Panzer II: Workhorse of "Blitzkrieg"
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- čas přidán 18. 05. 2020
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The Panzer II is quite surprising although only equipped with a 2 cm auto-cannon it was intended to give the Panzerwaffe a tank with anti-tank capability. Although even in 1940 the 3.7 cm guns turned out to be too weak against various tanks. Fact is the Panzer II was a stopgap solution, until the Panzer III and Panzer IV could enter mass production. There several more surprising facts about the Panzer II in this video, many taken from the German Army Field Regulations (Heeresdruckvorschriften). Additionally, we also look at how many Panzer II were used in the early to mid campaigns, namely Case White - Poland (1939), Case Yellow - France (1940) and Operation Barbarossa - Soviet Union (1941).
Disclaimer: This video was sponsored by the free-to-play game War Thunder.
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» SOURCES «
H. Dv. 470/5b: Die Ausbildung am Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm), Sonderkraftfahrzeug 121 (Sd. Kfz. 121). Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Buchdruckerei: Berlin, 1939.
BAMA: RH 1/1881: H.Dv. 470/22a: Schulschießübungen vom Panzerkampfwagen II. Berlin, 1942.
Jentz, Thomas L.: Panzertruppen 1 - The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany’s Tank Force - 1933-1942. Schiffer Military History: Atglen, USA, 1996.
Pöhlmann, Markus: Der Panzer und die Mechanisierung des Krieges: Eine deutsche Geschichte 1890 bis 1945. Ferdinand Schöningh: Paderborn, 2016.
Kast, Bernhard; Bergs, Christoph: German Army Regulation on the Medium Tank Company H. Dv. 470. Austria & UK, 2019.
H. Dv. 470/6: Die leichte Panzerkompanie. Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Buchdruckerei: Berlin, 1940.
H. Dv. 470/7: Die Mittlere Panzerkompanie. Reichsdruckerei: Berlin, 1941.
Mueller-Hillebrand, Burkhart: Das deutsche Heer 1933-1945. Band I. E. S. Mittler & Sohn: Frankfurt am Main, 1954.
Mueller-Hillebrand, Burkhart: Das deutsche Heer 1933-1945. Band II. E. S. Mittler & Sohn: Frankfurt am Main, 1956.
#panzer2 #sponsored #ad
Join me in War Thunder for free by using this link gjn.link/MilitaryHistoryVisualizedWT and get a premium tank or aircraft and three days of premium time as a bonus.
you should make more videos using war thunder models and footage, great videos btw
I'm sure there are a few of us that play WT and watch your videos. maybe organise an event through discord and the game that we could discuss these vehicles, while also using them. Im assuming you run on the EU servers, which is unfortunate as I probably won't face you in a game in that case. (US/SA server)
The link isn't working?
Have fun but can't play games like that as live in a very rural area and the only net access is satellite down link and does not support games like War Thunder.
I like that you are doing partnerships like this. I think you deserve the support especially being that mostly everyone here consumes ur content for free. Keep up the great work!
"Okay why do you need a 20mm machine gun with your agricultural tractor vehicle?"
The inspector guy: "uhh.. The weeds are evil"
"Also Karl said he saw giant frogs, better safe than sorry."
"Also Karl said he saw giant frogs, and did i mention both are man-eating?"
the weed with roots in hell! 😳
@@arya31ful And giant frogs is a good code name for the French Char B1
"Also Karl said we don't have our own giant frog slaying Kazuma."
"Welsh names are too long"
*laughs in German*
German to Welshman, "Hold my cold bier."
@@douglasstrother6584 Yes, but don't forget the german town of Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach! (Don't forget to pronounce all the Umlauts, Rs and fricatives.)
@@untruelie2640 at least you dont really need to pronounce the last r in dürrohr and the r in ditters
@@douglasstrother6584
That one is a classic but this is great too: czcams.com/video/I8NVPe_gfZQ/video.html
Also fits the topic better.
