German authorities seize tank, other WWII weapons in raid

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

BERLIN (AP) — Authorities have seized a 45-ton Panther tank, a flak canon and multiple other World War II-era military weapons in a raid on a 78-year-old collector's storage facility in northern Germany.

Kiel prosecutor Birgit Hess said the collector is being investigated for possibly violating German weapons laws but his attorney Peter Gramsch told the dpa news agency all the items were properly demilitarized and registered.

The collector, whose name wasn't released, made no secret of his collection, even bringing the tank out during a bad winter to plow neighbors' snow, newspaper Kieler Nachrichten reported Friday.

He came to authorities' attention in an investigation into black market Nazi-era art that turned up two bronze horse statues that once stood in front of Adolf Hitler's chancellery. Those were in another man's possession.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/66b2da3d6921443f83049538f7896f64/german-authorities-seize-tank-other-wwii-weapons-raid

[Orrex]

1. But they're about heritage!

[Igel]

2. Meh.

People have a strange sense of perspective when they're afraid of a 78-year-old with a "demilitarized" (out of commission) weapons collection. They must not have anything real to be afraid of.

And what'll happen when all the objects of their current trivial fears are dead? They'll be afraid of rust flakes because they could be smelted into swords? Afraid of air because it might be polluted? Or perhaps they'll ban red and black dye because, well, you know what *they* could be used for.

[davepc]

3. The guys should be given a medal for keeping that Panther up and running

Not arrested.

Where does one get ammunition for a Flak 88 or a 75 AT gun these days anyways, assuming they were in operating condition.

[Botany]

4. bringing the tank out during a bad winter to plow neighbors' snow

[NobodyHere]

5. It's nice to see a former weapon of war being put to good use.

I hope someone got pictures.

[Historic NY]

6. That made me go what....

anyway it worth some money is its operational

[Botany]

7. I do snow work in the winter and I think a king tiger tank might be a little tough on ....

.... the streets, sidewalks, walls, cars, flower beds, lawns, curbs, steps, and shrubs that
it might run into.

[Historic NY]

8. But it would take care avalanche threats.

[kwassa]

11. like the tank that was stolen in San Diego in 1995

[LibertyLover]

9. A Panzer in running order?

That is a pretty damned good achievement - there are museums that would sacrifice a curatorial position in order to buy it. That collector deserves a medal.

[Kelvin Mace]

10. I would have paid hard coin

To see snow plowed with a Panther.