Sturmpanzer a7v first of the panzers only twenty a7v tanks were ever built and saw action in the great war. This pocket companion contains everything you need to know about the only surviving a7v mephisto tank, housed at the queensland museum. Greg czechura queensland museum, brisbane researchgate. It was recovered by allied troops about three months later and, after the war, taken to australia as a trophy. German tank captured by the 26th australian battalion at monument wood, near villersbretonneux, on 14 july 1918. The german models held much larger crews than the british. Only a single type of german tank was used in action, the a7v sturmpanzerwagen.
The vehicle had armor thick enough to make it nearly bulletproof, not a trait common among firstgeneration tanks. Mephisto lay stuck in a crater behind german lines for almost three months. The sturmpanzerwagen a7v was the only operational german built tank of the war. On the 20 th of july a brand new comprehensive mephisto book will be released. One went to aberdeen and was on display there until 1942 when authorities decided to melt it down and use the metal for the wwii war effort. New zealand soldiers examining a german tank nicknamed schnuck, captured by new zealand forces on the western front. Technology, war and remembrance tells the story of how the german tank ended up in australia. Mephisto is a german a7v sturmpanzerwagen tank from world war i, bearing chassis number 506. As the last surviving german tank from the first world war it. This book, published by haynes better known for their excellent series of auto manuals is an important reference for this unusual vehicle and includes dozens of photographs of the preserved tank mephisto, contemporary photos, and plans and drawings. Only a single model of a german tank was used in action, the a7v sturmpanzerwagen, and it was a formidable opponent for the allied forces.
They saw limited service on the western front in 1918, and today only one survives number 506, mephisto. Mephisto a7v sturmpanzerwagen 506 a history of the sole. Mephisto a man sells his soul to the nazis and becomes a celebrated theater star during the third reich. Mephisto, the worlds only german a7v tank from world war i, is being housed in a massive plastic bubble west of brisbane. Next is hundleby and strasheims the german a7v tank, the cornerstone of a7v. The literary psychological profile of a regime follower. From technical specifications to service history, its the next best thing to being in the drivers seat. A comprehensive pocketsized guide to the german wwi tank.
It was a lumbering beast with rather poor mobility. The only surviving a7v is mephisto, which was abandoned by its crew during the battle of villersbretonneux in april 1918. The german a7v tank and the captured british mark iv tanks. During the battle of vb, mephisto broke down behind german. A book on the daring capture of a german wwi tank by australian soldiers in france has been released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of one.
The german army several years ago had a replica a7v constructed for their museum at munsterlager, filling an important gap in their collection of german afvs. Mephisto, chassis serial number 506, does not appear to be functional. Despite this fact and that its impact on the course of the war was barely noticed, the technical aspects of the design and that it was the landmark of german panzer development in the 20th century made the a7v an icon. American armoured car artillery book books british competition competitions diorama dozer french german german tank haynes korean war mafva nationals mafva show magazine marines middle east model show modern museum panther paper panzers post. Battle scars reveal the life of mephisto, a ww1 german. Huhu, public domain mephisto, as the tank is known, is an a7v, germanys first tank design to make it into production.
Fitted with either rochling or krupp armor plate, the first vehicle rolled off the assembly line in october 1917. This book tells the story of 506 mephisto against a backdrop of conflict. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Mephisto a7v sturmpanzerwagen 506 a history of the sole surviving first world war german tank. This book, published by haynes better known for their excellent series of auto manuals is an important reference for this unusual vehicle and includes dozens of photographs of the preserved tank mephisto, contemporary photos, and plans. According to abc australia, mephisto, a unique weapon of war and the only surviving german a7v tank from world war i, has gone on display at the australian war memorial in canberra as part of centenary commemorations. This german ww1 tank is the only surviving one of its kind, captured right under the noses of the germans and brought home to australia. Decals german wwi a7v tank 506 mephisto waterslide. Mephisto the only surviving original german a7v heavy.
