‘It’s Worth a Fortune’: Missing Bergepanther Used by Nazi Germany During World War II Discovered

While the war may have ended nearly 80 years ago, we are still unearthing relics from those fateful events. It has long been rumored that Nazis lost several military tanks as they made their way across the Czarna Nida River in southern Poland. The longtime legend was proven to be true in 1990, as the first Nazi tank was recovered. In 2003, a second German tank weighing 25-tons was removed from the river. Now, a third vehicle has been located and it is said to be “the last of its kind.”

The vehicle was used as an army recovery vehicle during the war, and has been sitting at the bottom of a river for decades until recently being recovered. Because of the tank’s history and connection to WWII, collectors are certain that it will sell for millions of dollars. A similar model sold for a whopping $16 million in Germany two years prior, leading experts to believe that this vehicle will sell for just as much – if not more.

He shared a detailed account of how one wise local man told stories of how the tank had sunken in the river back in 1945. “The story begins in the early ‘90s when an old man showed my uncle the place where the vehicle sunk,” he said, adding that he heard rumblings about “a tank which pulled other tanks.”

More than three decades after hearing about the supposed tank, Kęszycki searched the area until finally striking gold. “The old guy knew a little about German tanks and he told my uncle it was a Panther tank without a turret,” he said. “The guy was old and he just showed the place, but not exactly. We found the exact place a few months ago with a magnetometer.”

After unsuccessfully trying to find a bridge to cross over, the Germans attempted to drive their military tanks right over the icy body of water. According to Kęszycki, “In desperate attempts to get out of this trap, some tankers tried to ford Czarna Nida. During one such attempt, the Bergepanther sank.” He noted that the frozen river permitted lighter vehicles to cross, however, it was “not suitable for tanks.”

He was disappointed that he couldn’t add it to his personal collection but still called the discovery “a dream experience.” Kęszycki is impressed that the old townsman accurately described the vicinity of the sunken tank. More importantly, he is amazed that his story has been passed on for so many generations.

The museum is mystified by the unique World War II artifact and calls it an “absolute rarity.” The Bergepanther was first used by Nazi Germany in 1943 because of how difficult it was to recover lost tanks. The Bergepanther’s sheer size gave it the grit to pull smaller vehicles out of the water with ease.

Bergepanthers were also built with strider armor that would protect soldiers under enemy fire. Konrad Maj, a local historian, said that a total of five Bergepanthers were stationed near the Czarna Nida River in 1944. It was there that the Nazi Germans were awaiting an attack from the Soviets.

According to Kęszycki, the Bergepanther tank is an incredibly rare find because so few have been made. He indicated that the tank he recently pulled from the river is likely the only one of its kind. “There are only a few existing Bergepanther tanks in the world, but this version is the only one,” he claimed.

Perhaps even more treasures from the past are waiting to be revealed. Kęszycki is an expert when it comes to handling historical military equipment. He and his family have one of the largest military collections in Poland. They even host military events on their 15-acre farm.

There was plenty of fanfare in the comments section, with people from all over the world sharing their thoughts on their incredible contribution to history. “Congrats to such a unique find, that’s a real treasure,” wrote one commenter. Another person added, “I envy you, I always wanted to take part in the production of such equipment. congratulations.” Panzer Farm replied by saying, “The fact that we got it – no one can take that away from us.”

Following the recovery of the 1940s Bergepanther, Panzer Farm hopes to find other battle-used military vehicles. The discovery wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for a local myth that ended up solving the mystery of the missing tank almost 80 years after it vanished.