TANKS

As many countries in the world the Germans wanted to make good use of the tank - Panzerkampfwagen - , one of the innovations of the First World War. This led to many experiments but the Germans were the first that combined tanks, infantry and the concept of Auftragstaktik, resulting in indepently moving armoured formations that penetrated deep in the enemy hinterland. If everything came together you got what  is now called Blitzkrieg. This demanded an optimal mix of tanks and halftracks - Sonderkraftfahrzeug -, that gave the infantry - the Panzergrenadiere - the ability to stay close to the tanks and protect them. And vice versa. 

The models that illustrate the descriptions of the various tanks and other armored vehicles are by Andreas Coenen, to see his whole collection visit his site: www.panzer-bau.de.