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/lvveoQRVBxYPhotoalbum of bog / swamp recovery http://www.detektorweb.cz/index.4me?s=show&i=2988&mm=1&vd=1
Horrific
More photo's in album: http://legion-afv.narod.ru/StuG-40_Saratov.htmlCurrent state:
Around 2010-2012
2014
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/4031837Location: Saratov, Russia
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.
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