This highly illustrated title details the history of the Panzer IV
throughout World War II, where it saw service on the front line from
Poland in 1939 through to the very last days of the Third Reich in
Berlin in 1945.
The Panzer IV program 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 armor protection saw it perform far better, not
only against Soviet armor 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 armor 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.
