Construction workers in Germany digging along the rugged North Sea coast discovered a huge World War II relic painted with evidence of its dark past. According to archaeologists in the Cuxhaven district, about 93 kilometers northwest of Hamburg, experts recently excavated an almost complete Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault vehicle. The remains of this formidable tank have been buried in the sand beneath the Nordholz Naval Air Base for more than 80 years.

Like other tanks, the StuG III was the most produced tracked vehicle by Nazi Germany during the war. The Rheinmetall defense company built more than 9,300 of them during the war, and did not stop production until April 1945. Unlike other tanks, the StuG III’s assault gun was fixed in place, rather than mounted in a rotating turret. This meant that its crew of four needed to move it and position it in front of a target each time before firing. Despite its overall size, the StuG III appeared much smaller from the inside.

“The view from the inside is very impressive. It feels oppressively narrow,” Cuxhaven archaeological heritage director Andreas Hüser said in a recent interview.

However, these design features were not necessarily limitations. Although researchers have yet to definitively prove that this particular StuG III saw combat, the well-preserved details suggest that it spent much of the war in action. At least 17 white marks are still visible on the barrel of his gun, probably a symbol of every enemy tank he destroyed.

Burying enemy weapons and vehicles after a defeat may seem strange, but it was actually a relatively common practice by Allied forces after the conclusion of World War II. Its location in dry sand at the edge of a slope also protected the StuG III from deterioration. Even after more than 80 years, parts of its original camouflage paint are still clearly visible and part of its undercarriage remains intact. Near the StuG III archaeologists also found remains of small projectiles and light ammunition.

“Not only from an archaeological point of view, but also because the vehicle is almost complete, it is an important find,” Hüser explained. “Otherwise, armored vehicles that survive in such complete condition are rare.”

Experts are now preparing to transport the StuG III to Munster in August for additional conservation work. From there it will be delivered to the Bundeswehr Museum of Military History in Dresden for public display.

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