The SdKfz 7 was designed to meet a pre-war requirement for an 8-ton half-track, therefore filling the middle range below the heavier SdKfz 8/9 vehicles. It is particularly notable for being designed as the artillery tractor for the legendary 8.8cm FlaK gun as well as the 15cm sFH howitzer. The SdKfz 7 featured overlapping and interleaved road wheels for its tracks, over which there was a spacious troop compartment that could carry up to 12 troops in forward-facing seats as well as an enclosed ammunition compartment. Its ability to tow 8 tons of weight (including nearly 3.5 tons via a wench) also made it useful as a recovery vehicle. Aside from its use as a prime mover, the SdKfz 7 was most notable for its use as a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and flak gun, carrying a 2cm FV 38 in a quad-mount in the former configuration or a single 3.7cm FlaK 37 gun for the latter. Many of these were later fitted with armored driver's cabs. The SdKfz 7 entered service in 1938 and quickly became a very visible component of the early Blitzkriegs. Anti-aircraft variants first appeared in 1942 and were widely used throughout the remainder of the war as Allied air superiority increased. A license-built Italian version was also produced and a small number were taken over by smaller Allied armies and kept them in use post-war.

The original Zugkraftwagen 8t (SdKfz 7) was the name given to the original artillery tractor version of the half-track. The SdKfz 7/1 featured quad-mounted 2cm FV 38 anti-aircraft guns while the SdKfz 7/2 was initially armed with a 3.7cm FlaK 36 which was later replaced from 1944 to a similar caliber FlaK 43. Both anti-aircraft variants were often modified with armored driver's cabs. An observation and command post vehicle for V-2 missiles was also built while the Breda 61 was a license-produced Italian version.