WWII German King Tiger Tank 233 at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France

According to an article from the Musée des Blindés French Tank museum’s magazine n° 54, this King Tiger tank, which now carries the turret number 233, is believed to be tank number 123, which belonged to the 1st Company, 101 SS Panzer Abt in August 1944. It is believed to have been abandoned by its crew on 23 August 1944, due to engine problems, at Brueil-en-Vexin, near Mantes-la-Jolie. It was salvaged by the French Army in September 1944, and then stored at the AMX Tank factory at Satory before being transferred to the museum in 1975. French Army Colonel Aubry decide to put 233 on the turret to remember the King Tiger which destroy his own Sherman at end of war. Colonel Aubry is the man who set up the French Tank Museum in the year 1970. He was the first Director of museum. Unlike some of the captured German Panther tanks, this Tiger II tank was never used by the French Army after was not modified in any way and kept in the dry at AMX Satory. For a long time it was just forgotten abou