Great Patriotic War shell discovered in centre of Volgograd - 18 October, 2002

A shell of the Great Patriotic War epoch (a constituent part of World War II of 1939-45) has been discovered in the vicinity of Volgograd's central market.

The shell was spotted by builders of a block of flats, while excavating ground, the city Department of Civil Defence and Emergencies reported. It has lain in the ground for almost 60 years several metres from the market, blocks of flats and the city's main highway.

The place has been sealed off. In the short run the dangerous find will be carried away and destroyed, the Civil Defence and Emergencies Department said.

Over the last month 2 air bombs, 11 shells and landmines, and 2 grenades all told, that had lain in the ground since the war, were discovered and liquidated in Volgograd. The majority of explosives was discovered in the centre of Volgograd, on construction sites.

During the war Volgograd's name was Stalingrad. This was the place where the battle of Stalingrad lasted from November to December 1943, ending in the defeat and capture of the army of over 300,000 soldiers, headed by Field Marshall Paulus.