TankCraft 43, Panzer IV Medium Tank, German Army and Waffen-SS Last battles in the West, 1945, breaks the Panzer IV’s (Panzerkampfwagen, abbreviated as Pzkpfw, also known as the Sonderkraftfahrzeug 161) long service life into the final struggles in 1945 in the Western Front. Older and newer Pzkpfw fought side by side as the Allied ring closed in on Germany.

This 64-page book is outlined in the familiar TankCraft format and is loaded with incredible black and white photographs, color illustrations, supporting text and detailed captions, modelling references and a bibliography in the following chapters:

• Introduction
• The Western Front, 1945
• The Pzkpfw IV Units
• Camouflage and Markings
• Model Showcase
• Modelling Products
• Technical Details and Modifications
• The Kriegsstärkenweissungen (War Strength Predictions)
• Product Contact Details

Author Dennis Oliver does an amazing job highlighting the actions, tanks, and units doing the fighting. This is further highlighted for modelers with 24 Pzkpfw IV color profiles over 12 pages, three fantastic model builds (over 13 pages), seven pages of model manufacturers who model late war PzKfpw IVs, a page on aftermarket details, and the extensive technical details and modifications. This is a treasure trove on what makes the Pzkpfw IV Ausf H and Ausf J models unique (including the January 1945 inclusion of Lost-Erkennungstafeln, poison gas detector cards installed in three places on the turret), and the differences within the sub-variants.

While modelers typically know which models are available, the author and this series specialize in what modelers are looking for in terms of detail. The link that Trumpeter and Hobby Boss are the same company is outlined in the Modelling Products chapter as “Often thought to be separate entities, these Chinese companies are in fact owned by the same corporation, are located at the same address and are essentially the same firm although different models are marketed separately under the two labels.”

The Technical Details and Modifications chapter is amazing with crisp illustrations and photographs and clearly marked arrows and captions to details. The schürzen section has perhaps the most clear and concise description of the three major types of spaced armor used by the Germans.

By the end of 1944, the Pzkpfw IV Ausf J had been in production just under a year and 3,655 were built before the Soviets overran the Nibelungenwerk (Ni-Werk) factory in Sankt Valentin, Austria. With the end of the war obvious, older models, particularly the Ausf H were pressed into service (there is even a photo of Pzkpfw III short barrel next to a Pzkpfw IV Ausf H in a damaged workshop in April 1945).If you want an easy-to-understand history of the Panzer IV in this campaign, inspiration to build a model of this German workhorse, or just want to enjoy great illustrations, this is a good book to start. I know Panzer IV Medium Tank German Army and Waffen-SS, Last Battles in the West, 1945 will be on my bench when I build my next Pzkpfw IV Ausf J. The question is which version? Thanks to this book, the search will be narrowed.

Profuse thanks to Casemate Publishers and IPMS/USA for providing the review sample.