An insight into the design, construction and operation of the German Army's Second World War medium battle tank, When Hitler unleashed Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union in June 1941, the 23-tonne Panzer III was in the vanguard of the German assault. It saw widespread use during the Second World War in campaigns that included Poland, France, the Soviet Union, the Balkans, North Africa and Normandy. Centrepiece of the Haynes Panzer III Tank Manual is the Bovington Tank Museum's PzKpfw III Ausf L, which has been restored to running condition. Full coverage is given of the tank's design, construction, war service and the restoration of the Tank Museum's Ausf L version., Authors: Dick Taylor is a former British Army Challenger tank commander and now works fulltime as an author specialising in armoured fighting vehicles. Dick is author of the Haynes Challenger 1 MBT Manual and the forthcoming Chieftain Tank Manual. Mike Hayton is workshop manager at the Tank Museum and was closely involved in the restoration of the Panzer III to running order. He is co-author of the Haynes Tiger Tank Manual.