During the second world war the United States had a small amount of armour captures from it.The Germans first dealing with American armour was when DAK forces faced it as Comonwelth forces in North Africa these were the M-3 Grant Medium tank and the M-3 Stuart Light tank that was supplied to the Eighth Army through Lend Lease.
The German(DAK)forces first encounter with American armour crewed by American troops came also in North Africa during Operation Torch in 1942.
The M-3 Stuart was only captured in fairly small numbers and saw service mostly in North Africa with DAK forces. A few of the M-5 variant of the Stuart were captured. The photographic evidence would indicate that they saw service in the timeframe of the breakouts at Normandy. The few photos of M-5 variants in German hands show that they are still equipped with the Cullen Headgerow Devices. Small amounts of British Stuarts ie HONEYS were put into service as the photographic evidence shows but, there were no modifications performed to them by DAK forces
The Soviet Union also recived Stuarts from the United States through LEND_LEASE several, were captured and field modified on the Eastern Front to be used as towing tractors by StuG. Abt. 197.
The exact number of Stuarts in service at anyone time is unknown. The DAK stuarts were never recorded as most of them were pressed into service with just the addition of the German cross to its sides.
The M-3 Lee/Grant family of medium tanks also first saw combat with Commonwelth forces in the Eighth Army in North Africa. These were given a Pz Kpfw designation by the OKH. Some also were shipped back to kummersdorf for testing. It does seem that some were used by DAK twoards the end of the North African Campain and any modifications done to them was strictly on a field improvisational level.
There is fairly good photographic records of M-3 LEES that were supplied to the Soviet Union through lend-lease. Some that were captured, were put into service in the German Forces once again no standardized remanufacture of them seems to be present.
The M-4 Medium tank (Sherman) was used by German forces from 1944 on. The majority of Shermans that fell into German hands came from the ETO after the Normandy invasion. Although the Werhmacht has had previous knowledge of the tank from the Commonwelth troops and American operations at Tunis. Photographic evidence shows that the OKH at Kummersdorf had a complete M4A1 as early as Febuary 1943.
It would seem that the majority of Shermans Fielded by the Wehrmacht were Commonwelth Firefly varients of the Sherman these will be dealt with more extensively in the United Kingdom section of this site.
No major modifications seem to be apperent to any Shermans though some units are known to have field modified them to serve as recovery and tow tanks.
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