The paper reports results of metallographic studies of specimens of St. 3 steel and M1 copper loaded by shock waves of various intensity (p ≃ 2 – 30 GPa) and duration (τ ≃ 10−6 – 10−7 sec). The kinetics of spalling fracture of materials under these conditions is discussed. Key words: metals, shock waves, fracture, kinetics, modeling.