This super-heavy tank was supposed to become a “miracle weapon” capable of turning the tide of the war and returning the lost superiority to the Pentsevaffe on the battlefield. This monstrous 180-ton monster with 200-mm armor and two guns, either for conspiracy, or in a fit of gloomy German humor, called “Maus” (Maus - “mouse”), put an end to the arms race, bringing the manic to the point of absurdity. the passion of the leadership of the Third Reich to create ever heavier tanks. A miracle did not happen - the serial production of these colossuses was already beyond the capabilities of German industry. But even if the “Maus” appeared in any noticeable quantities, it is unlikely that they would be able to turn the tide of hostilities - these huge and extremely inactive tanks would most likely become easy prey for Soviet and Anglo-American aviation. Less known is that the legendary “Maus” was no exception - they tried to create “land dreadnoughts” not only in Nazi Germany, but also in other countries, including the USSR. A new book by a leading expert on the history of armored vehicles explores this dead-end branch of tank building, analyzing the most phenomenal, paradoxical and simply crazy projects, among which “Mouse” was far from the worst.