- Esileht
- The Konnjärv Tank
- Esileht
- The Konnjärv Tank
- Programmid
- The Konnjärv Tank
- Uudised
- The Konnjärv Tank
- Projektid
- The Konnjärv Tank
In 2000, a rare World War II-era Soviet T-34/76 tank was discovered and recovered from Lake Mätasjärv in Ida-Viru County, Estonia. Remarkably, this tank bears markings from both Soviet Red Army and Estonian units that fought on the German side—making it a powerful symbol of the complex wartime history in the region. You can see ammunition from this very tank on display in our permanent exhibition.
Known on wartime Wehrmacht maps as Konna-See (“Frog Lake”), Mätasjärv was the resting place of a 1943 model T-34/76 tank. Originally part of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps, the tank somehow ended up in the hands of the 20th Estonian SS Division and was likely used as a training vehicle. According to other sources, the tank belonged to Beute Panzer Kompanie 285 (part of the 300th Infantry Division z.b.V9). When German forces withdrew, the tank was abandoned and either intentionally sunk or lost in the lake.
What makes this tank particularly rare is the preservation of inscriptions from both sides—including the Rifle Corps slogan “For Soviet Estonia!” as well as the trophy markings later added by German units. It is the only known World War II tank found in Estonia that has been fully recovered, restored, and even had its engine brought back to working condition.
The tank was recovered by members of the history club Otsing, led by reserve Border Guard captain Igor Sedunov. It is hoped that this unique piece of history will soon be on display at the Sinimäed Museum.
See more https://youtu.be/ueDDjYsIqhI?si=mt8XkzJKKMZnuMM5
“Kes minevikku ei mäleta, elab tulevikuta” Juhan Liiv
