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Beutepanzer (German, lit. 'Captured Tank')[1] is the German designation for a captured armored fighting vehicle. The Germans used Beutepanzers to gain insight into enemy technology and to augment their own armored forces.
Beutepanzers were usually repainted to sport distinctive national emblems and unit insignia in order to reduce friendly fire from other Central Power forces.
First World War
editDuring World War I, the Germans had many Beutepanzers in their arsenal, far exceeding the production of their own tanks. Beutepanzers were given a German national cross and new camouflage. By the end of the war, a total of 170 Beutepanzers were still in running condition with 35 reported to be battle ready. In comparison, over a third of the 20 A7V tanks built by Germany had been destroyed or captured by then.
Most Beutepanzers were British Mk IVs, but also a small amount of Whippet tanks and various types of French tanks were captured too. The Germans first captured Mk IVs during and after the Battle of Cambrai (1917). They were further modified including the replacement of their guns. They first saw action in March 1918, during Operation Michael and later during the Hundred Days Offensive.[2] By the end of the first world war most tanks used by the Germans were beutepanzers.[3]
Second World War
editBeutepanzers played an important role in the Wehrmacht.[4] After the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, many Czech tanks were claimed. In October 1940, the Heeresamt ordered two of each Beutepanzer type to be delivered to the Army Weapons Office for evaluation. Beutepanzers were used by the German Army on all fronts.
During the Western Campaign, Germany had captured 691 British tanks in total with an estimate of 350 being reusable. Most Beutepanzers captured during the campaign were modified into observation tanks or ammunition transports. Heavily damaged units were salvaged for spare parts. Additionally, roughly 1,800 modern (non-FT-17s) French tanks were captured during the May–June campaign and returned to service as Beutepanzers, alongside a similar number destroyed beyond repair.[5]
The Germans captured many T-26 and BT tanks[6] on the Eastern Front from 1941 to 1942.
The Germans were not the only users of captured tanks, though other nations usually did not deploy captured vehicles into combat. The Soviets were able to secure a Tiger 1 at Leningrad captured on 16 January 1943, with the British later capturing a Tiger 1 tank (Tiger 131) in Tunisia on the 21st of April 1943.
A complete list of all Beutepanzers in German service are available in Chamberlain and Doyle's Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two.
| Beutepanzer | Original Tank | Captured From |
|---|---|---|
| Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)[8] | Škoda LT vz. 35[8] | |
| Pz.Kpfw. 38(t)[4] | CKD-Praga LT-H | |
| Praga T-33 | ||
| Pz.Kpfw. T-26C 740(r)[6] | T-26 | |
| T-50 | ||
| Pz.Kpfw. 751(r) | T-35[6] | |
| T-60[6] | ||
| Pz.Kpfw. KW I 756(r) | KV-1 | |
| Pz.Kpfw. KW II 754(r)[6] | KV-2[6] | |
| Pz.Kpfw. 747(r)[4][6] | T-34[4] | |
| IS-2 | ||
| BA-10 203 (r) | BA-10 | |
| Artillery Tug 604 | Comintern | |
| Pz.Kpfw. Kreuzer Mk VI 746(e) | Crusader I | |
| Sturmpanzer Churchill[4] | Churchill[4] | |
| Pz.Jg. Bren 731(e) | British Universal Carrier | |
| 7TP[4] | ||
| wz. 34 | ||
| Pz.Kpfw. 35H 734(f) | Hotchkiss H-35 | |
| Pz.Kpfw. 39H 735(f) | Hotchkiss H-39 | |
| Pz.Kpfw. B2 740(f) | Renault Char B1 | |
| Pz.Kpfw. 18R 730(f) | Renault FT | |
| Pz.Kpfw. 35R 731(f) | Renault R35 | |
| Sp.Pz. AB41 201(i) | Autoblindo AB41 | |
| Sd.Kfz 735 (i) | Fiat M13/40 | |
| Pz.Kpfw. P40 737(i) | Fiat P26/40 | |
| Sturmgeschütz M42 | Semnovente 75/18 | |
| Pz.Kpfw. M4 748 (a) | M4 Sherman | |
| Pz.Kpfw. M3 747 (a) | M3 Lee | |
| Pz.Kpfw. M3 740 (a) | M3 Stuart | |
| Beutepanzer | Original Tank | Captured From |
|---|---|---|
| Sturmgeschütz III | ||
| T-V | Pz.Kpfw. V Panther | |
| T-IV | Pz.Kpfw. IV | |
| T-III | Pz.Kpfw. III | |
| LT-38 Praga | Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) | |
| T-1 | Pz.Kpfw. I | |
| Beutepanzer | Captured From |
|---|---|
| BT-7 | |
| T-26 | |
| T-28 | |
| T-34 | |
| KV-1 |
| Beutepanzer | Captured From |
|---|---|
| T-40 |
| Beutepanzer | Original Tank | Captured From |
|---|---|---|
| Sturmgeschütz III | ||
| King Tiger | Sd.Kfz. 182 | |
| Tiger | Sd.Kfz. 181 | |
| Beutepanzer | Original Tank | Captured From |
|---|---|---|
| Panther | Pz.Kpfw. V Panther |
| Beutepanzer | Original Tank | Captured From |
|---|---|---|
| Panther | Pz.Kpfw. V Panther | |
| Tigre | Sd.Kfz. 181 | |
| Panzer IV | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "dict.cc dictionary :: Beutepanzer :: German-English translation". www.dict.cc. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ TAB (2022-02-27). "Beutepanzern". The Armourers Bench. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ . Weapons and Warefare https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2017/11/08/beutepanzern/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h Budanovic, Nikola (2016-07-02). "Beutepanzer, How Nazi Germany Relied on Captured Military Vehicles To Continue The Fight". WAR HISTORY ONLINE. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ Garraud, Philippe (April 2004). "LE RÔLE DE LA " DOCTRINE DÉFENSIVE " DANS LA DÉFAITE DE 1940: une explication trop simple et partielle". Guerres Mondiales et Conflits Contemporains (in French). 214 (2): 97–123. doi:10.3917/gmcc.214.0097. JSTOR 25732954.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Russische Beutepanzer | Beutepanzer | Panzer". 2013-02-12. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ a b "Panzerkampfwagen T 34 - 747(r)The Soviet T-34 Tank as Beutepanzer and Panzerattrappe in German Wehrmacht Service 1941-45 - TANKOGRAD Publishing - Verlag Jochen Vollert - Militärfahrzeug". www.tankograd.com. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ a b c "Škoda CKD Lt vz.35". www.tanks-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2018-08-03.