The Panzer II (officially Panzerkampfwagen II) was a family of light tanks produced by Nazi Germany and employed in the early years of World War II. Initially developed as a stopgap while more advanced medium tanks (such as the Panzer III and Panzer IV) were still in production, it went on to serve as the primary light tank within German Panzer divisions during the Polish, French, North African, and early Eastern Front campaigns .