In 1944, at the height of activity, up to half a million were based there with the united states army air forces usaaf. Armored trains and railway guns the armored train, a carryover from the century before, saw renewed interest during world war 1 and continued in action even into world war 2 and beyond. List of italian army equipment in world war ii wikipedia. In poland, trains were active in the defense effort of the september campaign against the invading germans. List of german combat vehicles of world war ii wikipedia. What are some good books of world war 2 from a german. The soviets had a lot more including captured polish armored trains. The most popular 172 scale world war ii wwii model vehicle kits brands include pegasus hobbies, plastic soldier, armourfast, italeri, and trumpeter. We are aware of 4 similar reference publications related to german armoured train schienenpanzer. This book gives a detailed account of the types and. It saw service on the russian front in world war ii, but. Buy german armored trains 19041945 by wolfgang sawodny isbn.
European military models from world war ii lgb trains. I have dozens of books on german armor, wheeled and tracked armor and soft skin vehicles. In honor of their world war ii service, the 9th was officially nicknamed the phantom division. However, due to the many circumstances beyond their control, german military rail planners were often hard pressed to maintain lesser distances from rail head to the front line especially when german troops were on the attack in the first two to three years. Starting with the first german uses of military armored trains in the early 1900s, the book continues through the world war i and reichswehr periods, to world war ii, the main focus of the book. Starting from the blitzkrieg period, when nazi germany unleashed its mobile armored divisions into poland, france and the low countries, german armored warfare of world war ii captures the full might of the panzerwaffe, hitlers panzer arm, from its early triumphs to its final demise. This definitive series continues with this volume on german armored vehicles. An armoured train is a railway train protected with armour. One was to protect the east anglian coast from the german navy, and the other was to protect the east coast of scotland.
First seen during the american civil war and later appearing in the francoprussian war and the angloboer wars, the armored train came to prominence on the eastern front during world war i. An incredible true story of combat and chivalry in the wartorn skies of world war ii if i could only own one book about the war it would be that one. The days of hope, lyn macdonald, penguin books 1989 isbn. The main emphasis here is on the operational history of german armored train units on the russian front, and includes many previously. It saw service on the russian front in world war ii, but was increasingly sidelined because of its vulnerability to air attack. At the beginning of world war ii in september 1939, poland used armoured trains after the german invasion. I came across these books while hunting for research material to use with the trumpeter series of kits that represent the bp4244 armored train. German armored trains in world war ii schiffer military. German armored trains in world war ii by wolfgang sawodny.
Armored trains download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. During the second boer war, winston churchill, then a war correspondent, was travelling aboard an armoured train on 15 november 1899, when a boer commando led by general louis botha ambushed the train. During world war two, polish, soviet, german and british armed forces used armored trains. The main emphasis here is on the operational history of german armored train units on the russian front, and includes many previously unpublished photographs. Steven j zaloga examines the origins and development of the armored train, focusing equally on the technical detail and on the fascinating story of how armored trains were actually used in combat. Each armoured wagon carried a mounted qf 6 pounder hotchkiss gun and a vickers machine gun or lewis gun. After world war ii, automotive technology had caught up sufficiently to render the armored train obsolete. It was caused by development of artillery, especially of improvement of its accuracy, and dynamic development of aviation. Several of the books are in german and hard to find nowadays in the last 40 years i have built 93 5 scale german models of all kinds, some of which were scratch built and many are variations. Armorama schiffer books german armored trains in wwii. Their job was to man and maintain the vast fleets of. This new book is the third by wolfgang sawodny on german armored trains in world war ii, and presents all new information not previously discussed in his first two highly successful volumes.
Such was the case in slovakia, where three armored trains. For the most part they were used during the late 19th and early. German armored trains in world war ii schiffer military, vol. Most people dismiss these things as being effectively useless, or great sinks which material and men. German armored trains in world war ii, volume ii by. Armoured trains saw use during the 19th century in the american civil war 18611865, the francoprussian war 18701871, the first and second boer wars 18801881 and 18991902. Armored trains were used to varying degrees by most countries during world war 1. It was also deployed during the russian civil war and the technology traveled east into the chinese civil war, and the subsequent war with japan. Military forces around the world were quick to see the advantages of railways in warfare, whether for the rapid deployment of men or the movement of heavy equipment like artillery.
Unsurprisingly, there are lots of amazing stories from the conflict, though some are more well known than others. For a technologically advanced german military establishment the concept,development and use of armored trains at would seem to be an old fashioned and even slightly ludicrious weapons system for widespread use during world war 11 espisically for a german military that developed advanced radar systems, jet bombers and fighters, remote controlled smart bombs, v1 and v 2 rockets and tiger. This video takes a closer look at the german and austrohungarian armored trains. During world war ii, italy regularly mounted cannons on portee trucks. World war ii was one of the bloodiest wars in human history. German armored trains in world war ii, volume ii 52. Since the end of world war ii the photos have remained in the private hands of. Armed with an 88 mm l71 gun, the vehicle could perform well in the defensive role on the eastern and western fronts but was an expensive failure for nazi germany when used in an offensive role as a main battle tank.
An illustrated encyclopedia 18252016 is the first englishlanguage edition of the authoritative work on the subject. German and captured armored trains in world war ii. German world war ii organizational series order of battle. The series consists of a modular system of books, dealing in detail with the german armed forces ground combat units in world war ii. Armoured trains usually include railroad cars armed with artillery, machine guns and autocannons, some also had slits used to fire small arms like pistols and rifles from the inside of the train, this feature was especially prevalent in earlier versions of armoured trains.
