IPMS Seattle Chapter Newsletter Page 1 Panzer IV vs. Char B1 Bis France 1940 by Andrew Birkbeck

Despite the use of “” in the First them to be very different vehicles, and World War, and their use in the opening the author expertly briefs the reader as stages of the Second World War in to why they turned out the way they Poland, September 1939, it was in the did: the Char B1 Bis heavily armored, in May 1940 that these yet relatively slow, while the Panzer IV weapons were used for the first time on was more lightly armored, and as a any large scale. The battles around the result lighter, and thus faster. French towns of Stonne, Hannant, and Gembloux for the first time in history Under the heading “The Combatants”, saw massive clashes, involving the author describes the crews of the hundreds of tanks on both the French two tanks, their training (or lack of it), and German sides. And it was during the various mechanical devices these battles that actual “armored installed in the tanks (episcopes etc), divisions” from both sides were and how these helped or hindered the involved. This book covers the two effectiveness of the two tanks. Also major armored vehicles of the Battle of covered is the makeup of the two France, the Wehrmacht’s Panzer IV, and organizations, on the French side the the French Army’s massive Char B1 Bis. DCR (Division Cuirasee) and on the The author, Steven Zaloga, is a well German, the Panzer Division. The I also recommend it as a spur to known military historian of the Second author then concludes with a vivid building models: “back in the day”, Airfix World War, and also a keen modeler. He description of the major engagement produced “Dog Fight Doubles”, wherein is also a very good writer, and the prose of the two armored formations in the the firm packaged two aircraft models of this book flows very well. Battle of France: The Duel at Stonne. in the same box, aircraft that had opposed one another in military The book is divided into seven major At the opening stages of the Battle combat. I read the brief “history” in the chapters, and flows in an intelligent of France, the Germans had more kit instructions, and this spurred me to chronological order. The text is “tanks” than the French by a small go out and do more reading on the augmented by black and white period margin, but many of these German aircraft, their pilots, and the battles in photos, some color photos from tanks were lightly armed which they fought. This Osprey book museums, and color artwork, together and Panzer II vehicles. In terms of more does the same, but in reverse: I read this with charts and battle maps. A brief capable tanks, such as the book covering the men and machines history of tank warfare is given from Char B1 Bis, /39, in the Battle of France, and now I have the First World War through the post R-35 and Somua S-35, vs. gone out and purchased and started war period, and up to the start of World the Panzer III and Panzer IV of the building models of the two tanks War Two. This includes the military German units, the French had covered within its pages: Tamiya’s thinking on both the French and numerical superiority. Yet why were superb Char B1 Bis kit, and one of German sides as to the utility of tanks, the Germans able to destroy the Dragon Models excellent Panzer IV Ausf. and how they should best be employed French Armies in such a short period B/C/D kits! on the battle field. The book then of time? From the tank vs. tank moves on to show how these ideas perspective, this book reveals all. I My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing (different on each side) went on to found it easy to read, easy to and IPMS/USA for supplying the review influence the type of tanks the German understand, and very enlightening. I sample. and French armaments industries recommend it highly to anyone produced. A quick look at pictures of interested in this aspect of the Panzer IV and the Char B1 Bis show military history.