Sturmpanzerwagen A7V 506 "Mephisto" - Brisbane's German Tank.

 

Background.

On the 21st March 1918 the German army on the western front launched Operation Michael, this spring offensive was designed to smash through the allied defences in the Somme region before the effect of the incoming American troops could be felt. Around an extra 50 divisions had been rushed over from the eastern front after the Russian defeat and the signing of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, this gave the Imperial German Army a temporary advantage in numbers.

Operation Michael was the main attack, there would be three other minor offensives (Georgette, Gneisenau and Blücher-Yorck) to draw allied forces away and cause confusion. The object was to punch a hole through the British lines and swing up to the English Channel, with the British in full retreat it was hoped the French would seek an armistice.

This operation was to be the first that would include a German made tank, the Sturmpanzerwagen A7V, the A7V was steel monster sporting a forward firing 57mm Maxim Nordenfelt cannon and six MG08 machine guns, it had a crew of up to 18 and crawled along at between 9 and 4 mph, depending on the ground it was traversing.

A7V 506 entered service sometime around December 1917 and was commanded by Lieutenant Heinz Theunissen, he named the tank 'Mephisto'. The name was painted on the front and back armour, on the front a devil carrying British tank side armour was painted, this was from a Persil Laundry advertisement that was popular at the time.

The Second Battle Of Villers-Bretonneux.

The attack on the Somme saw the allies thrown back to the old battlefields of 1916, ground won through the shedding of so much blood. It was on the 24th to the 27th April that the second battle of Villers-Bretonneux was fought, the area had been heavily shelled by the Germans in preparation and air was dangerously contaminated with mustard gas. 

Facing the Germans were the remains of the British 8th Division, the 173rd Brigade, and the Australian 13th, 14th and 15th Brigades backed up with two Mark IV females tanks and one Mark IV male (female tanks were armed with machine guns, male tanks had two six pounder 57mm cannons), and seven Whippet medium tanks.

British Mark IV Male Tank

It was during this battle that the first tank on tank confrontation took place. The three British Mark IV tanks were despatched to the Catchy area as intelligence said there was a serious German advance in that direction. The British tanks advanced toward the German lines, soon they came across A7V 'Nixe' under the command of the wonderfully named 2nd Lieutenant Wilhelm Blitz.

A7V 'Nixe' immediately fired on the lead British tank punching a hole in its side, unfortunately the two lead tanks were of the female type and their machine guns could not penetrate the thick armour of the A7V. Turning to disengage the other female tank also took a hit to its side, the wounded and vulnerable crews managed to get their tanks out of the way, now the male tank with its two six pounders came into the fray.

British Mark IV Female Tank

The male Mark IV had to keep moving as the German artillery were trying to knock it out and the A7V was maneuvering to engage. The Mark IV managed to hit the A7V six times with its cannons, the German tank was still in the fight but it managed to become ditched and keeled over onto its side, the crew of 18 managed to get out but 9 were killed as they fled.

Two more A7V's arrived, closing in on the British tank, but they were driven off by the fine shooting of the Mark IV gunners. Being horribly exposed to German artillery the Mark IV turned to retreat, German infantry had massed for the attack, but they were decimated by seven British Whippet tanks that had arrived to support the heavy tank, only four Whippets returned after the engagement.

British Whippet Medium Tanks

The Mark IV was eventually crippled by mortar fire and the crew abandoned it, escaping into a British trench. A7V 'Nixe' was recaptured by German infantry but efforts to restart the engines failed and it was blown up with demolition charges. At this time another one of the A7Vs became hopelessly ditched in a newly created shell hole, this tank was not destroyed, in fact it would stay in situ for the next three months, this was A7V 506 'Mephisto'.

The battle would rage on for a few more days with the Australian and British forces eventually retaking Villers-Bretonneux at great cost, but with this town secured the road and rail network to the very important transport hub of Amiens was also secure, it was an important victory.

The front line would creep forwards and the allies gained ground, as the allies advanced they came across another A7V, this one was called 'Elfriede', it was the first A7V to be captured intact, and was recovered by British and French troops. The advance continued with many small battles around strong points and outposts.

A7V Elfriede, the first A7V to be captured.

One of these outposts was at Monument Wood, here on the 9th July men of the 28th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force raided and discovered 'Mephisto' in its shell crater, however, due to intense fire they had to withdraw and hand over the assault to the 26th Battalion. On the 13th July the 26th Battalion AIF cleared the wood and with it the derelict A7V 'Mephisto' fell into their hands.

A Captured Mark IV Female supports German infantry.

Recovering Mephisto.

The tank was still very much within range of German positions, so any recovery would be fraught with danger, so the Australians attacked the German lines two more times and drove them further back, eventually the Gun Carrier Company of the Tank Corps were able to creep forward and connect steel cables to Mephisto and drag the tank out of its muddy hole.

