Panzer IV, Medium Tank: German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign , Summer 1944

When the Allied armies landed on the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944 the backbone of the armored reaction force awaiting them was made up of 758 Pzkpfw IV tanks, a number which represents almost half the fully—tracked vehicles available for the defence of the West. The first models of these tanks had entered service in November 1937 and although replacements had been considered, the original design was continually up—gunned and up—armoured. Perhaps lacking the glamour of the Panther and Tig...