@@_DeadEnd_ Yes, but the "ü" is quite different from the "u". Many English speakers seem to have problem with the pronounciation Umlauts. (or rather: Umlauten) Perhaps some of them confuse the dots with a Trema?
"Farming in 1930s must have been quite a dangerous job"
Not just then!
The Soviet news agency published the news:
“Near the Sino-Soviet border, a Chinese tank attacked a peacefully plowing Soviet tractor driver.
The tractor returned the fire and flew back to base."
How dangerous it was that the tractors were actually capable of flying?
That must've been a very capable "tractor" then !
@@rasdread0989 The Vodka was in danger
In the same time frame the Germans were using high explosives to mash potatoes, so yeah farming mush have been quite dangerous.
"Knock-over capability" - All cars should have this listed in the owner's manual.
There were times when I wished my car had an artificial horizon.
I’ve actually used this ability with my work truck when I realized it would take me two days with a shovel. I just hooked up the trailer and backed into the tree and rock wall it was imbedded in and rammed it a couple of times. Then pulled out the chains and pulled the bigger out. Crazy thing was the tree fell right into the trailer. I chopped off the root ball and made two quick runs to the dump. Done in 4 hours instead of 20! I now know what the knock down power of my vehicle is. Maybe I should add it to the owners manual. 😊
Welp Ford mustang's knock over capability should be at least 5 average height human adults
Borat was a guy who was very interested in whether a car could maim a particular ethnoreligious group.
lol
Ah yes, the inspector of the motorized combat troops - *Herr Kraftfahrkampftruppen und für Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän und Bezirksschornsteinfegermeister*
I know that guy
AKA Otto, the fat baldy man
Jingles: "let's call him Dave."
Ok, that’s gonna be my next wi-fi password
That´s right. And you will use my full title when reporting to me.
This user name is too short. Please select another.
I saw an ad for World of Tanks, then a sponsorship for War Thunder in the same video. 2020 really is wild.
I like how they all say that they're free to play when they're pay to not get an aneurysm
They're free to play but then i'd really call you badass if you didn't spend a cent on either game while still maintaining a steady grind and sanity
Well, I'm only interested in WWII vehicles so theres little grind for me. I will own every WWII vehicle in the game before you get the Abrams.
@@rasdread0989 I dont pay for the game and I still play. It would take forever to get to tier 10 with all nations
@@calebr908 not if you play
I just finished the book of a French tanker that fought Pz II in Belgium in 1940 with his H35.
He says that during an assault the Germans used to fire blindly with their machine guns at distances over 1000m in order to cover their movement. He also says that the "20 mm autocannon" of the Pz II was often used with tracers for psychological effects.
RouGeZH what was the book?
Also commenting for the book name.
We need that name.
*Angry Cpt. Price voice*
A name! I want its name!
@@Atesz222 "Une vie de char" by Robert Le Bel (1984)
Fascinating video. I had always assumed the PzKpfw II was a deliberate, doctrinal decision to have a light tank, like the M3 Stuart, or Soviet T 50/60/70. Almost this whole video was new material for me. Thank you.
No, IMHO it existed & performed those light tank functions so well it created that 'doctrinal' role for itself... also I think Thoma in or after Spanish Civil War was enthused at the idea of having about a 1 third light tank composition - I don't know but may have been some kind of advocate for that based upon some kind of experience there of mixing Pz Is with captured T-26s or something... interesting.
do you have any respurces on soviet nomenclature? I always wondered why soviet light tanks had such high numbers when medium tanks were named after the year of its introduction. and that doesn’t even cover the tanks not designated with T-[number]!
