Part 7/11:
News of the British innovations spurred German efforts to develop their own tanks. The Germans produced the A7V, a relatively limited model with only about twenty units built due to resource constraints and the complexity of manual assembly. The A7V faced limitations—its low speed and mechanical issues in the muddy conditions of the Western Front.
Meanwhile, the French accelerated their development efforts, resulting in the Renault FT-17, which is often hailed as the first modern tank. Its design was revolutionary: a fully rotating turret, a compact size, and a simple yet effective layout with a two-man crew. The FT-17 was produced in large numbers and saw widespread use through the end of the war and beyond, influencing tank design worldwide.