Germans sentenced for stealing W.W. II German Panzer tanks

[warbird1]

Interesting article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39541688/ns ... ews-europe




From the article:

"The Panzers were used during World War II and later based at the Bulgarian-Turkish border and used as artillery during the Cold War. Bulgaria was a member of the now-defunct Warsaw Pact and kept a large military presence at its southern border with NATO members Turkey and Greece.

In 2007, there were still some 80 German tanks and assault artillery units stationed in southern Bulgaria."




Wow, I didn't know that Bulgaria was still using W.W. II German tanks as recently as 2007. I don't know anything about tanks. Is this accurate or just typical journalistic inaccuracy? Can anyone provide more information about Post W.W.II Panzer tank use and if they are still in service today?

Is a Panzer really only worth about $70,000 as the article claims?

[The Inspector]

The scary question is, are they singing and drinking beer and marching too?

[Enemy Ace]

By "units" they mean individual tanks, etc.
Each "unit" had been buried up to the turret to act as a mobile pillbox. Then promptly forgotten by the Bulgarian communist era military since they had no suitable ammunition to keep these emplacements effective.
In my humble opinion abandoned, forgotten artifacts aren't really "stolen" if nobody cares about them to begin with.....
There would be no scandal and "thievery" except some people did not get their payoff/ bribe and so stirred up trouble...
museums and collectors around the world will be the poorer, for now these armor units will sit and decay further.
It's the Panzer version of "Swamp ghost"......
-Robert

[JBoyle]

At this late date, as long as any historic items get a good home, I'm not sure I care.