Original Quote 5:32
„46. Als Nachrichten- und Führungsmittel werden angewandt:
a) zu anderen Fahrzeugen:
das Funkgerät,
die Flaggen,
die Führungszeichen nach H. Dv. 472,
die Leuchtpistole,
die Taschenlampe;
b) innerhalb des Panzerkampfwagens:
Kommandos durch den Sprechschlauch,
Berührungszeichen.” (H.Dv. 470/5b: Die Ausbildung am Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm), Sonderkraftfahrzeug 121 (Sd. Kfz. 121). Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Buchdruckerei: Berlin, 1939, S. 32)
Original Quote 6:09
„67. Zum Anfahren ist vorheriges Anlassen und Durchwärmen des Motors erforderlich (im Sommer nach etwa 5, im Winter nach 10 Minuten).
Auf das Ankündigungskommando (z.B. Erscheinen des Flaggen- oder Handzeichens) kuppelt der Panzerfahrer aus und schaltet je nach der Fahrbahn auf Straßen und im ebenen Gelände den dritten, in schwierigem Gelände den ersten oder zweiten Gang ein.“ (H.Dv. 470/5b: Die Ausbildung am Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm), Sonderkraftfahrzeug 121 (Sd. Kfz. 121). Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Buchdruckerei: Berlin, 1939, S. 40)
Original Quote 6:35
„69. Geschwindigkeitsstufen sind: 10, 20 und 30 km/h. Der Panzerfahrer hat stets den größtmöglichen Gang zu wählen. Falls Gelände und Feindlage nichts anderes erfordern, wird grundsätzlich ohne besonderes Kommando mit 20 km/h gefahren. Andere Geschwindigkeiten müssen ausdrücklich befohlen werden, z.B.: ‚30 km!‘“ (H.Dv. 470/5b: Die Ausbildung am Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm), Sonderkraftfahrzeug 121 (Sd. Kfz. 121). Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Buchdruckerei: Berlin, 1939, S. 41)
Original Quote 7:15
„77. Das Maschinengewehr ist als Waffe mit großer Schußfolge, guter Treffleistung und moralischer Wirkung der Hauptträger des Feuerkampfes. Es wird eingesetzt gegen lebende Ziele, wie Schützen, M.G.-Nester, Panzerabwehrwaffen, Artillerie u.a. Besonders gegen Massenziele (Kolonnen, Reserven, auffahrende Geschütze) hat es große Wirkung.“ (H.Dv. 470/5b: Die Ausbildung am Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm), Sonderkraftfahrzeug 121 (Sd. Kfz. 121). Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Buchdruckerei: Berlin, 1939, S. 47)
Original Quote 7:45
„79. Die Kanone (2 cm Kw. K. 30) dient als Waffe mit hoher Durchschlagsleitung und Schußfolge in erster Linie zur Bekämpfung von Panzerzielen. Die Bekämpfung von feindlichen Panzerkampfwagen erfolgt in der Regel vom stehenden Wagen ab 600 m. Die Kanone dient außerdem zur Bekämpfung von Panzerabwehrwaffen auf Entfernung von über 500 m, wenn ein flankierendes M.G.-Feuer nicht möglich ist.“ (H.Dv. 470/5b: Die Ausbildung am Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm), Sonderkraftfahrzeug 121 (Sd. Kfz. 121). Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Buchdruckerei: Berlin, 1939, S. 49)
Original Quote 8:51
„Sie [2 cm Kw. K. 30] dient gleichzeitig, vom Zug- oder Gruppenführer angewandt, zur Zielanweisung für den Zug oder die Gruppe. Kurze Feuerstöße von 2 bis 3 Schuß bilden die Hauptfeuerart vom stehenden oder fahrenden Wagen. Befinden sich dicht neben den Schutzschilden von Panzerabwehrwaffen oder Batterien noch Ziele (z.B. Bedienungen oder Ansammlungen), so werden Kanone und M.G. zusammen angewandt.“ (H.Dv. 470/5b: Die Ausbildung am Panzerkampfwagen II (2 cm), Sonderkraftfahrzeug 121 (Sd. Kfz. 121). Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn, Buchdruckerei: Berlin, 1939, S. 49)
Ah yes 5 days ago
Bruh lmao how
As we say in French: Gesundheit.
