Initially,the Germans kicked around the idea of directly copying the T-34,but went with what became the Panther.How might things have gone if they had copied the T-34?
I think the people in the front like wanted a direct copy but the powers that be thought otherwise. I suppose that at the time the Germans first started coming across the T-34 they were winning on all fronts so they thought they had the time and resources to improve on the T-34 design. If they'd known how quickly there situation was going to deteriorate and just how many T-34's were being built then maybe they would've done an improved T-34 (better gun etc). There's no point building an exact copy because they'd know that the Russians would already have plans for a better tank.
It might also have been as simple as the confusion over silouette recognition. While I'm aware the Germans were known for pressing captured T34s into service with a big cross on each side, the issue of friendly-fire also comes into play. Tim
Basic outcome - the war goes worse for Germany. Equipped with a medium tank that is merely equal, not superior, to the enemy's medium - and particularly an enemy that they cannot hope to have anything but a numerical inferiority to. Not a good situation. The reason the Germans ended up with heavy tanks, and particularly the Panther as their (projected) standard medium tank was that they could not achieve quantitative superiority, so needed qualitative superiority. Also, as Hoosier says, it would get damn confusing for all concerned if the most common tank on both sides was identical. :-?
I also do recall reading that German tank gunners shot at shiloutes more often than what they actually knew they were shooting at. The philosophy if it looks like the enemy than it must be the enemy. So that would go supporting the recognition that was mentioned above. You never want friendly-fire it causes unnecessary casualties and demoralizes the troops.
. Making a copy of the T.34 didn't make any sense for the Germans , their tanks assemblies were closer to big workshops , they didn't have the huge steel combinats of integrated production the Russians had .copied from their imported Ford trucks factory the Russian T.34 chain assemblies were the dutiful daughters of Henry Ford , fully acceptable to the soviet philosophy , In a sense, this pro Nazis gentleman did contribute to soviet power .
I wasn't aware Ford was a pro-nazi. I always had the impression that he was a peace - nik. Would you elaborate further?