During the Second World War the United States experienced a revolution in tank design and production. As Hitler's army swept through Europe, America transformed itself from an isolationist backwater to an industrial giant.
In 1940 Nazi Germany unleashed a blitzkrieg on an unprepared and unsuspecting Europe. Hitler's tank division shocked the world with their overwhelming mobility, armor, and fire power. In 1942 Britain unveiled its new weapon of war. A machine it hoped would save lives and hoped would stop the spread of fascist terror.
The T34 medium tank was one of the technological wonders of the Second World War. Designed built and used in Russia the T34 stunned the invading German army and prevented it from seizing Moscow. The Third Reich even tried to clone the T34, but its attempts never challenged the Soviet colossus.
The enduring images of the panzer formation of World War II and the infamous battle tanks. The legendary panthers and tigers which have become synonymous with the Wehrmacht. Undoubtedly well known they were by no means the most numerous fighting vehicles.
All though it seems common place in the army's of today, the tank is a surprisingly new invention. Tanks first saw action less than a century ago in the first world war. The Tiger was the most complete fighting machine of WWII.
Necessity is the mother of invention. One successful new breed born out of desperation of the demands of the Russian front, were the self propelled artillery vehicles, which were rushed into production from war ravaged German factories, to shore up the defensive of that terrible conflict.
The battles that took place on the Russian front during WWII were amongst the most veracious and destructive engagements ever fought. Between 1941-1945 Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia pitched themselves against each other in an ideological war that would see millions of soldiers and civilians die.
During the dark days of August 1942 there was still chance that Hitler might win World War two. Although America had been dragged into the conflict by Hitler's rash declaration of war it would take years to assemble a real fighting force in continental Europe.
The Battle of the Bulge, Hitler's plan to defeat the western allies so he could free up much needed forces for the east. This was the last chance for the Panzers. In the middle of December 1944 Hitler launched his surprise winter offensive in the Ardennes region of Belgium.
