this is a fine read for the Junior Reader over 11/12 years with an interest in history or vehicles. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, this book is really quite interesting. The Gamer gets a lot of great paint schemes for Early war vehicles being used into mid war- and ideas for counter insurgency units and scenarios. The modeler gets a lot of build/diorama ideas- using vehicles one naturally associates with Nazi enemies. The Military Enthusiast gets an interesting side story of WWII explained by one of the greats. General readers may find themselves fascinated by the nuts and bolts of Nazi kleptocracy. It is a compelling story of making do and mending in the name of evil.
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