Original German WWII Panzer IV Identification Tank Model with Retained Markings by Haba

Original Item. Only One Available. This is an intricately-designed wooden scale model of the German Panzer IV tank. This model was made for military training purposes, to teach soldiers the differences between vehicle models and variations. The tank is marked with a warning on one side.

The tank is painted in a military khaki, with several hatches for crew, an intact turret and cannon, as well as working flaps in the front of the treads. Underneath the tank is a black stamp bearing the visage of an angel, the emblem for the manufacturer ‘Haba', which still manufactures wooden toys. They were a known maker of these ID Models.

The tank measures roughly 12½ x 4¾ x 6” and retains most of the original treading, but due to its age there is some of it which is broken off or close to breaking. We would not recommend trying to play with this model, and we are selling it as a display piece only.

A great ID Model, ready for further research and display.

The Panzer IV was the most numerous German tank and the second-most numerous German fully tracked armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War; 8,553 Panzer IVs of all versions were built during World War II, only exceeded by the StuG III assault gun with 10,086 vehicles. Its chassis was also used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, the Jagdpanzer IV self-propelled anti-tank gun, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.

The Panzer IV saw service in all combat theatres involving Germany and was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war. It was originally designed for infantry support, while the similar Panzer III was to fight armored fighting vehicles. However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, the Panzer IV had more development potential, with a larger turret ring to mount more powerful guns, so it swapped roles with the Panzer III whose production wound down in 1943. The Panzer IV received various upgrades and design modifications, intended to counter new threats, extending its service life. Generally, these involved increasing the armor protection or upgrading the weapons, although during the last months of the war, with Germany's pressing need for rapid replacement of losses, design changes also included simplifications to speed up the manufacturing process.