84yo fined for keeping Panther Tank in garage and 88mm Flak in basement

[KGBoy]

In great shape too!

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/indeed-hiding-a-panther-tank-and-weaponry-in-the-cellar-is-bad-and-expensive-166605.html

[Vergeltungswaffe]

Awesome hoard of stuff, but definitely not the country to be doing that in.

[Erwin]

In beautiful condition.  It could happen to any of us.  A Panther infiltrates one's basement and make a nest.  Am having similar issue with Antelope Squirrels.  But, they are sooo cute.  We sometimes see Couger tracks on the property.  What's the big deal?

And obviously the locals and neighbors weren't worried.  (Dam bureaucrats.)

Edited August 4, 2021 by Erwin

[KGBoy]

LOL  

The guy was 8yo in 1946. Probably not too many toys around in Germany for a kid to play with at that time. This is his dinky toy collection.

 

Edited August 4, 2021 by KGBoy

[landser]

37 minutes ago, Erwin said:

And obviously the locals and neighbors weren't worried.  (Dam bureaucrats.)

Not only that, but the thing was nice to have around. The tank was used to clear snow from the town's streets, or so I've been told. So no reason to rat him out when it was such an asset to the townsfolk

[A Canadian Cat]

17 hours ago, landser said:

The tank was used to clear snow from the town's streets

The article says it had no tracks... soooo while it is possible show plowing happened some time it was not a regular thing and not currently in service of the town.

 

18 hours ago, Erwin said:

And obviously the locals and neighbors weren't worried.  (Dam bureaucrats.)

?? who says no one was worried. You might argue who cares about a non serviceable tank (and given what it is a symbol of that argument would not go your way either) but that 1000 rounds of old ammo is actually not safe.

[ASL Veteran]

I don't think I've ever seen a basement big enough to fit an 88 Flak.  A garage big enough to fit a Panther is larger than normal too.  I have to wonder what kind of house this person had.

[Warts 'n' all]

2 hours ago, ASL Veteran said:

 I have to wonder what kind of house this person had.

A big one, perhaps.

[purpheart23]

He should be able to keep all of his stuff as long as it's non mission capable, but I guess not much has changed from the 40's eh Germany?

[Artkin]

Glad to be born on this side of the pond.

Its been 80 years since ww2. 

[umlaut]

1 hour ago, purpheart23 said:

He should be able to keep all of his stuff as long as it's non mission capable, but I guess not much has changed from the 40's eh Germany?

That statement makes absolutely no sense to me!

[Warts 'n' all]

8 hours ago, purpheart23 said:

I guess not much has changed from the 40's eh Germany?

They've got a Starbucks in the Hauptbahnhof, what more do you want?

[SergeantSqook]

6 minutes ago, Warts 'n' all said:

They've got a Starbucks in the Hauptbahnhof, what more do you want?

A Starbucks in the Hauptbahnhof, AND personal ownership of a Panther, apparently

[umlaut]

13 hours ago, purpheart23 said:

 I guess not much has changed from the 40's eh Germany?

 

4 hours ago, SergeantSqook said:

AND personal ownership of a Panther, apparently

Sorry, my bad - I get it now:

The Third Reich lost the war, because the government infringed on german citizens´ constitutional right to keep tanks in their basements!

[Warts 'n' all]

I suppose things have changed for the better. It used to be the mad old man in the basement, and the Panther that was free to roam.

[StieliAlpha]

18 hours ago, purpheart23 said:

He should be able to keep all of his stuff as long as it's non mission capable, but I guess not much has changed from the 40's eh Germany?

Who did say the stuff „was not mission capable“?

Loads of ammo in your basement are explodeable.

Small arms and ammo are at least stealable.

Did he have any qualification to drive his tank? I mean, if he had crushed some people’s kids or my car, I would not have said „Don‘t worry. It’s just him and his Panther“.

Enough reason to worry for normal people in a normal housing environment?

And, since „the other side of the pond“ admires personal responsibility, why did he not properly declare his collection and tried to find a proper solution?

In short terms: Tried to skip some rules, got caught, bad luck….

Law and order, you know?

Edited August 6, 2021 by StieliAlpha

[StieliAlpha]

18 hours ago, purpheart23 said:

He should be able to keep all of his stuff as long as it's non mission capable, but I guess not much has changed from the 40's eh Germany?

Forgot to ask: Have you ever been in Germany, back then or now?

Or what expertise makes you think so?

Edited August 6, 2021 by StieliAlpha

[CaptainTheDark]

I have. I'm surprised his sentence is so light, and wonder what might have happened if this discovery had been made 30 years ago, or 40. Imagine the cost to everyone involved in dismantling equipment or his home, just to be able to haul the 88 and Panzer away.

[StieliAlpha]

56 minutes ago, CaptainTheDark said:

I have. I'm surprised his sentence is so light, and wonder what might have happened if this discovery had been made 30 years ago, or 40. Imagine the cost to everyone involved in dismantling equipment or his home, just to be able to haul the 88 and Panzer away.

I thought about mentioning that, but dropped the idea in the end.

Yep, it easily cost 100‘000 plus to clear up his mess. The bill is, of course, on the tax payer. 

Eh, anybody around who would like to sponsor my hobbies? I would have some great ideas.

Edited August 6, 2021 by StieliAlpha

[sburke]

damn and I have to argue with the wife for space for a table saw.  I can't imagine saying "honey, mind if I store a Panther tank in the garage?"

[Holien]

BTW the British REME built that Panther after the end of WW2, or supervised the Germans doing the real work.

Mark Felton just released a video about the "British" built Panthers 

[KGBoy]

Not figured where in Germany. X-East or West?

Edited August 6, 2021 by KGBoy

[StieliAlpha]

3 minutes ago, KGBoy said:

Not figure where in Germany. X-East or West?

Hmmm, after the air bridge to Berlin, the wall, the starting Cold War…

What‘s your best guess?

[Ironcross12]

I hope it ends up in a nice museum and its not been to damged by being dragged with no tracks. I guess he will get alot of money in the sale of these items.

 

 

 

[purpheart23]

On 8/6/2021 at 8:38 AM, StieliAlpha said:

Forgot to ask: Have you ever been in Germany, back then or now?

Or what expertise makes you think so?

Yeah I was born there, and have several associates that live there. Without going into detail I'll go ahead and keep my beliefs, thanks for asking though.