WWII Tiger tanks and other armor to be auctioned in Bulgaria

[DoraNineFan]

Although the starting bids sound expensive, this is an interesting sale if it's really true.

Abandoned tanks cemented into a barrier since the 1950s would probably be in good condition.

The article about the sale follows below:

For sale: Nazi German tanks

Published: 2 Mar 08 9:30 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/10441/

Former Nazi ally Bulgaria plans to auction German tanks from the Second World War.

Bulgaria is selling German tanks from the World War II for about €100,000. This is the starting price, according to the Sunday edition of Bulgarian daily Trud in Sofia. The Bulgarian Defence Ministry plans to auction some 22 German Wehrmacht tanks and assault guns. The best-preserved pieces will be offered to museums before auctions begin.

Bulgaria was allied with Germany during the Second World War, and the German military sent the tanks to the country during that time. With the same weapons the Bulgarian army fought later against Nazi Germany till its surrender in May 1945. At the end of the 1950s, the tanks that weren’t scrapped were cemented into a barrier to protect the formerly communist Eastern Bloc country on the Turkish border.

Now that both Bulgaria and Turkey are NATO members, the tanks are no longer necessary to protect the border.

In December 2007, Bulgarian authorities arrested two German nationals and a Bulgarian army officer who allegedly stole a German Wehrmacht tank Maybach and attempted to steal a second one near the southeastern town of Jambul in Bulgaria.

[bdk]

This thread sucks without photos!



I would think with the turret open to the elements that they would be full of water and the soil may not be friendly to preservation either. I certainly hope they are in good condition though. Some of the tanks that have come out of bogs and rivers have been in extraordinary condition.

In further news (from the same source)....

"German soldiers ate sausage made from their own blood"

http://www.thelocal.de/10445/20080302/

[DoraNineFan]

I would think with the turret open to the elements that they would be full of water and the soil may not be friendly to preservation either. I certainly hope they are in good condition though. Some of the tanks that have come out of bogs and rivers have been in extraordinary condition.

I hope a few others stayed dry under the cement.

Now if only part of that defense wall was also made from a pile Luftwaffe aircraft or parts!

[bdk]

Now if only part of that defense wall was also made from a pile Luftwaffe aircraft or parts!

Now you're talking! A wall of Stukas!!!!!