The German Panzerjager, or Panzerjagertruppe, was one of the most innovative fighting arms of World War II and its story has never properly been told. A few other books have focused on an element of the story--the Hetzer, Jagdpanzer, Jagdpanther--but this is the first time that the whole story of the development and organization of Nazi Germany's anti-tank force will have been covered, from its earliest origins in World War I, through its development in the interwar period, and its baptism of fire in the early days of World War II.

This is the first of two volumes that will trace...