a true Groghead ...collects a Panther

[MikeGER]

...and a famous 88 also  O0

and http://www.n-tv.de/panorama/Weltkriegspanzer-in-Ostsee-Villa-geborgen-article15433571.html (German language but also has a video after a forced 20 sec add)

a78 old man, living in a remote villa, near Kiel had a large 'illegal' collection of war memorabilia ....including a full blown original Panther! , who was in the past able to drive on his own power. the collector used it to help clearing a path through snow in the village once when there was a natural disaster , and drove it once a while on his large property.
he will see charges for 'possesion of weapons of war', but his lawyer says to the press: all weapons were demilitarized and not operational, the local villagers knew of the collection and stated he was never a threat 
the authorities had to ask the Bundeswehr to help with the transport, who showed up with several flatbed trucks and two actual armored recovery vehicles     

[bob48]

Awesome! Looks like its an Auf G as well.

[undercovergeek]

if youre doing what i did and before pressing play are wondering where the turret and gun is, thats not the tank on the still shot of the video!

[MikeGER]

a picture collection of the event: has several Panther and 88 views  :)

http://www.n-tv.de/mediathek/bilderserien/panorama/Kieler-hat-Weltkriegs-Panzer-im-Keller-article15436481.html

[Barthheart]

WOW! Those things are in mint condition!!!!!!  :o

[W8taminute]

How did the authorities eventually find out about the old man's collection?

How did the man acquire these vehicles?

Amazing story. 

The condition of these two specimens is amazing.  The man must have put a lot of love, sweat, and work into keeping these machines from the past in such great condition.   O0

[MikeGER]

1 How did the authorities eventually find out about the old man's collection?

2 How did the man acquire these vehicles?

1 he also collected art (sculptures) from that epoch and the authorities were looking for art pieces, that Nazis may have had stolen or bought(under pressure) and later -through several hands- ended up by privat collectors nowadays.

2 he bought the tank in 1977 in the UK, he could also provide a document from 2005 from a minor city or local county authority that had already declared the tank 'demilitarized'. So the prosecutor really went head over heels here.

people are saying he reallystretched it, and if the old man wins in the courtroom, the items had to be replaced to his private exposition hall on taxpayers expenses. :o
and it should have be enuf to just seal his privat 'subterrain exposition hall', with a simple police-seal (like a crime scene) and let the lawyers all sort it out instead of showing up with the two Büffel3 armored recovery vehicles, just so the prosecutor could made his point ...there was no "exigent circumstances"     

[Cyrano]

This is nonsensical overreach.  As Mike indicates, he's likely to get them all back and, although I know nothing of German law on this or any other matter, it would seem to me he'd have a claim for wrongful prosecution...can't imagine what the damages would be absent harm to the items themselves, but still...an apology would seem in order...

Perhaps it's perverse -- I've wondered as much -- but I have long marveled at the craft involved with the Panther particularly but German tank manufacture in general.  I find them more aesthetic and engaging than even some of the great German automobiles.  If I had the means and space you bet your life I'd have a Panther...fire than sumbitch up on the weekends...

[OJsDad]

Is the prosecutor from the US.  Sounds like the type of grand standing one would do here.

[GDS_Starfury]

that Panther is in mint condition!

[Nefaro]

that Panther is in mint condition!

New paint job? 

I bet he's having a coronary, worrying about them scratching his precious.

[Boggit]

that Panther is in mint condition!

New paint job? 

I bet he's having a coronary, worrying about them scratching his precious.

;D