Excavation of tanks of the Great Patriotic War. Excavations of the Great Patriotic War. Excavations of tanks of the Great Patriotic War Excavations of WWII military equipment

This was not so long ago, witnesses of those events are still alive, but they themselves have begun to be forgotten. And only excavations show how many people died at that time.

A little bit of history

It all started on June 22, 1941, when German troops entered the USSR. For a long time it suffered defeats, but at the end of 1942 a certain turning point occurred. Germany began to lose one battle after another.

Ultimately, despite all the tricks, the Nazis lost the war. Germany turned from a strong power into a weak one. Of course, other countries also suffered. But the Soviet Union suffered the greatest losses.

Excavations from the Great Patriotic War show how large-scale some battles were and allow us to see the big picture. Of course, many interesting facts are now being discovered that were previously unknown. But nothing reduces human losses, crippled destinies, broken families.

Places where big battles took place in Russia

As we know from history, during the Second World War several large battles took place in which many people died and a large amount of equipment was destroyed. Let's look at the most famous of them, which were on the territory of the then Soviet Union.

Moscow Battle

It is divided into two stages: the first (09/30/1941-12/5/1941), when Moscow was defended, and the second (12/5/1941-04/20/1942), when the attack on the Germans took place and their further defeat. This battle was a very important moment in the war. Russian soldiers realized that the German army was not so invincible, which undoubtedly strengthened their morale.

Battle of Stalingrad

It is also divided into two stages. The defensive period lasted from July 17, 1942 to November 18, 1942, and the offensive period from November 19, 1942 to February 2, 1943. This battle was won, marking the beginning of the Soviet Union's victory over the German invaders. However, there were still numerous battles ahead.

Battle of Kursk

The defensive stage was relatively small: from 07/05/1943 to 07/23/1943. The offensive lasted a little longer: from 07/12/1943 to 08/23/1943. Obviously, the previous victories had an effect. The moment of the attack on the Germans marked the beginning of the liberation of cities such as Orel, Belgorod and Kharkov. Also as a result of this battle, Soviet troops went on the offensive against the enemy. This battle is also significant in that the largest tank battle took place at the same time (near Prokhorovka).

Even now, excavations continue at the sites of those battles. Their result is numerous finds of not only the remains of people who died at that time, but also military equipment. However, the main purpose for which these excavations of the Great Patriotic War are carried out is still the identification of the dead, sending data about them to their relatives, establishing monuments at battle sites, etc.

Sites of major battles in other countries

A big battle also took place on the territory of Belarus, also known as Operation Bagration. His goal was the defeat of the German group “Center”, as well as the liberation of Belarusian lands. It was a very large-scale operation, during which the enemy was thrown out of many territories. The Germans also lost a lot of people and equipment.

Another big and final battle took place in Germany - the so-called liberation event of 1945. Troops from the Belarusian and Ukrainian fronts were brought in to participate in it. The operation ended on May 8th.

Excavations from the Great Patriotic War are also being carried out in these places; the remains of soldiers and old equipment are located.

Research Features

Excavations of the Second World War, as noted above, continue today. True, discoveries are no longer happening on the same scale; they often happen by accident. For a long time, the so-called official excavations competed with them. Naturally, they were only interested in profit, because the trophies of the Second World War were very valuable (and even now interest in them has not waned) on the black market.

If we talk about today, then excavations of the Great Patriotic War are carried out only by enthusiasts. There are entire groups and clubs that are strong in their patriotism. They study history in more detail to conduct accurate searches. In order to implement them, different techniques are needed. For example, uncleared mines from those times can still be found. Then you need a knowledgeable person (sapper) to neutralize them.

Equipment is also needed to lift heavy equipment from the bottom of reservoirs, swamps or lakes. First, you need to accurately determine its location using a metal detector. Secondly, sometimes official permission is required. Thirdly, you need to hire divers, lifting equipment and much more.

Excavations in Belarus

Excavations of the Great Patriotic War in Belarus are being intensively carried out. A great battle also swept through this country, which left behind a large number of dead people and broken down or abandoned equipment. The state has created many special search groups that look for the burials of soldiers so that they can be identified and reported to relatives. Of course, this is not always possible.

