“Tanks come in two forms:
the dangerous, deadly kind and the ‘liberating’ kind.”
– Robert Fisk, Writer & Journalist (1946-2020)
With 49,234 units built until the end of the Second World War, the M4 Sherman was a key ingredient in the Allies’ triumph over the Axis powers. By the outbreak of the war the U.S. Army had possessed only 18 modern medium tanks. That is not 18,000 – just eighteen. Within these few years the United States had truly transformed into the “Arsenal of Democracy” which was able to provide many of their allied nations with vast amounts of Sherman tanks – just like Franklin D. Roosevelt had declared in December 1940.
At no point in time was the M4 the fastest, most powerful or best-protected tank in the world. On the contrary, it even began to develop a reputation for being a notorious “death trap”, which still remains a controversial subject for debate today. But thanks to the unmatched American industry the Sherman was available in enormous numbers, it was easy to operate and its reliability was second to none. These qualities contributed to the Sherman’s unusually long service life which – in some countries – lasted until the beginning of the 21st century.
Today many Shermans can be found as monuments or in museums all over Europe. Most of the numerous variants and derivatives are represented at least once – most of them in France, where the Western Allies began their final drive into the heart of Nazi Germany on 6 June 1944. These relics of the liberation from the tyranny of fascism are a reminder that freedom and peace are not to be taken for granted.
Part 1: “Forerunners” – Grants, Lees & Rams
Part 2: “Workhorses” – First-Generation (Small Hatch) Shermans
Part 3: “Advancements” – Funnies, Fireflies & Hybrids
Part 4: “War Winners” – Second-Generation (Large Hatch) Shermans
Part 5: “Marathon Runners” – Shermans after World War Two
Part 6: “Offshoots” – Tank Destroyers, SPGs and other Sherman-based Vehicles
Vehicle Index
The Map – “The Liberating Kind” on Google Maps
About
The Liberating Kind 