#switzerland

The LT vz.38 was a light tank originally from Czechoslovakia and built by Škoda and ČKD. A total of at least 6,919 examples were built, including pre-war and licensed models in every imaginable configuration. Following the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the German Reich captured plans, production equipment, and some examples of the LT vz.38 that had not yet been deployed in the Czech army and renamed them the Pz. 38(t). Later, a licensed version, along with some examples, was sold to Sweden, who renamed it the Stridsvagn m/41 and slightly modified it. The Pz. 38(t) was used by Germany throughout World War II and also influenced several other tank designs, including the German E-series.

Neutral Switzerland’s airspace was violated at least 6,501 times during the war, and her main cities were bombed numerous times by the Allies during their bombing campaign on Germany from 1942. This collateral, accidental and sometimes purposeful violation of Swiss neutrality meant that Switzerland needed fast, modern and effective fighters to defend her airspace, and the German ME 109 series proved to be just that.