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German Tank Destroyers
Includes coverage of all the tank destroyers used by the German army including the Hornisse, the Jagdpanzer 38, the Jagdpanzer IV, and the Elefant.
From the early days of World War II, it was clear that the Wehrmacht’s antitank units would need to be motorized as existing horse- or automobile-drawn units were too slow to be effective. Initially, antitank guns were mounted onto available, usually obsolete, tank chassis, such as the Panzerjäger I and II. However German engineers would soon turn to the heavy chasses of the Panzer IV, the Panther, and the Tiger for their tank hunters. It became apparent during the invasion of France that enemy antitank guns were both more powerful and better armored, and improvement became a priority during Barbarossa as German units faced off against the new Soviet tanks. The appearance of the Soviet T-34 in July 1941 meant that the Germans had to quickly come up with something equally powerful. The result was the motorized panzerjäger, faster and more mobile than older towed versions. This was followed in 1942 by the introduction of the 7.5cm gun. Further designs and modifications were informed by reports from the front line.
Some of these conversions were very successful and resulted in fearsome tank destroyers deployed to great effect by the Wehrmacht. The lightweight Hetzer, for example, was based on a modified Panzer 38(t) and entered service in 1944. This small tank became Germany’s main tank destroyer during the final stages of the war, and would continue in use around the world even after 1945. Though they may not have looked that intimidating, the Landser were soon won over, and were comforted to have something reliable to stand between them and the Soviet tanks.
This account, illustrated by hundreds of period photos, examines the development and deployment of various models of tank destroyers during World War II.
Table of Contents
The first panzerjägers
Hornisse
Jagdpanzer IV
The Hetzer
The Ferdinand
Afterword
Further Reading
Index
From the early days of World War II, it was clear that the Wehrmacht’s antitank units would need to be motorized as existing horse- or automobile-drawn units were too slow to be effective. Initially, antitank guns were mounted onto available, usually obsolete, tank chassis, such as the Panzerjäger I and II. However German engineers would soon turn to the heavy chasses of the Panzer IV, the Panther, and the Tiger for their tank hunters. It became apparent during the invasion of France that enemy antitank guns were both more powerful and better armored, and improvement became a priority during Barbarossa as German units faced off against the new Soviet tanks. The appearance of the Soviet T-34 in July 1941 meant that the Germans had to quickly come up with something equally powerful. The result was the motorized panzerjäger, faster and more mobile than older towed versions. This was followed in 1942 by the introduction of the 7.5cm gun. Further designs and modifications were informed by reports from the front line.
Some of these conversions were very successful and resulted in fearsome tank destroyers deployed to great effect by the Wehrmacht. The lightweight Hetzer, for example, was based on a modified Panzer 38(t) and entered service in 1944. This small tank became Germany’s main tank destroyer during the final stages of the war, and would continue in use around the world even after 1945. Though they may not have looked that intimidating, the Landser were soon won over, and were comforted to have something reliable to stand between them and the Soviet tanks.
This account, illustrated by hundreds of period photos, examines the development and deployment of various models of tank destroyers during World War II.
Table of Contents
The first panzerjägers
Hornisse
Jagdpanzer IV
The Hetzer
The Ferdinand
Afterword
Further Reading
Index
192 pages, Hardcover
Published August 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 10, 2025
'German Tank Destroyers' is a concise history with a lot of information supported by a very good selection of images and camouflage artwork. Opening with a timeline sets the scene for the book and is followed by a generalised introduction to the concept of tank destroyers.
Then follows a chronological listing of all of the different types of tank destroyers used by the Wehrmacht, including the Marder, Ferdinand, Hornisse, Jagdpanzer 38, Jagdpanzer IV, Panzerjager IV and Jagdpanzer IV.
Highly recommended for military historians, wargamers and modellers.
Then follows a chronological listing of all of the different types of tank destroyers used by the Wehrmacht, including the Marder, Ferdinand, Hornisse, Jagdpanzer 38, Jagdpanzer IV, Panzerjager IV and Jagdpanzer IV.
Highly recommended for military historians, wargamers and modellers.
August 20, 2021
In German Tank Destroyers, Pierre Tiquet surveys the machines that served one purpose and the men who fought in them. It is a story of German ingenuity and adaptation, albeit in a losing cause.
