Kruse WWII Victory Museum - wow...

[grunt1]

I was looking for museums where I might find an actual German Ford Maultier, heck an Opel would have been nice. I thought maybe Europe somewhere, perhaps Russia. Little did I know that versions of both Maultiers and much much more were only about 2 hours away from my house.

Mr. Kruse apparently purchased a significant European collection about three years ago, constructed a building and opened up a museum in Auburn, Indiana.

They have about 100 or more vehicles, all from WWII, mostly German, Italian, or captured French. Many are the only ones currently known to exist.

I will post more pictures over the next several days and weeks.

[grunt1]

Partial list of what I saw there:

Italian
-------
Fiat 1500, car, light, 4x2, 4 seater, command
Fiat SPA TL37, Tractor, Light, 1 Ton, 4x4 Artillery
Breda 40, Tractor, Heavy, 5 Ton, 4x4 Artillery

Commonwealth
-------
Diamler Mk III Scout Car "Dingo"
Windsor Mark 1, Universal Carrier
Ford F60S-Bofors-1, Truck, 3 Ton, 4x4, Bofors, SP AA
Morris Commercial PU 8/4, truck 8cwt, 4x4 wireless
Ariel W/NG Motorcycle
Loyd Carrier, light, full tracked

French / Belgian (mostly versions after German capture)
-------------------------------------------------------
Latil M7T1, Car, 3/4 Ton, 4x4 Reconnaissance, French, German Captured
Latil M2Tl6, Tractor, 5 Ton, 4x4, Prime Mover, French, German Captured
Laffly S25T, Tractor, 4 Ton, 6x6, Prime Mover Belgian
Renault UE, Armored Carrier, .25 ton, Full-track, Cargo
FN Tricar 12T3, Motorcycle, heavy, tricycle, 1000cc

German
------
Transport
Opel Super 6, Car Medium, 4x2 Passenger
Opel Blitz Truck, Light, 1.5 Ton, 4x2, Cargo bed
Opel Blitz Truck, Medium, 3 Ton, 4x2, Kfz 305, Cargo Bed
Opel Blitz Truck, Medium, 3 Ton, 4x2, Omnibus Cab, Long Bed
Phanomen Granit 25H, truck, light, 1.5 ton, 4x2 Ambulance Kfz 31
Diamler-benz L5000D, Truck, heavy, 5 ton, 4x2, Cargo
Universal Carrier, German Captured
Borgward B3000S/0, Truck, Medium, (3 ton) 4x2, Cargo
Bussing-NAG 4500 A-1, Truck, Heavy, 4.5 Ton, 4x4, Cargo
Lorraine 37L - Captured as SdKfz 135, armored carrier, 1/2 Ton, Full Track, Cargo
SdKfz 11
Sdkfz 11, Auto-Union HL kl 6p, tractor, half-track, light 3ton
Sdkfz 8, 12 ton prime mover
SdKfz 250/5 Neu Art, radio reconnaissance
SdKfz 251/1 Ausf. D
Sdkfz 251/6 Ausf A, commander vehicle
Porshe Type 823, Car, Light, 4x2 Dummy Tank
Phanomen-Granit 1500A, car, Heavy, 4x4 Personnel Kfz 70
Mercedes Benz 170VK, Car, Light, 4x2, Signals, Kfz 2
Steyr 1500A/01, Car, Heavy, 4x4, Command Kfz 21 (Rommel's car)
Mercedes-Benz L1500E Field Ambulance
Alder W61, truck, light, 1.5 ton, 4x2, cargo
Stoewer 40, car, light, 4x4, personnel, Kfz 3
Hotchkiss W15T, Truck, 2 Ton, 6x6 Prime Mover, French, German Captured
Unic Kegresse P107/U304(f), Tractor, 1 Ton Half Track, Armored AA, French, German Captured
Borgward L1400, Truck, Light, 1 ton, 4x2, Cargo
Citroen 23R, Truck 1.5 Ton, 4x2, Cargo, French, German Captured
Horch Type 40, Car, Medium, 4x4, Passenger, Kfz 16
Mercedes Benz L3000S, Truck, medium, 3 ton, 4x2, box Van Body, Kfz 305
Stoewer 40, Car, Light, 4x4, AA, Kfz 4

Motorcycles / Bike
- BMW R75 w/ Sidecar, DAK
- Zundapp KS600 Motorcycle
- Zundapp K500 Motorcycle
- Recon bicycle
- Panzerfaust Bicycle (yes, really)
- BMW R61 Motorcycle
- Several more

