Slovak AFV's 1939-1945, DM-013

Slovakia was formed as a rump-state under Ante Pavelic after Germany annexed the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.  As part of the annexation, Slovakia was allowed to form an army of their own.  Initially, this consisted of about 80 LT vz 35's.   Later, the Slovaks purchased 32 PzKfw 38(t) ausf S and 21 LT vz 40's.   These vehicles formed the 11th company, which was the armored backbone of the Slovak Fast Division, patterned on the Czechoslovakian model.  The Fast Division participated in Operation Barbarossa and advanced into southern Russia as part of Army Group South.  The division served until the Stalingrad campaign in 1942 where is was all but wiped out.  The 1st Slovak Infantry division was formed from its remnants and given anti-partisan duties on the Black Sea.  At this time, the division was equipped with 16 PzKfw II ausf C and F's, 7 PzKfw III N's, 37 PzKfw 38(t)'s and 18 Marder III's.  In 1944, a coup was staged against the Germans, in which the Slovaks managed to seize most of the army's armored vehicles.  The revolt was allowed to be crushed by Russians, who allowed the Germans respite from offensive operations until the insurrectionists was eliminated.

Year       Vehicle 1941       21 LT vz 40             32 Pz 38(t) ausf S 1943       7 Pz III ausf N             37 Pz 38(t) ausf G?             16 Pz II ausf C, F             18 Marder III (SdKfz 138)

Reference:

Kliment, Charles K. and Vladimir Francev. Skoda: LT vz. 35. Miroslav Bily, Prague: 1995.

Perrett, Bryan. German Light Panzers 1932-42.  Osprey Publishing Ltd., London: 1983.

Zaloga, Stephen J. and James Grandsen. The Eastern Front. Squadron/Signal Pub, Inc., Carrollton, Tx: 1983.

Slovak armored vehicles were generally left in the colors and markings of their original owners.  In the case of
the LT vz 35's, this was the standard Czechoslovakian 3 color camouflage scheme of dark green, yellow
(ranging anywhere from cream to dark yellow) and read brown.  These colors were brushed onto the vehicles
in random patterns.  Markings consisted of red and white 3 digit turret numbers and license plates.  The
license plates were black rectangles with white numbers ranging from 13-540 to 13-963.  These were mounted
on the bow and rear plates.  Later shipments of vehicles from Germany were in Panzer Gray.  These vehicles
(and subsequent deliveries) carried license plates with numbers in the V-3001 to V-3131 range.  The turrets
now carried the Slovak double-armed cross.  Recently published photos show that some PzKfw 38(t)'s used
both the cross and red and white turret numbers.  The 1st Infantry Division's vehicles used the same
V-numbered license plates, but used the tri-colored national shield on the turret side.  The shield was also
used by the insurgents during the uprising.