Panzer IV at War, 1939–1945

This pictorial WWII history examines the powerful German tank as it was deployed in numerous combat zones throughout the war. Initially the Panzer IV was designed as an infantry support tank, but it proved to be so diverse and effective that it earned a unique tactical role on the battlefield. As a result, it became the only German tank to remain in production during the war. With comprehensive captions and text, this superb book tells the story of the Panzer IV through key battles in Poland, France, North Africa, Italy, Russia, and North West Europe. With rare photographs from wartime archives, Panzer IV at War shows how the Panzer IV evolved and describes how the Germans carefully utilized all available reserves and resources to build and deploy numerous variants. It depicts how these formidable tanks were adapted and up-gunned to face the ever-increasing enemy threat. The Panzer IV chassis was converted into more models than any other Panzer in service. As well as the various prototype projects and command tanks, observation vehicles, ammunition carriers, recovery vehicles, and amphibious armored ferry vehicles that saw service, the book also shows numerous converted anti-tank propelled vehicles.