The tank featured such advanced features as the main armament mounted on top of the tank in a centrally placed revolving turret, separate fighting and engine compartments, a rear-mounted engine and a low track run.

Towards the end of the First World War it was clear that the only operational German tank, the A7V, was too expensive to produce and had too large a crew.

Therefore, it was decided that a lighter tank was required which could spearhead assaults and which could be mass-produced.

Thirteen companies bid for the contract and in the middle of 1918, construction of a design by Captain Müller was assigned to the Oberschlesien Eisenwerk of Gleiwitz, which had partially completed two prototypes by October.

Neither the ordered test models, nor the improved "Oberschlesien II" already planned were finished before the end of the war.