Hungarian World War Two Tanks

Hungary began experimenting with tank development in the 1930s. Nicholas Straussler, a Hungarian engineer, designed a light tank, known as the V-4, in 1937, but the tank never got past the prototype stage.

Hungarian tank development stalled after this, so that Hungary depended on other countries to provide it with tanks and tank designs.

In the 1930s, Hungary bought its first usable tanks from Italy - Carro Veloce 33 tankettes.

It also developed its own version of Sweden's Stridsvagn L/60 light tank that it produced under license.  The Hungarian version of this tank, which was also built in the 1930s, became known as the 38M Toldi I. An upgraded version was designated the 41M Toldi II.

During World War Two, Hungary purchased many tanks from Germany, including Panther and Tiger tanks.

Hungary's first medium tank, the Turan I, was a modified version of a Czechoslovakian tank, the Skoda L-21. It entered service in 1943.