Thomas Anderson - Panzergrenadier

This Oberfeldfwebelcommanding an SdKfz 251 is wearing headphones and a throat-type microphone connected to a Funksprech(FuSprech transceiver) d. The senior NCO has been awarded an Eisernes Kreuz 1st Klasse(Iron Cross: First Class) and a Sportabzeichen(sports badge).

The rapid movement or transfer of larger military formations (infantry) has always been a major problem in warfare, since the marching speed of an equipped infantryman averaged some 4kph. This made it extremely difficult to make a quick and decisive intervention when threatened with invasion. The situation was somewhat alleviated as railway routes began to be built.

By 1936, the first half-tracked self-propelled gun had been designed by Rheinmetall. It was armed with a 3.7cm FlaK 43/1 L/70 gun, mounted in a small open turret, and built using the chassis of a Hansa-Loyd HLkl 3. A short time later, Bssing-NAG produced a similar type of vehicle on their BNL6 chassis, but it was more heavily armed with a 7.5cm L/40.8 gun. Both types were intended to operate in the tank destroyer role; the Bussing-Nag type would have been a formidable light field gun to provide supporting fire. Finally, Hanomag developed a reconnaissance vehicle based on their H 8(H) chassis. None of the three types progressed beyond the prototype stage.

Only at the beginning of the modern era were measures taken to improve mobility. Infantry and Jger(riflemen) were supplied with horses as mobile units, but still went into battle on foot a form of combat that the dashing cavalry generally rejected.

As nations developed and became more industrialized, the number of motor manufacturers grew and military forces could be equipped with various types of vehicle.

During World War I, Great Britain led the development of the tank and was the first to deploy the type in a battle. These armoured vehicles, fitted with continuous linked track, were intended for use as breakthrough weapons able to negotiate rough terrain, breach trench systems and attack fortified positions. The first to be built were fabricated from an early form of armour plate which gave some protection against infantry fire. The tank had a formidable armament: four hull-mounted machine guns and two artillery guns in side sponsons, but conditions inside the vehicle during battle must have been horrendous for the crew.