How did the Pz. II improve on the Pz. I?

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panzers — panzer Panzers (German tanks) of World War II.

The Pz. II improved upon the Pz. I by offering increased size, firepower, and protection, despite remaining a light tank. While the Pz. I was limited to two machine guns and 15 mm of armour, the Pz. II was upgraded to carry a 20-mm gun alongside a machine gun, with armour thickness increased to a maximum of 30 mm.1

Additionally, the Pz. II featured a larger crew, requiring three personnel compared to the two-man crew of the Pz. I. These enhancements allowed the Pz. II to serve as the mainstay of German panzer divisions during the first two years of the war, filling a critical gap while production of the more powerful Pz. III and Pz. IV models was delayed.1