Remscheid arms arsenal: Main defendant admits errors

The primary defendant in a major Remscheid arms case has largely confessed to his role in amassing one of Germany's largest war weapon caches since World War II. The 60-year-old, who operated a car repair shop, admitted through his lawyer that the weapon purchases detailed in the indictment occurred as described.

His defense presented the accumulation of firearms, primarily from World War II, as a passionate hobby that spiraled out of control. The defendant described himself as a "fanatical collector" who lost perspective, neglecting his marriage while pursuing his "lifelong dream" of creating a private weapons museum. He claimed fascination with firearms led him to acquire them, but his intent was solely possession, not use.

To conceal his illegal hoard, the defendant created hidden rooms, secret doors, and concealed compartments within the Remscheid property. Investigators discovered ammunition hidden within a door frame and numerous weapons concealed behind false walls. Despite these efforts, he eventually pointed investigators to the hidden areas, stating he wanted to prevent unauthorized access.

The defendant acknowledged that he knew he was not permitted to possess these weapons. He also admitted that other collectors approached him to store their firearms, which unfortunately became a "permanent situation." While he claimed he wanted to "demilitarize" all the sharp weapons, he stated he ran out of time. He expressed surprise if any were found to be still functional, believing they were all decorative, and insisted that trading in live weapons was never his intention.