Sd.kfz. 7 Mittlerer Zugkfraftwagen 8t

Book excerpt: During WW2, the German armed forces were the greatest user of half-track vehicles. Such vehicles were used in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS, where they served as personnel carriers, tractors, combat engineering vehicles, as well as self-propelled carriages for anti-aircraft guns. Sd. Kfz. 7, Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t (middle half-track vehicle 8 tons) was designed in 1932 by Krauss Maffei and by 1937, the ultimate Km m 11 model was introduced. Approximately 13,600 units were produced until production ceased in 1945, including about 200 built under license by BREDA in Italy and even a copy by Vauxhall in the UK. The book presents a collection of photographs of different versions of the tractor from the private archives of German soldiers. The photographs depict vehicles serving on different fronts and being utilized in several roles. Photos of most production versions are shown, Including self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and artillery tractors. This profusely illustrated photo albums includes mainly previously unseen pictures, many from private sources in Germany. Whatever the rules might have said, German soldiers took many photos, and these are the basis for this book. Book contains about 140 period photos.