The Role of the Tank

[Kelen]

The basic role of a WWII tank was that of Infantry support in both attack and defense. Secondary role was to engage and destroy enemy tanks if and when encountered.
The germans were the first to use them also in a unique role. That of massing them on a narrow front, for breakthroughs, exploitation and encirclements, etc..

They weren't the first to use them in that way. The British learned to do that in WWI and did exactly that against the Italians in North Africa in WWII. The Germans just took it to another level.