by Arnold Blumberg
Poland, the Netherlands, France, the Balkans, and Russia were subjected to Germany’s blitzkrieg between 1939 and 1941. At the forefront of those assaults were tanks of Czechoslovakian design.
In March 1939, what was left of the Czechoslovakian nation was absorbed into Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Included in the newly acquired loot was a cache of about 470 armored fighting vehicles. Some were state-of-the-art for their time, while others were outdated and useless.
Among the former category stood 219 LT vz 35 (Lekhy Tank vzor 35, or Light Tank Model 1935)—almost half of the 424 produced between 1935 and 1938. About 80 LT vz 38s were also secured by the Nazis. The German Army quickly realized that these machines, especially the LT vz 38, would be indispensable additions to its fledgling tank force and provide much needed punch to the Wehrmacht’s “mailed fist.”
Even before the conclusion of the Great War of 1914-1918, Bohemia, which became part of postwar Czechoslovakia, was already known for its established and well-respected arms manufacturing industry. Centered at Pilsen, west of Prague, the Skoda Company had built—for export as well as home consumption—an entire array of artillery and aircraft that was soon followed by an output of automobiles.
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