Panther tank among heavy weaponry seized from 78-year-old’s basement

A 45-ton Panther tank, a flak cannon and other World War II weapons have been seized in a raid on a retiree’s home in northern Germany.

In this July 2, 2015 picture a World War II era Panther tank is prepared for transportation from a residential property in Heikendorf, northern Germany. 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. (Carsten Rehder/dpa via AP)

A 45-ton Panther tank, a flak cannon and other World War II weapons have been seized in a raid on a 78-year-old collector’s home in northern Germany.

Kiel prosecutor Birgit Hess said the collector, whose name she would not release for privacy reasons, is being investigated for possibly violating German weapons laws but remains free while the probe is ongoing.

In the search, investigators also seized a torpedo and many other military items in addition to the Panzer V “Panther” tank and the 88mm flak gun, Hess told The Associated Press.

Lethal weapon ... A World War II-era Panther tank is prepared for transportation from a residential property in Heikendorf, northern Germany. Source: AP

German military engineers were called in to haul the tank out of the underground garage of the house in Kitzeberg, near Kiel.

The collector’s lawyer, Peter Gramsch, told the dpa news agency all the items were properly demilitarised and registered.

Hess said that she did not know whether the main gun on the tank could fire, but it didn’t appear to be properly registered and an independent expert had ruled it wasn’t properly demilitarised.

The collector came to authorities’ attention in an investigation into black market Nazi-era art that in May turned up two massive bronze horse statues that once stood in front of Adolf Hitler’s chancellery. Those were in the possession of another man, who maintains he is the rightful owner.

Copping flak ... This anti-aircraft canon and multiple other World War II-era military weapons have been seized from 78-year-old Peter Gramsch. Source: AP

The tank owner has made no secret of his collection, openly talking about the Panther and other items in media reports following the May revelation of the art investigation.

Neighbour Kristin Schroeder told the local Kieler Nachrichten newspaper that the man had even fired up the tank during the particularly bad winter of 1978-79 and helped plough others’ snow.

“It was well known, at least to all the older Kitzebergers, that he had a tank,” Schroeder said.