Lyrics of Panzer Battalion by Sabaton
Under this sun, no shadows will fall
Piercing our eyes as we charge
An armored battalion on course to the east
Closing the end of its march
This time we’re here to finish a job
Started a decade ago
Driving the animals out of their holes
To bury them six feet below
Armored tanks of mass destruction
Killers in the east
Rats who dare to stand before us
Feel our guns go live
Death in the shape of a panzer battalion
Insect of terror, don’t run
Face your fate like a man
Cannot outrun our panzer battalion
Thousands of tons of armor and guns
Making its way through the sand
Our panzer battalion is back for revenge
Artillery sweeping the land
First strike is ours, no mercy is shown
There’s rivers of blood in our track
Breaking their waves of defense with our tanks
Infantry watching our back
Blow their SAM sites, clear for air strike
Ready for the storm
Minefields swept, there’s no surrender
Feel our napalm burn
Death in the shape of a panzer battalion
Insect of terror, don’t run
Face your fate like a man
Cannot outrun our panzer battalion
Death in the shape of a panzer battalion
Insect of terror, don’t run
Face your fate like a man
Cannot outrun our panzer battalion
Under this sun, no shadows will fall
Piercing our eyes as we charge
An armored battalion on course to the east
Has reached the end of its march
Armored tanks of mass destruction
Killers in the east
Rats who dares to stand before us
Feel our guns go live
Panzer Battalion
Insect of terror, don’t run
Face your fate like a man
Panzer battalion
Historical Background
In short: The song is about armored battalions in the Operation Desert Storm, Iraq War 2003.
Panzer Battalion – Modern Warfare on the Battlefield
Some wars are fought in trenches. Others are decided by steel and fire.
Panzer Battalion by Sabaton isn’t about World War II—it’s about modern mechanized warfare, where tanks dominate the battlefield and leave nothing but destruction in their path.
This is how warfare evolved from infantry charges to unstoppable armored battalions.
Blitzkrieg Reborn – Modern Tank Warfare
“Under this sun, no shadows will fall, piercing our eyes as we charge.”
Tank warfare changed forever during World War II, when Germany’s Panzer divisions pioneered the tactic of Blitzkrieg—a fast, coordinated assault using tanks, infantry, and air support.
But war didn’t end in 1945. The tactics and strategies of armored warfare only became deadlier.
“An armored battalion on course to the east, closing the end of its march.”
This could refer to modern wars in the Middle East, such as:
- Operation Desert Storm (1991) – Where the U.S. and coalition forces destroyed Saddam Hussein’s armored divisions in a lightning-fast tank assault.
- The Iraq War (2003) – A campaign that saw massive use of mechanized divisions against Iraqi forces.
Total Domination on the Battlefield
“Armored tanks of mass destruction, killers in the east.”
Modern tank warfare relies on heavy armor, speed, and firepower, making them killing machines on the battlefield. The most important tanks in Operation Dessert Storm were:
- M1 Abrams – The U.S. military’s primary battle tank, designed for speed, firepower, and survivability.
- T-72 – A Soviet-designed tank, widely used by Iraq and other nations in the Middle East.
- Challanger 2 – Britain’s advanced battle tank, renowned for precision and armor.
“First strike is ours, no mercy is shown, there’s rivers of blood in our track.”
The Gulf War and the Iraq War both showed the overwhelming power of tank battalions, capable of:
- Crushing enemy armor with superior firepower.
- Supporting infantry with devastating cannon fire.
- Breaking through defensive lines with sheer force.
A One-Sided War – Overwhelming Firepower
“Death in the shape of a Panzer battalion, insect of terror, don’t run.”
Modern tank battles often aren’t fair fights.
During the Gulf War, the Iraqi Republican Guard was completely outgunned.
- Hundreds of Iraqi tanks were destroyed before they could even fire a shot.
- Precision strikes from air support wiped out enemy positions.
- Minefields were cleared with ease, leaving no safe ground for defenders.
“Blow their SAM sites, clear for air strike, ready for the storm.”
- SAM Sites (Surface-to-Air Missile defenses) were quickly neutralized, allowing air superiority.
- Airstrikes from A-10 Thunderbolts and Apache helicopters destroyed enemy tanks before they could even react.
The Future of Tank Warfare
“Thousands of tons of armor and guns, making its way through the sand.”
The song paints a picture of unstoppable military force, but in modern warfare, tanks aren’t invincible.
- Drones and anti-tank missiles have changed the battlefield, allowing smaller forces to cripple armored divisions.
- Urban combat limits tank effectiveness, forcing them to rely on infantry support.
- Cyber warfare and electronic attacks can disable communication and targeting systems, rendering tanks useless.
Even so, tanks remain the backbone of modern armies, adapting to new threats just like they have for a century.
Want to Learn More?
- 🎥 SABATON history – Panzer Battalion (Documentary) – A short documentary of the historical background.
- 🎥 Desert Storm – The Ground War, Day 3 – The Great Tank Battle of 73 Easting (YouTube) – detailed Documentary of the Operation Dessert Storm.
- 📖 Blitzkrieg (Wikipedia) – The German strategy that revolutionized tank warfare.
- 📖 Operation Desert Storm (Wikipedia) – The war that showcased modern tank dominance.
- 📖 M1 Abrams (Wikipedia) – The U.S. Army’s legendary main battle tank.
The Lesson?
Some wars are won by strategy. Others are won by sheer firepower.
And in modern battlefields, the Panzer Battalion always leads the charge.