Panzerkampfwagen T34 - 747 in Wehrmacht Service
The Soviet T-34 Tank as Beutepanzer and Panzerattrappe in German
Wehrmacht Service 1941-45
Jochen Vollert
Beutepanzers, captured foreign tank designs in service with the
Wehrmacht, played a much more influential role in German Panzer
deployment and tactics than previously thought. While the bulk of
Beute tanks were relegated to hinterland policing and anti-partisan
duties, it was the hundreds of Soviet-built T-34s in German hands
that were supporting Panzers in the medium tank and tank destroyer
roles in combat everywhere along the frontlines in the East.
For the first time, this book sheds comprehensive light on the
German Panzerkampfwagen T 34 - 747 (r), and underlines this
detailed research with hundreds of photographs of the German T 34
in action. Unlike other publications so far released on the topic
of Beutepanzers, this monograph focuses on the hardware rather than
on the organisational paperwork of unit designations, readiness
reports and unit deployment histories. It is consequently highly
pictorial, showing tanks in service, their Soviet technology and
production batches, as well as their German modifications and
markings and it looks at the life of their crews. Furthermore, it
outlines the T-34's development in the Soviet Union based on the
most recent discoveries. As it is crucial to understanding the
astonishing extent to which the T 34 was used in German service,
and what an immense and important impact it had, the background of
the German Beute principle is highlighted in an extended
introduction.
Another major chapter in this book is devoted to T 34
Panzerattrappen dummy tanks that, to a hitherto unknown degree,
were most influential in tactical anti-tank training and tactical
doctrine for the Wehrmacht. The extent to which these T 34 dummies
were used strongly underscores the thundering impact this Soviet
medium tank had on the German side. The Panzerattrappen require a
similarly extensive introduction in this book. Dating back to
Kaiser and Reichswehr days, it allows readers to fully understand
why ‘wooden T 34s' played such a decisive role in German land
warfare training.
Format 22 x 30 cm, gebunden, 328 Seiten, 552 s/w-Fotos,
englischer Text, 328 Seiten, Best.-Nr. TG013