20 Strangest Abandoned Nazi Germany Vehicles Ever Found

World War II was a time of unparalleled innovation and desperation in military engineering, and Nazi Germany stood at the forefront of creating some of the most unusual and ambitious vehicles ever conceived.

Many of these designs reflected the extremes of Hitler’s megalomania, blending advanced technology with impracticality.

While some were deployed in combat, others never made it past the prototype phase.

Decades after the war, these vehicles have been rediscovered in forests, lakes, and bunkers, offering a haunting reminder of a dark chapter in history.

 

1. Land Croitzer P1000 Ratte

The Ratte was a concept for a supermassive tank, weighing over 1,000 tons and stretching 115 feet long.

Commissioned by Hitler, it was designed to be a “land battleship,” equipped with naval guns and thick armor.

However, its sheer size made it impractical—it couldn’t cross most bridges or roads and would have been an easy target for air attacks.

After the war, remnants of its design were found in a bunker near Berlin, symbolizing the absurdity of Nazi engineering ambitions.

2. Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg

This manned version of the infamous V1 flying bomb was intended to be piloted by volunteers who would crash it into enemy targets.

Despite its grim purpose, pilots were theoretically supposed to bail out before impact, though survival was unlikely.

A few prototypes were built, but none were used in combat.

Some units were later discovered in underground storage facilities.

 

3. Kugelpanzer (Spherical Tank)

This bizarre one-man vehicle resembled a metal ball on wheels.

Its exact purpose remains a mystery, with theories ranging from reconnaissance to cable-laying.

Captured by Soviet forces in Manchuria, the only known example is now displayed at the Kubinka Tank Museum in Russia.

4. Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant

The largest land-based transport aircraft of its time, the Me 323 could carry up to 120 soldiers or 12 tons of equipment.

However, its slow speed and vulnerability made it an easy target.

Most were destroyed during the war, but a wreck was found submerged off the coast of Sardinia in 2012.

 

5. Maus Tank

The Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus was the heaviest tank ever built, weighing 188 tons.

Only two prototypes were completed before the war ended.

While its armor and firepower were formidable, its size made it slow and impractical.

A hybrid of the two prototypes is preserved at the Kubinka Tank Museum.

6. Schienenwolf (Rail Wolf)

This railway demolition vehicle was used to destroy train tracks during retreats, slowing enemy advances.

One intact example was found in a sealed rail tunnel in Poland, decades after the war.

 

7. BMW R75 with Sidecar

This versatile motorcycle was designed for rugged terrain and could even be fitted with machine guns.

In 2007, hikers discovered an abandoned R75 in Germany’s Black Forest, remarkably well-preserved despite decades of exposure.

8. Junkers Ju 87 Stuka Dive Bomber

Known for its terrifying dive sirens, the Stuka was a symbol of Blitzkrieg tactics.

A well-preserved example was found submerged in a Norwegian fjord in 2015, likely crash-landed during the Norwegian campaign.

 

9. Sd.Kfz. 2 Kettenkrad

This half-motorcycle, half-tank vehicle was designed for airborne troops.

Compact and versatile, it was used for towing and cable-laying.

One abandoned Kettenkrad was found in a bombed-out farmhouse in France and later restored.

10. V2 Rocket Transport Train

Specialized trains were used to transport and launch V2 rockets.

In the 1990s, a partially collapsed tunnel in Belgium revealed one such train, complete with launch equipment and fuel containers.

 

11. Goliath Tracked Mine

A remote-controlled demolition vehicle, the Goliath carried explosives to enemy positions.

One was discovered buried in a field in France, its explosive payload safely neutralized before being displayed in a museum.

12. Focke-Wulf Triebflügel (Thrust Wing)

This experimental vertical takeoff and landing aircraft featured rotating wings with jet engines.

Though no prototype was built, blueprints and models were discovered after the war, showcasing Nazi Germany’s push for futuristic designs.

 

13. Tatra T87

This sleek car was favored by Nazi officers for its speed and elegance.

Ironically, its high speed led to numerous fatal crashes.

Abandoned T87s were found across Eastern Europe after the war, some rusting in forests and fields.

14. Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow)

One of the fastest piston-engine aircraft of its time, the Do 335 featured an innovative push-pull engine configuration.

Only a few were built before the war ended.

A surviving example was restored in the 1990s and is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.

 

15. Schwimmwagen

This amphibious vehicle was used for reconnaissance and could traverse both land and water.

Many were abandoned in rivers and lakes, but some have been recovered and restored, showcasing their durability.

16. Focke-Achgelis Fa 330

This rotor kite was towed behind submarines to provide aerial reconnaissance.

Few were used, but a nearly complete example was discovered in the 1970s, still in its original crate.

 

17. Blohm & Voss BV 141

This asymmetrical reconnaissance plane had an offset cockpit for better visibility.

Despite its stable performance, it was never mass-produced due to engine shortages.

No intact examples survive today.

18. Borgward IV

A remote-controlled demolition vehicle, the Borgward IV was larger than the Goliath and could drop its explosive payload before retreating.

Several were found abandoned in Eastern Europe and have since been restored.

 

19. NSU Kettenkrad

This tracked motorcycle hybrid was used for towing and navigating rugged terrain.

Many were abandoned as the Third Reich fell, but restored examples now operate in museums and private collections.

 

20. Panzerkampfwagen E-100

This super-heavy tank was intended to rival the Maus but never progressed beyond a single partially assembled hull.

The project was abandoned as Germany’s defeat became imminent.

These vehicles, strange and often impractical, highlight the extremes of Nazi Germany’s wartime engineering.

While some were ahead of their time, others were doomed by their own absurdity.

Together, they serve as a haunting reminder of a dark period in history.