At the beginning of World War II, Nazi Germany's army was the most advanced and potentially powerful in the world. Command of the Wehrmacht high hopes in future conflicts rests with the lightning strikes and tank breakthroughs. This strategy was used during the French capture. But in the end it turned out that the best army of the world began to suffer from the mistakes made by their own engineers.
During World War II, the German engineers, and extolled, and cursed. In the early years of armed conflict, as well as in the summer months of the Great Patriotic War, it seemed that Germany has created the world's finest, advanced and efficient armored troops. However, gradually the myth of the invincibility of the German panzer fists began to crumble. It happened after the first significant clashes of the Wehrmacht and the Red Army in 1941. That's when it became clear that, despite the confident advance into Soviet territory, the safety factor of German tanks are lower than many thought at first.
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The consequences of the First World
The first serious "error", which is made by German engineers - is to use the gasoline engine primarily on their armor. This design decision was made not from a good life. The fact is that after the Treaty of Versailles, Germany's technical capabilities were quite severely limited. Therefore, in preparation for the war, the Wehrmacht was able to use mostly cheap petrol units.
Such engines have had their dignity. They are ideally suited for small tanks, but were suitable for widespread use only during summer operations. Striking force formed of light tanks Panzerkampfwagen (Versions I, II and III), which allows you to quickly move around the battlefield.
The diesel engine for the army was prepared by Daimler-Benz engineers even before the invasion of Poland, but the management Germany too hasty, and therefore abandoned the serial production of new, more advanced machines on heavy fuel. In this case, most of the trucks drove on diesel. Therefore, with the provision in the early years of the Second World War, Germany did not know any problems and could easily stretch the supply line.
When the petrol engines will become a problem for the army, it was only a matter of time.
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Tanks on the "powder keg"
The summer passed, and on the eastern front in the Wehrmacht began problems, including with its own technology. It is on the territory of the USSR, German mechanics and crew first encountered the phenomenon of the so-called "powder keg" in the petrol engine. The bottom line is that even the simplest damaged fuel tanks and the engine compartment often ended in the destruction of the machine. In 1942, additional problems were revealed in the first place in the "Tigers" and "Panthers".
The German company has created excellent Maybach petrol engines, but there were problems. The slightest damage to the engine or fuel system in action becomes a cause of accumulation of gasoline vapors into the engine compartment. If you are in the tank at the same time damage the power grid - there is a strong detonation. The same problem was found in the end the most powerful self-propelled guns and Germany - "Ferdinand." There are other minor issues that could lead to stop fighting vehicle.
For example, a nasty little problem is detected in the transmission of "Tigers". During some maneuvers the machine all the time strove to turn around. At the same time, during strong turns in "Tiger" flew with the shoe tracks.
logistic hell
Germany's successful military campaign in Europe was largely due to the excellent logistics network. Wehrmacht almost never encountered with delayed deliveries of fuel and ammunition. This changed during the war with the Soviet Union. In the worst days of the campaign, the gap between the front line and logistics center could reach 150-200 km. All this led to the fact that German technology was forced to stand idle. The lack of timely provision of fuel and ammunition, coupled with the numerous problems with the gasoline engines did their work. The Red Army received a valuable opportunity for a counterattack, than certainly enjoyed.
By the end of the war German engineers will solve most of the problems with the transmission in their tanks, but innovation and will not be accepted. Problems with electrical equipment fastidious and cumbersome, and widespread replacement of engines would produce no time. Europe's most powerful military machine in the collision with the Soviet Union has malfunctioned at the highest level - in its political leadership, which on the one hand imposes more restrictions on the engineers to accelerate preparations for war, and on the other hand is placed before the technique is strictly the opposite problem - requiring the operation of machines of attrition in the harshest conditions.
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I would like to know more interesting facts about World War II? Then read on top Why Soviet tankers hang a bucket on a tank barrel and it really helped.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/090519/50329/