Tanks were the main striking force of the armies of the main countries participating in World War II, but for the first time the importance of this new type of troops for that time was realized in Germany, where the most advanced doctrine of their use was developed, which made it possible to achieve amazing successes on the battlefield, even when the victory was inclined to the side of the enemy. The German army began the war with only five tank divisions, and a year and a half later their number had already exceeded a dozen.