A crew posing with its F model Panzer III (longer 5-centimeter main gun) around the time of the campaign or shortly thereafter, as evidenced by the wear of the field-gray overseas caps on the enlisted personnel, which were not replaced by black caps until later in 1940. In addition, the officer, recognizable by his visor cap, has both the Iron Cross, First Class, and the Armor Assault Badge—the Panzerkampfabzeichen—awards generally presented after the campaign was over and had not been presented in large numbers prior to the campaign. The Panzer III is instantly recognizable in profile by its suspension, which features six roadwheels with three return rollers. Like almost all German tank designs, the vehicle’s drive sprockets were located in the front and the idler wheel in the rear.
A later-model Panzer III moving along a French country road. Most of the crew ride on the outside, due to the early summer heat. This vehicle mounts the 5-cm L/42 main gun. All the Panzer III’s in the French campaign were the 3.7-cm models.
An early-model Panzer III Ausf. D with the 3.7-cm main gun advances through a French town.
A captured French Renault utility tractor used as infantry transport.
Essential to the success of the Panzerwaffe was the widespread use of radio—both voice and Morse—for communicating rapidly and reacting quickly to ever-changing situations on the battlefield. To that end, a number of lightly armored radio vehicles were developed, of which the Sd.Kfz. 263 was one of the more recognizable and heavier versions. It was employed in reconnaissance battalions and also in motorized signals battalions and higher command elements. A lighter version of the radio armored car was the Sd.Kfz. 223. The vehicle also featured a large frame antenna, which could be lowered when not in use. The vehicle was based on the light armored car of the time, the Sd.Kfz. 222, but the 2-centimeter cannon was removed.
Although the Sturmgeschütz III as seen in this image would go on to become the most widely produced assault gun of the German Army during the war, fewer than fifty were available for employment in France. There were all A and possibly B models featuring the same main gun as the standard Panzer IV of the time, a short-barreled 7.5-cm weapon of 24 calibers. In France, the assault guns were employed as separate batteries, generally consisting of three platoons of two guns each. One battery was attached to Infanterie- Regiment (mot.) “Großdeutschland” (Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 640), while four others were also employed in the campaign: 659, 660, 665, and 666. The batteries were quickly expanded to battalions after the campaign and formed the nucleus of the Sturmartillerie.
A large number of tanks built by the Czechoslovak Skoda firm were impressed into German service as the Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) and the Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), with the latter being predominant. The German crews liked the Panzer 38(t), since it was fast, maneuverable, and mechanically reliable. Although it only fielded a 3.7-centimeter main gun, that was more firepower available in either the Panzer I or Panzer II, which were the most numerous fighting vehicles in German armored regiments at the time. The downside of the vehicle was its riveted construction and relatively thin armor.
The diminutive size of these tanks—indeed the diminutive size of almost all light and medium tanks of the period—is readily evident in these two images of the Panzer 38(t).
A Panzer III Ausf. F of the 1. Panzer-Division halted among a miscellany of German vehicles and infantry, including a Kfz. 70 personnel carrier at left rear and a Kfz. 1 light personnel carrier at left.
Sd.Kfz. 223’s at a higher headquarters as indicated by the line of staff cars.
An Sd.Kfz. 223 with British prisoners.
Photo 1 of 2: Recognizing the need for additional combat power and antiarmor capability on the battlefield given the constant shortfall in production for fighting vehicles, the Germans started developing tank destroyers early on. The 4.7-cm PaK(t) (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I ohne Turm, more commonly known as the Panzerjäger I and seen here, was the first in a long line of field-expedient efforts and factory-production designs that were fielded during the course of the war. In all, more than 200 were produced, using the chassis of the obsolescent Panzerkampfwagen I. The antitank gun used was the Czech Skoda 4.7-cm antitank gun. Ostensibly, four antitank battalions were issued the tank destroyer and saw combat in France, although only Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 521 saw combat in the campaign.
Photo 2 of 2: Recognizing the need for additional combat power and antiarmor capability on the battlefield given the constant shortfall in production for fighting vehicles, the Germans started developing tank destroyers early on. The 4.7-cm PaK(t) (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I ohne Turm, more commonly known as the Panzerjäger I and seen here, was the first in a long line of field-expedient efforts and factory-production designs that were fielded during the course of the war. In all, more than 200 were produced, using the chassis of the obsolescent Panzerkampfwagen I. The antitank gun used was the Czech Skoda 4.7-cm antitank gun. Ostensibly, four antitank battalions were issued the tank destroyer and saw combat in France, although only Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 521 saw combat in the campaign.
An Sd.Kfz. 263 six-wheeled armored radio car. Good communications were essential to the blitzkrieg concept.
Photo 1 of 2: Two views of the schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Fu) Sd.Kfz. 232 six-wheeled armored radio car, issued to motorized signals units. It was the ability of the fast-moving panzer divisions to quickly report the results of reconnaissance and receive timely orders that continually caught Allied units off balance.
