A rare Nazi Tank has been discovered buried beneath a Russian university, where the armored vehicle spent decades after being captured during World War II and repurposed for explosives testing. The remarkable discovery was made during construction and repair work at Kazan National Research Technological University, or KNITU, in Kazan, Russia.

The vehicle has been identified by experts as a German Panther V, one of the most recognizable and technically advanced tanks fielded by Nazi Germany during the war. Only a small number of Panther tanks are believed to have survived, making the discovery particularly significant to military historians and museums.

Part of the tank's hull and rear turret has been exposed, while much of the vehicle remains underground. Its armor reportedly remains in remarkably good condition, although its original tracks, weapons and other equipment are believed to have been removed.

How the Panther Ended Up at the University

The tank's exact wartime history remains unclear. Researchers have not yet determined which specific version of the Panther has been discovered.

They are not sure whether Soviet forces captured it after the tank was disabled in combat. Or if it was abandoned by its crew because of a mechanical problem. There are many ways it could have been acquired during the war.

What is known is that the Panther eventually made its way into Soviet hands and was transported to an institution that was then known as the Kirov Chemical Technology Institute.

Rather than being placed in a museum, the captured German tank was given a very different second life. Students and scientists reportedly used the armored vehicle for decades while conducting experiments involving high-energy materials.

Nazi Tank is History of the University, as well as the War

That unusual history helps explain why the tank was eventually buried at the university instead of being preserved as a military artifact.

Alexander Alexandrov, director of the Great Patriotic War Memorial Museum in the Kazan Kremlin, said the importance of the discovery extends beyond the tank itself.

"The value of this find lies in its authenticity," Alexandrov said, describing it as an important part of the history of the university, Kazan and the Republic of Tatarstan.

The Panther V Was a Formidable German Nazi Tank

The Panther, officially designated the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, entered German service in 1943. It was developed in response to Soviet tanks such as the T-34 and incorporated sloped armor, a powerful long-barreled 75 mm gun and strong mobility for a vehicle of its size.

The Panther's sloped frontal armor increased its effective protection by forcing incoming shells to strike at an angle. Its 75 mm KwK 42 L/70 cannon was capable of engaging many Allied and Soviet tanks at considerable distances.

Panther Nazi Tank had Mechanical Problems

The tank also had a reputation for mechanical problems, particularly during its early deployment. Panther crews faced difficulties involving engines, transmissions and other components. Over time, many of those problems were addressed, and the Panther became one of Germany's most important medium tanks during the later years of the war.

The vehicle was heavily armored and considerably more sophisticated than many earlier German designs. However, its complexity also made production, maintenance and battlefield recovery difficult.

A Rare Nazi Tank Facing a Dangerous Excavation

The newly discovered Panther is now facing another challenge: excavation.

Experts must remove the surrounding soil while protecting the surviving armor and determining how much of the original vehicle remains. University officials have halted nearby repair work and cordoned off the area because the excavation pit is unstable.

KNITU Vice-Rector Maxim Tyupich warned students and employees not to enter the restricted area because the walls of the excavation pit are not reinforced and the surrounding ground could collapse.

Once the vehicle has been safely uncovered, officials must determine whether it can be removed, conserved and eventually displayed.

Denis Sakharnykh, head of the KNITU History Museum, said the tank represents more than German military technology. He described it as a monument to the Soviet scientists and chemists who worked at the institute and used the captured vehicle during their research.

University officials, historians and museum representatives met Aug. 19 to discuss the artifact's future.

Alexandrov said the next steps should involve excavating the tank, removing it, conserving it and determining how it can ultimately be transformed into a museum exhibit.

Additional Information

• Kazan National Research Technological University
• The Tank Museum
• Imperial War Museums: World War II
• U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: World War II
• National WWII Museum