Beutepanzer

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A British Mk IV Beutepanzer during WW1

Beutepanzer (German, lit. 'Captured Tank')^[1] is the German designation for a captured armored fighting vehicle. The Germans used Beutepanzers to gain insight into enemy technology and to augment their own armored forces.

Beutepanzers were usually repainted to sport distinctive national emblems and unit insignia in order to reduce friendly fire from other Axis forces.

First World War[]

During World War I, the Germans had many Beutepanzers in their arsenal, far exceeding the production of their own tanks. Beutepanzers were given a German national cross and new camouflage. By the end of the war, a total of 170 Beutepanzers were still in running condition with 35 reported to be battle ready. In comparison, over a third of the 20 A7V tanks built by Germany had been destroyed or captured by then.

Second World War[]

A captured Soviet T-60 pressed into service in the Kholm Pocket

A Soviet Captured Tiger 1

Beutepanzers played an important role in the Wehrmacht.^[2] After the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, many Czech tanks were claimed. In October 1940, the Heeresamt ordered two of each Beutepanzer type to be delivered to the Army Weapons Office for evaluation. Beutepanzers were used by the German Army on all fronts.

During the Western Campaign, Germany had captured 691 British tanks in total with an estimate of 350 being reusable. Most Beutepanzers captured during the campaign were modified into observation tanks or ammunition transports. Heavily damaged units were salvaged for spare parts. Additionally, roughly 1,800 modern (non-FT-17s) French tanks were captured during the May-June campaign and returned to service as Beutepanzers, alongside a similar number destroyed beyond repair.^[3]

The Germans were able to secure some T-26 & BT Tanks^[4] on the Eastern Front from 1941 to 1942. During 1943 the Germans started producing their own T-34^[5] tanks in captured Soviet production plants, designated T-34 747(r) or Panzerkampfwagen 747(r).^[5] However, because the tanks were not captured, they are not always classified as Beutepanzers.

The Germans were not the only users of captured tanks, though other nations didn't usually deploy captured vehicles for combat duty. The British were able to secure a Tiger 1 near Tunis in April 1943 (Tiger 131), and the Soviets soon captured a Tiger 1 tank thereafter.

German Beutepanzers during WW2^[2][4][5][6]

Beutepanzer	Original Tank	Captured From
Panzerkampfwagen 35 (t)[6]	Škoda LT vz. 35[6]	Czechoslovakia
Panzerkampfwagen 38 (t)[2]	CKD-Praga LT-H
Praga T-33
T-50		Soviet Union
Panzerkampfwagen 751 (r)	T-35[4]
T-60[4]
PzKpwf 756 (r)	KV-1
Panzerkampfwagen 754 (r)[4]	KV-2[4]
PzKw 747 (r)[2][4]	T-34[2]
IS-2
BA-10 203 (r)	BA-10
Artillery Tug 604	Comintern
Cruiser Tank Mk. 1 (A9)		United Kingdom
Sturmpanzer Churchill[2]	Churchill[2]
Panzerjäger 731 (e)	British Universal Carrier
7TP[2]		Poland
wz. 34
Panzerkampfwagen 35 H 734 (f)	Hotchkiss H-35	France
Panzerkampfwagen 39-H 735 (f)	Hotchkiss H-39
Panzerkampfwagen B2 740 (f)	Renault Char B1
Panzerkampfwagen 18R 730 (f)	Renault FT
Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731 (f)	Renault R35
AB43 Spähpanzer	Autoblindo AB41	Italy
Sd.Kfz 735 (i)	Fiat M13/40
P40 747 (i)	Fiat P26/40
Sturmgeschütz M42	Semnovente 75/18

Soviet Beutepanzers during WW2^[5]

Beutepanzer	Original Tank	Captured From
Sturmgeschütz III		Nazi Germany
T-5	Panzerkampfwagen V Panther
T-IV	Panzerkampfwagen IV
T-III	Panzerkampfwagen III
LT-38 Praga	Panzerkampfwagen 38 (t)
T-1	Panzerkampfwagen 1

Finnish Beutepanzers during WW2

Beutepanzer	Captured From
BT-7	Soviet Union
T-26
T-28

Romanian Beutepanzers during WW2

Beutepanzer	Captured From
T-40	Soviet Union

See also[]

• List of foreign vehicles used by Nazi Germany in World War II

References[]