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The Panzerkeil ("armoured wedge" or "tank wedge") was an offensive armoured tactic developed by German Kampfgruppe (battle groups) on the Eastern Front during World War II. The Panzerkeil was developed in response to the Soviet employment of the Pakfront anti-tank gun defence.
The advantage of the Panzerkeil was that the anti-tank gunners of the opposing Pakfront would be forced to constantly adjust their ranges due to the depth of the formation. Also, the heavily armoured Tigers and Panthers would bear the brunt of the anti-tank fire, leaving the more vulnerable tanks safe from enemy fire.
The Panzerkeil achieved mixed results. During the German offensive, Operation Citadel, that began the battle of Kursk the Panzerkeil enabled the spearheads of Generaloberst Hermann Hoth's 4th Panzer Army to break through the elaborate Soviet defences. Meanwhile, in Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model's 9th Army sector, tank units using the Panzerkeil tactic failed to achieve a breakthrough, and suffered heavy losses due to anti-tank fire.
There is also some contention that this formation was rarely used during Operation Citadel due to the scarcity of Tigers and most Panthers being assigned to the Großdeutschland Division. Furthermore, Pioniere (combat engineers) had to lead formations to clear mines lest the Tigers be Mobility kill by , as the Kursk salient was heavily mined.
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