The operation was covered by artillery attacks across the German lines and aircraft buzzing over head, unfortunately the German artillery had a pre planned artillery strike ready to go, and so shells, some with gas, slammed into the area of operations, all of those of the Tank Corps and the men of the 26th AIF had to wear gas masks the whole time Mephisto was recovered.

The tank was eventually dragged back to the allied lines, men of the 26th AIF covered its tracks so German spotter planes could not see where it had gone, eventually it was deposited at the tank training ground at Vaux-en-Amienois, it was here that the tank was covered in graffiti by curious soldiers.

 The Daily Mail - Saturday 21st December 1918.

It was soon very apparent that A7V Mephisto was to be shipped to Australia, and Brisbane was the destination. The tank was transported to Poulainville where there was a railway siding to take it to Merlimont, Dunkirk and then on to London.

Mephisto showing the graffiti.

New Home In Australia.

Parked up in England prior to embarkation.

On the 2nd April 1919 at Tilbury docks, Mephisto was loaded aboard the steamship Armagh along with returning ANZAC troops for the long journey back to Australia. Meanwhile back in Australia the final destination for this most prized souvenir was in question, Melbourne was requesting delivery, while up in Queensland their Agent General Sir Thomas Robinson was determined that the tank was theirs as the 26th Battalion that captured it were Queenslanders.

The Steamship Armagh.

The Toowoomba Chronicle - Saturday 7th June 1919;

"Valued War Trophy.

The German tank, which was captured by the 26th Battalion at Monument Wood (Villers-Bretonneux) on the 14th July 1918, was landed from the steamer Armagh this afternoon.

It is a cumbersome machine, weighing about 30 tons, and is the heaviest lift which has yet been made in Brisbane. The operation was successfully and expeditiously carried out."

Mephisto being unloaded from the Armagh.

The Telegraph - Saturday 23rd August 1919;

German War Tank.

Removed to Museum.

Rumblings at Midnight.

The noise of heavy machinery rumbling through the street, shortly after midnight, awakened more than one resident of Brisbane out of his sleep. Had they gone to their windows to see what it was all about, they would have seen an unusual sight - a 60 ton (slight exaggeration!) German tank being drawn along by two city council steam rollers. This huge weapon of modern warfare was being transported from the Norman Wharf to the museum at the Exhibition.

The task was commenced at midnight, and was not completed until about 11am. The tank arrived at Brisbane by an overseas ship more than two months ago. She has lain on the Norman Wharf since that time, and Queenslanders will be pleased to learn that she has at last landed at the museum, in the open space at the main entrance, to which the trophy now stands the object of curiosity of many visitors.

Mephisto and the Steam Rollers.

The transportation was carried out under the supervision of Mr R. D. Clissold, foreman of works, Brisbane City Council. He was assisted by Mr Adam Bell (ganger). Most difficult of all was the work of drawing the tank through the main gateway of the museum grounds. 'Mephistopheles' looked too big and cumbersome to crawl through without injuring the brick pillars on either side of her.

It was a ticklish job, and one of the iron gates had to be removed before it could be effected. Slowly but surely the tank wormed its way through, and beyond cutting up the gravel way very considerably, it did no damage. Once inside, it did not take long to pull the tank into its appointed place."

Mephisto in its first position.

Even at this late stage questions were still being asked about Mephisto's final resting place, but finally in October 1920 it was settled.

Queensland Times - Monday 18th October 1920;

"Melbourne - Friday.

At a meeting of the Australian War Museum Committee had today, it was decided that the German tank 'Mephisto,' now on exhibition in Brisbane, should be allowed to remain there instead of being removed for exhibition in the Australian War Museum, when established, as was originally intended."

The fears of weather damage were very real, the tank was open to the elements and something needed to be done.

The Brisbane Courier - Thursday 10th February 1921;

"Some time ago the 'Courier' pointed out that the German war tank 'Mephisto,' which was captured by Queenslanders and forwarded to this state as a war trophy, was lying in the grounds of the Brisbane Museum exposed to the ravages of the weather.

The Government has now taken steps to erect a shelter over this interesting memento, and the building is in course of erection."

The Telegraph - Saturday 23rd July 1938

Mephisto is the only surviving A7V tank in the world, there are parts of them in various museums around the world, but this is the only complete example. The tank was moved several times over the years, but even under shelters the tank was deteriorating, it needed some restoration and looking after.

Mephisto in the 1960s.

Finally in 1986 Mephisto was moved to the Queensland Cultural Centre, this location was big enough for the tank to be housed inside, in 1988 a German team came to see Mephisto to take measurements and gain knowledge enough to go back and construct an A7V for themselves, this tank is named 'Wotan'. 

In 2023 the tanks original compass was returned, it had been taken as a souvenir by a soldier on its landing in Australia. Recently the tank has been preserved behind glass in a temperature controlled environment, one of the world's rarest tanks is now preserved for future generations.

Musically Mephisto has been mentioned in two songs, one by Ukrainian metal band 1914 on their album "Blind Leading The Blind" with the track "A7V Mephisto" and by Einstürzende Neubauten on their album "Lament" on the track "How Did I Die?".