ICM 1/35 ‘Panzerabwehr 1918’ German WWI Soldiers (4 Figures) # 35724

The term “Panzerabwehr”—meaning “anti-tank defence”—came into urgent use in 1918, as German forces faced increasing numbers of Allied tanks on the battlefield.

For the German Army, this was a new and evolving threat that demanded rapid adaptation in both weapons and tactics.

The Tank Threat

The appearance of British tanks such as the Mark IV tank during battles like Cambrai shocked German troops.

These armoured vehicles could cross trenches, crush barbed wire, and resist standard rifle fire—undermining traditional defensive positions.

Early Anti-Tank Methods

At first, German soldiers relied on improvised and often dangerous methods:

- Field artillery firing directly at tanks
- Concentrated rifle and machine-gun fire at weak points
- Grenades and explosive charges used at close range
- Trench obstacles, ditches, and barriers to slow or trap tanks

These methods required courage and coordination, often involving soldiers getting dangerously close to advancing armour.

The Mauser 1918 T-Gewehr

A major breakthrough came with the introduction of the Mauser 1918 T-Gewehr, the world’s first purpose-built anti-tank rifle.

- Fired a powerful 13.2mm round capable of penetrating early tank armour
- Operated by a two-man team
- Heavy recoil made it difficult to use, but it gave infantry a fighting chance

This weapon marked the beginning of dedicated infantry anti-tank capability.

Tactics in 1918

German anti-tank teams worked in coordination:

- Rifles and machine guns suppressed accompanying infantry
- T-Gewehr teams targeted vulnerable sections of tanks
- Assault troops closed in with grenades if tanks were immobilised

The aim was not always to destroy the tank outright, but to disable, isolate, or force it to withdraw.

Legacy

The emergence of “Panzerabwehr” in 1918 signalled the birth of anti-tank warfare—a concept that would become central in future conflicts.

The lessons learned in facing early tanks directly influenced the development of specialised weapons and tactics in the years leading up to the Second World War.

These German WWI anti-tank soldiers represent a moment of rapid battlefield innovation, adapting under pressure to counter one of the most revolutionary weapons of modern warfare.