German for
tank, and
short for Panzerkampfwagen. German for armored combat vehicle. The word Panzer is used widely to refer to the many German tanks in World War II, with a total of 6 operational variants, Panzerkampfwagen I-VI. They were the Panzer I(light
tank armed with 2 7.92mm MG), Panzer II(light
tank, armed with 1 7.92 MG and 1 20mm cannon), Panzer III(light-medium
tank, armed with 37mm cannon, 2 7.92mm MG), PAnzer IV (medium battle
tank, armed with 75mm
short barreled, 2 7.92 MG, later versions armed with long barrel 75mm cannon), Panzer V (aka Panther, armed with high-velocity 75mm, 2 7.92mm MG, considered to be one of the greatest engineering marvels of the war), Panzer VI (aka Tiger, armed with 88mm cannon, 2 7.92 MG, considered to be one of the most powerful tanks of the war; many
tank crews often avoided engaging Tigers in the open, this was called "Tigerphobia"), and the Panzer Tiger II Konigstiger (aka King Tiger). These were Germany'
s main battle tanks from 1939-1945. However, the Panzers weren'
t limited to
tank warfare; other variants came about, such as the Wespe(mobile artillery built on the Panzer II Chassis), Bison I(built on the Panzer I chassis, mobile artillery), Panzer Wirbelwind (mobile anti-aircraft gun build on Panzer IV chassis), Nashorn (mobile anti-
tank gun built on Panzer IV chassis), Marder I, II, III (mobile anti-
tank guns built on Panzer I, II, and III chassis), and the Sturmgeschutz III(an assault gun/anti-
tank gun built on Panzer III chassis).
That being said, Panzers were very reliable tanks, powerful, and deadly. They almost always strike fear into the hearts of their enemies.