German Tanks of World War II Trivia Quiz

Answer: Panzer IV

Designed in 1936 and in production by 1938, the Panzer IV was first designed as an infantry support tank. As the war progressed and better Allied vehicles were encountered, the Panzer IV was upgraded with a new gun and better armor and could cope with most Allied tanks. Over 8,800 units were produced by 1945.

Some Panzer IVs were used in Eastern Europe in the 1950s, and the Syrian Army was using them as late as the 1967 Six Day War.

Answer: Leningrad 1942

Armed with the formidable 88mm gun and heavily armored, the Tiger I was superior to most Allied tanks. Though the first large-scale use of the Tiger was in North Africa in December, 1942, a platoon of four Tigers was deployed on the Leningrad front in Russia in September, 1942.

These early models had transmission and track problems, and one became stuck in swampy ground and was captured by the Soviets. A total of 1,347 Tiger I units were produced by 1944, when it was replaced by the Tiger II.

Answer: Panzer I

The first production tank built by the Germans after World War I, the Panzer I was first produced in 1934. Designed as a training unit, the vehicle had two 7.92 machine guns as main armament. Due to the shortage of tanks in the early days of the war, the Panzer I played a much bigger role than it was designed for, being used as a front-line unit until late 1941. Almost 2,300 units, in several variants, were built by 1943.

Answer: Panzer 35(t)

The Panzer 35(t), known as the LT-5 in Czech service, was a Skoda designed light tank in service with the Czech Army since 1936. With a 37mm main gun, it was an improvement on the Panzer I and II, and was used in the Polish, French, and Soviet campaigns, where the tank's shortcomings became apparent. Since production of the tank had ended in 1940, spare parts had become unavailable, and it was phased out of German service.

The tank was also used by Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.

Answer: Panzer V Panther

Design work on what would become the Panther tank began in 1942, after the Germans had encountered the Soviet T-34. Early models first saw combat at the Battle of Kursk in July, 1943, but they were mechanically unreliable and did not make much of an impact. Later models of the Panther proved it to be one of the best tanks of the war, with a balance of power, armor and firepower that was equal or superior to most Allied tanks. Around 6,000 units were built by 1945.

Answer: Panzer II

The Panzer II, like the lighter Panzer I, was designed primarily as a training vehicle to familiarize the troops with armored war tactics. The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German arsenal until enough of the more advanced Panzer III and IV units were available in 1940-1941. Almost 1,900 units were built before production ceased in early 1944, but the chassis was used for self-propelled artillery and tank destroyers such as the Wespe and Marder II designs.

Answer: 1

Design work on the vehicle that became the "Maus" (mouse) was begun in 1942 when Hitler approved the design for a 100 ton tank armed with a 128mm gun. The design ballooned into a 200 ton behemoth which could barely move and destroyed toads and bridges on trials. One prototype, without a turret, was built in 1943 for testing.

The only complete "Maus" was delivered in 1944, but testing was incomplete when the war ended. The Soviets captured both prototypes and one is on display at the Kublinka Museum in Moscow.

Answer: 1,400

Designed in the mid 1930s by Skoda, the Panzer 38(t) was known as the LT vz. 38 in Czech service. Superior to the German Panzer I and II, the vehicle was phased out by the Germans in 1942, as it could not cope with Soviet armor. A total of 1,400 units were built and used by the German Army.

The Panzer 38(t) chassis was used for the "Marder III" and "Hetzer" tank destroyers, of which 4,300 units were built. The vehicle was also supplied to Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, with some units serving until 1944.

Some were also bought from Czechoslovakia by Iran, Peru, and Sweden before the Germans occupied the country.

Answer: Tiger II

Designed in 1943 as a replacement for the Tiger I, the Tiger II was also known as the "Konigstiger", the German name for the Bengal tiger. Allied troops called it the "King Tiger" or the "Royal Tiger". The tank was equipped with the same engine and 88mm gun as the Tiger I, but had much better sloped armor.

The Tiger II first saw combat in Normandy in 1944. Expensive and time consuming to produce, only 492 units were built by the end of the war.

Answer: Panzer III

Since the Panzer I and Panzer II tanks were intended to be used as training units, the Panzer III was the first true German battle tank. Originally armed with a 37mm gun, the Panzer III was adequate in the Polish, French, and early North African campaigns, but was outgunned by most Soviet and later British and American tanks. Later units were upgraded with a 50mm gun, but the turret ring was too small to fit a bigger cannon.

The Panzer III was relegated to training and garrison duty by mid 1943. The chassis was used for the "Sturmgeschutz" assault guns and tank destroyers.

A total of 5774 Panzer III tanks were built.