Panzer
Panzer is an abbreviation of "Panzerkampfwagen", a German compound noun which translates as "Armoured Combat Vehicle". It became synonymous with German tanks, and tanks in general, during the 1930s, and is usually shortened to become PzKpfw. Panzer models include the following, which were battle tanks used by Germany in the Second World War:
Although all German armoured vehicles are usually referred to as 'panzers', only battle tanks should be so called. Tank destroyers were 'Panzerjäger' or Jagdpanzer, self-propelled infantry guns were 'Sturmgeschütz' ('Assault guns'), whilst self-propelled artillery pieces were usually referred to as 'Sonderkraftfahrzeug' ('Special-purpose vehicle').
Individual variations of these basic marks were given an 'Ausführung' (version) letter, and consequently the field of Panzer recognition is extremely complex. Entire books have been written to explain the differences between a Pz.Kpfw III Ausf. E(U) and a Pz.Kpfw III Ausf. F(U), for example.
'Panzer' tends to cause confusion for some people when referring to the PzKpfw V Panther. It should be noted that the German term "Panzer" means armor or tank, whereas the German for "Panther" is the same as in English. The German "Panzer" does not translate as "Panther". Rather, it is derived from Old French pancier, meaning "armor for the belly".