I dislike not seeing the original quote in the video. Your translations are not always perfect so beeing able to see the original right away improves the video. I can really not be bothered to navigate the comment section while simultaiously watching the video.
Germany needed this tank to guard its potatoes!!!
Not potatoes. Asparagus.
Neither potatoes nor asparagus! Barley and hops for their beer!
Ah yes,the "Reichskartoffelschützer"
Great at mashing them...
The Warthunder visuals help. I liked how when you talked about knocking over trees, then you showed the Pz II hitting trees of different sizes.
Military History Visualized when full circle. Before Bismark used to play War Thunder/Sim games and then he transitioned his channel to purely history. Now he got sponsored by War Thunder.
When you have an austrian discussing deutsch with with 2 germans, and the correct meaning is probably something only Herr von Goethe would really understand😂
Stopgap to the stopgap to victory: Panzer I
I'm pretty sure they named it as an agricultural tractor to get around the treaty of versailles.
r/woooosh
Adding War Thunder footage made this video so much more engaging to watch. I think you should do this kind of a thing much more often :-)
Capturing this kind of cinematic footage in War Thunder is difficult, I don't think this level of cinematic footage is sustainable. Although, simple gameplay footage might do just fine too. I suggest turning the UI off for recording of the footage (Alt + z, if I remember correctly).
Listen dude, when i saw the notification that u posted a fresh one, it made my day. Thanks for all your hard work on these videos. I hope in the near future I'll be able to join ur patreon.
Love the humor in the videos, I love the research & sourcing, but legit makes it so much more fun!
Really love the scenes from the game in the video. Makes it so much more alive, especially given that the vids showcase exactly what's being discussed. Wish you'd use more of those!
The panzer two was an underrated tank and was really good for the time
Great video this is keeping me sane at the moment
Data packed. Provides continuity of concept. A good perspective of what and why. Thanks for posting.
@1:40 They probably used the Panzer IIs as protection from the Wehr-wolves
Awoo mistoh farmer *nuzzles you* DEBORAGH GET THE 2CM TRAKTOR
@@memecat57 what language is that lol
@@callidusvulpes5556 Furry
@@memecat57 Not surprised lol.
The game footage lined up really nice. The platoon formation ingame was a really nice visualization.
Using Warthunder to illustrate the kind of trees the Pz.II could deal with was a genuinely great little detail.
A most informative look at a very misunderstood vehicle. I must say, the War Thunder visuals helped in describing what you are reading immensely. Adding a very good visual element that is also very descriptive and illuminating.
There actually were 35t's in the inventory in June of '41, operating w/army group north; not sure of the division. Granted they were few in number, but they were there.
The 6th armoured division used about 150 Pz. 35 (t) until they ran out of them and got refittet in 1942 with more modern tanks.
Not even using your own gameplay for the sponsorship footage smdh XD
On a serious note, excellent video. I love the integration between WT and the information such as the formation footage.
Love your videos
I really like the video, always nice to hear something about the unexpectedly good workhorses of the war. Speaking of Your warthunder ad, well I fully respect that You need to get the money from somewhere and knowing how good source of info You are when it comes to ww2 stuff I can easily tell that Your comment on the game being "as historically accurate as possible" was just You following the script provided by them, I bet I am not suprising anyone though. Great video, always waiting for more.
> being "as historically accurate as possible" was just
you might want to listen again:
"War Thunder models in general aim to be visually as historically accurate as possible."
they keyword is visually ;)
@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized Oh yeah I caught this one really well, and I was originally quoting with the word as there are many errors in visual models but then I realized I would take away from the fact that overall their attention on being accurate dropped in every sector over time and they dont really seem to care as most players cant or wont question them at all. Big example of visual errors would be the cockpits in majority of planes and "german" p47. Also thanks for answer, cheers.
