This tank was created for the Czech army on the eve of World War II, but following the annexation of Czechoslovakia by Germany, in 1938, it started being manufactured for the German army. Thanks to its high-quality design, this tank was used to equip the German armored units. At the beginning of the war, over 80 models of the 38(t) were produced and used for the invasion of Poland; a few months later, approximately 200 vehicles were used in the Battle of France. 1,200 examples of the 38(t) were produced until 1942 when it became clear that its armor (based on a 3.7 Cm cannon.) had become inadequate against the enemy's vehicles. However, other specialized vehicles were built on the excellent and reliable chassis of the 38(t), in particular, self-propelled artillery and tank destroyers that were used until the end of the war.