Not until the Battle of Cambrai in 1917 did the German High Command realize the tactical implications of armored units in the field. Following this display of power by the British Tank Corps the German Army began serious work upon their own tank corps, and created a unit specialized in the salvage of damaged British tanks. By salvaging the British Tanks the German High Command sought to increase the size of the fledgling Panzer Korps through the rebuilding of British tanks.
The Tank Recovery Command
After the initial success of the British tanks at the Battle of Cambrai, a German unit was created for the sole purpose of recovering the abandoned British armor in the field. This unit, known as the Tank Recover Command at Cambrai – Tankbergungsstelle Cambrai – was formed from the German 2nd Army’s Motor Vehicle Park 2, or Armee Kraftwagen Park 2.
The Tankbergungsstelle specialized in the recovery of tanks and tank parts on the battlefield, according to Steven J. Zolga in his work German Panzers, 1914-18. Eventually the Tankbergungsstelle recovered more than 50 tanks from Cambrai. Out of these 50 eventually 10 were reworked into functioning machines which were then added to the growing German tank corps.
Weaponry of the Rebuilt Tanks
The reworked British tanks were, naturally, equipped to carry – and at times still had – British weaponry. The heavy guns in the British tanks were generally spiked, making them useless to the Germans. The Germans also discovered that it was easier to place captured British Lewis machineguns (adapted to fire German ammunition) in the tanks than it was to rework their own Maxim ’08 maschinen-gewehr. The Germans also took Maxim-Nordfeldt 57mm quick firing guns and adapted them to replace the sabotaged British guns.
From the salvaged tanks and tank parts the Bavarian Army Motor Vehicle Park 20 – Bayerisches Armee Kraftwagen Park 20 – was able to build four Mark IV male tanks, and six Mark IV female tanks. These tanks significantly increased the size and strength of the young German Panzer Korps, and it would also lead to tank versus tank actions in the First World War.
Germany’s Salvaged Tanks
The successful salvage operations of the Tankbergungsstelle Cambrai increased, strengthened, and supported Germany’s new interest in armor. Working under-fire the salvagers brought in tanks and tank pieces that were then rebuilt for German employment. Through the adaptation of both their own and British weaponry the Germans succeeded in arming their rebuilt tanks. Industry and innovation allowed the Germans to increase the size of their Panzer Korps, but it did not allow them to compete with the production capabilities of Britain, France, and the United States.
Sources
Zolga, Steven J. German Panzers, 1914-18. Oxford, UK: Osprey, 2006.
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