German heavy tank development began as early as 1937 with the German Armaments Ministry issuing a specification for a new heavy tank to Daimler-Benz, Henschel, MAN and Porsche.

• 德国重型坦克的发展始于1937年，当时德军陆军装备部向戴姆勒-奔驰公司、亨舍尔公司、MAN公司、波舍尔（保时捷）公司下达制.；造新规格的重型坦克的决定。