Photo 2 of 2: Two views of the schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Fu) Sd.Kfz. 232 six-wheeled armored radio car, issued to motorized signals units. It was the ability of the fast-moving panzer divisions to quickly report the results of reconnaissance and receive timely orders that continually caught Allied units off balance.
A schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Fu) Sd.Kfz. 231 eight-wheeled armored car, issued to the heavy platoon of the armored car squadron of each motorized reconnaissance detachment.
A Panzerfunkwagen Sd.Kfz. 263 eight-wheeled armored radio car, issued to the signals detachments of motorized and panzer divisions as well as corps and army headquarters. The juxtaposition of the intimidating vehicle and the elderly lady walking along the rubble-lined street is particularly poignant.
The Germans made extensive use of half-track vehicles, although supply never kept pace with demand. The vehicle on the left is the 3.7-cm Flak 36 auf Fahrgestell Zugkraftwagen 5t. The vehicle on the right is an early-model Sd.Kfz. 11, the standard artillery tractor.
A very rare photograph of an Sd.Kfz 8 artillery tractor converted to mount an 8.8-cm Flak 18.
Faces of the Panzertruppe. The four formal portraits show enlisted tankers in uniforms generally worn at the time of the campaign in the West.
The left image shows an Unteroffizier in the earliest pattern of the panzer jacket, which featured a smaller collar than its later counterparts. These were introduced in 1935 and officially replaced by the second-pattern jacket around 1937, although instances of wear of the first-pattern jacket can be seen all the way until the end of the war. These noncommissioned officers wear the combination beret and crash helmet that was issued from the onset of the tank arm in 1935 through the Battle of France but discontinued shortly thereafter, in part due to its unpopularity with tankers. It was replaced by soft caps, both the overseas variety (initially) and the billed field cap, the M43.
The right photo shows the second-pattern jacket with its wider lapel and collars. The jacket continued to be piped in the branch-of-service color—rose pink for the Panzertruppe—although that would be phased out later in the war as a cost-cutting measure. Although the uniform was originally designed solely for wear for duty on or near the fighting vehicles, the basic design was so popular that soldiers started wearing it as a quasi walking-out dress uniform, as evidenced here by the wear of badges and the marksmanship lanyard for tankers, the Schützenschnur. This tanker was assigned to Panzer-Regiment 23, as evidenced by the numerals on his shoulder straps. The regiment was initially a separate formation with only one battalion that was not assigned to a division. It supported the 17. Infanterie-Division in the campaign in Poland. By the time of the campaign in the West, the regiment had been assigned to the 7. Panzer-Division, where it was redesignated as the II./Panzer-Regiment 25.
The top photographs on this page likewise show the wear of the second-pattern uniform jacket, with the soldier on the left being assigned to Panzer-Regiment 33 of the 9. Panzer-Division.
The image at right shows an unidentified tank regiment commander. As was typical with the pre- and early-war armor commanders, they had all seen service in the First World War, as evidenced in this case by the extensive medal bar he is wearing. This officer wears the first-pattern panzer jacket.
A riveted version of the Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf. C armored personnal carrier. Generally, only one company of a rifle/panzergrenadier battalion was issued the half-track.
A heavily camouflaged Sd.Kfz. 10.
Designed as a training tank for the fledgling Panzerwaffe, the Panzkampfwagen I saw combat service in the opening stages of World War II, including the campaign in the West, where it continued to be widely used. Featuring only two machine guns and a two-man crew, it was no match for most fighting vehicles employed by the Allied countries at the time, but it still gave a good account of itself if employed properly a well-trained crew.
Photo 1 of 2: In an early effort to provide more mobility for the artillery elements supporting motorized forces, the 15- cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausführung B was created. The schweres Infanterie-Geschütz 33 was the standard heavy infantry gun in use by the heavy companies of infantry and rifle regiments at the start of the campaign in the West. In this configuration, it was mounted on the chassis of a Panzer Ib. Essentially a field-expedient solution to a vexing problem, the vehicle had both advantages and disadvantages. While it provided a degree of mobility heretofore not enjoyed by the gun and a limited amount of protection in an open-topped fighting compartment, the vehicle was top heavy and prone to mechanical malfunction, in addition to presenting a tall silhouette and not having a large amount of stowage space for ammunition.
Photo 2 of 2: In an early effort to provide more mobility for the artillery elements supporting motorized forces, the 15- cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausführung B was created. The schweres Infanterie-Geschütz 33 was the standard heavy infantry gun in use by the heavy companies of infantry and rifle regiments at the start of the campaign in the West. In this configuration, it was mounted on the chassis of a Panzer Ib. Essentially a field-expedient solution to a vexing problem, the vehicle had both advantages and disadvantages. While it provided a degree of mobility heretofore not enjoyed by the gun and a limited amount of protection in an open-topped fighting compartment, the vehicle was top heavy and prone to mechanical malfunction, in addition to presenting a tall silhouette and not having a large amount of stowage space for ammunition.
