I was watching a WWII movie and a scene in it led me to wonder how all the heavy military detritus scattered through France, Germany, Russia, etc. and Europe/northern Africa after the war.
Was it up to whatever new or reestablished governments of the individual countries to deal with them? Were the countries who originally produced and used these vehicles interested in reclaiming any of them, either to restore to working order, to prevent reverse engineering or military technology from being taken and possibly utilized?
How were they even disposed of? Were they taken apart piece by piece and then those hauled off? Were the materials such as metals melted down to be used for other things?
Any insight would be appreciated!
Several of the panther tanks were notably kept in service till the 50s under France but once spare parts run out they have the same fate as most armor in Europe, torched to pieces and sent to metal foundries fo be melted down, or shipped to tank training facilities for gunnery targets. While your post asks about Europe it’s interesting to note cases in the pacific where most tanks can still be found on the same ground they were knocked out on. A lot of Sherman’s were also dumped off ships and became popular diving sights.