German Panzerjaeger I self-propelled gun, 1942 (c)

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North Africa, 1942 (c).

The Germans used and adapted equipment and vehicles captured from the countries they occupied, such as this Czech anti-tank gun mounted on a German Panzer I tank chassis. The 47 mm gun was originally produced at the famous Skoda works for the Czechoslovak Army but armaments production continued during Czechoslovakia's occupation by Nazi Germany. The Panzerjaeger I was used in France, North Africa and against partisan forces in occupied territories.

Self-propelled guns like this were used as mobile artillery, but they could also be fitted with anti-tank or anti-aircraft guns. Self-propelled guns were more lightly armoured than tanks as they were primarily used as combat support weapons. Without an enclosed turret gun crews could be vulnerable to enemy fire.

From a photograph album compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1938-1945.