World War II Artifact Found Beneath Paris

What perplexing object could have possibly been discovered? 

Despite the fact that it wasn’t surprising to find something from that time period, regardless, any discovery was thrilling. A group of construction workers were digging outside of Paris and knew they were in for a big treat after unearthing something buried deep underneath the street. 

Amazingly, the special item was an Allied military tank from World War II that was used as an aid for the Liberation of France in 1944. So, how exactly did this tank become lost and remain underground for 60 plus years? 

The Liberation in Paris continued from August 19 to August 25,1944, with the Germans finally surrendering on the 25th. Unfortunately, there was another year of fighting in other areas of France, and, in between that time period, a bevy of logistical losses and other kinds of confusion were happening. Amidst all of that chaos, it’s understandable how a colossal tank suddenly disappeared. 

The Daily Mail was informed by the experts that the lost tank was an M5, belonging to the American 31st Tank Battalion. Remarkably, they found witnesses who recalled seeing the tank during the Liberation in 1944 before it was hastily abandoned by the American soldiers. 

It’s likely that the tank was on a reconnaissance mission to collect information about the Germans, according to The Daily Mail. Regarding how the tank was abandoned by the rest of the battalion, the experts believed that it either ran out of gas or slipped out of its tracks. 

The M5 tanks were popular machines used against the Japanese, but their armor and weapons were not strong enough to survive the wrath of the Germans. There were also some issues with their engines, which needed to be redesigned.  

After France’s Liberation and World War II, the M5 was still unaccounted for. That is, until residents locally got involved. They actually buried it underground because they thought that nobody would come back to look for it. Obviously, they forgot about the tank as the decades passed. 

An old photo posted by a user from the G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums, showed the tank after it had been destroyed on the road where it was buried. It looks as if something landed on the top of the tank that made it malfunction. But, what was actually inside the tank after the experts cleaned it up?

A member of the G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums maintained that he was on the particular team that participated in the deep cleaning and polishing of the M5. He reported that lots of debris was taken out of the M5, and what was inside the tank’s interior proved to be an even more surprising find. 

The same member of the cleaning crew said on the G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums that there was an “episcope box, a screwdriver, shattered steel, truck wheels” and other antiquated WWII items. Also, a plentiful supply of .45 and .30 rounds and cases were also discovered. 

Following a thorough and time-consuming investigation, the tank was confirmed as safe by the explosive disposal experts. The M5 was then retrieved from the ground so others could get a closer look at it. After this, what actually happened to the tank and where did it end up? 

Luckily, a lot of the M5 was still intact (the tracks and the two V-8 engines). It will likely stay within the association since a dedicated stand was made to display the tank in all of its restored glory. The tank will also be placed alongside a collection of other vehicles.   

Different versions of the tank were put in service by the Americans during World War II. It functioned as an early model reference for the warfare tanks that followed in its path. Most notably, the M5 played an essential part in assisting infantry soldiers as they advanced in battle. 

In the back, the tank was stocked with a vast array of tools such as crowbars, pickaxes, shovels, and hammers. Additionally, it was equipped with heavy armor, so if the tank were to be hit by the enemy, it would be safer for the four-person crew than the earlier models. 

Apparently, Leonardo da Vinci thought tanks would be a solid invention according to Absolute History. That was back in 1484! The first tank ever made was called Little Willie and it weighed 14 tons and was released on September 6th, 1915.

Although their tanks were extremely sturdy, they faced a few issues which allowed the Germans to retain a victory against France. There were several reasons as to why France’s tanks failed according to historian Karl G. Larew. Some of these reasons were due to shaky strategies, tactics, and organization within the cavalry units, and they caused the French to surrender. 

Light tanks were intended to be used ahead of the main force. Medium tanks were supposed to accompany the heavy tanks during a bigger battle. Lastly, heavy tanks weren’t as agile and were used during a significant oppositionary force. 

The heavy tank was a mean, lean machine, despite the fact that it was impacted by several malfunctions. It had loads of armor and could shoot deadly explosives and missiles at one of the fastest rates possible. Today, there are only seven Tiger I tanks in existence, which are on display in museums and private collections all over the globe. 

A different tank called the M4 Sherman was already being utilized in combat and it would have been pretty confusing to have two tanks with names similar to each other. The M5 tank was improved by being quieter, consisting of a roomier interior and a strengthened hull.  

With France having the biggest tank forces (about 5,800 tanks overall), it meant that they would be up to par with the Soviets, Germans, and British forces. WWII was believed by the French to be a defensive war, which is why they built so many infantry tanks. They were meant to be heavily armored. 

Although France had one of the largest armed forces in the world, they were still recuperating from their WWI efforts. And while they did have the chance to prevent potential German forces from taking over, they missed their shot.

The defense line contained obstacles, weapon installations, and other forms of defense that were designed to halt invasion and forced the Germans to alter their course. The Maginot Line was completely bypassed by the Germans, allowing them to make their way into France. 

Blitzkrieg enabled the Germans to move quickly while also overwhelming the Allied forces who were tasked to keep them out. The Allies had to retreat to Dunkirk, a coastal city in northern France, where they waited to be evacuated to England.

The armistice acknowledged that the Germans would occupy Northern and Western France and all ports of the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean. It was signed in Compiègne Forest because that was the same place the 1918 Armistice with Germany was signed, and where they surrendered during WWI. 

The northern half of France, Paris included, was under Germany’s reign, it wasn’t safe for people to live there. With the southern section under the jurisdiction of the Vichy regime (an independent ally of the Germans), it went on for two years until Berlin took total control of France. 

The French residents were given a strict curfew, while the German soldiers were allowed to do whatever they wanted whenever. The Germans also denied the rights of French people to drive cars and only allowed them to take public transportation. 

As a result, the French people had to get creative with how they would get their food so they wouldn’t succumb to starvation. For instance, one French adult was allowed 2.5 ounces of boneless meat each week. Rabbits, rats, cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals became the food source for some people.  

One of the most upsetting things the Germans did to uphold their power was overtaking the French museums, galleries, and other prominent landmarks. According to Absolute History and other historical sources, the Germans took a lot of priceless art from the French. They either obliterated it or hid it in unknown locations. 

Researchers made a big splash when they discovered secret bunkers used by the German soldiers that were used against U.S. forces during D-Day in Normandy, France. It’s inevitable that other people will continue to find astonishing and valuable items in this historically significant region.