Welcome to the fifth instalment of our monthly blog, sharing untold stories and highlighting the interesting and unusual items from The Tank Museum’s Archive and Object Collection.
In this edition, we take a look at a rather unique document, held within The Tank Museum Archive Collection – a report of the interrogation of the Chief Technical Engineer of the Henschel AFV Research and Experimental Establishment, Haustenbeck, Herr Kurt Arnoldt.
Identified as one of the “key members of the German AFV industry”, Herr Arnoldt’s interrogation was conducted in succession over several days by the 21st Army Group on the 7th of May 1945 and provides a glimpse into the world of German AFV design influence and development.
As stated in the report, whilst having been the Technical Head of the Research and Experimental establishment since 1933, Arnoldt professed to be an “Anti-Nazi” who willingly supplied Allied forces with all possible information regarding German AFVs.
The report elaborates further on Arnoldt’s interrogation which covers multiple subject areas including German AFV development, the “birth of the Tiger I”, Maus, and many other key subjects.
However, what makes his interrogation most intriguing is the inclusion of his own unique accounts and personal opinions of key members of the German AFV industry and high command including Adolf Hitler, Reichsminister Dr. Speer, and Dr. Ferdinand Porsche to name a few all of whom he consulted and worked with during his time at Haustenbeck.
Arnoldt goes so far as to give a detailed account of a demonstration of the respective Porsche and Henschel prototype Tiger tanks which were to be inspected by the Führer on the 20th of April 1942 (Hitler’s Birthday).
Highlights of the account include Porsche’s tank bellying the moment it was removed from transport, prompting Arnoldt to offer his own prototype to recover the mired vehicle. A subsequent drive trial, with the Henschel prototype tank overheating just 200 yards from the finish line whereupon Arnoldt cunningly exits the vehicle, feigning ignorance, walks up to an observant Hitler and his accompanying party to spark up a conversation to allow his tank some “cooling off” time.
Additional remarks include Nazi high commands lack of knowledge on AFV design.
This interrogation report of Herr Arnoldt, together with related documents held in The Tank Museum Archive, offers a rare insight into the perspectives of tank designers and the crews who operated them.
These materials are available to request online or consult in the Museum’s Reading Room. In addition, the interrogation report will be displayed as part of the Archive and Object Collection Collections Up Close stall at the forthcoming Spring 2026 Tiger Day.
