The rise of German tank armoured units and the actual combat test in the Spanish Civil War

Mondo Military Updated on 2024-03-02

As soon as Hitler came to power, the German team seemed to have discovered a golden key to victory. Hitler not only completely ignored the "Treaty of Versailles", but also gave the German team unprecedented room for expansion. On November 1, 1933, on the outskirts of Berlin, on the left, they formed its first combat vehicles and armored units. This year, Germany has not only seen a large number of tanks and armored vehicles, but also continues to grow.

A year later, on September 1, 1934, Lutz was appointed commander of an armored battalion of combat vehicles. He immediately began rigorous testing of the car and the driver. He concluded by saying: first, the most appropriate armored unit should be a full-fledged division; secondly, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with air forces; Eventually, in order to focus the fire on a narrow front, the vehicle needed to be equipped with a wireless communication device for rapid and safe communication in the battle workshop. In February 1935, all of our jockeys were reorganized into the Mobile Corps. As of April 1, 1936, Germany was the first.

The 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions were ready for battle. We all expect these two armored divisions to shine in the war.

Heinz Guderian, the powerful second-in-command, lamented that he had not been able to add more armored troops. However, he also understood how much it would cost to create an armored division, and how much money would be needed to improve the equipment of the army. The German command concluded that the vehicle was too expensive and that it should be changed to be more suitable to support infantry operations. The resolution was controversial, but it was adopted.

However, Admiral Rutz rejected the change, saying that there was more to the tank. As a result, he had to temporarily agree to form three units known as the "Division of Light". These light infantry divisions were armed with a greater number of lightweight tanks than regular armored units. Germany, unlike the USSR, did not have enough time and money, nor enough money to develop various types of tanks. In this way, they had only 4 different models, and the PZKPFW I was armed with only 2 machine guns and a 20 mm gun. This is exactly because since Hitler came to power, the German team has found a new path of development and a new test. But in any case, they were loyal to their homeland and full of yearning for victory. Speaking of tanks, it is impossible not to mention its armor protection. The new PZKPFWIII, armed with a cannon of 37 mm caliber, is actually a 55 mm caliber, plus two machine guns, it is difficult to penetrate even with shells. And the later pzkpfwiv, equipped with a large-caliber cannon of 75 mm caliber, can be called one of the combat vehicles!

Speaking of the battle for chariots between the Soviet Union and Germany, it was indeed a real combat test. In the Spanish Civil War of 1936, when Germany and Italy targeted the nationalists led by Franco, it began to support the republicans. The Soviet Union dispatched 731 tanks, more than 1,000 warplanes, and the Germans dispatched 600 (16,000 in the Condor Corps), and 200 tanks. Sure enough, people can't be disgraced! If the republic is to stay, it must stop the nationalists from entering Madrid. The Soviets moved quickly, and on October 29, Paul Aman led the first wave of Soviet tank regiments, and the T-26s engaged in fierce fighting between the Italian Ansaldo type and the nationalist knights. The Soviet heavy tanks were so strong that they destroyed 11 Ansaldo tanks in one shot. However, in the battle a week later, the tank crews, lacking actual combat experience, suffered heavy losses. But rest assured, our Deplov is here, and he will come. A month later, he led a large tank offensive that destroyed Franco's control of the capital at the Battle of Harama. In this battle, it seems that no one knows who wins and who loses! 25 T-26s, under the orders of Pavlov, made a fierce assault on the defensive positions of the nationalists, which, alas, did not achieve the desired result. The enemy relied on Italian anti-tank guns of 27 mm caliber and powerful anti-tank guns, firmly controlling their positions. But the Battle of Guadalajara in March changed all that. The Fiat Ansaldo, also known as the L3 1935, was driven by Roditsev and was able to defeat the Italian infantry with its superior mobility and modest attack power. The tank is modeled after the British Vickers light tank, armed with a machine gun, light weight, fast, but less powerful, so it is not yet a real tank. After the tank corps was eliminated, the enemy army lost its combat effectiveness on the modern battlefield.

While the nationalists were proud of their success, the Battle of Guadalajara gave them a good example. Due to the lack of coordination between tanks, artillery, and air force, the support (especially the infantry regiments) could not keep up with the speed of tank advance, resulting in a significant reduction in the overall attack efficiency. In the ensuing May offensive, the republicans sent 80,000 fighters to it, as well as 130 T-26 combat vehicles. But in the end, it was a fiasco. As if to demonstrate against the republicans, Brunette's second offensive on July 6 also ended in failure. The reason for such an offensive was that the Republicans simply sent tanks as auxiliaries, and the tanks became the best targets. The mission of the tank is to tear through the enemy's defenses. Five days later, the Soviet commander, Colonel-General Rudolph, told Pavlov that his army had only 38 combat-ready combat vehicles. Here are a few details about the battle, as well as facts. I hope this information can help you.

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