A Panzer I and crew await transport on a trailer. It cannot be determined whether the vehicle is awaiting evacuation due to mechanical problems or whether is an earlier image of one of the tank battalions assigned to the light divisions in 1939 whose tanks were intended to be transported to the battlefield area on trailers and then offloaded in an effort to increase mobility and avoid wear and tear on the tracked vehicles. In any event, the light divisions proved to have significant tactical and organizational issues and were all converted to armored divisions prior to the start of the campaign in the West.
Photo 1 of 2: Two views of Panzer II’s in service with Panzer-Regiment 7 (10. Panzer-Division), as noted by the bison insignia on the turrets. In the photograph below, the crew can be seen belting machine-gun ammunition together, since the rounds were delivered to the crews separately.
Photo 2 of 2: Two views of Panzer II’s in service with Panzer-Regiment 7 (10. Panzer-Division), as noted by the bison insignia on the turrets. In the photograph below, the crew can be seen belting machine-gun ammunition together, since the rounds were delivered to the crews separately.
The Panzerkampfwagen II was the most numerous tank in frontline service by the German Army during the campaign in the West. It was on the verge of obsolescence then, but shortages of the Panzer III and the Panzer IV forced it to remain in the front lines as the mainstay of the Panzerwaffe for the period.
The gun mantlet of a Panzer III has been penetrated by an armor-piercing shell. The mantlet is only 30mm thick, so even a small-caliber round like this one could defeat the armor plating.
A column of Panzer II’s and III’s at rest before resuming the advance.
Motorcycle infantry and Panzer I’s pass an abandoned French Panhard 178 armored car.
Liquid refreshment for the crew of a Panzer II. The name of a crewmember killed in action has been painted on the rear of the turret of the tank. This was relatively common practice early in the war, and it was also done in prewar years to denote comrades killed in training accidents. The crewmembers have also “misplaced” their beret/crash helmet combinations for a traditional French “Basque” cap, which features a national insignia and a “skull” from collar-tab insignia. This practice was also occasionally encountered—as long as it received the countenance of the chain of command—since the beret/crash helmet was almost universally disliked.
A completely burned-out Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausführung D is passed by a column of infantry somewhere in France. At the time of the fighting in the West, this was the heaviest operational tank in the German Army’s inventory. It was intended primarily as a support vehicle, with the Panzer III’s conducting the tank-on-tank engagements, since its low-velocity 24-caliber-length 7.5-centimeter main gun was relatively useless against the armor of the day, particularly the heavy Allied tanks such as the Char B and Matilda.
Photo 1 of 2: In the foreground is a Pz.Kpfw. 35(t). 219 of these tanks were confiscated from the Czech Army in March 1939. Seen in use with the 6th Panzer Division in France, it was not as popular as the more numerous Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) shown below in a propaganda photograph on the English Channel.
Photo 2 of 2: In the foreground is a Pz.Kpfw. 35(t). 219 of these tanks were confiscated from the Czech Army in March 1939. Seen in use with the 6th Panzer Division in France, it was not as popular as the more numerous Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) shown below in a propaganda photograph on the English Channel.
An Sd Kfz. 222 light armored car that has been hit by what appears to be an antitank shell. The 2.0-cm KwK 30 can be used against ground targets or aircraft. Issued to the armored car squadrons of the reconnaissance batallions.
An armored column on the move. The good French primary and secondary road network greatly aided the German advance. The roads would not prove to be so trafficable in Russia.
Panzer III’s and Panzer II’s, motorcycle/sidecar combinations, and Sd.Kfz. 251 armored personnel carriers continue the relentless advance.
Sd.Kfz. 222 and Sd.Kfz. 232 (Funk) armored cars of Panzergruppe Guderian. German reconnaissance units had considerable combat capabilities and often led attacks.
A destroyed Panzer II. The thin armor is evident. In the background is a Panzer I. Neither of these vehicles was intended for combat, but a lack of tanks for the rapidly expanding number of panzer divisions necessitated their use.
Panzer I’s lead this motorized column.
An orders conference between motorcycle reconnaissance troops and panzer crews. Effective reconnaissance and timely supply of information was essential to the maintaining of a rapid advance.
A totally destroyed Panzer III, possibly from an internal explosion of onboard ammunition.
A sixteen-ton pontoon bridge. German engineers constructed numerous bridges over the Meuse in order to facilitate the advance. Often, these bridges were constructed under heavy fire and were bombed continuously.
A heavily damaged Sd.Kfz. 232 6-Rad/Panzerfunkwagen, a six-wheeled armored radio vehicle based on the 6 x 4 truck chassis. One hundred and twenty-three were produced from 1932 to 1937 and issued to the reconnaissance detachments of armored and motorized divisions. It was armed with a 2cm KwK 30 and a 7.92mm MG 13.
Relaxation and a chance to listen to some music for panzer crewmen. The vehicle is an Sd.Kfz. 222 light armored car.
Track maintenance on a Panzer IV Ausf. B or C. The Panzer IV was Germany’s heaviest tank at that time and was intended primarily for infantry support with its low-velocity 7.5-cm L/24 main gun.