The Volgograd Tractor Factory (Russian: Волгоградский тракторный завод, Volgogradskiy traktornyy zavod, or ВТЗ, VTZ) is a heavy equipment factory located in Volgograd, Russia previously known until 1961 as the Stalingrad Tractor Factory named for Dzerzhinsky (Russian: Сталинградский тракторный завод им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского, Stalingradskiy traktornyy zavod im. F.E. Dzerzhinskogo, or СТЗ, STZ).
The factory produces tractors and military equipment. During World War II, the factory was known as the Stalingrad Tractor factory (STZ) and retooled to produce equipment for the Red Army, most notably the T-34 tank. It became world-famous during the Battle of Stalingrad for the fierce combats fought there.
In December 2002 the factory was divided into four separate companies within the Group:
There is also a separate production facility for production of military technology projects Volgograd Machine Building Company VgTZ (Volgogradskaya mashinostroitel’naya kompaniya VgTZ).
As an incorporated entity the factory was recognised as bankrupt in 2005.[1]