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Panzer IV Tank: Workhorse of the Wehrmacht
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Talyn
SAINT
The Panzer IV saw it's last service by Syria on the Golan in the 1967 Six-Day War. Mainly as static pillboxes, like most of the Syrian armor then, but some in the conventional role. Some German post-WW2 Stug III and Jagdpanzer IVs tank destroyers were also used by Syria.
wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com
From other various sources...
Pz IV and Stug III (about 20 operative and about 10 as pilloboxes) in three armored battalion on Golan heights. The Jagdpanzer IV were deployed in a mixed battalion with T-34/85 and SU-100.
The Pz IV were used as static pillboxes and "normal" tanks; ten Pz IV were destroyed in the battles, the last on June 10 by a Sherman M50. Four "normal" Pz IV were captured intact during the Israeli advance on Damascus: an Ausf H with KwK 40 L43 was used later as a tank school guide, then donated to the Latrun Museum. Two Ausf J were donated to the Batey ha-Osef museum in Tel Aviv and to a city park in Migdal Ha Ermek. The last one was sold to the Wehrtechnischen Studiensammlung Koblenz museum.
Destroyed Panzer IVs on the Golan 1967
Panzer IVs still laying on the Golan
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Syria acquired German equipment and Panzer IVs from various countries.
France being the first to contribute. In 1948, after the creation of Israel, France anxious to maintain relations with Israel and Syria and in order to balance the sale of weapons to one side by offering something to the other and seen that some Pz. IV were just gathering dust in its warehouses, they sold them to Syria in 1950-51, thus making a good deal. And in 1958, a second contract was signed for 15 various armored vehicles.
As a result, Syria received 60 vehicles of varying suitability.In 1960, no more than 30 operational tanks were available and ready. The second contribution came from Czechoslovakia, because in May 1945, the Soviets established a staging ground for German tanks in Milovice, about 40 kilometers north of Prague. In January 1947, about 245 Pz.IV had been transferred to the Czechoslovak army and remained in service until the end of 1954, when they began to gradually replace them with the T-34.
So opportunities for availability, then the Syrians in April 1955 agreed to buy 45 tanks. The agreement of the purchase included repairs, a full load of ammunition and a limited offer of spare parts. The tanks were delivered to Syria in early November 1955.
The third contribution comes from Spain, About 17 Panzer IVs came from Spain in excellent condition. They were all Ausf H versions with a 75mm KwK 40 cannon, improved transmission, an electric turret, smoke grenade launchers, a cast sprocket, and more.These tanks were part of a 1943 Spanish order for 20 vehicles. In December 1965, they left for Syria in completely original and good condition (3 remained in Spanish museums).
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Captured Syrian Panzer IV - 1967
Panzers in the Golan Heights
The last appearance by WWII German tanks on the world’s battlefields came in 1967, when Syria’s panzer force faced off against modern Israeli armor. Quite improbably, Syria had assemble…
wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com
From other various sources...
Pz IV and Stug III (about 20 operative and about 10 as pilloboxes) in three armored battalion on Golan heights. The Jagdpanzer IV were deployed in a mixed battalion with T-34/85 and SU-100.
The Pz IV were used as static pillboxes and "normal" tanks; ten Pz IV were destroyed in the battles, the last on June 10 by a Sherman M50. Four "normal" Pz IV were captured intact during the Israeli advance on Damascus: an Ausf H with KwK 40 L43 was used later as a tank school guide, then donated to the Latrun Museum. Two Ausf J were donated to the Batey ha-Osef museum in Tel Aviv and to a city park in Migdal Ha Ermek. The last one was sold to the Wehrtechnischen Studiensammlung Koblenz museum.
Destroyed Panzer IVs on the Golan 1967
Panzer IVs still laying on the Golan
-------------------------
Syria acquired German equipment and Panzer IVs from various countries.
France being the first to contribute. In 1948, after the creation of Israel, France anxious to maintain relations with Israel and Syria and in order to balance the sale of weapons to one side by offering something to the other and seen that some Pz. IV were just gathering dust in its warehouses, they sold them to Syria in 1950-51, thus making a good deal. And in 1958, a second contract was signed for 15 various armored vehicles.
As a result, Syria received 60 vehicles of varying suitability.In 1960, no more than 30 operational tanks were available and ready. The second contribution came from Czechoslovakia, because in May 1945, the Soviets established a staging ground for German tanks in Milovice, about 40 kilometers north of Prague. In January 1947, about 245 Pz.IV had been transferred to the Czechoslovak army and remained in service until the end of 1954, when they began to gradually replace them with the T-34.
So opportunities for availability, then the Syrians in April 1955 agreed to buy 45 tanks. The agreement of the purchase included repairs, a full load of ammunition and a limited offer of spare parts. The tanks were delivered to Syria in early November 1955.
The third contribution comes from Spain, About 17 Panzer IVs came from Spain in excellent condition. They were all Ausf H versions with a 75mm KwK 40 cannon, improved transmission, an electric turret, smoke grenade launchers, a cast sprocket, and more.These tanks were part of a 1943 Spanish order for 20 vehicles. In December 1965, they left for Syria in completely original and good condition (3 remained in Spanish museums).
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Captured Syrian Panzer IV - 1967
Attachments
Cedric
Professional
My wife's German mom and grandma were fleeing the approach of the allies at the very end of WWII. Outside of Stuttgart enroute to the Black Forest, grandma was trying to flag down any truck or car to go back and get some of their possessions from the house. The only one who stopped was a Mark IV. When she desperately explained the situation, the panzer commander just said, "I work for you now." Grandma told mom to wait, mounted the tank and off they went. Some hours later here comes the Mark IV with not only bags but furniture strapped to the back deck to deliver it wherever she wanted. Workhorse indeed.
USMC6094
Professional
The MkIV was the last truly reliable tank the Germans fielded.
If Hitler had been patient, and followed our lead, see the M2, M3, and M4 series development, and not been so arrogant as to disregard his Generals advice, the war might have ended differently.
But, that's all hindsight, and speculation....
If Hitler had been patient, and followed our lead, see the M2, M3, and M4 series development, and not been so arrogant as to disregard his Generals advice, the war might have ended differently.
But, that's all hindsight, and speculation....
Cedric
Professional
It can be argued the Pz III, though eventually far outclassed by the allies was the most reliable and effective tanks for its day. I've posted this before, but the video shows a Panzer Brigade surrendering in Norway. It's a mixed unit of PZ IIILs for the anti-armor role with long 50mm and anti-infantry Pz IIINs with the short 75mm. No longer suitable for the Central European front, but the nimble light tank was a good match for the rugged terrain of Norway.
KillerFord1977
Emissary
Sounds like a T-34 as described
Cedric
Professional
I'd rather have a Mark IV or an M4 than a T-34. Sloppy production QC, no separate fighting compartment, hard to bail from, ammo QC issues, and the list goes on. The quantity is its own quality doesn't really apply to the T-34 as most think IMO.Sounds like a T-34 as described
KillerFord1977
Emissary
Referring to mass produced, quick, cheap
Talyn
SAINT
Panzer IV in Combat Tankograd 4006 — David Doyle Books
The Panzer IV in its variants A to J was the backbone of the German Panzertruppe in World War 2. This publication is entirely based on contemporary private photographs rather than on official and propaganda pictures. By using photos taken in combat by the soldiers it is now possible to tell the true
daviddoylebooks.com