The Panzerkampfwagen III, or the Panzer III as it is usually known was a German medium tank produced from 1939 to 1943. During the early campaigns against Poland, France, Yugoslavia and Greece its high mobility proved highly valuable, and added to the image of the German army as superior to the allied forces.
Intended to fight other tanks to complement the anti-infantery Panzer IV. When the German forces encountered the vastly superior T-34 and KV tanks of the Soviet Union in 1941, the weak 37 and 50mm guns of the Panzer III proved incapable of penetrating the armor of these new tanks. The heavier Panzer IV was better suited to equip with heavier guns and it took on the role of the main tank of the German forces for the remainder of the war, even as better tanks such as the Panther were eventually developed. The Panzer III was relegated to support roles, proving effective against infantery. Many Panzer III were converted to Stug III to better suit the defensive war the germans were fighting of the german forces in the final years of the war.
After the war a couple of Panzer III tanks were sent to Norway were they for a couple of years served as a quick reactonary force incase the soviets attacked the oslo area. They were soon replaced by more modern tanks.
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