Tigerfibel
Encyclopedia
The Tigerfibel and Pantherfibel were crew instruction manuals for the German tanks of World War II
, the Panzer VI Tiger
heavy tank
and the Panzer V Panther
medium tank.
Like other manuals designated as Fibel, they were apparently intended to summarise what the crew needed to know for day-to-day use of the tank, and capture their interest. It is well-illustrated and much of it is written as poetry
in a humorous manner. It is remarkably different from the usual style of a German tank manual of the period, describing its machinery and operations in tedious detail.
The manuals were approved by Heinz Guderian
, the Inspector-General of Panzer
troops.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Panzer VI Tiger
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
heavy tank
Heavy tank
A heavy tank was a subset of tank that filled the heavy direct-fire role of many armies.Heavy tanks have usually been deployed to breakthrough enemy lines, though in practice have been more useful in the defensive role than in the attack...
and the Panzer V Panther
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
medium tank.
Like other manuals designated as Fibel, they were apparently intended to summarise what the crew needed to know for day-to-day use of the tank, and capture their interest. It is well-illustrated and much of it is written as poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
in a humorous manner. It is remarkably different from the usual style of a German tank manual of the period, describing its machinery and operations in tedious detail.
The manuals were approved by Heinz Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
, the Inspector-General of Panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
troops.