Originally identified as the '2cm MG Panzerwagen', the PzKpfw II light tank was designed to supplement the PzKpfw I by providing an automatic weapon capable of firing both a high explosive round and an armor piercing round. The design period was very short: the initial order for a tank design in the 10-ton class was issued by the Waffenamt in July 1934, and the first complete soft steel prototype was put through its paces in October 1935. Unfortunately, many of the teething problems had not been worked out when rapid expansion of the panzerwaffe and international politics forced the decision to order a comparatively large number of PzKpfw IIs. First issued to Panzer units in the spring of 1936, the PzKpfw II was armed with a 2cm KwK L/55 gun and was crewed by three men.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a German Sd. Kfz. 121 PzKpfw II Ausf. C light tank that was attached to Panzer Regiment 31, 5.Panzer Division, then deployed to the Eastern Front during 1941. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 2-1/2-inches
Width: 1-1/4-inches

Release Date: April 2012

Historical Account: "Danzig" - The 5.Panzer Division of the German Army was formed on November 24th, 1938, and dissolved on May 8, 1945. It fought in Poland, France, the Balkans and in Russia; first as part of Army Group Center (194144) and then Army Group North. The division surrendered to the Russians in Danzig. During the period of World War II, it was led by the following commanders: von Vietinghoff, von Hartlieb-Walsporn, Lemelsen, Fehn, Metz, Nedtwig, Fckenstedt, Decker, Lippert, Hoffmann-Schnborn e Herzog.