Type: Heavy Tank
Nation: Germany
Period: World War 2
Location: Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster, Germany
Ambivalent legend
The Tiger first appeared on the battlefield in 1942 and outclassed all other contemporaries in regards to size, weight, firepower and armour protection. Feared by Allied soldiers for its toughness and praised by Nazi Germany‘s propaganda machine as a wonder weapon, this heavy breakthrough tank had soon earned a legendary status all over the world – which still remains unchanged today, although its high production cost, poor reliability and dubious deployment make it clear that the Tiger was far from a war-winning super tank.
Work in progress
This particular vehicle was assembled by the private collector Mr. Hoebig. About two thirds of the hull and turret consist of restored historic parts that were salvaged from several different Tiger wrecks – most notably from a tank scrapyard at Trun, France, where numerous vehicles destroyed in the Falaise Pocket had ended up. The other third was made of custom-machined components. Except for the torsion bar suspension the interior is almost empty for the time being. There is no engine or gearbox inside yet, but Mr. Hoebig‘s goal is to build a complete Tiger.
Surprise guest
This “Frankentiger” resembles a late-production vehicle including a low commander’s cupola with periscopes, a monocular gunner‘s sight, rubber-saving all-steel road wheels and a single centred headlight. The tank made its first public appearance at the Oorlogsmuseum Overloon‘s Militracks 2023 event where it was towed around by three huge 18-ton Sd.Kfz. 9 FAMO halftracks. It briefly returned to Overloon for Militracks 2024 before it was directly transferred to the Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster in late May. It was announced that the Tiger would stay there on loan for at least two years.
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