German Tanks in France 1940: Armor in the Wehrmacht's greatest Blitzkrieg victory

Osprey New Vanguard #327

by Steven J. Zaloga, Felipe Rodríguez (Illustrator)

A fully illustrated new assessment of the German tank force that won its greatest victory in France during 1940.

The German conquest of France in 1940 was arguably the Wehrmacht's greatest military achievement, conquering France in several weeks after having failed to do so in World War I. New Panzer tactics, dubbed 'Blitzkrieg', were at the heart of the German victory.

In this book, renowned armor expert Steven J. Zaloga reassesses the armored force that made the triumph possible, and explains that although the German Panzers won their reputation in France, they were far from being a technological juggernaut. The vast majority were the small PzKpfw I and PzKpfw II light tanks. The more effective medium tanks such as the PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV were available in relatively small numbers. Their effectiveness had far more to do with training and doctrine than technology.

With illustrations including unpublished photos and superb new artwork, this book examines the wide range of German tanks employed in France in 1940, as well as their organization and tactical doctrine.

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2024

About the author

Steven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology.  He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank.  His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower.  He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.

Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.

Reviews

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Color plates/photos were the best aspect of this slim volume.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, but solid analysis of the German campaign and reasons for its success. Corrects a lot of misconceptions that have become doctrine since the war. Good explanation of the French tactics and limitations despite largely superior vehicles. Should be of interest to wargamers. Would like to see a similar volume from the French POV.

[Garrett Olinde · Rating 5 out of 5]

good view of topic.