unusual case involved an 84-year-old German man who drew national attention after authorities discovered a fully functional World War II–era tank hidden in his basement.

The unusual case involved an 84-year-old German man who drew national attention after authorities discovered a fully functional World War II–era tank hidden in his basement. He had secretly kept the armored vehicle for more than three decades.

Investigators said the tank, along with other military equipment, violated Germany’s strict weapons laws. After a lengthy legal process, the man was convicted, ordered to remove the tank, and fined, turning the bizarre discovery into an international news story.