WW2 German tank due to appear at UK exhibit is halted at Dunkirk

Tanks for nothing! Rare WW2 German tank is stopped from appearing at UK museum exhibit after French officials halted it at Dunkirk ‘due to missing paperwork’

• The one-of-a-kind Nashorn tank was set to be a major exhibit at Tankfest, Dorset

A rare World War Two German tank was prevented from appearing at a UK exhibit after French officials halted it at Dunkirk.

The one-of-a-kind Nashorn tank was set to be a major exhibit at Tankfest at Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset.

But its owners were stopped from getting on a ferry with it at the French port where 330,000 Allied troops retreated from the German Blitzkrieg 83 years ago.

They were told there was an issue with their paperwork that would take three weeks to resolve and so they had to abort their visit to Britain, it is understood. 

As well as Tankfest, the 24 tonne machine will also be unable to appear at The Yorkshire Wartime Experience, one of the country’s largest military vehicle shows, in August.

The tank stopped at the Port of Dunkirk – its owners were stopped from getting on a ferry with it at the French port

The tank and transporter stopped at the Port of Dunkirk – the tank was set to appear at a UK exhibit

A spokesperson for the Dutch restoration group which owns the historic tank, said: ‘Due to missing paperwork the Nashorn was stopped at Dunkirk harbour.

‘We are all disappointed that we were not able to display the Nashorn in the UK on this occasion.’

They vowed to bring the German tank to Britain next year.

The tank was stopped on the back of a low loader vehicle and the restoration group is arranging for it to be taken back to Holland.

The Nashorn – which is valued between £5m to £10m – is one of only three in existence and the only one that can be driven.

Less than 500 were made by the Nazis from 1942. They were lighter and more mobile than the German Panzer tanks but could still destroy Allied armour.

A team of engineers in the Netherlands established the Nashorn Restoration Project in 2015 to bring the vehicle back to life.

They have nicknamed the Nashorn ‘Phoenix’ after the restoration was delayed by a fire.

The one-of-a-kind Nashorn tank was set to be a major exhibit at Tankfest at Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset

Soldiers in action during a battle scene exercise demonstration at the Tank Museum

Tankfest and The Bovington Tank Museum

The Tank Museum is a collection of armoured fighting vehicles at Bovington Camp in Dorset.

Tankfest showcases a line-up of historic and modern running armour, from the Museum’s collection to the British Army who are putting on a display of the vehicles that are used on operations today.

Visitors will have the opportunity to browse the Museum’s ten powerful, interactive exhibitions, including the brand new ‘Tanks for the Memories’, which presents the tank as a cultural icon through the mediums of TV, media, models, games and film.

‘At Tankfest we are proud to be able to display what is the greatest display of historic moving armour in the world,’ Tank Museum Curator David Willey said. 

The project team led by project leader, Robby van Sambeek, was determined to continue with the restoration and launched a fundraising campaign to bring the Nashorn back from the ashes.

With donations from the tank community and military vehicle restorers, museums and historians, the Nashorn has risen again.

Stuart Wright, who runs The Yorkshire Wartime Experience said: ‘The Nashorn was going to Tankfest last weekend and we were going to collect it for our August show to be a surprise star attraction.

‘The restoration group used an independent company to fill all the paperwork in for the tank, which is owned by a consortium in Holland.

‘It came from Holland to France. When unloaded the tank it was stopped by the French customs who have said they didn’t have the correct paperwork to let the tank on to the ship.’

Stuart added: ‘This is the only running World War Two Nashorn in the entire world.

‘Any German tank is significant as virtually all of them were captured or destroyed.

‘It is so valuable that it is estimated to be worth five to £10million.’

The fate of the tank is in stark contrast with the 330,000 British Expeditionary Force troops who were successfully evacuated from Dunkirk’s beaches in May 1940.

The mass evacuation enabled the British to ‘fight another day’.

France surrendered to Germany in June 1940 after succumbing to the German Blitzkrieg, a ‘lightning war’ involving tanks, and were Nazi-occupied until the Allied Normandy invasion on D-Day on June 6, 1944. 

A Tortoise heavy assault tank in action at The Tank Museum (stock image)

A spokesperson for the Tank Museum said: ‘Sadly, one of this year’s special TANKFEST guests, the Nashorn, was unable to make it to Bovington.

‘Due to circumstances beyond the control of either the Friends of the Nashorn or The Tank Museum, the vehicle was prevented from crossing the Channel, being stopped at Dunkirk.

‘Whilst this was disappointing for all concerned, the Friends of the Nashorn enjoyed a fantastic weekend with us in Bovington.

‘We hope to welcome them, and the Nashorn, to The Tank Museum for TANKEFST 2024.’

MailOnline has contacted The Port of Dunkirk for comment. 

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