Kama tank school: Difference between revisions
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The '''Kama tank school''' ({{lang-de|Panzerschule Kama}}) was a secret training school for [[tank]] commanders operated by the German ''[[Reichswehr]]'' at [[Kazan]], [[Soviet Union]]. It operated from 1929 to 1933. The school was established in order to allow the German military to circumvent the [[Treaty of Versailles#Military restrictions|military restrictions]] on tank research spelled out in the [[Treaty of Versailles]]. Similar schools were established in the Soviet Union for [[Lipetsk fighter-pilot school|German pilots]] and German military officers training in gas warfare. Following the [[Nazi party]]'s rise to power the school was closed and Germany's [[Panzerwaffe|Tank Force]] and [[Luftwaffe|Air Force]] were trained in Germany. |
The '''Kama tank school''' ({{lang-de|Panzerschule Kama}}) was a secret training school for [[tank]] commanders operated by the German ''[[Reichswehr]]'' at [[Kazan]], [[Soviet Union]]. It operated from 1929 to 1933. The school was established in order to allow the German military to circumvent the [[Treaty of Versailles#Military restrictions|military restrictions]] on tank research spelled out in the [[Treaty of Versailles]]. Similar schools were established in the Soviet Union for [[Lipetsk fighter-pilot school|German pilots]] and German military officers training in gas warfare. Following the [[Nazi party]]'s rise to power, the school was closed and Germany's [[Panzerwaffe|Tank Force]] and [[Luftwaffe|Air Force]] were trained in Germany. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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The Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, prohibited Germany from operating any form of tank or air force after the country had lost the [[First World War]].<ref name="Geheim" /> Germany had normalised its relations with the Soviet Union in 1922, with the signing of the [[Treaty of Rapallo, 1922|Treaty of Rapallo]]. |
The Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, prohibited Germany from operating any form of tank or air force after the country had lost the [[First World War]].<ref name="Geheim" /> Germany had normalised its relations with the Soviet Union in 1922, with the signing of the [[Treaty of Rapallo, 1922|Treaty of Rapallo]]. |
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Initially, Germany was unwilling to break the Treaty of Versailles. This attitude changed however in 1923, when French and Belgian troops [[Occupation of the Ruhr|occupied the Ruhr]] area after Germany defaulted on its payments of war reparations. In December 1926, Germany and the Soviet Union signed an agreement to establish a tank school on Soviet territory. The school was eventually opened in 1929 and served to train approximately 30 German tank specialists.<ref name = "Geheim">[https://www.bundesarchiv.de/oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/bilder_dokumente/00931/index.html.de Lipezk. Die geheime Fliegerschule und Erprobungsstätte der Reichswehr in der Sowjetunion] {{de icon}} [[German Federal Archives]], accessed 17 December 2011</ref><ref>[http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/topicalbumbackground/253/geheimvertrag_mit_der_roten_armee.html Geheimvertrag mit der Roten Armee] {{de icon}} ''[[Der Spiegel]]'': Secret contracts with the Red Army |
Initially, Germany was unwilling to break the Treaty of Versailles. This attitude changed however in 1923, when French and Belgian troops [[Occupation of the Ruhr|occupied the Ruhr]] area after Germany defaulted on its payments of war reparations. In December 1926, Germany and the Soviet Union signed an agreement to establish a tank school on Soviet territory. The school was eventually opened in 1929 and served to train approximately 30 German tank specialists.<ref name = "Geheim">[https://www.bundesarchiv.de/oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/bilder_dokumente/00931/index.html.de Lipezk. Die geheime Fliegerschule und Erprobungsstätte der Reichswehr in der Sowjetunion] {{de icon}} [[German Federal Archives]], accessed 17 December 2011</ref><ref>[http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/topicalbumbackground/253/geheimvertrag_mit_der_roten_armee.html Geheimvertrag mit der Roten Armee] {{de icon}} ''[[Der Spiegel]]'': Secret contracts with the Red Army, accessed 17 December 2011</ref> |
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==School== |
==School== |
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After its opening, the school accommodated up to a dozen German officers at a time, training there for up to two years.<ref>Mitcham, p. 3</ref> |
