Despite the comment made by Madame Bouleux, there is now some doubt
as to its complete accuracy. There is over nine hundred yards
between the place the tank was destroyed and where it was buried. It
is rather difficult to imagine how a whole tank could be moved over
that distance by Russian prisoners. Philippe now has the proof she
was buried by the British to be used as a shelter. New documents
provided by David Fletcher confirm that opinion. D51 was moved by
being pulled by other tanks to the hole dug previous to the Battle
by German soldiers to establish a concrete bunker. The confusion
relating to Marthe’s version may have arisen if some German
prisoners assisted in that operation.
Next:
The Men of Deborah D51