The Citroën T45 was a heavy duty truck manufactured bt the French company Citroen from 1941 to 1944 under  German Army Contract during WW2. These trucks, originally designed as buses before the war, were adapted into cargo lorries for the German military to help alleviate their own heavy truck shortages. A significant act of sabotage during their production involved a subtle modification to the dipstick’s oil level indicator, which led to engines seizing up later in service and was intended as a form of resistance. 

• Wartime production: Around 18,500 Citroën Type 45 U trucks were produced for the Wehrmacht between 1941 and 1944.

• Original purpose: The base design was intended for passenger transport before the war, but it was re-engineered for military use as a cargo vehicle.

• Sabotage: Citroën workers secretly moved the oil level marking on the dipstick lower, causing engines to fail prematurely in German service. This act of resistance was reversible, as the notch could be moved back to the correct position if the trucks were recovered by the Allies.

• Specifications: The T45 U model was a 4.5-ton general-purpose lorry with a 3.5-ton payload.