From the early days of World War II, it was clear that the Wehrmacht's antitank units would need to be motorized as existing horse- or automobile-drawn units were too slow to be effective. Initially, antitank guns were mounted onto available, usually obsolete, tank chassis, such as the Panzerjager I and II. However German engineers would soon turn to the heavy chasses of the Panzer IV, the Panther, and the Tiger for their tank hunters. It became apparent during the invasion of France that enemy antitank guns were both more powerful and better armored, and improvement became a priority during Barbarossa as German units faced off against the new Soviet tanks. The appearance of the Soviet T-34 in July 1941 meant that the Germans had to quickly come up with something equally powerful. The result was the motorized panzerjager, faster and more mobile than older towed versions. This was followed in 1942 by the introduction of the 7.5cm gun. Further designs and modifications were informed by reports from the front line.

Some of these conversions were very successful and resulted in fearsome tank destroyers deployed to great effect by the Wehrmacht. The lightweight Hetzer, for example, was based on a modified Panzer 38(t) and entered service in 1944. This small tank became Germany's main tank destroyer during the final stages of the war, and would continue in use around the world even after 1945. Though they may not have looked that intimidating, the Landser were soon won over, and were comforted to have something reliable to stand between them and the Soviet tanks.

This account, illustrated by hundreds of period photos, examines the development and deployment of various models of tank destroyers during World War II.

About the Author
Pierre Tiquet is an expert on the German armed forces during World War II. Over the last thirty years he has interviewed many veterans of the German army and Waffen-SS, and has curated a large collection of rare photographs. Now retired he concentrates on his collection and his writing. His previous titles include The 3rd SS Panzer Regiment in the Casemate Illustrated series.

Reviews
...a very nice reference resource, with lots of detail and diorama inspiration for modellers. * Military Model Scene 13/10/2021 *
Pierre Tiquet has managed to put all those photos and text together in a quite engaging format which won't be boring to read. I can only recommend this book, and it is better to hurry because they usually get sold out quick. * DetailScaleView 02/08/2021 *
...a decent history of the German Tank Destroyers, most valuable because of it's impressive collection of photographs, which show all of these vehicles in a wide range of circumstances. * History of War 13/09/2021 *
...the sheer volume of photographs (many new to me) make the cover price an extremely economical way of acquiring so much information, especially with the current offer at Casemate. [...] Highly recommended. * Scale Military Modelling International Magazine 02/08/2021 *
World War II vehicle enthusiasts will enjoy this, of course, but so will readers interested in combat experiences during the war. * Wargames Illustrated 13/09/2021 *
This is a perfect work of reference for anyone with an interest in WWII armoured vehicles, including war gamers, general enthusiasts and especially modellers who will appreciate the illustrations and artwork. The first-hand accounts and technical details bring this recommended work together in a unique way. * Gun Mart 14/07/2022 *



Book Information
ISBN 9781612009063
Author Pierre Tiquet
Format Hardback
Page Count 192
Imprint Casemate Publishers
Publisher Casemate Publishers