Excavations in Russia

It is difficult to imagine how great the human losses were during the war, as well as how much equipment was destroyed. For example, a German officer’s burial was found in Belgorod. Those killed during the battles near Kursk were brought here. They continued to bury soldiers here until Belgorod was liberated. All of them have been identified.

Only recently, excavations carried out during the Great Patriotic War in the Kaluga region made it possible to discover a burial in which twenty people were identified. By the way, this happens very rarely, since enough time has already passed.

The land in the vicinity of the Prokhorovsky district (one of the places still produces some artifacts of the Great Patriotic War every year. Among them there are dangerous objects (mines, grenades). Every time we have to call sappers to neutralize them.

And this happens throughout the entire territory of modern Russia. They try to restore each find as much as possible (if it is an item). When remains are found, everything necessary is done to establish the identity of the deceased.

Famous tanks that were used during World War II

From documents and photographs of war excavations, one can judge what weapons were used. In particular, tanks. An illustrative example is the battle near Prokhorovka, where about 400 enemy vehicles were destroyed. But beyond this battle, such military equipment was used throughout the war. Some tanks were modernized, others were produced in small quantities, and some models are still in use today.

The following vehicles were supplied by the Germans:

  • “Panther” - this medium tank was considered one of the best, even having some shortcomings, and was first used in the Battle of Kursk.
  • “Tiger I” - this tank was heavy and very expensive.
  • Series of Panzerkampfwagen tanks.

The Soviet Union and the countries that were on its side used the following equipment:

  • The T-34 is a medium-heavy tank with many modifications. The T-34-85 is still in service in some countries; it was considered the best during World War II.
  • “Matilda” is an English tank.
  • Series of KV tanks.
  • Series of IS tanks.
  • “Valentine” is a Canadian tank.

Tank excavations: interesting facts

The ongoing excavations of tanks from the Great Patriotic War are very significant for history. Some units of equipment exist in several copies, for example, the T-60 tank is now available in the amount of six pieces in more or less good condition. These tanks were very light, due to this they had great speed and maneuverability. The Germans called them “indestructible locusts.”

Also found in Ukraine was a T-34 tank, which is about seventy years old. Such samples were produced during World War II for only a couple of years. Afterwards they were replaced by more advanced tanks. Such specimens were found in two places.

Some time ago, a scandal broke out over a raised T-70 tank, which was found in the Rostov region. They tried to take him out illegally, without any documents. Believed to be for a private collection.

Thus, we can say that such technology is highly valued in the world. Of course, this is also a great treasure from a historical point of view. Today there are many more similar burials, even famous ones. But it is not always possible to obtain tanks and obtain official permission for excavations.

Museums of the Great Patriotic War

Now museums contain numerous finds that were discovered in places where excavations were carried out during the Great Patriotic War (photo below). Of course, not all of them get there, but still. Every country has museums of the Great Patriotic War, and sometimes there are even several of them. For example, in Russia they are available in Moscow) and St. Petersburg.

Also, a large memorial complex is located in Kyiv, it is represented by a huge variety of exhibits (more than fifteen thousand).

The museum in Minsk is no less grandiose. It contains no less than 143 thousand items. All of them are displayed in chronological order.

Latest finds

Excavations during the Great Patriotic War of 2014 also yielded many finds. These are different burials and different techniques. For example, in January a bomber was found near the village of Sirgala. The pilot who was sitting at the controls was even identified. And in Volgograd, numerous shells from World War II were discovered. And there are many such cases. What ended a long time ago fills the present day with its echoes.

Description of the process of searching for WWII tanks, methods of their excavation, video about the recovery of found tanks from the water and swamp.

Or excavations on battlefields are one of the areas of search activity. Typically, such excavations are carried out at battle sites of the Great Patriotic War (WWII). In the ground, at the bottom of rivers, lakes, and swamps, fallen planes, damaged and sunken tanks, other types of weapons, and personal belongings of soldiers and officers that have lain for more than seventy years are found.

War trophies help restore the picture of battles and soldiers’ life, and clarify individual combat episodes. Many collectors are willing to pay large sums for unique or rare weapons, awards and other military rarities in good condition. But usually armored vehicles are sent for restoration, after which they end up in museums.

Before picking up a shovel, searchers and diggers collect information. Archives for 1941–1945 have become much more accessible than in Soviet times. In addition, Books of Memory, letters from the front, and many entries on military-historical sites and forums are trustworthy. The reward for a patient search is plans and diagrams, lost among other documents, showing where tanks or planes fell into the river.