Wolfgang sawodny author of german armored trains in world. Jul 20, 2011 it saw service on the russian front in world war ii, but was increasingly sidelined because of its vulnerability to air attack. Apart from official military use, trains often served as support for partisan groups which staged massive offensives during the last years of the second world war. The 9th armored division the phantom division was an armored division of the united states army during world war ii. German armored trains in world war ii imperial war museums. German armored trains in world war ii, volume ii book. Only four were produced and they were used in the late 1930s and the early part of the war for training purposes. During the occupation, the german authorities orchestrated a programme of germanisation of the country.
Jun 26, 2017 armored trains were used to varying degrees by most countries during world war 1. The involvement of the grand duchy of luxembourg in world war ii began with its invasion by german forces on 10 may 1940 and lasted beyond its liberation by allied forces in late 1944 and early 1945 luxembourg was placed under occupation and was annexed into germany in 1942. This new book is the definitive reference on this little known subject. See more ideas about railway gun, train and model trains. Germany also had fully armoured locomotives which were used on such trains. I and was developed between wars in the conflicts in eastern europe. On the german left the 2d panzer division, leading the xlvii panzer corps, collided with the noville defenses early on the 19th.
The spanish civil war saw a little use of armoured trains, though world war ii. New stories surface constantly, such as the recently uncovered encounter of charlie brown and franz stigler. Jun 01, 2014 probably one of the strangest aspects of world war two, and to some degree, world war one, was the inclusion of armored trains into the mix. Also, permanent installation of guns on trucks and armored cars were done on adhoc basis, therefore many selfpropelled guns had no official name besides descriptive type of truck plus type of cannon. Mar 15, 2003 starting from the blitzkrieg period, when nazi germany unleashed its mobile armored divisions into poland, france and the low countries, german armored warfare of world war ii captures the full might of the panzerwaffe, hitlers panzer arm, from its early triumphs to its final demise. The 1st world war and subsequent russian civil war 1918 21 had armored trains very effectively used by poland, czechoslovakia the u.
Polish, russia both red and white and other forces used armored trains in considerable numbers during the russian civil war. How sms goeben and sms breslau, two german battleships in 1914 sailed under ottoman flag and helped enver pasha to get the ottoman empire into world war 1. The invasion, conquest and occupation of the above nations between 1938 and 1941. This video takes a closer look at the german and austrohungarian. Best book i have ever read about the war was a higher call. Probably one of the strangest aspects of world war two, and to some degree, world war one, was the inclusion of armored trains into the mix. Over two million american servicemen passed through britain during the second world war. Pdf german armored trains on the russian front download. Military trains and equipment are one of the of more popular groups within the hobby of european model train collecting.
Thank you for the most informative site on german armor. Germany had 21 armored trains in 1942, 29 in 1943, 44 in 1944 and 55 in 1945. German tank maintenance in world war ii will be of interest to persons who want to compare. Britain built two armored trains in wwi war historical photos during world war i, the british built two armored trains. Their job was to man and maintain the vast fleets of aircraft needed to attack german cities and industry. War locomotives and panzer trains from rei military. Armored trains were used by both sides on the eastern front during wwii. I by wolfgang sawodny, 9780887401985, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. But these insane trains have left an indelible mark on history.
The 9th armored division was cited for extraordinary heroism and gallantry in combat in the vicinity of waldbillig and savelborn, luxembourg from 1622 december 1944 during. This two volume set companions to the authors previous books on world war ii. Millions took part in the fighting, and sadly, millions died. Download leo niehorsters german wwii organizational series. German uses of military armored trains in the early 1900s, the book continues through the world war i and reichswehr periods, to world war ii, the main focus. German and captured armored trains in world war ii world.
The trains were used to move troops around, but the trains and tracks were heavily bombed by the luftwaffe. For a technologically advanced german military establishment the concept,development and use of armored trains at would seem to be an old fashioned and even slightly ludicrious weapons system for widespread use during world war 11 espisically for a german military that developed advanced radar systems, jet bombers and fighters, remote controlled smart bombs, v1 and v2 rockets and tiger. Below is the grossly incomplete list of these selfpropelled weapons. Jun 11, 2018 how sms goeben and sms breslau, two german battleships in 1914 sailed under ottoman flag and helped enver pasha to get the ottoman empire into world war 1. Most people dismiss these things as being effectively useless, or great sinks which material and men went into which could have been used elsewhere. Hobbylinc carries over 300 172 scale world war ii wwii model vehicle kits at discounts up to 44%. Completely revised and expanded since its french publication, armoured trains. It is designed so that the interested reader can select those volumes of interest to him without having to purchase an entire, very expensive book. These nations would continue to develope and improve on the quality of its ats thru the 1920s and 30s. An airplane became a killer of an armoured train not only because the train. During the mexican revolution 19101920, the spanish civil war 19361939 and the second world war armored trains were actively used by all parties included in the conflicts. Armored trains of world wars i and ii business insider. They were typically formed by a small locomotive between two armoured wagons, usually small steel coal wagons with extra armour, and other wagons carrying ammunition. Dec, 2005 the main forces of the two armored divisions, although relatively close to the reconnaissance teams, were still a few hours behind.