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Finding WWII relics in Russia is relatively easy if you know where to look, recently relic hunters found a WWII 1942 pattern German StuG III Infantry Assault tank in the same region as they found a T34-76 tank, around Pskov in Russia. The Stug III was an infantry support vehicle and was made in large numbers due to it being cheaper to manufacture. The cheapness derived from the fact that the tank had no turret, instead the main gun was integral with the hull. Having no turret also gave it a lower silhouette making it harder to see in tall grasses or hilly environments. No need for metal detectors or wet suits to find the tank this time, as it can be seen lying on the surface... How come this tank was not discovered earlier? well quite simply the steppes and plains of Russia are too vast, spreading far and wide in millions of square miles.
The tank was hauled out of the mud still in its inverted position, but what state is it in ? could it just be a pile of blown up scrap ? many WWII tanks were destroyed in combat, literally blown to pieces. Although covered in mud it looks complete and optimistically the tank is dragged out further.
The tank has been dragged over onto its tracks and a clearer view of it can now determine its actual state of repair, is it a wreck ?...Well it all seams to be there, the hull and the gun barrel look ok. No obvious signs of an explosion...
The tank is complete ! with all the wheels and tracks still in situ, even the tanks spare wheel rims are still affixed to the outside of the tank...what a great find !
Considering the tank has lain upside down in mud for the past 59 years the paint is still in fantastic condition with almost zero rust on the outside.
The tank looks very complete indeed, a little worse for wear as you would expect but nevertheless is in fabulous condition....almost mint !
The tank is transported on a low loader back to base where it is thoroughly inspected by its enthusiastic finders.
Amazing how this tank wasn't found before, carted off and cut up for scrap metal as so many were at the end of WWII. Now she can be preserved in a museum for everyone to enjoy. A real piece of WWII history being saved.
Are the people who are finding these tanks making huge profits ? well the answer to that is no ! The reason being, hypocritical as it sounds, in Russia it is illegal to buy, sell or ship any type of military hardware. As stated in another chapter, any and all tanks that are discovered and salvaged are automatically claimed by the Soviet Government and are consigned to a museum. I have noticed too that all of the photos on my pages about these discovered tanks always seam to have military personnel around them. In the UK or USA private ownership of a tank is quite legal, just as long as their guns are completely deactivated or the entire breach mechanism's are taken out. Plus they are not allowed to carry any ordnance or ammunition of any description, however...fully inspected dummy guns and dummy shells are permitted. Private ownership of a tank in Russia however, regardless of age is not a viable proposition at all, its simply illegal to do so. If you live in Russia and you want to drive a tank...then join the army ! Read more about the German WWII StuG III by clicking on the photo below.
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