German Armored Forces & Vehicles

Truly Universal Carriers.

Bundesarchiv (?)

Captured British-made Universal Carriers (Bren Gun Carriers) with German panzer troop crew, France, 1940. The vehicle to the left is mounted with a German binocular periscope, which (tentatively) suggests that these vehicles were involved in reconnaissance duties at the time. The Germans were critically short of motor vehicles throughout the war. Indeed, it seems doubtful whether they could have proceeded with Operation Barbarossa had it not been for the large-scale capture of motor vehicles in the Western campaign - and even then, their transport system was hugely dependent on horse-drawn transport. Small armoured vehicles like these were particularly desirable, not so much as scout cars, but as ammunition transports, tractors and similar functions. Unlike, perhaps, some other of the combatants, the Germans had little hesitation in using captured enemy equipment when the need arose. Best regards, JR.