Panzer IV

The Panzer IV programme was started in the very early days of German tank development in 1934. Due to the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles the new type was 'disguised' as an escort vehicle) but this subterfuge was dropped in 1935 and the type became known as the Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfw) IV. This new tank along with the PzKpfw II and PzKpfw III was used to equip the schnellen Truppen, the force that was to become the Panzerwaffe.