The Marder II was an attempt to fit a powerful anti-tank gun on the PzKpfw II chassis. This light tank had been largely considered obsolete by the mid-war period yet remained in production as of 1942. The Marder II retained the hull of the PzKpfw II with the turret removed in favor of a large fixed superstructure which like most similar vehicles, was open at the top and rear. Armor was kept light and this gave it only minimal protection against armor-piercing rounds and the open top also offered limited defense to the crew against shrapnel. Two versions of the Marder II were built, the first which fitted captured Soviet 7.62cm Pak 36 guns on either a PzKpfw Ausf D, E or (Fl) while the second was armed with the 7.5cm PaK 40/2 mounted on an Ausf F. The latter had a revised superstructure that was slightly lower and wider. Marder IIs were delivered to Army units in early 1942 and served primarily on the Eastern Front. Those with the 7.62cm gun were mostly retired by 1944 but 7.5cm armed versions remained in service until the end of the war.

Initial orders for mounting captured 7.62cm guns on the PzKpfw II were given in December 1941, this resulted in the initial version of the Marder II (SdKfz 132). This was followed by the SdKfz 131, ordered initially in May 1942 with the 7.5cm PaK 40/2 plus the modifications mentioned above. Use of the 10.5cm howitzer resulted in the Wespe (SdKfz 124) and is described separately.