After its opening, the school accommodated up to a dozen German officers at a time, training there for up to two years.<ref>Mitcham, p. 3</ref> Apart from training officers, the school served German companies like [[Krupp]], [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler]] and [[Rheinmetall]] as a development ground for new tank designs. Technicians worked on the designs that later became the [[Panzerkampfwagen I]] and [[Panzerkampfwagen II|II]].<ref name="Four" >Mitcham, p. 4</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Many of the officers training, instructing or visiting Kama later became high-ranking commanders in the [[Wehrmacht]] or its ''Panzerwaffe'', among them [[Ernst Volckheim]], [[Werner von Blomberg]], [[Walter Model]], [[Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma]] and [[Heinz Guderian]].<ref name="Four" /> Apart from Kama, Germany also operated the [[Lipetsk fighter-pilot school]] (1926–33) and a gas warfare school, the ''Gas-Testgelände Tomka'' (1928–31) in the Soviet Union.<ref name ="Geheim" /> |
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Apart from training officers, the school also served German companies like [[Krupp]], [[Daimler-Benz|Daimler]] and [[Rheinmetall]] as a development ground for new tank designs. Technicians worked on the designs that would later become the [[Panzerkampfwagen I]] and [[Panzerkampfwagen II|II]].<ref name="Four" >Mitcham, p. 4</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Many of the officers training, instructing or visiting Kama |
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Apart from Kama, Germany also operated the [[Lipetsk fighter-pilot school]] (1926–33) and a gas warfare school, the ''Gas-Testgelände Tomka'' (1928–31) in the Soviet Union.<ref name ="Geheim" /> |
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==Closure== |
==Closure== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==Further reading== |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.feldgrau.com/ger-sov.html German Military in the Soviet Union 1918-1933] |
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* [http://www.meissler.de/lehrgangsteilnehmer_an_der_panzerschule_kasan.html List of course attendes] {{de icon}} |
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[[Category:Reichswehr]] |
[[Category:Reichswehr]] |
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Revision as of 01:48, 2 December 2018
The Kama tank school (German: Panzerschule Kama) was a secret training school for tank commanders operated by the German Reichswehr at Kazan, Soviet Union. It operated from 1929 to 1933. The school was established in order to allow the German military to circumvent the military restrictions on tank research spelled out in the Treaty of Versailles. Similar schools were established in the Soviet Union for German pilots and German military officers training in gas warfare. Following the Nazi party's rise to power, the school was closed and Germany's Tank Force and Air Force were trained in Germany.
Background
The Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, prohibited Germany from operating any form of tank or air force after the country had lost the First World War.[1] Germany had normalised its relations with the Soviet Union in 1922, with the signing of the Treaty of Rapallo.
Initially, Germany was unwilling to break the Treaty of Versailles. This attitude changed however in 1923, when French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr area after Germany defaulted on its payments of war reparations. In December 1926, Germany and the Soviet Union signed an agreement to establish a tank school on Soviet territory. The school was eventually opened in 1929 and served to train approximately 30 German tank specialists.[1][2]
School
After its opening, the school accommodated up to a dozen German officers at a time, training there for up to two years.[3] Apart from training officers, the school served German companies like Krupp, Daimler and Rheinmetall as a development ground for new tank designs. Technicians worked on the designs that later became the Panzerkampfwagen I and II.[4]
Many of the officers training, instructing or visiting Kama later became high-ranking commanders in the Wehrmacht or its Panzerwaffe, among them Ernst Volckheim, Werner von Blomberg, Walter Model, Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma and Heinz Guderian.[4] Apart from Kama, Germany also operated the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school (1926–33) and a gas warfare school, the Gas-Testgelände Tomka (1928–31) in the Soviet Union.[1]
Closure
In the early 1930s, the political situation for the tank school began to change. The Soviet Union opened itself to the West while Germany attempted a closer approach to France.[1]
In December 1932, Germany achieved being viewed as an equal at the Geneva Conference, making the secret schools somewhat unnecessary. With the rise of the Nazis to power in January 1933, the ideological gap between fascist Germany and the communist Soviet Union became too large and the tank school at Kazan was closed in late 1933.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Lipezk. Die geheime Fliegerschule und Erprobungsstätte der Reichswehr in der Sowjetunion Template:De icon German Federal Archives, accessed 17 December 2011
- ^ Geheimvertrag mit der Roten Armee Template:De icon Der Spiegel: Secret contracts with the Red Army, accessed 17 December 2011
- ^ Mitcham, p. 3
- ^ a b Mitcham, p. 4
- Samuel W. Mitcham: The Panzer Legions, Stackpole Books, published: 2000, ISBN 978-0-8117-3353-3