mp40s, mp44,k98ks hidden away? hopefully

[Ostmark]

Another "war story" to reflect on - when I was first stationed with US Army in Germany 1980-83, a fellow trooper in my unit also heard the stories of the "lakes in Bavaria and Austria where the Germans dumped equipment at the end of the war." He felt the stories were valid enough that he took scuba lessons, got dive certified, and went off in search of sunken treasure. About the first five times he went he saw absolutely nothing. Then in a lake in Austria he hit the jackpot - cases of grenades, crates of Panzerfausts, etc. He said they were stacked up on the bottom of the lake beside a German truck. He only found one firearm that I saw (a Luger), but I saw over ten cases of egg grenades and about 20 Panzerfausts that he pulled out of there. He used to empty them of explosives (don't ask me how; I didn't help!), fix them up and repaint, and sell. He sold some in the States when he rotated back from Germany.

Best,
Greg

This lakes are well known Greg , the problem is ,when you are diving now
for relics, the police is awaiting you

[Aave Johns]

I have heard similar stories here in Australia of huge bunker systems in the isolated and virtually unpopulated northern regions, that contain weapons, jeeps etc. in preperation for the Japanese invasion. Only problem with these stories is that to build a bunker capable of storing large amounts of weapons and vehicles is that someone would have to know about it, and building such a structure would require labour, materials and transport, so once again someone would be aware of its location. I also believe that all the bunker systems that did exist were marked on maps.
In the southern region of Australia, landing craft and barges were loaded with weapons, ammunition, Willy's Jeeps, Harley Davidsons and taken out to deep water and pushed into the ocean post-war. The reasoning for this was the Australian government did not want to flood the local market with cheap motor-cycles, jeeps and rifles that could be used on farms etc.
One story I can confirm as true was an Army storeman put aside 6 "W" series Harley's that were painted in their wartime olive drab with Aussie markings and sold them, keeping one for himself. He hid them in a huge hedge until he could offload them. Unfortunately hundreds more went to a watery grave.
Probably not as exciting as finding a box of MP-44's, but I would love an old jeep and a SMLE .303 rifle that was mint.

Regards;

Johnsy

[jotuntroll]

It is a fact that there is written in books telling that late in -45 w-ss small groups hid themself and dug down some equipment. It is also a fact that stuff where tossed in Austrian waters. I have not heard of big bunkers being made late for this purpose, but that already existing bunkers were filled with artifacts, see Berghof. Then again all is not written, and those who live will see what reveils...

[Theodor]

the Danube river is stuffed with things. Both fallen there during the war and disposed after the war. When the river ad low level in a hot summer a couple of years ago, lots of stuff appeared, including a Kubelwagen somewhere in former Yugoslavia. Also one fellow finds concrete mines, from a place where they were disposed and they show when the river is low.

[Andy B.]

Speaking of items in caves. My father was stationed in Guam in the very early '70's. I can't remember if it was while he was there, or shortly before, but there was an actual Japanese soldier living in a cave on the island. He was unaware that the war had ended and was keeping station till his reinforcements came. Spooky stuff considering that he could have starting shooting folks in the name of the emporer. I believe he was still armed and had all of his equipment.
Andy B. collecting mini badge stickpins

[andundiek]

There are apparently weapon stashes from the postwar period as well. There was a secret program called "Gladio" that had hidden weapon caches throughout Germany and other parts of Europe to help out resistance cells should the Soviets overrun Europe.

This rang a bell!
I dug out a " Deutches Waffen-journal " of 2/97 and took some pictures of the artikel about old CIA depots in Austria being eccavated......
The article is to long and I ´m having enough trouble understanding it all when reading so just enjoy the pictures! haha

[andundiek]

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[Gene]

Eric,

Thanks for posting that. I didn't know that this had been uncovered in the media! Can you see the word "Gladio" anywhere in the article? If so, could you post a pic of the text where it appears? Again, thanks--

Gene

[andundiek]

Hello Gene

I have read the article looking for Gladio but couldn´t find it in the text..
All I can find is that things got started because of a article in the boston globe on 20th of january of 1996.

[nellyp51]

Im in when do we leave.