The British and French both began experimenting in 1915, and deployed tanks in battle from 19 respectively. The development of tanks in World War I began as an attempt to break the stalemate which trench warfare had brought to the Western Front. The modern battlefield shows no signs of this changing soon, with the development of tanks continuing to adapt to it.This article deals with the tanks ( German: Panzer) serving in the German Army ( Deutsches Heer) throughout history, such as the World War I tanks of the Imperial German Army, the interwar and World War II tanks of the Nazi German Wehrmacht, the Cold War tanks of the West German and East German Armies, all the way to the present day tanks of the Bundeswehr.

Modern Era – Are Tanks Still Relevant?: Despite numerous prophets heralding the demise of the tank, armor is still an important part of all the world’s militaries. Although the USA and USSR never fought each other directly, almost all proxy wars of the period saw extensive usage of their tanks. World War Two would change these perceptions, and see tanks used in unprecedented numbers across all theaters of war.Ĭold War – East vs West: In a period dominated by nuclear weapons, two opposing superpowers led to the splitting of the world into East and West. Even so, many were unconvinced by this new weapon of war. WW2 – The Tank Goes Global: The Interwar period saw the tank go on a worldwide tour, from Bolivia to China, every corner of the globe and all seven continents felt the tread of heavy armor.

Soon after its introduction, the tank quickly became a killing machine integrated into combined arms operations. However, many pioneers had envisioned the use of armored vehicles in the decades prior to the Great War. WW1 – Mud, Barbed Wire, and Trenches: The United Kingdom and France started development of tanks in order to break through enemy lines. If you feel something is missing, please add it to our Public Suggestion List.

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Tank Encyclopedia continues to be a work-in-progress largely carried out by volunteers.

Battle of kursk tank encyclopedia