page_title: Marder II
section_title: Combat history
hierarchical_section_title: Marder II / Combat history
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. 7,5 cm Panzerjäger "Marder II" auf Pz.II
context_page_description: The Marder II was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis. There were two versions, the first mounted a modified Soviet 7.62 cm gun firing German ammunition, while the other mounted the German 7.5 cm Pak 40 gun. Its high profile and thin open-topped armor provided minimal protection to the crew. Nevertheless, the Marder II provided a great increase in firepower over contemporary German tanks during 1942 and into 1943. Only four Marder IIs remain today.
context_section_description: The various Marder IIs produced fought on all European fronts of the war, however, there was a large concentration of these on the Eastern Front.
  The Marder IIs were used by the Panzerjäger Abteilungen of the Panzer divisions of both the Heer and the Waffen SS, as well as several Luftwaffe units.
  The Marder's weaknesses were mainly related to survivability. The combination of a high silhouette and open-top fighting compartment made them vulnerable to indirect artillery fire, aircraft strafing, and grenades. The armor was also quite thin, making them vulnerable to enemy tanks or infantry.
  The Marders were not assault vehicles or tank substitutes; the open-top compartment meant operations in crowded areas such as urban environments or other close-combat situations weren't an option. They were best employed in defensive or overwatch roles. Despite their weaknesses, they were more effective than the towed antitank guns that they replaced.
caption: The famous[1] Marder II "coal thief" -recognizable by the cartoon painted on both sides- on the Eastern Front in 1943. The ring markings on the barrel of the gun indicate 19 claimed kills for the vehicle.
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