Base of a German WWII 75 mm cannon unearthed

Researchers and amateur history enthusiasts uncovered the base of a German 75 mm anti-tank cannon within urban garden plots in Szczecin, North-West Poland. This is the second of its kind object that preserved in the world.

 

Uncovering the find (by wSzczecinie.pl)

Members of the groups Szczecińska Grupa Eksploracji Podwodnej “Gryf” and Stowarzyszenie Grupa Warowna Bastion unearthed the remains near the Derdowskiego Street in Szczecin. The base of the 75 mm cannon KWK 51 L/24 is estimated to weight around 600 kilogrammes and the work was carried out manually due to limited space. It was known that in April 1945, when the German army prepared the defences of Festung Stettin, around 74 such 75 mm cannons were deployed around Szczecin, but their bases were differently built than the one found by the researchers. It was a makeshift construction, not manufactured widely in factories, but assembled for use with the cannons which the Germans already had in their depots. The other known specimen is at present located in the collection of Bundeswehr Military History Museum in Dresden, Germany. The base was disassembled after  being uncovered. Its lower part is said to be in perfect condition and entirely preserved. It will become one of the exhibits in the collection of Muzeum Motoryzacji i Wojskowości in Tanowo.

Base of the cannon (by TVS)

(after wSzczecinie.pl, TVS & Twoja Historia)

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