The Panzerkampfwagen III (PzKpfw III) was one of the most numerous, indigenous tank designs within the German panzerwaffe. The design of the tank was a result of efforts by then Lieutenant-Colonel Heinz Guderian to mechanize German tank forces and develop mobile armored warfare, to include how to support such forces while on campaign. This would become the foundation of blitzkrieg or “lightning war.” A part of that was having more modern tanks and so Guderian envisioned two types of medium tanks. One would combat enemy tanks while the other would support the infantry. In 1935, a specification was issued to manufacturers Daimler-Benz, Krupp, MAN, and Rheinmetall-Borsig to tender designs to meet the specification for a medium tank to combat enemy armor. The Daimler-Benz contender was selected and in 1936, the PzKpfw Ausf A appeared. Subsequent models, the Ausf B and Ausf C, would be produced with new modifications to the design in 1937. But these models were only built in small numbers, with a total just under 40 tanks between all the makes. The Ausf D, introduced in 1938, would be the start of the model that would reach quantity production. On September 27, 1939, the PzKpfw III was officially accepted into service following a long period of troop trials. The tank would be baptized in battle with the commencement of the Polenfeldzug (Polish Campaign) which began on September 1, 1939. Only with the start of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia, on June 22, 1941 was the PzKpfw III the most numerous tank within German front-line tank forces. At the time, model depending, the PzKpfw III was armed either with a 3.7cm KwK 36 cannon or the short barrel 5cm KwK 38 gun. While these were effective against the majority of Soviet armor which consisted of T-26 tanks, as the combat wore on, the Germans encountered the T-34/76 medium tank and the KV-1 heavy tank more and more and both the armor and the armament of the PzKpfw III was coming up short. It was only through superior training, tactical deployment, and better crew ergonomics within the tank (that enhanced efficiency) which saw the PzKpfw III achieve a kill ratio of 6 enemy tanks destroyed of all types for every 1 German tank lost during the initial battles in 1941. Still, steps were taken to improve the protection and firepower of the PzKpfw III with the introduction of the Ausf J model which featured the long barreled 5cm KwK 39 gun. Earlier models were often retrofitted with the new gun as the tank designers had the forethought to build a turret from the outset that could accommodate larger armament. The next model, introduced towards the close of 1941, was the Ausf L and this had the same gun as the Ausf J but the front hull and turret armor was increased to 70mm. In addition, to further increase protection, the Ausf L featured 20mm of spaced armor on the mantlet and the superstructure front.
The photograph depicts a PzKpfw III Ausf L belonging to one of the companies of SS-Panzer Regiment 5, 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking“ (“Viking”). The photograph was likely taken sometime in late 1942 or early 1943. This unit identification is observed by the divisional Sonnenrad (“Sun Cross”) emblem, seen on the tank's fender. This emblem was a representation of the Nordic Sonnenrad but it was “broken” by having four gaps rather than being closed. This makes it more of a Hakenkreuz, or swastika. The tank is an early model of the Ausf L and this can be told by the fact the turret sides still have the pistol ports, one of which can be seen next to the open side hatch. Later models would remove them. It would appear that the tank is behind the lines as the machinegun has a cover on it to protect it from dust and grit and the crew appears to be in just their service shirts rather than their panzerjacke (panzer jacket).
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