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List of foreign vehicles used by Nazi Germany in World War II
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Many foreign vehicles were used by the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. The German terms Beutepanzer (Loot Tank)[1] and Beutefahrzeug (Loot Vehicle) were a general application for those vehicles. Whilst the majority were captured, vehicles produced by occupied countries are also included.
Beutepanzers were usually repainted to sport distinctive national emblems and unit insignia in order to reduce friendly fire from other Central Power forces.
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First World War
During World War I, the Germans had many Beutepanzers in their arsenal, far exceeding the production of their own tanks. Beutepanzers were given a German national cross and new camouflage. By the end of the war, a total of 170 Beutepanzers were still in running condition with 35 reported to be battle ready. In comparison, over a third of the 20 A7V tanks built by Germany had been destroyed or captured by then.
Most Beutepanzers were British Mk IVs, but also a small amount of Whippet tanks and various types of French tanks were captured too. The Germans first captured Mk IVs during and after the Battle of Cambrai (1917). They were further modified including the replacement of their guns. They first saw action in March 1918, during Operation Michael and later during the Hundred Days Offensive.[2] By the end of the first world war most tanks used by the Germans were beutepanzers.[3]
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Second World War
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Beutepanzers played an important role in the Wehrmacht.[4] After the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, many Czech tanks were claimed. In October 1940, the Heeresamt ordered two of each Beutepanzer type to be delivered to the Army Weapons Office for evaluation. Beutepanzers were used by the German Army on all fronts.
During the Western Campaign, Germany had captured 691 British tanks in total with an estimate of 350 being reusable. Most Beutepanzers captured during the campaign were modified into observation tanks or ammunition transports. Heavily damaged units were salvaged for spare parts. Additionally, roughly 1,800 modern (non-FT-17s) French tanks were captured during the May–June campaign and returned to service as Beutepanzers, alongside a similar number destroyed beyond repair.[5]
The Germans captured many T-26 and BT tanks[6] on the Eastern Front from 1941 to 1942.
The Germans were not the only users of captured tanks, though other nations usually did not deploy captured vehicles into combat. The Soviets were able to secure a Tiger 1 at Leningrad captured on 16 January 1943, with the British later capturing a Tiger 1 tank (Tiger 131) in Tunisia on the 21st of April 1943.
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Designation format
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The Wehrmacht re-designated captured vehicles with a structured formula. With some of the elements being optional and depending on the overall vehicle type or intended use, the following elements could be utilized:
- Calibre (expressed in centimetres)
- The type of vehicle or main armament
- A model number (or name) adapted from the original designation
- A year
- A new series-related model number
- A subvariant, indicated with a number after a "/"
- A letter indicating the national origin of the vehicle
Vehicle types
Tanks
Self-propelled guns
Other vehicles
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Captured combat vehicles
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List of some captured vehicles used by the German forces on the Western front, Russian front and others areas. Certain models were modified in factories or army workshops for infantry support, armed reconnaissance, antitank or antiaircraft units or as self-propelled guns or tank destroyers and many other operative or utility uses.
Tanks
Captured (with number designation)
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Captured (without number designation)
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Modified
Command vehicles
Self-propelled guns and artillery
Captured
Converted
Armoured reconnaissance vehicles
Captured (with number designation)
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Captured (without number designation)
Modified
Armoured personnel carriers
Captured
Converted
Tracked light carriers
Captured
Converted
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British
- British Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car
- British Marmon–Herrington Humber
- British AEC Dorchester armoured bus
France
- Lorraine 37L - Lorraine Schlepper(f)
- Grosser Funk-und Beobachtungspanzer auf Lorraine Schlepper(f)
- Unic P107
- Leichter Zugkraftwagen U304(f)
- Leichter Schützenpanzerwagen U304(f)
- French Somua MCG/MCL
- le.Zgkw. S307(f)
- Mittlerer gepanzerter Zugkraftwagen S307/303(f)
- Mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen S307/303(f)
- SPW S307/303(f) mit Reihenwerfer
- 7.5 cm Pak 40 auf m SPW S307/303(f)
- 8 cm R-Vielfachwerfer auf m.gep.Zgkw. S307/303(f)
- 5 cm Panzerwerfer 42 auf m.gep Zgkw. S307/303(f)
- Renault UE
- 3.7 cm Pak 36(Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE 630(f)
- 28/32 cm Wurfrahmen(Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE 630(f)
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Others
- Spanish AAC1937 (captured while in French service)
- Swedish Landsverk 180/181 (captured while in Danish service)
Supplementary list
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See also
References
Further reading
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