The german Pz I

 Panzer 1

by Sol Mathews


Were going to take a break from the allied tanks with this post. This time were taking a look at the German Panzer 1.developed in the 1930's by the Wehrmacht the Panzer 1 was the first iteration of the infamous Panzer series tank. the term Panzer is the shortened version of the German phrase "Panzerkampfwagon". The Panzer 1 is a light "tank", you may see the word Tank in quotes that is because it is classified by the German army as an Armored Fighting vehicle or (AFV). 


The Panzer 1 was first designed in 1932 and reached mass production in 1934. It was designed  to be nothing more than a raining vehicle not a combat vehicle. It first saw combat in the Spanish civil war 1936-1939 then would go on to see combat throughout World War Two most notably during the Invasion of Poland, the Soviet Union, and in North Africa.



When you think of a tank you think of this Armored vehicle with a large cannon. The Panzer one did not boast a cannon of any sort, instead it was armed with two MG-13 light machine guns or also known as (LMG). The Panzer 1 only had a crew of two. The Commander/gunner and the Driver. the vehicle itself was just bigger than the standard German tanker. Standing at five foot eight inches the standard whermacht soldier stood at five foot six just barely shorter than the Panzer 1. At the time the only tanks smaller than the Pz.1 are tanketts or tiny tanks.one such tankette is the Italian L3/35 wich well cover in a later post. 


Eventhough the Panzer 1 saw the most combat early in the war it got phased out quickly. By 1940 more powerful and heavier armoured Panzer barients. Such as the Panzer three and four varients that saw combat in the invasion of France and the Soviet Union. And saw combat throughout the war. The Panzer 1 did see some combat throughout the war it had mostly been delegated to the role of troop support and scout roles.

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