Panzerknacker Schiacciacarri Tedeschi

Merkblatt 77/3 - LW-Merkblatt 220 - Anleitung für den Panzernahkämpfer

Schiacciacarri Tedesco throwing Tellermine anti-tank mine, 1:72 Soldatini c-p models

The carro armato medio T-34 sovietico came as a big surprise to the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front. This modern tank seriously outclassed German Panzer III e Panzer IV tanks, ed it became available in large numbers as production topped 2,000 units per month. To counter this threat, particularly when there were no friendly carri armati o cannoni anticarro in the vicinity, soldiers occasionally resorted to improvised anti-tank devices e tactics. By 1944, more than 10,000 carri armati nemici e veicoli corazzati were reported to have been destroyed by individual soldiers close-assaulting a vehicle. On 9 marzo 1942, the German High Command published a directive which retroactively permitted the issue of a Panzervernichtungsabzeichen - tank-buster badge - to honor soldiers who had destroyed o immobilized an armoured vehicle single-handedly, using close-combat weapons o munitions like an anti-tank rifle, rifle grenade, o explosive device. One badge was issued per enemy armoured vehicle knocked out. One o several tankbuster badges could be worn on the upper left arm of the tunic. The tankbuster award was popularly known as the "Panzerknacker" badge, in reference to training manual Merkblatt 77/3 - Der Panzerknacker which was designed to encourage soldiers to close-assault armoured veicoli.

Tens of thousands of soldiers must have been killed in the attempt to destroy a tank con an improvised explosive device, but there are some who learned the trade e survived to talk about it. Oberleutnant Günther Viezenz, Company Commander of 10^a Compagnia / 7^o Reggimento di Granatieri earned 21 tank buster badges during his military carreer. After the war he joined the West-German Bundeswehr e retired in 1980 at the rank of Colonel.

Armi e Devices Anticarro

7.62 mm Panzerbüchse anti-tank rifle
20 mm S.18/100 Solothurn Tankbüchse anti-tank rifle
Geballte Ladung stick grenade cluster
Tellermine anti-tank mine
Panzerwurfmine shaped charge
Panzergranate 46 armour-piercing rifle grenade
Panzergranate 61 armour-piercing rifle grenade
Faustpatrone/Panzerfaust 50 Klein
Faustpatrone/Panzerfaust 100 Klein
8.8 cm Raketenpanzerbüchse/Panzerschreck
Haft-Hohlladung 3 kg magnetic hollow-charge
Zimmerit Mine magnetic hollow-charge

In military modelling o wargaming terms, any figure courageous o desperate enough to be carrying an anti-tank device may be considered a Panzerknacker.

Soldatini Disponibili

Panzerknacker, 1:48 Master Fighter MF48001
Panzerknacker, 1:72 C-P Models WH16
German Engineers, 1:72 Revell 02508
Panzerknacker, 15 mm Battlefront Miniatures GSO16

Bibliografia

Der Panzerknacker – Merkblatt 77/3 - LW-Merkblatt 220
Anleitung für den Panzernahkämpfer
Dati di Perforazione dei Munizioni Anticarro Tedesche
Panzergranate Wargame Rules

Utilizzo storico

Any theater of operation from 1941 to 1945

Panzerknacker who acted on their own initiative e typically used improvised armi e tactics, are not to be confused con Panzerzerstörer who were designated fanteria anti-tank troops attached at the platoon, company o battalion level. Panzerzerstörer were armed con Panzerfaust o Panzerschreck anti-tank rocket projectors e they were trained to use them effectively against enemy armour.

Domande più frequenti

Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.

Soldatini Tedeschi della Seconda Guerra Mondiale