Kubelwagen Type 88, DAK
Chevrolet C15 CMP, .75 Ton, 4x2 Personnel Carrier, DAK

RSO Tractor(s)
- 7.5cm Pak 40/4 Variant
- RSO/03 Tractor Variant, Soft Cab
- RSO/01 Tractor Variant, Hard Cab
- RSG Prototype

Maultier
- Ford variant
- Opel Blitz variant SdKfz 3

Anti-Tank
- 88
- Raketenwerfer 43
- Panzerfaust 60m
- Panzerfaust 30m
- Panzerschreck
- Mines
- Pak 36, 3.7cm
- Flak 30, 2cm
- Pak 38, 5cm

Armor
Panzerjaeger 38t, 7.5 cm PaK Ausf M
Opel Maultier Panzer-Wefer 42, Sdkfz 4/1

Misc
Numerous small wagons
Lafette Tripod w/ MG42
Search light on trailer
Tons of stowage, uniforms, helmets, gear, weapons

U.S.A.
------
AM General, M35A2 Truck, 2.5 Ton, 6x6 cargo
M8 Armored Car
GMC CCKW-352 "Jimmy", Truck, 2.5 Ton, 6x6, Cargo
Dodge WC53, .75 Ton, 4x4, Field Sedan, Carryall
M3 Halftrack
M3 Halftrack AA
Dodge WC57, .75 Ton, 4x4 Command Car, Modified, Patton
M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer
M51 Machine-Gun Carriage (M45 mount on M17 trailer)
Dodge WC54 .75 Ton, 4x4 Ambulance
Chevrolet NR-G-7163 earth borer, pole setter
Brockway B666, 6 ton, 6x6 bridge erector treadway truck
Scout Car(s)
- White M3A1
- Another one
- White M3A1, Russian
Jeep(s)
- Willys MB Ambulance
- Armored
- Several others
Autocar U-7144T
M26 Dragon Wagon, Pacific, with Trailer
M5 13 Ton High Speed Tractor
M2A1 105mm Howitzer w/ M2A1 Carriage
GMC AFKWX-353 COE, Truck, 2.5 Ton, 6x6, COE Cab over engine
Cushman 53 Autoglide, Moped
GMC DUKW - 353, 2.5 Ton, 6x6 Amphibious Truck
LVT 3 Landing Craft
M29C Water Weasel
Ford GPA Amphibious Jeep, Truck, .25 Ton, 4x4 Amphibian
Dodge WC52, .75 ton, 4x4 Weapons carrier
Dodge WC24, .5 ton, 4x4 Command, Reconnaissance Car
T24 Weasel Tractor
Tons of stowage, uniforms, helmets, gear, weapons

Misc
----
General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard
Batmobile (Keaton era)
Batboat (Keaton era)
KITT from Knight Rider (original and current)
A-Team Van - original
Several 1/32-ish battleships from the TV show Winds of War

[grunt1]

Here are two the Opel Blitz's they have on hand:

[grunt1]

Some Hanomags:

[AMERICAN_GRENADIER]

great pics!
thank you!

[Razor17019]

Cool, Grunt.
Nice pics.
Thanks for letting us know.
Razor

[Razor17019]

Grunt,
What is the exact name of the museum?
Kruse has several, according to the web.

[Col.Pickle]

Thats fantastic! Whatta lucky guy!

[RedBaron]

Where in Indiana is this place located? Is it open to the public? Thanks.

[normandy]

A little dated but here is some background on the museum............. http://www.internetmodeler.com/2003/aug ... museum.htm

[grunt1]

I haven't had time to upload the rest of my pictures, but here is a link to someone that took a lot of photos. This place is truly a gem and completely unique if you want to see this much stuff in one place. Especially if you are interested in all the rest of the vehicles, other than tanks..

http://community.webshots.com/user/panzergrendel

[812boys]

If I remember right this is the one over by Vincennes. You guys should check out the ww2 events they have there. They are not that bad check out the T.S.G. website. A good event to go to would be Lowell Indiana in May. That event is hosted by the H.R.S. If any of you guys are interested in giving it a try I have plenty of extra gear. My unit does the 4TH I.D. Co. E. Its pretty cool I have been doing ww2 and civil war reenacting for about 15 to 16 years now. Its funny I haven't ordered any yet but one of our guys in Civil War actually took pictures of us and had 1/32nd figures of us made. I am trying to work with him to take pics of the WW2 unit. If you want to check them out the are made by Cunningham Collectibles,they are labeled as the 44th Tenn.

[cjg476]

Let me know next time you go...I would love to bring my family...

[812boys]

Will do we still have awhile but I will post the event times on here.

[456THBG]

grunt1, I bet you thought you had died & gone to Heaven!
Those pics are great - What an amazing collection!

[Light.Inf.Scout]

Love to go there...we should get a group together or meet there