A tank for a bottle of cognac?
This German “Königstiger II” was abandoned in the Belgian Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge (that started 75 years ago, in December 1944). Normally he would have been taken to be scrapped shortly after the war, but a woman from the village La Gleize (Jenny Geenen-Dewez, wife of a local inn-keeper) proposed the Americans who transported the Königstiger, to exchange the tank for a bottle of (French) cognac and ... they agreed! Believe it or not, this is a true story!
In 2015 the tank was repainted in its original colours. He is one of the 5 surviving tanks of this type in Europe.
http://www.december44.com/en/history_battle_of_the_bulgela_gleize.htm

#LocalSecrets #History

The Königstiger II had 185 mm armour on the front of the cupola and was equipped with the famous 88 mm cannon. This cannon was one of the strongest cannons from WW II and could pierce the front armour of most Allied tanks (such as the T-34 and the M4 Sherman) up to a distance of 1500 metres. The range of the cannon was 10 kilometres.

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