As it became apparent that the great war was becoming a tremendous stalemate following the failure of the schleiffen plan, new tools and tactics had to be developed. The a7v was a heavy tank introduced by germany in 1918 during world war i. Video footage taken at the australian war memorial of the sole surviving example of a german a7v sturmpanzerwagen tank. The german a7v tank and the captured british mk iv tanks of world war i. The book has a complete history of activities of a7v s and the fate of a few other of them. German wwi a7v tank 506 mephisto, custom hobby decals. The use of tanks in some of the most famous battles of the western front. German world war one a7v sturmpanzerwagen mephisto at the australian war memorial photo taken during my january 2016 visit despite british and french tanks becoming more common on the battlefield from 1916 to mid 1917, this weapon seemed to be an afterthought to german. The fact that mephisto, the sole surviving a7v, wound up here in australia also amazed me. Please note we are not a book shop but vc book and mephisto book are. These newly invented war machines were hot, noisy, and cramped. One of only 20 built, it is the last surviving example of the first german military tank, and is displayed at the queensland museum in australia. Mephisto is a rare and important example of developing military technology in the early 20th century.
The last remaining first world war german a7v tank, panzerkampfwagen 506, mephisto and the battle damage it absorbed during the first world war at the australian war memorial in canberra. Mephisto rarest tank in the world the australian war. It was recovered three months later by australian and british troops, and taken to australia in 1919 as a trophy. The sturmpanzer a7v page contains all related products, articles, books, walkarounds and plastic scale modeling projects dedicated to this vehicle. Mephisto a7v sturmpanzerwagen 506 a history of the sole surviving first. Mephisto, the only remaining german a7v tank from world. Only a single type of german tank was used in action, the a7v sturmpanzerwagen, and it. Its currently in a climate controlled bubble at the railway workshop museum ipswich queensland. Sturmpanzerwagen a7v 506 mephisto tanks enyclopedia. Battle scars reveal the life of mephisto, a ww1 german tank from a. Front armour and main gun of german a7v tank mephisto. Mephisto the only surviving original german a7v heavy tank, currently on display in the queensland museum in australia. The story of how the only remaining german tank from the great war got into australian hands has been commemorated in brisbane.
I hope to have better pictures when it gets moved to its permanent exhibit. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every. The last german first world war tank by czechura, gregory. This australian museum holds mephisto, the only surviving a7v in the world. Book dealing with the first world war, technology, science, warfare and remembrance, with a focus on the war trophy german a7v tank mephisto, captured 14 july and recovered 2223 july 1918.
The german a7v tank and the captured british mark iv tanks of. A book has just been published to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of the mephisto s arrival in brisbane. The a7v you show in your photographs is mephisto, painted as it looked in july 1918 after it had been recovered from the battlefield near villersbretonneux. In 2014 stephen dandocollins published tank boys, a book set against the battle of villersbretonneux and the fate of mephisto. This pocket book sized guide features the only remaining ww1 german a7v tank in the world. In april 1918, during a german attack at villersbretonneux on the western front, it became stuck in a shellhole and was abandoned by its crew. Join us on sunday 22 july as we mark the 100th anniversary of the capture of mephisto on the western front with mephisto. The mephisto, one of only 20 german manufactured tanks, saw active service during ww1 as part of the first german detachment, and was one of the four.
The only a7v left in the world surviving from world war 1. Mephisto is a world war i german tank, the only surviving example of an a7v. Mephisto a7v sturmpanzerwagen 506 a history of the sole surviving first world war german tank mark whitmore on. Technology, war and remembrance is the latest addition to the. Technology, war and remembrance book launch and author talk with greg czechura and jeff hopkinsweise. Books mephisto a7v sturmpanzerwagen 506 a history of the sole surviving first world war german tank.
The story of the german a7v sturmpanzerwagen tank captured and recovered by australian troops during the defence of villers. A latecomer to the great war tank development between 19151918. Last of its kind only remaining german a7v tank on. Autopsy of a german a7v tank killed in world war i combat. This is being released to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of the tanks capture. German world war one a7v sturmpanzerwagen mephisto at the australian war memorial photo taken during my january 2016 visit despite british and french tanks becoming more common on the battlefield from 1916 to mid 1917, this weapon seemed to be an afterthought to german war planners. Mephisto is the name of a german a7v tank captured by australian troops during world war i. The german a7v tank and the captured british mark iv tanks of world war i a foulis military book maxwell hundleby, rainer strasheim on. Panzerkampfwagen 506, known as mephisto, was part of the initial german tank detachment which participated in the first german tank attack at st quentin in france. This book is now difficult to find and it would be great if the queensland museum would print another edition. Mephisto the last german a7v sturmpanzerwagen deanos.
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