Did a Polish A7V ever exist? One source in Germany sites that A7V units were transferred to Poland via France after the Great War. Historical writer after writer quotes the same source. The problem is, nobody has ever seen a picture of a Polish A7V tank. Did any Polish A7V tanks take part in the war with the Soviet Union just following the Great War? Written combat records have never surfaced, nor has any historian in Poland or France ever documented any information on this tank. The Soviets did not record an encounter with an A7V specifically. Were the tanks immediately scrapped by Poland? Did France ever really transfer these units? Did Germany "hide" these tanks? Was it a clerical mistake? ~ Tyrannosaur

Available to the Polish army right after WW1 were a handful of German A7Vs. It is known that they were in service and used against the Soviets in the Polish - Soviet war of 1919-20. A small point of history: The Poland was the only nation to actually defeat the USSR and bring them to a peace table. Further, Stalin was the political commisar appointed to the Soviet army that attacked Poland.

"Finally found a reference to post-WW I use of the A7Vs. Apparently the Poles acquired a few, either as purchase or reparations from Germany. My source states that in June, 1919, the Polish organized their armored forces around 150 Renault FTs, and 5 A7Vs. They (the armored force) played a "tentative" part in the repelling of the Russian invasion (quotes are mine). The Versailles Treaty didn't go into effect until January, 1920, which  leads me to believe they likely purchased from the postwar German government. Information obtained from Tank Facts & Feats, Kenneth Macksey."

John E. (Johnny) Beamsderfer

"I am also concerned with the story of A7V tank in Polish service. After our initial exchange of e-mail several months ago I did some research. Walther Nehring made the first mention of A7V in literature, afterwards writers just keep rewriting it. No Polish source mentions use of A7V by Polish troops. Sources to Battle of Warsaw, which is particularly well described in literature, does not mention use of A7V in any of the encounters. Until proven wrong I will unequivocally state that Poland did not use or own A7V at all. None of Polish publications on tanks and specifically on A7V claims any of these tanks in Polish army. There is no documentation to support Nehrings claim."

Sincerely

Witold J. Lawrynowicz

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