Unfortunately, there are few people left who have retained in their memory the details of the events of past battles. Most often, different versions and assumptions are expressed locally, but among them there is also valuable information. All information must be checked; as experience shows, even in the named lists of irretrievable losses, many mistakes were made in the names of settlements.

Well-preserved tanks are often found in swamps and lakes, where a thick layer of silt with a low oxygen content can protect the metal from corrosion. When the exact location where a tank or other military equipment sank has been established, it will not be possible to immediately begin recovery. Often you first have to get permission from local authorities, find divers and heavy equipment.

Equipment for searching tanks

There are many cases when tanks and other large rarities are recovered in almost working condition. Along with military equipment, ammunition, remains of army trenches, personal weapons, and awards are found. The task of finding them is made easier by new models of metal detectors, with the help of which you can detect objects of different shapes, sizes and purposes.

The depth at which the search is carried out depends on the size of the objects, the characteristics of the metal detector, the soil, and the characteristics of the operator himself. The larger the object, the easier it is to detect, even several meters deep from the surface of the earth. If the iron is already severely corroded, the presence of oxides makes it difficult to recognize the metal.

When using, you should take into account the type and operating principle of the device. For example, there are so-called deep metal detectors; they can detect metal objects located at a distance of over 2 m from the surface. There are metal detectors that do not recognize a large target at depth, but they will determine the location of small metal objects in a soil layer several tens of centimeters thick. The operating frequency of the device affects the search - low is suitable for large objects, penetrates deeper into the soil.

If the search for tanks from the Great Patriotic War period or other military equipment is carried out in the water, then you cannot do without scuba diving equipment (wetsuit, scuba gear, etc.).

Excavations, removing tanks from water, swamps

Officially registered detachments are searching for combat vehicles, and military specialists are helping to raise them. There is often a cordon of police officers. Often tank fuel tanks are full and ammunition is unexploded, which poses a danger to people. It is necessary to be extremely careful in removing military rarities from the ground and water. Even one found shell, discovered mine or grenade is a reason to contact the authorities and sappers.

For example, almost complete ammunition was discovered by searchers who, in May 2007, recovered the legendary T-34, which had lain since the Great Patriotic War (WWII) at the bottom of a lake near the village of Zelenkino, Pskov region. And in the summer of 2012, when lifting the T-34/76 tank from the river, which sank on January 7, 1944 in the Cherkasy region, Ukrainian sappers neutralized more than 20 shells. Ammunition is usually detonated at firing ranges, in deserted places.

Video about raising tanks

Finding, getting from the bottom or digging up a tank is a huge luck and a difficult technical task. On land, the top layer of soil is usually removed using an excavator, then excavated by hand. Often human remains and small parts are found that are necessary to identify the find. The most expensive and time-consuming process is extracting combat vehicles from a swamp, river or lake.

Lifting the KV-1 tank

In the Kirov district of the Leningrad region, a Soviet tank KV-1, which sank during the Second World War, was lifted from the Neva using a floating crane. Video footage filmed on November 16, 2011 in the Nevsky Piglet area gives an idea of ​​the complexity of the entire rescue operation. The depth of the river in the lifting area is about 15 m; the weather on the day of the work was stormy.

Almost from the first moments, when the tank rose into the air on the boom of a floating crane, specialists from the search battalion of the Western Military District and museum staff assumed from its appearance that the combat vehicle was in good condition. Further study and final expert assessments confirmed the initial findings.

The remains of ammunition were found and removed from the KV-1 turret, but the bodies of the crew were not found. Apparently, people abandoned the tank, which most likely sank while crossing on a pontoon. The numbers and other distinctive features of the combat vehicle will serve as a starting point for museum workers. They will be able to track the path of the tank and crew, and find those who know about the fate of the tankers.

The name of the legendary military leader Klim Voroshilov was given to a Soviet tank, produced for the first time in March 1940. The KV-1 saw its first battle in the war with Finland during the breakthrough of the famous “Mannerheim Line” in December 1940. The tank also took part in the battles of the Great Patriotic War.

