{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-wyoming-pow-made-pz-kpfw-iv-panzer-iv-tank-intricate-wooden-model-with-provenance-a-a-f-tank-museum","title":"Original German WWII Wyoming POW Made Pz.Kpfw IV \"Panzer IV\" Tank Intricate Wooden Model with Provenance - A.A.F. Tank Museum","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One of a Kind. Well this is fantastic! We have seen some fairly detailed POW-made models before, but this one takes the cake! We have never seen a model so detailed before! This fantastic wooden model Panzer IV (Panzerkampfwagen IV or Pz.Kpfw IV) looks to have been made from oak and possibly other types of wood, and the level of detail is simply astounding! We're not sure whether the German P.O.W. in a Wyoming camp had a photographic memory, access to design documents, or what. However they made it, they definitely had a lot of time as well as an extreme attention to detail. The engine covers open to show the engine, and the turret comes off to show the interior. This is simply amazing!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe model tank came to us from the American Armoured Foundation, Inc. Tank and Ordnance Memorial Museum. The AAF Tank Museum was a living memorial dedicated to the Tank and Cavalry soldiers of the world. Before 1981 some of the artifacts that make up the AAF Tank Museum was a private collection belonging to Mr. William Gasser. Mr. Gasser felt that his collection would be beneficial in educating present and future generations to the sacrifices made and the technologies gained during war. Therefore, in 1981 the AAF Tank Museum was established as a non-profit charitable organization, and Mr. Gasser's donated his private collection to the Tank Museum. Mr. Gasser is still active as Volunteer, Director, and Curator of the Tank Museum and his knowledge of military history has been a great asset to the museum. Unfortunately after 20 years of operation it had to close its doors, which is when this model tank was acquired.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore then, it had been the property of \u003cstrong\u003eCol. Robert E. Leard, USA (Ret'd)\u003c\/strong\u003e, who had received it directly from a German P.O.W. as a boy. During the War, Leard had lived on an Army bas on Oahu in the Hawai'ian islands, but was evacuated with his mother in 1942 to her hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming. She became acquainted with Major Joseph Major, commander at the camp, who would bring Leard to the camp and bring him around during barrack inspection. Leard also got to know some of the prisoners who were trusted enough to work in and around the camp headquarters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of these must have been a tank mechanic or something similar, as he had \u003cem\u003e\"worked for several months creating it from memory, using only a pocket knife, small nails, glue, and string.\"\u003c\/em\u003e The P.O.W. saw Leard admiring it, and gave it to him, after which it withstood hours of being played with. This is all detailed in an email sent by Leard, which is included with the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tank is definitely exquisitely made, measuring 17 1\/4\"L by 9 1\/4\" by 8 1\/2\" H, with a weight of only 5 lbs. It is really beautiful, though it definitely has suffered a bit of wear from being played with, as well as age-related deterioration. This has mainly resulted in a lot of the glue joints going \"dry\", so components are no longer securely attached. There were also some small components included in a bag that must have fallen off. Still, it is really magnificent, and would display fine as is, or possibly some highly skilled woodworker could restore it to its full original glory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComes more than ready for further research and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV)\u003c\/strong\u003e, commonly known as the Panzer IV, is a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Panzer IV was the most numerous German tank and the second-most numerous German fully tracked armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War; 8,553 Panzer IVs of all versions were built during World War II, only exceeded by the StuG III assault gun with 10,086 vehicles. Its chassis was also used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, the Jagdpanzer IV self-propelled anti-tank gun, the Wirbelwind and Ostwind self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Panzer IV saw service in all combat theatres involving Germany and was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war. It was originally designed for infantry support, while the similar Panzer III was to fight armoured fighting vehicles. However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, the Panzer IV had more development potential, with a larger turret ring to mount more powerful guns, so it swapped roles with the Panzer III whose production wound down in 1943. The Panzer IV received various upgrades and design modifications, intended to counter new threats, extending its service life. Generally, these involved increasing the armour protection or upgrading the weapons, although during the last months of the war, with Germany's pressing need for rapid replacement of losses, design changes also included simplifications to speed up the manufacturing process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Panzer IV was partially succeeded by the Panther medium tank, which was introduced to counter the Soviet T-34, although it continued to be a significant component of German armored formations to the end of the war. It was the most widely exported tank in German service, with around 300 sold to Finland, Romania, Spain and Bulgaria. After the war, Syria procured Panzer IVs from France and Czechoslovakia, which saw combat in the 1967 Six-Day War.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41211281408069,"sku":"ONJR24TMF089","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONAC240045__02.jpg?v=1711742128","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-wyoming-pow-made-pz-kpfw-iv-panzer-iv-tank-intricate-wooden-model-with-provenance-a-a-f-tank-museum","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}