{"product_id":"panzer-iii-hardcover","title":"Panzer III - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eThomas Anderson\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis highly illustrated title details the history of the Panzer III throughout World War II, from its early development in the pre-war years through its pivotal role in the Blitzkrieg campaigns in Poland and Western Europe and its eventual obsolescence on the Eastern Front.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe Panzer III was the mainstay of the German armored force in the early years of World War II, and spearheaded the victories in Poland, Western Europe, and the Balkans. Designed and developed in the mid-1930s, it was originally equipped with a 3.7cm gun and with 30mm thick armor. Early combat in Poland and France saw the need for this to be upgraded, and later models were armed with a 5cm KwK L\/42 gun and had the frontal armor reinforced to 60mm by adding extra plating. This later version proved to be particularly effective during the campaigns in the Balkans and against British armor in the North African desert campaign. However, in the first months of Operation \u003ci\u003eBarbarossa\u003c\/i\u003e -- the German invasion of the Soviet Union -- it became obvious to battlefield commanders that the Panzer III had become obsolete as a main battle tank and it began to be replaced by the Panzer IV as the main front-line battle tank. The Panzer III was relegated to a secondary role, but its chassis proved the basis for the Sturmgeschutz III, which became the most widespread German armored vehicle of World War II.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThomas Anderson\u003c\/b\u003e is a specialist on German armoured fighting vehicles of World War II, and his other titles for Osprey include \u003ci\u003ePanzer IV\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSturmgesch\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eü\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003etz\u003c\/i\u003e. He regularly contributes to popular modelling and historical magazines, including \u003ci\u003eMilitary Modelcraft International\u003c\/i\u003e (UK), \u003ci\u003eSteel Art\u003c\/i\u003e (Italy), \u003ci\u003eHistoria Militar\u003c\/i\u003e (Spain) and \u003ci\u003eBatailles \u0026amp; Blindes\u003c\/i\u003e (France). He lives in Hänigsen, Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 304\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.18 x 9.61 x 7.56 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 22, 2022\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47286546825465,"sku":"9781472845870","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0789\/2782\/3097\/files\/TU5JT0ZMUHp1VXQ3V1IzTkd4cDVSQT09.webp?v=1769107096","url":"https:\/\/bookscloud.io\/products\/panzer-iii-hardcover","provider":"BooksCloud Book Dropshipping","version":"1.0","type":"link"}