Lifting the T-34/76 “Brave” tank

The registered Soviet tank T-34/76 “Brave” was found by searchers from the “Rearguard” club in the village of Malakhovo (Pskov region). They lifted a 27-ton vehicle from the swamp on May 7, 2009. The tank lay in the silt at a depth of 5 m for 67 years. As it turned out after extraction, the “thirty-four” went into battle with a full set (more than 100 ammunition on board).

We managed to find local residents who remembered how the tank sank; they tried to get it out more than once immediately after the war.

Raising the Stug-40 artillery mount

In the area of ​​the city of Velikiye Luki, Pskov Region, in the spring of 2002, searchers found and recovered a German self-propelled artillery unit Stug-40, which had lain in a swamp since the Great Patriotic War. With the help of a tractor, the self-propelled gun was pulled onto a hard surface. The German combat vehicle was washed from dirt and silt. After which numbers and symbols became clearly visible on the armor. The process was filmed on video, which we bring to your attention.

Lifting the KV-1 tank on Nevsky Piglet

On August 11, 2002, a team of scuba divers OPEN SEA, together with a search team from the MGA, examining the fairway of the Neva, discovered a KV-1 heavy tank 30 meters from the shore, which, during the assault on Nevsky Piglet by Soviet troops in the fall of 1941, was unable to complete the crossing and sank, going under water from a bullet-ridden pontoon. Film by Andrey Gerasimenko.


Lifting KV-1 tanks from the bottom of the Neva River(same as above) and T-38, discovered in the Nevsky Piglet area.

Raising the T-34-76 tank from Black Lake to Kosino

Lifting the Sherman M4A2 tank (USA) Cherkasy region.

Tractor "Stalinets-65"

During the search expeditions of the ANO PK "Rearguard", a unique tractor "Stalinets-65" was found and raised in the village of Belodedovo, Zapadnodvinsk district, Tver region (September 2012), and then restored and put into operation in a restoration workshop. The uniqueness of this model lies in the presence of a cabin.


Armored cap "crab"

In 2008, in the city of Novodruzhevsk, a German-made “Crab” machine-gun armored cap was discovered buried in the ground in the courtyard of a private house. According to local residents, during the war there were no residential buildings in this place, but the German defense line passed through. A reinforced concrete German bunker measuring 3 x 3 meters and 1.8 m high was also discovered next to the excavated armored cap. In the center of the bunker there is a well with drinking water.


Raising the remains of a captured KV-2 tank

Lifting the T-34/76 tank, Cherkasy region. Sank 01/07/1944 in the Gniloya Tikich river

Lifting of the registered Soviet tank T-34-76 "Brave"

On May 7, 2009, the Search Club "Rearguard" in the village of Malakhovo, Pskov region, raised a registered Soviet tank T-34-76 "Brave". According to the archives, this tank went to the front straight from the parade on Red Square in Moscow...


The rise of the Soviet tank T-34-76 "Sniper"

Raising a World War II tank in the Novosokolnichesky district, Pskov region in 2003. The lifting was carried out for the museum in Kubinka by the “Vysota” search team, led by Andrei Zabelin.


The rise of the Soviet KV-1 tank from the bottom of the Neva

On November 16, 2011, the Soviet KV-1 tank was lifted from the Neva River, St. Petersburg, using a floating crane. The "Rearguard" Search Club donated the raised tank to the St. Petersburg Museum "Battle of Leningrad".


The rise of the German self-propelled gun StuG-40

As a result of a successful search expedition of the Rearguard Search Club in April 2002 in the Pskov region, the city of Velikiye Luki, a German StuG-40 self-propelled artillery mount was found and raised.


The rise of the Soviet T-34 Dovator tank

In the Pskov region, Velikoluksky district, in the village of Bor-Lazava, the Search Club raised a registered Soviet tank T-34 - Dovator.


The rise of the Soviet T-70 tank

On September 20, 2001, in the Velikoluksky district, Pskov region, the search club raised a Soviet T-70 tank from a swamp.


Lifting the BT-5 tank

JSC "Iskatel", lifting the BT-5 tank, Neva River. 2008


A Soviet tank was found in an ice hole, Volgograd region

RVPOO "Heritage" German tank PzKpfw III

In 2001, in the area of ​​Gureev village, Dubovsky district, Rostov region, the RVPOO "Heritage", Volgodonsk, raised and donated to the museum of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45. in Moscow, on Poklonnaya Hill, a German tank.


Remains of German Stug-III found in Belarus