Could you do a small follow up of this video about the ausf L version, as it was a Pz 2 but very different on its design?
Please
Also, thanks for this awesome videos
Love this video. Big fan of the Panzer II. Built a C model not long ago.
Very good presentation! You can hear them from miles away, and their coming for you. Who wouldn't find that that intimidating?
Regarding your figures for Panzers in the Field Army in June 1941, I think you have made an error.
You say that there were 180 Panzer I’s, and 0 Panzer 35(t)’s.
I think that it was the other way around.
0 Panzer I’s (no longer considered a front line tank, used only for rear area security duties) and 180 Panzer 35(t)’s (all of the latter in the 6th Panzer Division assigned to Army Group North).
(Note: I’m assuming that the Panzerbefehlswagen I (radio command vehicle with high superstructure, no turret and only 1 MG) on the Panzer I chassis) is not considered as a Panzer I tank. Because in WW2 all tanks had turrets, and anything without a turret was either a tankette, a self propelled gun or a tank destroyer.)
Wow you might be one of the few people to have actually played war thunder when getting a sponsorship.
I love the wehr farming at 1:42
Do you produce only Videos about Vehicles and Planes or also about Infantry and their weapons like the k98k. If you also do Videos about it can you make a Video about the assault rifle and why it wasent used before. For example the Vollmer M35 which was avalibale. Or battle rifles in various other countrys like Avtomat Federova, Shisei Type Hei, Breda M1935 PG, Tipo Terni, etc
Could you talk about last instance of using Pz. I & II in WW2 [insert puppy eyes]?
This is really great. Thanks. I've played a little bit of War Thunder, now I know that they are a sponsor I will certainly play more!
I did see this tank featured in the video game titled "Company of Heroes 2" as Vehicle Unit for certain faction named "Oberkommado West"
I remember spawning in a tiger (P) on the abandoned factory map in War Thunder and right when the round started I said in team chat “I’m driving one funky looking tractor :3” and somebody replied with something around the lines of “Same here but she till the ground just fine.”
Love to see you review all ww2 tanks this way with War Thunder!
@Bernhard, on minute 10:53 the Panzer Orbat table shows the number of Panzer 35 (t) available in June 1941as 0, but it is my understanding that some were made available for the 6th Panzer Division.
Should be addressed in the pinned comment. Pz 1 and 35(t) are reversed.
@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized thank you for the clarification.
Very good thanks. Just to note that 6 Panzer Division used some 160 Panzer 35t for Operation Barbarossa. So I'm not sure why you have no 35ts listed in the table. I suspect that the 35t is included in the 38t total.
yeah, I used Müller-Hillebrand as a source there and he got those numbers wrong, didn't knew it back then.
Nice vid and thx, I always wanted to know if Panzer II was effective against Hotchkiss tanks
could you make a video talking about how a perfect tank made for every situation need to be?
Excellent. I play too much War Thunder myself. I'd sure dig having you in my squad.
A pasty boy can dream.
I love war thunder too. Awesome video man!
Does the link work for existing players or just new.
Hi Can you answer a question about the Maus tank because I don’t believe there were only two Maus tanks built. After investigating this, I can find six complete tanks. I found a picture of two completely built Maus tanks standing together and so this disputes the ‘google’ statement saying that one was completely build and one was partly built. Any thought on this please?
Where do you get/find your German primary sources?
20mm with light armour and high mobility sounds like the ideal thing for chewing through hordes of troops. Seems like the ideal support tank for a heavy.
Serbia Stronk, We Has Panzer II in Muzeeum!!!
Of course we do...
we was bad at English grammar,and sheetz 😐
"farming must been a quite dangerous job..." man that joke hit so hard i laughed enough to wake my room mate
It was my favorite tank in World of Tanks. Frontal armor was good enough in its tier if you just angled your tank and used cover. It was pretty good firing on the move up close as well.
I love the Panzer 2. It looks so adorable!
