Zeppelin Engines & 13 Tankers: Inside the French Giant Char 2C

In May 1940, ten massive steel giants were rushing by rail across panic-stricken France as the German army advanced. These were the Char 2C tanks, weighing nearly 70 tons and stretching over 10 meters in length, making them the largest operational combat tanks in the world at that time. Originally designed to break through the trench lines of World War I, these behemoths featured a revolutionary three-man turret and were powered by two Mercedes engines that were initially intended for German airships. With a record-breaking crew of 13 men and armor that was once considered impenetrable, they were hailed as invincible fortresses by French propaganda.

However, the reality was much harsher for the 51st Tank Battalion in 1940. Despite their fearsome reputation and massive 75mm cannons, these "land battleships" were too slow and obsolete to face modern German Panzers and Blitzkrieg tactics. This video details the engineering marvels behind the Char 2C and reveals the tragic fate of these machines, which were eventually destroyed by their own crews to prevent capture. We also explore the enduring mystery of the one tank, "Champagne," that was taken to Berlin as a trophy and vanished without a trace after the war.

#Char2C #TankHistory #WW2 #MilitaryEngineering #FrenchArmy