Forgotten Hope Public Forum

Off-Topic => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Pappa_bear on 09-02-2016, 10:02:53

Title: Rape of a Stug
Post by: Pappa_bear on 09-02-2016, 10:02:53
This is the Demjansk/Saratov StuG 40 Ausf.G as it was found in 2002, in Russia

"Sad story of this StuG IIIG.
Johan Morén shared this video with us and we all know this video, but what happend with this StuG, you are not going to like it.
The video still blows my mind, here you see a intact StuG with the White Wash still intact and with all his gear plus no hit damage! surely this priceless artifact was stored and send to museum, NO it was left outside for years to rust, later the metalhunters came to cut and open the StuG, and strip its engine and all its parts, and some of the parts were sold.
But the rape was not over, because it was outside many people could steal parts and later paint and scratch their initials in it.
This StuG was a truely unique find and because of these criminals we will never learn anything about this StuG because it had information about paint, markings and finishes.
It was still outside in 2006 and even if someone put it inside at this time the damage it already done and we will never find a vehicle like this again"  as told by Panzerpicture ( https://www.facebook.com/Panzerpicture)

Video of stug recovery https://youtu.be/lvveoQRVBxY

Photoalbum of bog / swamp recovery http://www.detektorweb.cz/index.4me?s=show&i=2988&mm=1&vd=1

(https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/67858_443523275776515_1880706749_n.jpg?oh=53caa253363de2fe571651afdb135cc5&oe=5722CCD7)
(https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/1545700_443523315776511_791387022_n.jpg?oh=ae839819ac4bd028641897f8a99f849a&oe=572B438A)
(https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtl1/t31.0-8/1891337_443523019109874_1033780761_o.jpg)

Horrific
(https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/1016305_443522585776584_352571877_n.jpg?oh=cb7afdac6ee20113ba6e3d3f95f1b17e&oe=576B8813)
(https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/264591_443522745776568_150903867_n.jpg?oh=9f64f20825921bdbaf83cc35b87e6486&oe=572C0C52)
(https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1903004_443522669109909_1898092726_n.jpg?oh=f270a1d1e0d0de1c57336024fdcb0f3b&oe=57300084)
(http://legion-afv.narod.ru/Germany/SPG_Germany/StuG-40_Saratov/StuG-40_Saratov_055.JPG)

More photo's in album: http://legion-afv.narod.ru/StuG-40_Saratov.html

Current state:
Around 2010-2012
(https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/970604_443579085770934_1908590563_n.jpg?oh=fc19c5ced2fea1cc0f03ee4521a03cac&oe=57703990)
2014
(http://i65.tinypic.com/s3euyq.jpg)
More pictures here: http://wikimapia.org/27909381/ru/%D0%A8%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%B5-StuG-40-Aust-G#/photo/4031837

Location: Saratov, Russia
(http://i64.tinypic.com/14tyq2f.jpg)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/2h3y87r.jpg)



Result: an empty stug, which has most interior parts stolen or sold on the black market. A radio ended up in Latvia for example. American and Swedish collectors wanted to buy the stug back in 2002 and 2006, but the Russians demanded more money. In all those years, the stug was out in the open.
After the rape of 2006, they tried to restore it, with the result of a hollow tank, with a horrible paintjob.
To this day, +13 years after its recovery, the stug is still out in the open, collecting rust.
It is understandable that displaying a tank outside is attracting tourists, but leaving it outside for 13 years is just a crime :-\

Saratov isnt the only place in the world where this happens.
The island of Vlieland, Netherlands hold several tanks as shooting targets. An old sherman tank fell victim. If you see in which condition it was, it makes you sick   https://www.flickr.com/photos/dirk_bruin_vlieland/sets/72157594558322712/

Not all tanks can be saved forever, but sometimes you wonder why people in charge make such stupid mistakes.
Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: Kinryu on 09-02-2016, 16:02:18
What a terrible crime.  >:(
Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: SadCamelion on 09-02-2016, 17:02:26
Well, that's a hard story :o

poor piece of history:(
Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: Slayer on 09-02-2016, 20:02:59
But seeing the last pic, does that mean it's restored now?
Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: Kinryu on 10-02-2016, 00:02:54
But seeing the last pic, does that mean it's restored now?
If they took the engine then it is probably a shell now.
Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: THeTA0123 on 10-02-2016, 11:02:18
But seeing the last pic, does that mean it's restored now?
If they did it from day 1, it would have been a fully restorted StuG. Now its nothing more then a gate guardian. The inside is empty and wrecked by russian cunts with no care for history.

Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: Pappa_bear on 10-02-2016, 11:02:12
Alot of other displays in Russia are well restored, and kept/displayed with respect. This happens all over the world. It just makes you sick to see such an amazing Stug III, in 2002, with functioning engine, being stripped by idiots.
Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: Zoologic on 10-02-2016, 14:02:55
Restored, but the markings and paints are totally wrong. It is no different than a 1:1 plastic toy without its original markings carefully restored.

People who build plastic models put their efforts into detailing and realism into that $50 collection toy with hours of research. So, I never understand why some ungrateful idiots decided to have a go at the real stuff and come up with crummy result.
Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: Roughbeak on 10-02-2016, 15:02:42
This sounds horrific!

I'm glad the Stug got repaired somewhat though.
Title: Re: Rape of a Stug
Post by: Pappa_bear on 03-03-2016, 12:03:07
This sounds horrific!

I'm glad the Stug got repaired somewhat though.

Indeed, the still managed to restore it in some way after the metal scrapping. Apart from the color, it looks good. But if you know that this stug was pulled out of the swamp with a workable engine, you wonder..... why tear it apart :-\