Tula Arms Plant

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The famous Tula Arsenal was originally founded by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great in 1712. As history progressed the Arsenal kept on producing weapons to whoever controlled the Russian state. Since the Soviet era and in modern Russia it is known as TOZ, Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod JSC, or Tula Arms Plant.

Tula, was an important city to the Soviet Union during the Cold war because it held such a strategic importance. The city had significant ore deposits situated relatively close to it and coupled with its ample transportation routes like the Upa River. On top of the river Tula also had large amouts of rail lines coming to the city and out.

The Tula Arsenal of the Soviet era produced many military rifles like the TOZ rifle series, AK-47, the SKS, and the Mosin-Nagant were all produced at this arsenal. The weapons just listed are some of the most infamous weapons in history and, in some cases, have changed the course of history.

During the Second World War the German army invaded Russia as part of Operation Barbarossa (launched June 22, 1941). By December 5, the German 2nd Panzer Division had advanced to within a few kilometers of the city, forcing the Soviets to abandon the arms factory at Tula. As a result, far fewer weapons were produced there than at other Soviet factories such as that at Izhevsk. Consequently, Tula weapons of the Second World War are considered more valuable by collectors.