$  Versailles treaty, signed after the World War I ended greatly constrained German development of armoured$
$vehicles, both qualitatively and quantitatively. To avoid the limitations, the agreement with Soviet$
$Union was signed.  Mutual co-operation allowed Germans to build and test new constructions in Russia.$
$In turn Russian officers were trained in German military schools.$
$  In that period the first PzKpfw I was built. The construction was based on British Carden Lloyd MkIV$
$tank. After 1933 German Army began extensive development. The doctrine of Blitzkrieg, suggested by$
$gen. Heinz Guderian required a number of armoured divisions. Unfortunately, German constructors were unable$
$to design modern tanks quickly enough. Because of this, in 1939 the majority of German armoured vehicles$
$were obsolete Panzerkampfwagen I and II. PzKpfw I was armed with two 7,92 mm machine guns mounted in$
$a turret. The tank could fight the infantry, but was defenceless against enemy tanks. High losses suffered$
$in Poland led to withdrawing this vehicle from the active service.$
$  Panzer II was a better construction. Armed with 20 mm cannon and a machine gun was able to fight both$
$lightly armoured targets and infantry. Nevertheless, its thin armour didn't provide enough protection.$
$  After campaign in France, these tanks were also withdrawn from front line units.$
