Hungarian tech tree for World of Tanks proposal by PikPikker

The first project of the V-3 tank was created in 1933. It was designated as an "agricultural tractor" due to Hungary wasn't allowed to keep any armored forces. The army liked the proposal and allowed for one V-3 prototype to be built. The prototype was finished in summer 1935. V-3 itself didn't have a turret, but it likely was projected (similar to the early V-4 turret) and there was a circular hole in the roof of the tank. Mostly V-3 was successful, so it proceeded to the next stage of a fully-equipped tank V-4. In fact, V-3 could drive without tracks and there was its amphibious version.

V-4 was the next prototype (seems to be the only built vehicle) made by Straussler. It was built in 1936 and by that time it got a turret with a gun. Actually it was a "short" stage between V-3 and V-4/40 as it became clear that 40 mm gun needed instead.

The 39M Csaba emerged from an agreement signed with the Weiss Manfred factory of Csepel, Budapest, after Straussler’s design had been rejected by the British army. It was closely based on the Alvis C2. This was an independent suspension four-wheeled vehicle with a conventional framework wrapped in 9 mm (0.35 in) riveted armor plates in a sloped, lozenge shape, as can be seen from a front view. The protection was sufficient against small arms fire and shrapnel, but the main task of this vehicle was reconnaissance, not engaging enemy units. However, its armament was quite potent compared to the protection, with a 20 mm (0.79 in) Solothurn autocannon, also used by the first Toldi tank, comparable to the gun used by the German Panzer II. This was completed by a coaxial 8 mm (0.31 in) Gebauer 37/38M machine-gun, while a second one could be attached to a special AA mounting in the rear hatch of the turret. Normal provision was 200 rounds for the main gun, and 3000 for the machine-guns. The German Ford, 8cyl, 90 hp, 3560 cc engine was coupled with a 5 forward, 5 reverse gearbox, and carried 135 l of gasoline. It could climb a 30 degree slope and 1 meter (3.28 ft) high vertical obstacle, and had a 0.5 m (1.64 ft) maximum fording depth.

After successful trials, the Hungarian army decided to place an order for sixty-one vehicles, named after the year of introduction (39M). By 1940, a further order of forty followed. Half were later converted as the 40M command version, equipped with a R-4T long-range radio at the expense of the 20 mm (0.79 in) gun. This model was recognizable due to its large lattice mast. Production, according to some sources, was scheduled to restart in 1944 at Weiss Manfred, but apparently never did, although some recovered vehicles could have been repaired and refitted there in the meantime.

The first 61 39M vehicles equipped the 1st and 2nd Mechanized Brigades, the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions and the First Mountain Brigade. A squadron consisted of 10 vehicles, one command 40M and two training vehicles. The section of a mountain brigade consisted of three 39Ms. Except for the mountain brigades, the aforementioned units participated in Operation Barbarossa.

In December 1941, these units were reorganized and brought back from the front, with only 17 surviving Csabas. Combat experience showed that the weaponry and armor protection were insufficient for anything but reconnaissance. In December 1942, on the Don, the first Cavalry Brigade lost almost all its vehicle, 18 Csabas in all. In April 1944, the second Armored Division counted 14 armored cars and was transferred to the Eastern front in August, but over 12 Csabas returned home. By the summer of 1944 the Army was left with 48 combat-ready armored vehicles. Four Csabas formed a section, of which one was a command one. These sections were assigned to four Hungarian infantry divisions. In June 1944, these sections fought in Galicia with the cavalry divisions, with 8 out of 14 returning from the fight. From the autumn 1944 their numbers gradually decreased. None seem to have survived the war.

As mentioned before, in 1938 there was a contest for the Hungarian mass-produce light tank between V-4, Pz. I and L-60. L-60 was far better than other variants, as one imported vehicle showed. This way L-60 got a new armament and was named as Toldi I (It was named after Miklos Toldi, legendary 14th century Hungarian warrior and hero, known for his strength). It was decided to mass-produce this vehicle in Hungary, but mass-production was delayed by squabbles between the producers (MÁVAG and Ganz Gepgyár) and the army over the price. At first, the army wanted to order 64 vehicles, but it was decided at least 80 were needed and the order for 80 tanks was finalized on 17.2.1939.

First two Toldi tanks were finished by February 1940, but the rest were still waiting in the plants for the components. Until June 1940, 20 vehicles in total were completed – by that point the timetable for the entire project was completely off, all 80 vehicles were supposed to be delivered by Spring 1940, but the latest estimates did postpone the production completion to March 1941.

Originally, Toldi II was a name for the next part of produced Toldi I's, so they didn't have much difference. But Toldi IIA is a further development and rearming of the existing Toldi II light tanks. The frontal armor was thickened and the 20mm heavy machine gun was replaced with a 40mm tank gun. Because of their relatively weak and fragile torsion bars, the Toldi I tanks could not be upgraded. In total, 80 38M. Toldi II (Toldi B20) were upgraded to 38M. Toldi IIA (Toldi B40) between 1943-44.