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Českomoravsksa-Kolben-Daněk (ČKD) was formed from the merger of old, established engineering firms. Gradually, as the company grew in size and power, it acquired other companies. One of these was the Praga works, makers of trucks, tractors and passenger cars. Most of the ČKD factories were situated in Prague. ČKD was not an armaments manufacturer, but supplied the Czech army with trucks and artillery tractors.
The company was ideally suited for tank production and was quick to seize the opportunity when the Army was looking for a manufacturer of tankettes. Its original tankette design was not successful but it soon developed its first light tank, the P-II. Most Army orders went to ČKD’s competitor, Škoda, and for some years ČKD had to manufacture tanks on behalf of Škoda. However in 1938 its TNH P-S design was accepted for production as the LT vs 38, with an order for 150 vehicles. During their production Germany occupied Czechoslovakia and took control of ČKD, which was renamed Böhmische Märische Maschinenfabrik (BMM). Vehicles already produced were handed over to the Wehrmacht. The German high command was impressed by the design. The initial order was completed, and later more were ordered as the Panzerkampfwagen 38(t).
During the war BMM were also involved in the assembly of other vehicles, including the Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen, the Marder III, Flakpanzer 38(t) and Grille.
BMM was the design parent and primary manufacturer of the Hetzer but large numbers were also produced by Skoda at its Pilsen works. Eventually plants in Königgrätz, Boehm and Breslau also joined in production.
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