German Armored trains in Balkans 1941-1945

Complete article in Croatian can be found at Wolf's Scale Models Page in Bilten No. 20

German Armored trains in Balkans 1941-1945

by Dinko Predojević (edited and translated by Ivan Bajlo)

During preparation for Second World War, Germany equipped and standardized seven armored trains. During annexation of Austria, occupation of Czechoslovakia and Poland it also took over there's armored trains. Typical German armored train had 12-18 railroad cars and armored locomotives with coal tenders. Train usually had to command cars, main and reserve command post, cars for infantry, artillery car with 7.5cm or 10.5cm guns, cars with 2.0cm anti-aircraft guns, two or three tanks for infantry support in case commander decides to pursue attackers or reconnaissance of surrounding area and flatcars at each end with material need for rail repair or mine clearing equipment.
During the April war, against Royal Yugoslav Army, Armored trains No. 23 and No. 24 where used. After capitulation both trains stayed and have participated in destruction Partisan movement in Serbia during winter 1941/42. After destruction of Partisan uprising in Serbia main battleground of German Armored trains becomes railway Zagreb-Belgrade. Each year number of armored trains was increased and at during winter 1944/45 nearly half of all German armored trains participated in fighting's. As far as I could find railway Zagreb-Belgrade-Salonika, used by German troops retreating from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and parts of Yugoslavia was protected by Armored Railway Trains (Eisenbahn-Panzerzüge): No. 4, 6, 23, 64, 65, 73; Heavy Recon Trains (schweren Spahzüge): 201, 202, 203, 204; all Light Recon Trains (leichte Spahzüge): 301, 302, 303, 304; Command Train (Kommandozüge) No. I; Track Protection Trains (Streckenschützzüge) 'Max' and 'Werner' and Protection cars No. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 38.

During fightnings destroyed or abandoned where armored trains No. 301 in Kraljevo November 11th 1944, No. 302 in Kosovo Polje November 12th 1944 and No. 201 in Čačincima April 15th 1945. Panzerzüge 6 was destroyed October 1st, 1944. In Celje and Dravograd and in area of Slovenian-Austrian border, during May 1945, 12 armored trains surrendered, and some where probably used by Yugoslavia post-war.

This time we will speak s little about trains of 200 and 300 series. For this type of armored trains German industry produced completely new type of armored railroad car with autonomous drive and automatic hook which allowed railroad cars to be connected without personnel exiting the train.

Armored trains of 200 series where called 'Heavy Recon Trains (schweren Spahzüge)' and in it's composition had two command railroad car in the center, then going form the center to ends, on each side four multi purpose car for infantry, two artillery car, two car with anti-aircraft artillery, two car with loaded tank - Somua or Pz.38(t) and two to four flatcars.

Part of the armored train with FT-17 loaded FT-17. Notice the inscription on the first car from the right 'HDŽ Croatia' (HDŽ - Hrvatske Državne Željeznice - Croatian State railways).

Armored trains of 300 series here called 'Light Recon Trains (leichte Spahzüge)' and had four command car and six multi purpose car. Usually they where used in parts in escort of individual freight or passenger trains at the end of train.

Editor's note:
I have deleted parts relating to Dragon's and Revell's scale models of the trains and short history of armored trains since I find the them off topic for this site and it shortens the text but if there is interest I can add them too.

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