GERMAN
PANZER TACTICS
IN WORLD WAR II
Introduction
While the enduring image of the German Army in world war two is a black-crossed tank crashing through a hedge, and the famous Blitzkrieg is virtually synonymous with Panzer forces, how those panzers actually operated at the smallest unit levels is surprisingly hard to pin down. I hope that this little booklet will provide some guidance into how the German armoured formations were supposed to operate, and how they actually operated on the battlefield.
Make no mistake, even in an army as carefully trained as the German Wehrmacht in world war two, there were frequent differences between the methods straight ‘from the book’ and how the troops in the field applied them. Although basic doctrine remained the same throughout the war, the methods changed to meet evolving tactical situations and technical means.
There have been so many volumes published on the German armed forces in world war two, and on the armoured forces in particular, that I have had to focus this work pretty narrowly. Specifically, we will deal here with the formal tactics of the tank platoon, company, battalion, and regiment, and the way those units were combined with the other armoured elements in the Panzer Divisions in tactical situations. The method is to give the formal training publication on tactics, then a series of reports, lessons learned and modifications from the field campaigns. To help explain the context of the German reports, the organization of the tank units and the most common armoured auxiliaries for them is given for the beginning of each major campaign: Poland 1939, France 1940, North Africa 1941 – 42, Russia 1941, 1942, and 1943, and Northwestern Europe 1944. A final Section gives the organization of the entire Panzer Division and Panzer Grenadier Division (when tanks were included) throughout the war.
I have made no effort to cover the actual campaigns and battles or the technical characteristics of the tanks, save where comments are required to explain the context of the tactical methods and changes discussed. There are already numerous good books available on both subjects, and no need to cover the same ground here, even if there were room.
Finally, although they were indispensable to the success of the German tanks, the tactical specifics concerning the armoured infantry, armoured engineers, and armoured reconnaissance troops are not covered here. First, because there is not room, and second, because the H.Dv.299/4a “Training Manual for the Schnellen Truppen, Training and Employment of the Panzer Grenadier Company” has already been included in German Squad Tactics in WWII by Matthew Gajkowski, also published by Geo Nafziger (1995), so I refer you to that for a basic reference to the tactics of the infantry units supporting the panzers.
For the most part, I have tried to let the German tankers and, on occasion, their opponents, speak for themselves and keep my commentary to a minimum.
