On Shumshu Island, a historically significant site where one of the pivotal final engagements of World War II unfolded in August 1945, recent archaeological work has led to the remarkable discovery of more than 400 artifacts from the period of conflict. This substantial finding was announced by Yuri Filipenko, the director of the `Victory` Museum and Memorial Complex.
According to Filipenko, these newly unearthed items are slated to form part of a `field museum` exhibition, which is planned for establishment on the island itself. The museum will serve as a tribute to the extraordinary courage of Soviet paratroopers, who landed on Shumshu on August 18, 1945. Under incredibly harsh conditions and with what was described as virtually minimal weaponry, they succeeded in compelling the Japanese garrison to surrender.
Currently, active search and recovery teams, comprising participants from various regions across Russia, as well as Belarus, Moldova, and Kazakhstan, are diligently working on the island. Their critical mission is to identify the names of those who fought in these battles, as many still remain unrecognized and unaccounted for.
Among the diverse range of items discovered are various types of cartridge cases, ammunition rounds, components of both Japanese and Soviet military uniforms and gear, rare `Type 98` 320-millimeter mortars, and personal effects belonging to the soldiers.
Yuri Filipenko highlighted that the most invaluable discoveries are the personalized Soviet mess kits and flasks. These artifacts are profoundly important as they offer a unique and direct means to identify specific individuals who participated in those historical events. He expressed a strong conviction that the precise number of fallen soldiers remains unknown to this day, and therefore, the dedicated search efforts are continuing without pause.
Beyond the smaller artifacts, specialists are also dedicating considerable effort to the study and careful preservation of Japanese tanks that have remained on the island since the intense engagements.
Filipenko emphasized the critical importance of preserving this hallowed battlefield. «Our aim is not to restore the military equipment to its original, pristine condition,» he clarified. «The primary objective is to maintain it precisely as it was found after the conflict and to chemically treat the metal to prevent any further deterioration.»
Objects found inside these tanks hold particular investigative value for researchers. For example, within one combat vehicle, cartridge cases from a PPSh submachine gun were discovered. Experts believe this specific find could be directly linked to the heroic actions of border guard Mikhail Semenov, who bravely incapacitated the enemy tank by climbing onto its armor and neutralizing its crew.
According to Filipenko, this discovery effectively «names» the tank, providing a crucial piece of information about who was responsible for its disablement—a detail that was previously unknown.
All ongoing search and research activities on Shumshu Island are being carried out under the umbrella of the national project `Youth and Children`, underscoring a commitment to historical memory and educational initiatives.
