Panther – the worst or the best tank of World War II?

Abstract

The story of Panzer V can be used as a warning to all of those who want to implement the modernisation of the machinery park during the total war – hastily and under pressure. The tank itself did not achieve what was expected, and as a result became a very expensive mistake to Wehrmacht, the value the of the weapon is based mainly on its effectiveness and the effectiveness is measured in three dimensions: tactical, operational and strategic. A tank itself is an entirely tactical tool, however actions taken by army using the tanks belong to operational and the effectiveness of the military can be assessed at a strategic level. Even though there has been a myth around Panzer V tanks and their crews who in 1943–1945 destroyed thousands of enemies’ tanka we need to remember that Germans did not win any battles at an operational level even though they were armed with Panzer V.