This tank was photographed by a Japanese war correspondent on December 9, 1937 in the suburb of Nanjing.
Four German tanks manned by Chinese soldiers attacked a group of four Japanese war reporters who were sent by Asahi newspaper(朝日新聞). One reporter was wounded by Chinese fire and died later from that wounds. The tanks approached to attack other reporters but, then, Japanese forces came to their rescue. Fierce battle continued for 20 minutes.
Three of four tanks were destroyed and one remaining tank retreated. This is one of the three German tanks captured by Japanese.
Isn't it surprising that German tanks were operated in Asia? This has been unknown so far.
German Tank Captured by Japanese in Sino-Japanese War
German Tank Captured by Japanese in Sino-Japanese War
- Attachments
-
- German Tank Captured by Japanese.jpg (48.2 KiB) Viewed 14872 times
Chinese imported 17 Panzer I from Germany in 1936. These German tanks were grouped into 第3連(The Third Regiment) within 裝甲兵團戰車營(The Armored Tank Division).ekke wrote:hmm... I just wonder why and how the chinese got the Panzer I. Did they get them for testing (in case the Chinese wanted to buy the Panzer I)?
-
Phil Bishop
- Member
- Posts: 276
- Joined: 23 Aug 2005, 22:41
- Location: UK
Very interesting. Thanks for an excellent post! I knew the Chinese Nationalists had some German P1 and Sdkfz 221 (also Sdkfz 222 if my memory is correct). There were also German advisors and some units had German helmets and small arms when Germany was looking for allies in Asia before the pact with Germany.
Any information on Japanese use of these vehicles would be appreciated.
Any information on Japanese use of these vehicles would be appreciated.
Hi.
I think it was like always. The troops used the tanks until ammo was depleted or the tank broke. There was no official use of foreign tanks by the japanese exept FT 17, NC 26 and Whippet tanks during the late 20th and early 30th.
And the japanese type 95 light and even the old type 89 medium tank were far superiour to the german Panzer I.
Yours
tom!
I think it was like always. The troops used the tanks until ammo was depleted or the tank broke. There was no official use of foreign tanks by the japanese exept FT 17, NC 26 and Whippet tanks during the late 20th and early 30th.
And the japanese type 95 light and even the old type 89 medium tank were far superiour to the german Panzer I.
Yours
tom!
Ostpanzer, your website is wonderful~Ostpanzer wrote:two unarmed captured Pz-I)