Cute isn't just about being smol, it's about having good proportions. The tanks of Italy look like their parents were siblings.
7TP is my personal favourite
Pz II L is my favourite
Very good. Thanks for the information. I would like to know what the German view of the PZKFW II in the desert war. I've read a lot about that part of the war but nothing on the performance of the tank. Most of the early British tanks weren't exactly stunning. .. so perhaps it did well there.
One of my Favorite Tanks ever.
Haha I spent my entire afternoon today drawing a Panzer II and when I get to CZcams, then there's a video of the tank! 😂
Seeing the footage now I think I got some features wrong, I have to fix it. But the one I'm drawing is the F. This one seems to be ausf. C?
It is a C or earlier, but with the added coupola and gun mantle armor applied in 1941. The original C had a tow piece hatch and fewer vision devices.
What was the penetration value for the French 25mm AT round, without tungsten? For what it's worth, Wiki indicates 40mm at 440 yards, but does not indicate if tungsten is used in the round. How does that compare to the 20mm KwK 30 and 20mm KwK 38?
1:35 Yes, indeed, also The Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany to have tanks (or an air force) so they had to get creative.
Die Differenzierung in "Gehölze" und "Bäume" kommt aus dem forstlichen Fachbereich. Der Begriff Baum ist selbsterklärend - das was aussieht wie ein Baum und eine Mindesthöhe übersteigt ist ein Baum. Der Begriff Gehölz umfasst alles was aussieht wie ein Baum aber niedriger ist und zum Stockausschlag neigt (also umgangssprachlich in engen Gruppen wächst). Haselnusssträucher zB. Diese Pflanzen müssen aber verholzt sein, also einen harten "Stamm" haben - ein Farn mit 5m Höhe wäre kein Gehölz, da er nicht verholzt ist.
One of my favourite light tanks of the war
Inspekteur der Kraftfahrkampftruppen und fur Heeresmotoisierung, brilliant
1:34 As I know after the WW1 the Versailles treties did not allow Germany to design and make tanks or any arms (+ limited the number of the army and navy etc. - officially similar, just a few years delayed regulations was applied also on France who just ignored them). So the Germans simply called their tank designs "agricultural tractor" which looks better in statistics :-)
6:39
The 20 and 30 kph footage was filmed in such a way that the Panzers look as if they are moving with at least twice the speed indicated.
I laughed and laughed at the war thunder footage as you tried to knock down trees. Been there done that. You really notice the difference with the bigger tanks later on in the game.
Grantos Maximus that first time you knock your crew out 😂
I’m not too sure about German army officer titles, but I do recall hearing something like ‘truppenfuhrer’, which I know directly translates to ‘troop leader’. I would guess that for obvious reasons using the ‘fuhrer’ bit after any sort of title went severely out of fashion following the Second World War.
Now, I have no research to back any sort of info up - but do you know if the Bundeswehr used titles such as the one mentioned above? In German the title would, logically, be normal.
I would love to use a Panzer II to remove trees and shrubberies from my garden.
The tank in that game looks incredibly realistic, almost thought I was looking at the real thing briefly.
Yeah, Gehölz is still a fairly common term for small groves or woods in Germany, so it probably meant how capable the vehicle is of pushing through a group of such trees.
Rather rare? Shame, I was about to take a visit to the supermarket and buy one :(
I heard Tescos is having a 3 for 1 special on Shermans.
@@allsoover Oh god, please no Italian tanks...
@@allsoover those are on sale at the dollar general
🤣,lol,you really are nice at making jokes
Yeah, it has been hard finding any "farmers" that happen to own these exotic "Agricultural Tractor 100s".
5:58 WWII tanks and other vehicles in terms of capability and reliability were long haul from our experience with modern cars or similar equipment - this statement is particularly relevant to transportation equipment designed and built by the Soviet Union :)
Not really
1:39 "I don't know but farming in the 1930's must have been quite a dangerous job." had me LOLing. .
