A LOST Nazi tank has been found sunken at the bottom of a river after being hidden for more than 80 years – and it may be worth a fortune.
The discovery of the rusting hulk has also proved legends about the Nazi’s retreat true – with local myth stating three tanks were swallowed by the water.
Nazi forces are said to have lost their prized vehicles as they desperately tried to escape from the Soviet Army across the Czarna Nida River in Poland.
For years, local history enthusiasts believed this story – and two previous incomplete Panzers were dragged from the river in 1990 and 2003.
But it was always claimed there was one last tank.
Now history buffs have discovered the last of its kind Bergepanther- a tank that tows tanks.
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The unique vehicle could be worth a fortune, with a similar model fetching £13m (€15m) in Germany two years ago, reports local media.
Michał Kęszycki, technical manager of Panzer Farm, organised the salvage operation after hearing the story from his uncle.
He said: “The story begins in the early 90s when an old man showed my uncle the place where the vehicle sunk.
“The story was, that there was a tank which pulled other tanks.
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“The old guy knew a little about German tanks and he told my uncle it was a Panther tank without a turret.”
Mr Keszucki’s uncle was shown a rough location of the sunken vehicle.
It wasn’t until a few months ago that they discovered the exact place of his historic treasure with a magnetometer.
Magnetometer measures changes in the Earth's magnetic field. In water, it can be surveyed to find cultural sites.
There are a few Bergepanther tanks remaining in the world, but the tank enthusiast believes his uncovering to be one of a kind.
“The wreck of the Bergepanther Ausf. D from Siebert factory is the only one existing in the world – as far as I know,” he says.
The Bergepanther was introduced in 1943 because of the difficulties faced by the Nazis in recovering lost tanks.
Up to that point, they’d struggled to recover their Panzers with trucks, and other tanks were banned from helping to prevent losing both vehicles.
The Bergepanther, however, boasted a winch capable of pulling even heavier tanks, and sufficient armour to shield it from bullets.
Local historian Konrad Maj said there were five such Bergepanthers stationed in the area from late 1944, where the Nazis’ 16th Armored Division was awaiting a Soviet attack.
But by mid-January 1945, the Germans found themselves surrounded, and in the rush to retreat some tried to cross the Czarna Nida without finding a bridge.
During this attempt, the now recovered Begepanther sunk.
Mr Maj said: “Soviet engineering troops reported that the ice on Czarna Nida allowed only lighter vehicles to cross – it was not suitable for tanks.”
The tank will now remain at the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, which called the vehicle an “absolute rarity”.
Mr Kęszycki lamented that the Panzer Farm, a museum and vehicle restoration company, would not get to keep its discovery.
However, he said that the recovery itself was a “dream experience”.
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He said: “This type of recovery proves some historical messages that went through a few generations of local people – another legend came true!
“It also gives a rare opportunity to get access to the patterns of the parts of this rare vehicle.”
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