VOLGOGRAD, September 8. /TASS/. A large grave of German prisoners-of-war dating back to the Second World War has been discovered in the Volgograd Region in south Russia in the territory of an agricultural organization during work to lay communication lines, head of the regional branch of Russia’s Search Movement Andrei Oreshkin said Tuesday.
"The grave dates back to a period after the Battle of Stalingrad. The remains of over 150 prisoners-of-war have been discovered. The German side has been informed of the discovered burial ground, part of the remains have been handed to the German War Graves Commission with information about the prisoners-of-war," Oreshkin said.
Besides remains, fragments of German uniforms and recognition badges of soldiers have also been discovered. Oreshkin said the place where the grave was found had not been the territory of hostilities but "Soviet rear area and a prisoner-of-war camp nearby."
So the discovered German soldiers most likely died of hunger and illnesses. Work of members of the search movement in that territory has been completed, although it still contains burial grounds. Now the German side will address the issue.
Remains of Soviet soldiers are often discovered in the Volgograd Region. In the past 15 years, searchers have found the remains of over 22,000 fighters and commanders of the Red Army and established the names of more than 600 Red Army soldiers. With required military honors, they all have been reburied on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd and other military-memorial cemeteries.
The Battle of Stalingrad (July 1942 - February 1943) was a major battle during World War II that left some 2.2 million people dead on both sides.