German and captured armored trains in World War II

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Panzerzug BP42 with Panzer 38(t) eastern front

Schienenwolf (Schwellenpflug) – railroad plough

Schienenwolf (Schwellenpflug) Ostpreussen 1944 – 1945

Panzerzug number 30 eastern front 1941

Panzerzug Flakstand (AA) eastern front 1942

Captured soviet armoured steam locomotive

German armoured train panzerzug typ BP42 1943

Armoured train panzerzug eastern front

Panzerzug typ BP42, artillerie und flakwagen 2cm Vierlings Fla,k eastern front 1943

Captured soviet armoured train

Ex soviet armoured train Panzerzug Ostfront

2 cm Flakvierling 38 panzerzug eastern front

Captured soviet armoured train 2

German armoured train Panzerzug BP42 eastern front

Captured soviet armored locomotive

German armoured train Panzerzug in Russia

Derailed Panzerzug number 1 Holland May 1940

German armoured train

German armoured train with French-built Somua S35 tank eastern front

German armoured train Panzerzug in Dorogobusch Russia

schwere Spahzug 1945

Panzerzug BP42 Blucher eastern front 1944

Armoured train panzerzug with tanks

German armored train Panzerzug winter camo

Panzerzug german armored train with panzer 38t winter camouflage

Destroyed russian armored train 6

Destroyed russian armored train 3

Panzerzug german armored train number 21 camo 2

Railcar with flak MG Frankfurt Main Bahnhof 1940

German armored train Panzerzug 2

Panzerzug 11 december 1942

Panzerzug BP42 Kommandowagen

Panzerzug camouflage photo

Russian armored trains

Panzerzug 61 BP42 German armored train

armored train in Russia

Soviet armored train

Panzerzug in Russia

Panzerzug with Totenkopf

German armored train Panzerzug

German armored train in yard at Ohringen Germany 1945

Beute Panzerzug Simferopol Crimea 1941

Destroyed russian armored train 2

Panzerzug german armored train winter camouflage

Armored train

Destroyed russian armored train

Panzerzug german armored train number 21 camo

Destroyed russian armored train 5

Russian armored train 2

Panzerzug with Vierlingsflak

Panzerzug Panzer Zug Eisenbahn

Panzerzug armored train in Russia

Panzerzug german armored train winter camouflage 2

German armored train

Destroyed armored train

German armored train 2

Russian armored train

Destroyed russian armored train, Eastern Front 1941/42

Panzerzug camouflage

russian armored train destroyed

Destroyed russian armored train, Eastern Front 1941-1942

German railway car with 2cm Flakvierling

Panzerzug 24 ID Domanow Russia

Russian armored wagon

German and captured armored trains in World War II.
At the beginning of the 1930s it was known that the end of armoured trains was coming. It was caused by development of artillery, especially of improvement of its accuracy, and dynamic development of aviation. An airplane became “a killer” of an armoured train not only because the train which could not maneuver was a big and thereby easy target but also because airplane was able to destroy tracks and railway junctions so that to paralyze rail traffic for a long time. The armoured train completely lost his battle with planes and its tasks were taken over by armoured cars and a self-propelled guns. Despite those changes which were happening at the moment of outbreak of World War II armoured trains were in arsenals of many armies including German one. Germans being aware of the lack of armoured trains limited their tasks to actions clearly defensive such as defense against other trains, supervising railway tracks, anti-partisan operations, defense of railway stations and transports, limited artillery support of armies and reconnaissance. Most of German armoured trains were improvised and to a great extent captured Czechoslovakian, Polish or Soviet trains were used.

World War Photos

Armored trains