In WWII, what were the major differences in tank combat on the eastern and western fronts?

History

How did the Eastern Front differ from the Western Front?

A major difference between the Eastern and Western Fronts was their size. The larger Eastern Front meant that the war there was more fluid and fighting was characterized by mobility and offensives. The smaller Western Front saw much less movement and fighting was characterized by defensive trench warfare.

How did tanks change the way war was fought?

They were as slow as a walking soldier and easily knocked out by artillery fire. On the other hand, tanks inspired terror, rolled over barbed wire, and provided important firepower to the infantry with their machine-guns and artillery pieces. All six were put out of action during the attack, four from enemy shellfire.

How did tanks change WW2?

Between World Wars I and II, improvements were made to the tank engine to give it greater speed and power; track and suspension systems and weaponry upgrades came as well. Soldiers of the 77th Division infantrymen trudge toward the front lines past mud-clogged tanks during the battle for Okinawa, Japan, in 1945.

How were tanks used in combat?

First seen on the battlefield in large numbers during World War I, tanks were used as a ram to break through enemy trenches or to provide a safe firing position for infantry support troops. It was during the period between world wars that tank strategies began to develop.

Which was worse Eastern Front or Western Front in WW2?

The struggle for the Eastern Front was bigger and costlier than the fighting in the West, but it was also significantly more brutal. Both sides flouted international law and practiced institutionalized acts of cruelty against enemy troops, prisoners and civilians.

What was it like to be in a tank in WW2?

While driving or in battle for hours at a time the conditions inside were almost unbearable. Some of the spent shell casings were used as makeshift bedpans to urinate into and severe constipation was very common. Conditions inside were also cramped, the crew packed like sardines.

What problems did tanks encounter on the battlefield?

But the Mark I had its limitations. The British had rushed it into service before engineers had ironed out teething problems, and many of the tanks broke down due to mechanical issues. They were dark, noisy, furiously hot and cramped. Engine fumes and flammable materials could turn them into a death-trap in an instant.

Why are tanks effective?

Tanks are essentially weapons platforms that make the weapons mounted in them more effective by their cross-country mobility and by the protection they provide for their crews.

Who had better tanks in ww2?

The German Tiger tank (above) had a more powerful main gun, heavier armor, and wider tracks than the American Sherman tank (below). The German 88 is more powerful than any American tank gun used during the course of most of the war.



Where were tanks used in ww2?

The Sherman tank was the most commonly used American tank in World War II. More than 50,000 Shermans were produced between 1942 and 1945. They were used in all combat theaters—not only by the United States, but also by Great Britain, the Free French, China, and even the Soviet Union.

What are the drawbacks of tanks?

One last disadvantage was its weight. Tanks (as they are mainly made from metal) are heavy and so it’s not really easy to pull them back out if they sink. The tanks would not sink into water, but when they faced deep mud, they would sink. A few people died because the tank sunk and they were not able to escape in time.

What was the main type of military strategy used on the Western Front?

Early land warfare tactics included the use of cover, charges and counterattacks. Land battles quickly led to trench warfare on the Western Front in Belgium and France. Each side occupied fighting lines (fronts) made up of trenches dug into the ground or breastworks constructed above low-lying country.

How did German soldiers react to tanks?

The first tank attacks had caused fear amongst German soldiers. Some had fled rather than face them. Even at Flers, though, the Germans had been able to destroy tanks with artillery, and they found that machine gun fire and grenades could damage them. After Flers the Germans formed 50 anti-tank artillery batteries.



What was the main reason tanks were introduced during World War I quizlet?

Tanks were created to make it easy to adapt to the Western Front weather conditions.

What was the purpose of tanks in ww1?

The tank was developed as a means to break the stalemate on the Western Front in World War I. Military technology of the time favored the defense. Even if an attack did succeed, it was almost impossible to exploit the breach before the enemy rushed in reinforcements to stabilize the front.

Did tanks end trench warfare?

The Allies’ increased use of the tank in 1918 marked the beginning of the end of trench warfare, however, since the tank was invulnerable to the machine gun and rifle fire that were the trenches’ ultimate defense.

Why did tanks have genders in ww1?

The two types of vehicles were to work in pairs, one destroyer tank and one man-killing tank. The half armed with the 6-pounder guns, which seemed more phallic, became known as male tanks and their machine-gun toting partners became female tanks.

Why did some women’s skin turn yellow in ww1?

The Canary Girls were British women who worked in munitions manufacturing trinitrotoluene (TNT) shells during the First World War (1914–1918). The nickname arose because exposure to TNT is toxic, and repeated exposure can turn the skin an orange-yellow colour reminiscent of the plumage of a canary.



Why is a tank called a tank?

The name ‘tank’ came from British attempts to ensure the secrecy of the new weapons under the guise of water tanks. During the First World War, Britain began the serious development of the tank.

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