Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In May 1940, Western Europe erupted into one of the most decisive armored clashes in history. German Panzer divisions surged westward, colliding head-on with French and British tank units in battles that were fast, chaotic, and brutally unforgiving. On paper, the Allies held the advantage. Many French tanks were better armored, better armed, and in some aspects outright superior to their German counterparts. But wars aren’t won on paper. Superior coordination, aggressive massed tank tactics, and decisive leadership allowed the Germans to outmaneuver and overwhelm their opponents.
After less than two months of fighting, the once-formidable French Army collapsed. Retreats turned chaotic, supply lines broke down, and hundreds of tanks were abandoned - often fully intact - after running out of fuel or suffering minor mechanical failures. When the dust settled, Germany had captured nearly 3,500 French tanks. Among this unexpected windfall were roughly 250 to 300 Somua S35 cavalry tanks, widely regarded as some of the best tanks in the French arsenal at that time.
With German tank production still limited, these captured machines, called Beute Panzer, were too valuable to ignore, and the Somua S35 would soon find itself fighting under an entirely different flag.
Join this channel to get access to exclusive perks:
youtube.com/channel/UC2tZSN6WSAtzKLalKbflBLg/join
If you liked this video, please consider donating on Patreon or Paypal!
Patreon: patreon.com/tankartfund
Paypal: paypal.com/paypalme/tankencyclopedia
Article: tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/germany/panzerkampfwagen-35s-739-f-somua-s35-in-german-service
Sources: T. Anderson (2022) Panzer III, Osprey Publishing
B. B. Dimitrijević and D. Savić (2011) Oklopne jedinice na Jugoslovenskom ratištu 1941-1945, Institut za savremenu istoriju, Beograd.
D. Predoević (2008) Oklopna vozila i oklopne postrojbe u drugom svjetskom ratu u Hrvatskoj, Digital Point Tiskara
C. Bescze (2007) Magyar Steel Hungarian Armour in WW II, Stratus
T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2006) Panzer Tracts No.3-2 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.E, F, G, H
W. Regenberg and H. Scheibert (1997) Captured French Tanks Under the German Flag, Schiffer Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2014) Panzer III vs. Somua S 35, Osprey Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2014) French Tanks of World War II (1), Osprey Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2014) French Tanks of World War II (2), Osprey Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2021) German Tanks in Normandy 1944, Osprey Publishing
J. Vollert (2013) Wehrmacht Special – Panzerkampfwagen 35 S – 739 (f) Tankograd
Y. Buffetaut (2018) German Armor in Normandy, Casemate Publishers
T. L.Jentz and H. L. Doyle (2007) Panzer Tracts No.19-1 Beute-Panzerkampfwagen
A. Lüdeke, (2007) Waffentechnnik Im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Parragon
old.axishistory.com/list-all-categories/153-germany-heer/heer-other-units/9208-panzer-abteilung-202
armedconflicts.com/topic/view/78934
Tank Encyclopedia Magazines and Books: payhip.com/TankEncyclopedia
Reddit: reddit.com/r/TankEncyclopedia
TE Shop: tanks-encyclopedia.com/Goodies/tanks-posters.php
Our website: tanks-encyclopedia.com
Gaming News Website: tanks-encyclopedia.com/games
Facebook: facebook.com/tanksencyclopedia
Twitter: twitter.com/tanksenc
Discord: discord.gg/3VjQ8Zq
Email: tanks.encyclopedia@gmail.com
An article by Marko P
Narrated by Ashley Shannon
Edited by @battlehammerwot
Music by @SuperLofiWorld @WhiteBatAudio @Lofi.Records
In May 1940, Western Europe erupted into one of the most decisive armored clashes in history. German Panzer divisions surged westward, colliding head-on with French and British tank units in battles that were fast, chaotic, and brutally unforgiving. On paper, the Allies held the advantage. Many French tanks were better armored, better armed, and in some aspects outright superior to their German counterparts. But wars aren’t won on paper. Superior coordination, aggressive massed tank tactics, and decisive leadership allowed the Germans to outmaneuver and overwhelm their opponents.
After less than two months of fighting, the once-formidable French Army collapsed. Retreats turned chaotic, supply lines broke down, and hundreds of tanks were abandoned - often fully intact - after running out of fuel or suffering minor mechanical failures. When the dust settled, Germany had captured nearly 3,500 French tanks. Among this unexpected windfall were roughly 250 to 300 Somua S35 cavalry tanks, widely regarded as some of the best tanks in the French arsenal at that time.
With German tank production still limited, these captured machines, called Beute Panzer, were too valuable to ignore, and the Somua S35 would soon find itself fighting under an entirely different flag.
Join this channel to get access to exclusive perks:
youtube.com/channel/UC2tZSN6WSAtzKLalKbflBLg/join
If you liked this video, please consider donating on Patreon or Paypal!
Patreon: patreon.com/tankartfund
Paypal: paypal.com/paypalme/tankencyclopedia
Article: tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/germany/panzerkampfwagen-35s-739-f-somua-s35-in-german-service
Sources: T. Anderson (2022) Panzer III, Osprey Publishing
B. B. Dimitrijević and D. Savić (2011) Oklopne jedinice na Jugoslovenskom ratištu 1941-1945, Institut za savremenu istoriju, Beograd.
D. Predoević (2008) Oklopna vozila i oklopne postrojbe u drugom svjetskom ratu u Hrvatskoj, Digital Point Tiskara
C. Bescze (2007) Magyar Steel Hungarian Armour in WW II, Stratus
T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2006) Panzer Tracts No.3-2 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.E, F, G, H
W. Regenberg and H. Scheibert (1997) Captured French Tanks Under the German Flag, Schiffer Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2014) Panzer III vs. Somua S 35, Osprey Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2014) French Tanks of World War II (1), Osprey Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2014) French Tanks of World War II (2), Osprey Publishing
S. J. Zaloga (2021) German Tanks in Normandy 1944, Osprey Publishing
J. Vollert (2013) Wehrmacht Special – Panzerkampfwagen 35 S – 739 (f) Tankograd
Y. Buffetaut (2018) German Armor in Normandy, Casemate Publishers
T. L.Jentz and H. L. Doyle (2007) Panzer Tracts No.19-1 Beute-Panzerkampfwagen
A. Lüdeke, (2007) Waffentechnnik Im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Parragon
old.axishistory.com/list-all-categories/153-germany-heer/heer-other-units/9208-panzer-abteilung-202
armedconflicts.com/topic/view/78934
Tank Encyclopedia Magazines and Books: payhip.com/TankEncyclopedia
Reddit: reddit.com/r/TankEncyclopedia
TE Shop: tanks-encyclopedia.com/Goodies/tanks-posters.php
Our website: tanks-encyclopedia.com
Gaming News Website: tanks-encyclopedia.com/games
Facebook: facebook.com/tanksencyclopedia
Twitter: twitter.com/tanksenc
Discord: discord.gg/3VjQ8Zq
Email: tanks.encyclopedia@gmail.com
An article by Marko P
Narrated by Ashley Shannon
Edited by @battlehammerwot
Music by @SuperLofiWorld @WhiteBatAudio @Lofi.Records
