During World War II, as the conflict raged across the globe, an unlikely technological exchange occurred between two Axis powers separated by vast distances. Japan, facing increasingly difficult battles against Allied forces in the Pacific, sought to acquire advanced German tank technology to bolster its armored forces. This is the fascinating story of Japan’s attempt to purchase the fearsome Tiger tank from Nazi Germany.
The Need for Better Tanks
As the war progressed, Japan found itself at a significant disadvantage regarding armored warfare. The Japanese tanks, which had performed adequately in China, were no match for the more advanced Allied tanks they now faced:
- Japanese tanks were small, lightweight, and undergunned compared to American and British tanks like the Sherman and Lee
- The main Japanese medium tank, the Type 97 Chi-Ha, was obsolescent by 1945
- While the Type 97’s 47mm gun could penetrate a Sherman’s sides or rear, it lacked the heavy frontal armor to survive in head-on engagements
It was clear that Japan needed to upgrade its tank forces to effectively counter Allied armor. Japanese military leaders believed the solution might lie with their German allies and their cutting-edge tank designs.
The Axis Alliance and Technology Exchange
Despite being on opposite sides of the world, Japan and Germany maintained a technological exchange program during the war:
- After Japan entered WWII in December 1941, it sought cooperation with Germany and Italy
- Japan wanted examples of high-tech German weapons and manufacturing licenses
- Germany needed raw materials from Japan, especially rubber from conquered British Malaya
- Initially, cargo ships called “blockade runners” transferred materials between Europe and Asia
- Later, submarines were used for these exchanges, with Japanese subs visiting French Atlantic U-boat bases
This “Yanagi” trade, as it was known, saw Japan receive various German technologies, including:
- Disassembled jet fighters
- V1 flying bombs
- Anti-aircraft guns
- Radars
- Bombs
Some of this technology was later copied under license in Japan or contributed to Japanese designs. Hitler even gifted two U-boats to the Imperial Japanese Navy.
The Tiger Tank Catches Japan’s Eye
In 1943, the Japanese military’s interest turned to German tanks. The fearsome Tiger I had recently entered service and was making a name for itself on the battlefields of Europe:
- The Japanese ambassador to Berlin, General Hiroshi Oshima, visited the Kummersdorf tank testing center
- Oshima was shown the Tiger I at the Henschel plant and was greatly impressed
- The Japanese military decided to purchase several brand-new German tanks
- A delegation of 12 Japanese officers, led by Colonel Ishida of the tank corps, was sent to advise on the purchase and examine the vehicles
The Price of Power
Acquiring cutting-edge German tank technology wasn’t going to be cheap:
- A brand-new Tiger I retailed at 300,000 Reichsmarks in 1943
- The Nazi armaments ministry and Henschel requested 645,000 Reichsmarks from the Japanese
- This higher price included all optics, ammunition, and radio equipment
- It also covered disassembly, packing for shipment, and technical documentation for manufacturing under license
Japan’s German Tank Fleet
Colonel Ishida’s delegation didn’t stop at just the Tiger I. They purchased a small fleet of German tanks:
- One Tiger I
- One Panther
- Two variants of the Panzer III (models N and J)
The Japanese officers spent a month testing these tanks at Kummersdorf. Interestingly, this small group of tanks and officers effectively became the only Japanese unit to serve on the Western Front during World War II, albeit in a non-combat role.
The Challenge of Delivery
After testing, the Tiger I was prepared for shipment to Japan as per the contract. However, a significant problem arose:
- The new I-400 class giant Japanese submarines, intended for such large cargo, were not yet finished
- Existing Japanese submarines would have struggled to transport the Tiger’s 30-ton hull
- The tanks remained in storage in Bordeaux, France, awaiting shipment
The Fate of Japan’s German Tanks
As the war situation deteriorated for Germany, the fate of Japan’s tanks took an unexpected turn:
- The Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944 changed everything
- Germany needed every tank it could get
- With Japan unable to ship the tanks, the Germans wanted them back
- The tanks were either partially or fully refunded or leased from the Japanese
- All the vehicles were handed over to operational German units
- The Japanese Tiger I was lost in action, probably on the Western Front
The Legacy of Japan’s Tiger Tank
While Japan never managed to get its purchased German tanks back home, the brief ownership did prove useful:
- The Japanese began the process of constructing bigger, better-armed, and armored tanks
- This included the Type 5 Chi-Ri design
- However, these heavy Japanese tanks never got beyond a few test units before Japan’s surrender
A Tank That Never Roared: Reflections on Japan’s Tiger Purchase
The story of Japan’s attempt to acquire the Tiger tank is a fascinating footnote in the history of World War II. It highlights the Japanese military’s desperation as they faced increasingly powerful Allied forces and the complex web of alliances and technology exchanges that characterized the Axis powers.
While the Tiger tank never saw action under a rising sun flag, its influence on Japanese tank design in the final stages of the war is undeniable. The purchase of German tanks, even if they never reached Japanese soil, spurred the development of more advanced Japanese armor.
Ultimately, this curious tale serves as a reminder of the global nature of World War II, when cutting-edge technology was a prized commodity sought after even by nations separated by vast oceans. It also underscores the “what-if” nature of history—had these tanks reached Japan, the battles in the Pacific might have unfolded quite differently.
The Japanese Tiger tank remains a tantalizing historical curiosity – a formidable weapon that could have been but never was.
