Com-Central.net

Dmitry Buskmakow just sent me some pictures of the StuG III from Volokolamsk, that has been recently restored by his company. The side skirts and the roof have been accurately refurbished. Here are some photos before/after :











P-O

Well Dmitry did a nice job
Now it can resist the Russian weather some more years

They've done a good job. Is there any known history for this vehicle? I assume it's been mined, judging by the damage to the drive wheel & loss of road wheels. New top? So blown up too?

That must be the only surviving AusF D left?

What was the date of the 'Before' photographs?

I've always loved the 'dramatic' effect of the many such Russian Memorials / Tank displays

The 'facelift' is an additional nice touch.

Regards
Don

" That must be the only surviving AusF D left? "

There was an Ausf.D at Axvall ,probably now in the new Arsenallen Museum !

- Walter

" That must be the only surviving AusF D left? "

There was an Ausf.D at Axvall ,probably now in the new Arsenallen Museum !

Yep, The D is at Arsenalen.

RUSSIAN REPORTER* : "Fools and armored vehicle StuG III".

*Most Democratic russian magazine

In Volokolamsk (the administrative center of Volokolamsky District of Moscow region, Russia) enthusiasts restored war memorial at their own expense, and in gratitude have a criminal case for damage the monument. The initiators of the case suspect the restorers of profit motive, but a closer look at the whole story is discovering provincial level politics .
- What does that mean "the damage the monument?" Please, imagine that a patient with appendicitis complains surgeon for scars after successful operation, - Dmitry Bushmakow, the director of "Leibstandarte" company that fulfilled restoration work, stays in confusion for some weeks already.
His company decided to refurbish the military memorial near Volokolamsk in this summer. The composition of the monument includes one of the few surviving in the world example of the German StuG III of the World War II period. The Sturmgeschutz III assault gun was Germany`s most produced armored fighting vehicle during WWII, built on the chassis of the Panzer III tank.
The first question of the Head of Volokolamsk`s Municipality was: "Why do you want to do it for your money? Are you insane or stupid? "- explains Bushmakow.
As a result the contract with the Municipality had been signed. It`s a great success for local authorities to restore the city memorial to the sponsorship money. One must take into account that the monument was in a terrible condition before restoration. Someone uprooted mashine`s superstructure hatches, stolen granite from the pedestal; vandals left the inscription on the granite slabs argued visitors that "Putin is the thief", etc.
Then some local residents noticed that Dmitry Bushmakow`s company involved in military antique business.
- There was information by our search channels that the tank "was stolen by someone`s order", - our reporter was informed by a member of the one of the local battlefield research groups. And the company found the easiest way to deliver the assault gun collector on a silver platter directly! It was taken to repair, but sham copy returned - knocked as in a tin!
- It`s impossible! - perturbed Dmitry. - 20-ton crane was crunched while removing the machine from pedestal to be brought into the Leibstandarte workshop for repair, and it was returned back with help of the 50-ton crane, for a more easier load on pedestal! Experts from the Ministry of Culture made recommendations for restoration. The metal profile of special configuration was purchased and brought from France specially for the wings on each side of vehicle, as they had been pulled off before.
The official experts of the Federal Service for law observance supervision in the field of protection of cultural heritage have confirmed originality and the highest quality of restoration. But in the Moscow Region Prosecutor's Office argued that they have their own expertise evidencing that this is StuG`s remakes. However nobody have seen this expertise, except for the prosecutors maybe, and its authors are still unknown.
At the same time many people find the explanation for the unexpected activity of Volokolamsk prosecutors in politics.
- It was clear from the beginning that nobody is interested in this monument, this is just an excuse to discredit the Mayor of Volokolamsk Vasily Shulepov - says "RR" municipality official. - He is not very friendly with the Head of the district. And in a criminal case it is possible to prosecute him and after there removed by law from office during the investigation. The Deputy prosecutor Alexei Bondarenko had already informed that a criminal case may be initiated against the Mayor under the article "Abuse of authority" considered as an disciplinable offense.
"RR" wrote a lot about intricate relationship between the municipal authorities. Confusion in the local government system made a Law on Local Self-Government adopted in 2006. Previously, all the towns and villages of the district were subordinated to the Head of the district. With adoption of this law within the district appeared urban and rural settlements with their own authorities. Being parts of the district, they are equal in their administrative status. This led to endless conflicts between the heads of districts and towns for the power, property, lands.
What provoked quarrel the Mayor Shulepov with the Head of the district Karabanov is unknown.
- This is a hidden war. But they are both now as Luzhkov and Gromov (previous Moscow Major and his Collegue in Moscow Region) in their time: can not stand each other and through backstage fight trying to assert the authority.

It`s not excluded that Karabanov bargained with prosecutors.
So, before doing good any business in the Russian provinces, it is necessary to ask whether there is a conflict between the local authorities.

thanks for the report !!

Pierre-Olivier

I don't know what to make of this honestly? One one hand a priceless original vehicle is saved from rot and decay. On the other hand, a historical monument has been altered (in a form falsified) but ...

The visual restoration on hand is stunning! So much better than it was before. And as a non-original vehicle it is also much easier to maintain and restore from future (sad to say certain) vandalism.

The law is the law however and last I know all armored fighting vehicles, in whatever condition are still State (MOD) property in Russia until stricken.

- Rikard_Hufschmied

And as a non-original vehicle it is also much easier to maintain and restore from future (sad to say certain) vandalism.

AFAIK, the prosecutor in Russia says that the vehicle is a reproduction, but "The official experts of the Federal Service for law observance supervision in the field of protection of cultural heritage have confirmed originality and the highest quality of restoration.", and I do think that this is the original vehicle, with new side fenders and partial new roof and hatches.

P-O

Pierre-Olivier

This is just a tradition in Russia not to trust to journalists and their articles...
Much better is to make your own opinion from more reliable sources.

- Koluchiy

Pierre-Olivier

This is just a tradition in Russia not to trust to journalists and their articles...
Much better is to make your own opinion from more reliable sources.

Koluchiy, never mind Russia, I wouldn't trust them anywhere in the world!