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To: Homer_J_Simpson

They’re way off [by about a third] on the number of Panzers. And no German tank in 1940 had larger than a 37mm AT gun [Mark III].

The only tank anywhere near what they’re describing is the Mark IV [34 tons]. But it had an infantry support , low velocity short-barreled 75. It would, eventually be upgunned to a long barrelled, high velocity 75mm AT gun [the Mark III would get a 50mm], but guns larger [or longer] than that would not appear until the Tiger I, and the Panther.


10 posted on 05/19/2010 5:45:38 AM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: PzLdr

Beat me to the punch, hee hee. I know the Nazis had a so-called Panzer IV “monster” that was shown around for propganda purposes. All this reeks of panic on the Allied side.


14 posted on 05/19/2010 6:02:23 AM PDT by C19fan
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To: PzLdr; All

Interesting note for 19 May, 1940.

Erwin Rommel and a thrown-together battlegroup of his 7th Panzer (the Recon Batt. and whoever could keep up with him.), captured Cambrai on the afternoon of the 18th, and paused for the night at a town called Marquion, across the river from Arras, where french units are trying to rally.

He is so far ahead of his Headquarters and the unmotorized parts of his Division, which is still in Belgium, that his staff writes him off as dead or captured, and makes no attempt to resupply his group.

They salvage fuel and food from around Cambrai, and move forward to almost the outskirts of Arras, throwing the French Command in to dissarray. They had no idea the Germans were so close.

Meanwhile, the other divisions are sweeping past Arras to the south, and heading for the sea.


22 posted on 05/19/2010 6:22:35 AM PDT by tcrlaf (Obama White House=Tammany Hall on the National Mall)
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