Got to find ways to handle the tax man.
There is one here in France in Saumur's "musée des blindés"! Along side the only working Tiger II!
Actually a very effective tank in penetration in large numbers. The 2cm was effective against a many light armoured vehicles and early tanks with a good rate of fire. Undervalued
2:40, anyone willing to explain what the operational use of the tank was/is?
scare every one......R-Forczyk Book on Barbarossa shows how an apparently well equipped army [red army] did spectacularly badly because the failed to scout out routes ahead for most movement and seeming all battles. When you read this you see one of the the values of light tanks.
How was the 2cm gun loaded? Clips, belt, single short?
A drum magazine with 10 shots.
Werent they used as recon vehicles?
Im olaying HOI and have been using a panzer 2 right up to the late 40s lol. Incredible tank. A division full of these things has won 98% of all battles its been involved in. Wanted to see if it really was as much of a beast as it is in HOI4
I don't know about farming in the 1930's, but large scale farm machinery in the early 1900's with treads contributed to the design concept of the tank.
Remember, early in the war, the main opponent of the tank was the anti-tank gun. Tank vs. tank combat did not become the norm until well into the Eastern Front and the Gazala battles in North Africa. --Bob Bailey in Maine, USA
Great Video, as Always.
I've question for you. The Panzer II became a raletive obsolete Design after the Initial years. But it was still available. Why wasn't it used in a role as Sturm-Artillerie Like the STUG III, Imagine like a STUG II.
I mean the Infantrie was always in need for a light direct fire Support Vehicle through the war. The STUG III was a solution, but it was a rather oversized vehicle for the short 7.5 cm Gun at the beginning.
On the other Hand was the Chassis of the Panzer II used for some rather oversized guns, like the Sturmpanzer II (or Geschützwagen II) with a 15cm SIG or the Panzerhaubitze Wespe with a 10.5 cm Canon.
Also was the STUG III a vehicle used in a Tank role by the Panzerwaffe, a fact that reduced the available vehicles for the Sturm-Artillerie and the Infantrie even more.
Why not a simple, light Vehicle with a short 7.5 cm Gun for the Sturm-Artillerie? The Panzer II maybe had this capacity for this role. A simple Casemate Design on a Panzer II Chassis with some added Armor.
This vehicle could have solved the Desperate need of a light fire support for the Infantrie without being relevant to other Army branches.
Have a nice day.
I've seen a Panzer division unit strength report at the time of Kursk in 1943 with a handful of Pzkw II tanks still in service. My guess is that they were still being used by the division reconnaissance unit, as headquarters security, or as command vehicles for the panzer regiment.
Marder II, reconnaissance became the uses. I would guess some became flamethrowers or training tanks as well.
And it could perhaps fight partisans.
@@nattygsbord OK, but why produce Panzer II Chassis with 105 or 150 mm Howitzers but not with smaller 75mm for Infantrie Support.
Instead the short barreled 75 mm Gun was put into the STUG III, a oversized Tank for this Gun.
The Panzer II struggled with the heavy Artillery Pieces and was underpowered.
Why not use These vehicles instead for larger guns and the Panzer II Chassis for the smaller and lighter 75mm Gun?
@@papaaaaaaa2625 Germany realized in 1941 that this tank was hopelessly underpowered so they put a 75mm gun on it and made a tank destroyer out of it which they called Marder II.
Panzer 2 is a light tank while panzer III was a medium. So building StuG would not be possible. It would become too much weight. First you need all extra armour, and then you need a big heavy gun on top of a light tank chassi.
It is much cheaper, faster and easier to then just remove the turret of a panzer II and put a big gun and no armour at all on it.
And sIG 33 was a popular gun. Artillery guns gets exponentially more fire power as you increase the diameter of a gun - so a 150mm calibre was a great boost of fire power on the battlefield compared to a tiny 75mm.
