Battlefield Archelogy

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In western Europe the old WWII battlefields we soon 'tidied up' after the fighting ceased and there is comparatively little hard evidence of the war to be seen now - not without some serious excavation anyhow. But the more remote areas of eastern Europe are quite a different matter. The following clips document what is to my mind some truly remarkable finds that have been made there in recent times:

 

 

The Soviet T34, the tank that won the war - although judging from the markings on the turret this particular T-34 decided to change sides sometime before it drove into a swamp:

 

 

In remarkably good condition all things considered.

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Not a tank but a German STuG III assault gun - treated none too gently if you ask me but this is not a episode of Time Team!

 

[video=youtube;f-UrieZwqeg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-UrieZwqeg

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Most remarkable of all perhaps, the best fighter of its day and the pride of the Luftwaffe. A almost complete FW190 found deep in a forest near Leningrad:

 

 

Edit - I see this aircraft has been restored and now belongs to Paul Allen no less - one billionaire who seems more interested in spending his money on historic aircraft rather than football clubs.

 

http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-10-14_fw190.asp

Edited 20 July, 2013 by CHAPEL END CHARLIE

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Hard evidence of the contribution this nation made to the fighting on the 'Ostfront'. A British designed Valentine infantry tank that some poor Soviet crew had the misfortune to find themselves manning:

 

 

The commentary is wrong by the way - this is not the last Valentine because I saw one at Bovington only last week!

Edited 20 July, 2013 by CHAPEL END CHARLIE

[Saint-scooby]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e57_1369931280

[Marsdinho]

When you say "hard evidence" do you mean articles that can be removed from the ground, if not, there is plenty of hard evidence on the Western Front...

 

Point Du Hoc

 

Oradour

 

Arromanches

 

Merville Battery

 

There are others, but I dont have the time to post pics of all of them Normandy in particular is littered with battlefield reminders.