Tiquet begins with a timeline of major operations where tank destroyers were involved, then moves into his introduction of these weapons. He points out that the Germans needed a motorized anti-tank force rather than rely on cumbersome manual operated guns often pulled by horse teams. That necessity led them to manufacture anti-tank guns on existing tank chassis. These became heavier weapons as the war developed with the need to deploy heavier guns against heavier tanks. And with that explained, Tiquet examines the tank destroyer variants as they entered the battlefield.
The Panzerjäger Ente, Marder II, and Marder III are first in Tiquet’s catalogue. He describes the Ente as a ‘doughty little tank destroyer’ but it had issues, as did all the earlier models, the most obvious of which was the lack of protection for the crews. The Marder II and III had bigger guns and proved successful in all theatres, but it was tall and presented a juicy target in the open. Effective camouflage was therefore essential, and Tiquet includes some excellent photographic examples of this. Tiquet continues with the Dicker Max and the Sturer Emil. These had greater range and better optics but were heavy and only a few were built. The Hornisse/Nashorn carried the much feared 8.8cm gun on a Panzer II/IV chassis., but it too was heavy and suffered from transmission problems. Designed at the request of Heinz Guderian, the Hetzer solved the high profile problem of previous tank destroyers, and the Germans produced 2,700 of them from April 1944 to May 1945. The appropriately named Elefant comes next in Tiquet’s review. It was a massive beast with an 8.8cm gun, and highly successful in combat, but it weighed 68.65 tonnes and suffered from mechanical problems. The final tank destroyer under review is the Jagdpanzer IV with its sleek profile and long 7.5cm gun. Tiquet concludes that the German tank destroyers were developed in reaction to enemy tank development. The Hetzer and Jagdpanzer were the best of them, but they came too late to change the tide of war.
While German Tank Destroyers falls into the category of ‘illustrated books on war’ with lots of useful photographs of the machines, Tiquet’s text stands up well. He provides the technical details, as you might expect, but includes lots of testimony from the crews that served in the tank destroyers. He also adds sections on some of the major engagements where they fought. As for the photographs, they are mostly of abandoned machines, particularly those from the Battle of the Bulge, but there are also shots with proud crews and vehicles in transit, and they all tell a story. World War II vehicle enthusiasts will enjoy this, of course, but so will readers interested in combat experiences during the war.
Tiquet begins with a timeline of major operations where tank destroyers were involved, then moves into his introduction of these weapons. He points out that the Germans needed a motorized anti-tank force rather than rely on cumbersome manual operated guns often pulled by horse teams. That necessity led them to manufacture anti-tank guns on existing tank chassis. These became heavier weapons as the war developed with the need to deploy heavier guns against heavier tanks. And with that explained, Tiquet examines the tank destroyer variants as they entered the battlefield.
The Panzerjäger Ente, Marder II, and Marder III are first in Tiquet’s catalogue. He describes the Ente as a ‘doughty little tank destroyer’ but it had issues, as did all the earlier models, the most obvious of which was the lack of protection for the crews. The Marder II and III had bigger guns and proved successful in all theatres, but it was tall and presented a juicy target in the open. Effective camouflage was therefore essential, and Tiquet includes some excellent photographic examples of this. Tiquet continues with the Dicker Max and the Sturer Emil. These had greater range and better optics but were heavy and only a few were built. The Hornisse/Nashorn carried the much feared 8.8cm gun on a Panzer II/IV chassis., but it too was heavy and suffered from transmission problems. Designed at the request of Heinz Guderian, the Hetzer solved the high profile problem of previous tank destroyers, and the Germans produced 2,700 of them from April 1944 to May 1945. The appropriately named Elefant comes next in Tiquet’s review. It was a massive beast with an 8.8cm gun, and highly successful in combat, but it weighed 68.65 tonnes and suffered from mechanical problems. The final tank destroyer under review is the Jagdpanzer IV with its sleek profile and long 7.5cm gun. Tiquet concludes that the German tank destroyers were developed in reaction to enemy tank development. The Hetzer and Jagdpanzer were the best of them, but they came too late to change the tide of war.
While German Tank Destroyers falls into the category of ‘illustrated books on war’ with lots of useful photographs of the machines, Tiquet’s text stands up well. He provides the technical details, as you might expect, but includes lots of testimony from the crews that served in the tank destroyers. He also adds sections on some of the major engagements where they fought. As for the photographs, they are mostly of abandoned machines, particularly those from the Battle of the Bulge, but there are also shots with proud crews and vehicles in transit, and they all tell a story. World War II vehicle enthusiasts will enjoy this, of course, but so will readers interested in combat experiences during the war.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews