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Show Claim That Voltaire ! Invented War "tanks" ! The fact that tanks play an Impor-I Impor-I tant role In warfare has led on. student stu-dent of history, and Voltaire, (d de clare that Voltaire was the real lnven-tor lnven-tor of the armored tank. According to this claimant, Voltaire announced the Invention, about 1750, of the "Assyrian Chariot," which was armed like the modern tankl. With this invention Voltaire proclaimed that he could crush the armies of Frederick the Great, then waging the I Seven Years' war. Marshal de IUehe-! IUehe-! lieu, however, turned down the Invention Inven-tion and Voltaire, In 1770, offered It to Czarina Catherine of Russia, who ' was then engaged In war with the Turks. ; .! ! Catherine ordered a pair of 'fhe j tanks, but later Informed Voltaire that j they were useless except against I troops In massed ranks, as shei .per-I .per-I sonally had Seen them tested. |