The Panzerkampfwagen I (armored battle vehicle I) known as the Panzer I (Pz I) was the first battle tank of the reborn German army. It entered service in 1934, essentially being a test vehicle for the development of more powerful tanks.
It had a weight of 5.4 (Ausf A) – 6 tons (Ausf B), maximum armor of 13 mm. and armament of only two 7.92 mm MG 13 machine guns. The tanks saw action in Spain, China, Poland, France, the Netherlands, the Balkans and even at the initial stage of the invasion of the USSR where 410 tanks of the type participated although they were completely obsolete.
The baptism of fire
Tanks received their baptism of fire during the Spanish Civil War. Just as the Soviets reinforced the Democrats mainly with T-26 (later also BT-5) tanks, the Germans reinforced Franco with a total of 106 (other sources say 122) Pz I Ausf B tanks.
The first expedition included 41 tanks which formed the von Thomas Detachment, named after the commander, Lieutenant Colonel Wilhelm von Thomas at the time. The Toma Detachment formed part of the ground forces of the Condor Legion.
Initial Nationalist successes convinced Franco that he could easily capture Madrid. However the Democrats were reinforced with Soviet T-26 tanks and BA-10 armored vehicles , also equipped with the 45mm cannon, both with Soviet crews. The Pz I entered combat on 30 October 1936 and performed satisfactorily in relation to their armament, mainly due to the better training of their crews.
Weaknesses and upgrade attempts
Soviet tanks and armored vehicles dramatically outnumbered the Pz I as they were armed with a 45mm gun. and they could easily destroy the German tanks from a safe distance. Pz could hit Soviet tanks and armor from less than 150m using an armor-piercing round.
The Soviet guns, however, could destroy the German tanks from a distance of even 1,000 m. It was no coincidence that the nationalist camp offered 500 pesetas to anyone who possessed or delivered T-26 tanks. In 1937 only four Pz I tanks were equipped with the Italian Breda M1935 20 mm gun. as the conversion was not considered successful.
Furthermore, by then the Nationalists had captured several T-26s, while 45 Pz I had been destroyed. Later trials were made to fit the French 25mm gun to Pz I's. of a 37mm gun. and the Soviet 45 mm. Tests failed. However, some tanks were converted into flamethrowers. Those Pz I's that "survived" the Spanish Civil War were used by the Spanish Army until about 1945-46.
Despite the Pz I being light tanks equipped only with machine guns and largely unable to deal with opposing tanks, they made their mark in the used concentrated against the opponents with the close support of the Condor Legion aircraft.
Thus, there in Spain, the doctrine of the "Lightning Gun", air-ground warfare was born, so what if Pz I's were completely powerless against enemy tanks? Could it be that in France or the USSR later, the French and Soviets did not enjoy qualitative superiority over German tanks?
Pz I tank equipped with a 20mm Breda gun
Panzerbefehlswagen command tank.