A T34 tank used by the Germans

[ynot]

I was going through some of my things and came across this photo, I thought I’d show it purely because I like it. Three German soldiers standing in front of a shot up Russian tank with German markings, a T34 I think but may be wrong.

The man in the middle was killed in 1942 somewhere in the area of a place called Oljschowka in the north west of Russia. Oljschowka no longer seems to exist or at least not with that spelling.

Tony

[Gunny Hartmann]

Great photo, yes it is indeed a T34 and quite an early model with the large single turret hatch!....

[SteveR]

Neat picture.

[ynot]

Thanks.

Would be nice to know which unit he was in as well as knowing what happened to the other two men. I also have a photo of him when he received his EKII, it was in Russia and the weather looks similar to that above so perhaps the photos were taken around the same time.

Tony

[HistoryMan]

I am thinking a 1941 model with the F-34 main gun

[lithgow]

The Germans and other Axis allies used captured armour a great deal on the Eastern front but usually not in direct combat for the obvious reason that folks shoot first and rarely bother to ask questions after when they see or hear an 'enemy' tank near them-spares and ammunition are usually a long term problem as well, although vast amounts of equipment were captured by the Germans in the first 6 months of 'Barbarossa'-the damage in the photo is small arms caused to the mud guards that are only thin sheet steel.
PS-What looks like a hole in the gun mantlet is the opening for the gunner's telescopic sight.

[HistoryMan]

What purpose would a captured tank serve ?

[Wagriff]

To use up captured ammunition? *guessing*

[Walkwolf]

What purpose would a captured tank serve ?

Not only for propaganda, but also technical examination
- to see how the systems function and compare to
German tanks.........

[big ned]

Here's a great website I've had in my 'Favourites' for several years now, featuring German captured AFV's, trucks and cars from all Allied countries besides Russian ones. There are some really interesting photo's that are well worth a look.

Beutepanzer

Beutepanzer Photo's.

Regards, Ned.