Germany's lack of interest in tanks during World War I was in stark contrast to its obsession with armored vehicles from 1933 through the end of World War II. Three Panzer divisions were originally formed under Heinz Guderian, chief of staff to the Inspectorate of Motorized Troops. Guderian's Second Panzer Division is featured in the career section of Panzer Commander.

The first German Panzer divisions that invaded Poland in 1939 had a large number of light tanks-Pz Kpfw Is and IIs. However, by 1941 nearly 1,500 of the more heavily armored Panzer IIIs spearheaded Germany's invasion of Russia. Rommel's famed Afrika Corps used similar tanks against the British in North Africa, and several of his missions are featured in the 21st Panzer Division's Career mode.

NOTE During the summer of 1994, a lone Tiger attached to the 501 Waffen SS Heavy Tank Battalion wreaked havoc against the famed Desert Rats of the British 7th Armoured Division, disabling or destroying 25 vehicles.

German armored superiority peaked with the introduction of the Tiger I, a tank designed to achieve battlefield supremacy over the Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. Along with the Panther and later King Tiger, German armor dominated the battlefields of Europe until the fall of 1944. Tank production faltered, however, thanks to administrative woes and overly complicated technical designs.

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