Especially in the early years in the war would this tank had a huge boost in firepower. It could probably knock out more than a room in a building with one hit. So it was valuable for infantry support.
But its problem was that it lacked armor protection for its crew - and a weak chassi of a panzer 1 or panzer 2 would probably not allow for any more armor than it already had.
And the 2nd problem was that the recoil from the big gun was too much for a little tank too handle so there was a risk that this tank could start to flip over if you hadn't put it on flat ground.
I think the constant re-working of the Panzer II merits mention and may account for their rarity. Many were converted to Wespe (SPG) and Marder (AT), etc.
type vehicles.
I play Bolt Action and have been experimenting with a list consisting only of Panzer IIs specifically the Luchs variant
Realism be damned, the autocannons are fantastic at causing a mess of the enemy
I dont understand why the pz2's 20 mm wasnt issued eith high explosive ammunition? Youd think it would be standard for anti infantry purposes.
Wait a minute.... MHV did you just use yourself as a reference at 13:05? If so: Awesome.
You should make the Wehr-farming your next t-shirt xD
I always had a soft spot for the panzer II. I always imagined it conducting reconnaissance, pulling off lightning attacks on soft skinned vehicles, then melting away like a wraith.
So, in a way, Panzer I and II were also training tanks... for german industry.
Yes. To have a beginning program to build tanks. Smart one
"no rivets." Trying out an entirely new method of production let alone mass production.
The german "clump of small trees" or what English speakers might call a "thicket" limits is nice to know. The invasion of France was done through heavy woods. Knowing what size brush you could drive through was useful making trails in trackless woods..
It is pity that no one makes Pz II (F) replicas. You cannot realistically get an original vehicle. And much cheaper replica when done in small scale production could bring you even more fun. Moreover that 20 mm cannon in compressed-air version will be a perfect and deadly weapon in paintball against infantry and vehicles alike.
"The speed of a panzer is a weapon all its own" - Guderian
To hear reports of how French forces would panic at the mere sight (or report of sight) of a panzer battalion anywhere but directly in front of their prepared positions, one would think these tanks could have been effective completely unarmed. The tank is a terror weapon, if you know how to sell it as such. Most German tanks in 1940 were still Pz.I and Pz.II. Building them was useful for industry prep and tactical exercises. Having them available, however underarmed/armored, was critical for psychological warfare. The Pz.II was a perfect tank for classical cavalry purposes - surprise, raiding, and sowing panic among collapsing lines. To me, it is THE cavalry tank of WWII. The British Cruisers and Soviet BTs could have matched their effectiveness, had they been used better. But the only light tank to come close to the Pz.II in actual effectiveness is the Type 95 Ha-Go, a relatively weak tank. But its usage in Malaya to consistently out-flank the British demonstrated its potential as a cavalry tank much as the Germans did in France in 1940 and Cyrenaica in 1941. These were tanks that required audacity from their commanders, but they demonstrated they were up to the task. It's not all about penetration and armor. Just be where you need to be, when you need to be, and be capable of instilling surprise and panic with your presence. The Pz.II was plenty up to that task.
BT's chopped up Ha-Go's pretty well in 1939.
Idk you played lol I also love warthunder great game to play with friends !
If you are charging through the Ardennes in a surprise offense, the Panzer Zwei is your rig of choice (at least in 1940). Certainly not a Tiger II (in any year).
did they use panzers in the invasion of the Netherlands or did they know immediately that metal doesn't float?
would love a video on the invasion of the Netherlands from the German perspective!
A sinle Panzer-Division went into the Netherlands, the 9th, operated mainly in the South. Bulk of invasion was infantry supported by a massive airborne landing and some SS units.
The Panzer II is my favourite German tank, it's sad that there aren't many left
Mg34 was still used because the barrel was replaced by the gun being turned 90 degrees. The tanks were made to accommodate that. So they kept using the mg34 so they would not need to change the way they made the tank.
nice