Customer Reviews

Panzer IV: Heavy Tank

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4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent video ! The film footage(most in black and white)is superb. Some of the best I've ever seen. As I say,even though most of the films are black and white, nevertheless,the footage is clear,crisp,and amazing. The narration likewise, is also very good.It is quite brilliant in fact! You'll learn not only about the panzer 4 in detail but also the history of World War 2. I was completely suprised by the high quality of this video,since I did'nt expect much in the first place. Boy, was I wrong! In the future I'm going to try and order more videos in this series! In regards to the statement made by the previous reviewer(who actually never watched the video...lol)when the panzer 4 first entered service it was "the" heavy tank in the German armed forces. It's original purpose was to be a "heavy" support tank serving along side the panzer 3 which was the main German battle tank.Due to the superiority of the Russian tanks(T-34,etc) in armour and firepower the Germans were forced to develop much heavier tanks such as the Panther and Tiger,hence the Panzer 4 was classified as a medium tank.But for much of the war it was the "heavy" tank, the backbone and workhorse of the German Panzer Corps. Throughout it's history its armour and firepower were constantly improved upon in the different variants making it a formidable force when used rightly. The video makes it abundantly clear that the panzer 4 was considered a "heavy" support tank in its initial concept and design. If the reviewer had actually watched the video they would have seen that this was what was meant by "heavy".

Good narration of the developement of this tank. Lots of footage but mostly short segments. Would have liked to see more interior views and walk around views of museum pieces or even traning films from the war.

This DVD contains film footage of this vehicle primarily from German WWII newsreels. The video is pretty good in that it shows the major varients of this vehicle throughout its operational lifetime, in all theaters, from the pre-war era to the end of the war. The development of the vehicle from its pre-war days, where it was considered a "heavy" support vehicle intended to support infantry and Panzer IIIs, through the early years of the war (where it was armed with short 75 mm guns) through the middle and end of the war (when it was upgunned to long 75mm gun) and became Germany's main battle tank (and ironically considered a "medium" tank) are all covered with video footage. This DVD is also a bit different from what would find on most documentaries on this vehicle (i.e., History, Discovery or Military Channels) in that it is also quite informative, at least for someone with no or little knowledge on the vehicle. For those with considerable knowledge of the vehicle there is really little of any informative value. Hence the video's true value, at least in terms of educational value, would lie with the novice. This is not saying, however, that even an "expert" would not find the video footage of interest.

This review is written -without- seeing the DVD...

The Panzer IV was a 'medium' tank; see Doyle and Jentz's "Encyclopedia of German Tanks...." I trust their judgment and research far more than film makers - trying to meet a deadline.

When producers can't get a title accurate, how good is the content?
"Buyer Beware..."

Edit: 15 November, 2009 -

A borrowed copy was recently viewed and the risk of reviewing, unseen, is justified. A far more accurate title would be: "The Panzer IV: a combat history." The DVD is a compilation of weekly German newsreel footage (Deutsche Wochenschau see: [...] ). The monotone, U.K. English, narration provided, in a chronological format, is full of errors and myths. To list and debunk them all here would be unproductive. One example related to the title should serve as an illustration however.

There is a difference between design, versus designed USE. Anyone willing to do a bit of reading and proper research will find that the Panzer IV was designed as a MEDIUM tank for use in the ROLE of "heavy infantry support." In other words a medium tank is to be used for heavy support. Put even more simply; something of medium size is to be used for heavy purposes.
Obviously more than just the reviewer above, Mr. Jerry Franklin, fails to notice the distinction...

On a more positive note, model builders and history buffs have 'convenient' access to wartime footage of not only the Pz.IV but, other German equipment as well (e.g. field & heavy artillery, Flak vierling, Sd.Kfz.222, 250 & 251, field cars, horse drawn equipment, and so on). There is some surprising color footage of Pz.IVs going through maintenance / field overhaul. Thus, if one wants some ideas for dioramas or another photographic reference source then the DVD is a worthwhile investment.

Lastly on the risk to review a DVD unseen. A failure of communication, on my part, occurred. In an effort to be succinct, mention of several facts were omitted. The prime fact was my financial situation being very limited - due to disability. The original intention, in addition to being honest, was to save someone else, in a similar situation, some money and disappointment...