Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The German Army during the Second World War relied on a series of light armored vehicles armed with powerful anti-tank guns, capable of taking out most enemy tanks they encountered. These tank destroyers were born out of necessity, serving as stopgap solutions to counter increasingly formidable Allied armor when no better alternatives were immediately available. While not perfect, they performed well during the war, especially when operated by skilled and experienced crews.
Like all military innovations, Germany’s tank destroyer doctrine had a starting point—the Panzerjäger I. Built on the chassis of the Panzer I light tank and equipped with a captured Czechoslovak anti-tank gun, the Panzerjäger I represented the German Army's first foray into converting tanks into dedicated tank destroyers. Entering service in May 1940, Panzerjäger I remained in use until 1943, laying the groundwork for the more advanced Panzerjäger designs that followed.
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Sources: T. Anderson (2023) History Of the Panzerjäger Volume 1, Osprey Publishing
T. Anderson (2023) History Of the Panzerjäger Volume 2, Osprey Publishing
L.M. Franco (2005), Panzer I The beginning of a dynasty, Alcaniz Fresno’s SA.
D. Nešić, (2008), Naoružanje Drugog Svetsko Rata-Nemačka, Beograd
N. Askey (2014) Operation Barbarossa The Complete Organisational and Statistical Analysis and military simulation Volume IIB, Lulu publisher.
P. Chamberlain and H. Doyle (1978) Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two – Revised Edition, Arms and Armor press.
P. Chamberlain and T.J. Gander (2005) Enzyklopadie Deutscher waffen 1939-1945 Handwaffen, Artilleries, Beutewaffen, Sonderwaffen, Motor buch Verlag
H.F. Duske (1997), Nuts and Bolts Vol.07 Panzerjäger I, Nuts & Bolts Books.
T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2010) Panzer Tracts No.7-1 Panzerjäger
P. Chamberlain and T.J. Gander, Anti-tank Weapons WW2 Fact Files
D. Doyle (2005). German military Vehicles, Krause Publications.
P. Thomas (2017), Hitler Tank Destroyers 1940-45. Pen and Sword Military.
P. P. Battistelli (2006), Rommel’s Afrika Korps, Osprey Publishing.
B. B. Dimitrijević and D. Savić (2011) Oklopne Jedinice na Jugoslovenskom Ratištu 1941-1945, Institut za savremenu istoriju, Beograd
H. Seidler (2020) Images of War Hitlers’s Anti-tank Weapons 1939-1945, Pen and Sword military
T. J. Gander (1973) German Anti-Tank Guns 1939-1945, Almark publishing
R. Forczyk (2012) Panerjager Vs. KV-1, Osprey Publishing
J. Ledwoch (2001) Panzerjäger I, Wydawnictwo Militaria
I. Hogg (1975) German Artillery Of World War Two, Purnell Book Services
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An article by Marko P
Narrated by Wood
Edited by Brancovich
The German Army during the Second World War relied on a series of light armored vehicles armed with powerful anti-tank guns, capable of taking out most enemy tanks they encountered. These tank destroyers were born out of necessity, serving as stopgap solutions to counter increasingly formidable Allied armor when no better alternatives were immediately available. While not perfect, they performed well during the war, especially when operated by skilled and experienced crews.
Like all military innovations, Germany’s tank destroyer doctrine had a starting point—the Panzerjäger I. Built on the chassis of the Panzer I light tank and equipped with a captured Czechoslovak anti-tank gun, the Panzerjäger I represented the German Army's first foray into converting tanks into dedicated tank destroyers. Entering service in May 1940, Panzerjäger I remained in use until 1943, laying the groundwork for the more advanced Panzerjäger designs that followed.
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
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Article: tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/panzerjager_i.php
Sources: T. Anderson (2023) History Of the Panzerjäger Volume 1, Osprey Publishing
T. Anderson (2023) History Of the Panzerjäger Volume 2, Osprey Publishing
L.M. Franco (2005), Panzer I The beginning of a dynasty, Alcaniz Fresno’s SA.
D. Nešić, (2008), Naoružanje Drugog Svetsko Rata-Nemačka, Beograd
N. Askey (2014) Operation Barbarossa The Complete Organisational and Statistical Analysis and military simulation Volume IIB, Lulu publisher.
P. Chamberlain and H. Doyle (1978) Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two – Revised Edition, Arms and Armor press.
P. Chamberlain and T.J. Gander (2005) Enzyklopadie Deutscher waffen 1939-1945 Handwaffen, Artilleries, Beutewaffen, Sonderwaffen, Motor buch Verlag
H.F. Duske (1997), Nuts and Bolts Vol.07 Panzerjäger I, Nuts & Bolts Books.
T.L. Jentz and H.L. Doyle (2010) Panzer Tracts No.7-1 Panzerjäger
P. Chamberlain and T.J. Gander, Anti-tank Weapons WW2 Fact Files
D. Doyle (2005). German military Vehicles, Krause Publications.
P. Thomas (2017), Hitler Tank Destroyers 1940-45. Pen and Sword Military.
P. P. Battistelli (2006), Rommel’s Afrika Korps, Osprey Publishing.
B. B. Dimitrijević and D. Savić (2011) Oklopne Jedinice na Jugoslovenskom Ratištu 1941-1945, Institut za savremenu istoriju, Beograd
H. Seidler (2020) Images of War Hitlers’s Anti-tank Weapons 1939-1945, Pen and Sword military
T. J. Gander (1973) German Anti-Tank Guns 1939-1945, Almark publishing
R. Forczyk (2012) Panerjager Vs. KV-1, Osprey Publishing
J. Ledwoch (2001) Panzerjäger I, Wydawnictwo Militaria
I. Hogg (1975) German Artillery Of World War Two, Purnell Book Services
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 Wood
Edited by Brancovich
