During World War II, the German army captured a large number of Soviet KV-1s. Approximately 50–100 vehicles were repaired and serviced in the Wehrmacht, and were designated as Pz.Kpfw KW-1A 753(r), Pz.Kpfw KW-1B 755(r), and Pz.Kpfw KW-1C 756(r) for the 1940, '41, and '42 models respectively. Among others, a 1942 version was captured in the second half of 1942. Engineers and technicians from the 22nd Panzer Division then conceived the idea of refitting and reinforcing this tank. They installed new optics, a 75 mm KwK 40 L/48 gun, an MG 34 machine gun, a commander’s cupola typical of the Pz. III and Pz. IV, and an air filter from a T-34. The new tank was sent to Kursk; its subsequent fate is unknown.

The KW I C 756 (r) was introduced in Update 1.43. This unusual upgrade, incorporating both German and Russian components, addresses one of the main problems of the KV-1, providing a much more powerful 75 mm gun with excellent armour penetration while maintaining the good armour and comfortable speed of KV tanks. However, it also retains some disadvantages: a poor reverse gear, and the new commander’s cupola is a weak spot.