L’annuncio, 22 giugno 1941
Public announcement of Invasion of Soviet Union.
T-28 Medium Tank, dug in as pill box.
I-153 Chaika, Il-4 abandoned.
Knocked out KV-2 that held up 2 German mechanized battalions for 22 hours,
Raseiniai, Lithuania. 25 June 1941As recalled by General Erhard Raus of the 6th Panzer Division, yhe KV-2 ran out of fuel on a crossroad on 24 June and made a stand, destroying 12 supply trucks. Four 5cm PaKs were called up to take out the KV-2, but were also destroyed. The German commander on the scene then ordered a 8.8cm Flak 36 be used to knock it out from further away, from behind, but this gun too was spotted and destroyed.
That night, sappers attempted to place satchel charges, but only succeeded in blowing off the tank’s tracks and fenders.
On the morning of the 25th, several German tanks hidden in a nearby woodland distracted the KV-2 with non-penetrating fire, as another 8.8cm was positioned. Of the five shots fired, only two of the 8.8cm rounds penetrated. Still the tank continued to block the road.
German infantry that tried to approach the tank were met by machine-gun and sub-machinegun fire from the tank’s firing ports.
In late midday, infantry went for a second attack, this time making it to the tank itself. The driver’s hatch and turret hatches were blown off with explosives or pried ope, before hand grenades were tossed in. Severely impressed by the bravery and perseverance of the crew, the Germans recovered their remains and buried them.
Raus wrote in his memoirs, “I was deeply shocked by this heroism, we buried them with full military
honors. They fought to the last breath…”
Knocked out KV-2 that held up 2 German mechanized battalions for 22 hours,
Raseiniai, Lithuania. 25 June 1941As recalled by General Erhard Raus of the 6th Panzer Division, yhe KV-2 ran out of fuel on a crossroad on 24 June and made a stand, destroying 12 supply trucks. Four 5cm PaKs were called up to take out the KV-2, but were also destroyed. The German commander on the scene then ordered a 8.8cm Flak 36 be used to knock it out from further away, from behind, but this gun too was spotted and destroyed.
That night, sappers attempted to place satchel charges, but only succeeded in blowing off the tank’s tracks and fenders.
On the morning of the 25th, several German tanks hidden in a nearby woodland distracted the KV-2 with non-penetrating fire, as another 8.8cm was positioned. Of the five shots fired, only two of the 8.8cm rounds penetrated. Still the tank continued to block the road.
German infantry that tried to approach the tank were met by machine-gun and sub-machinegun fire from the tank’s firing ports.
In late midday, infantry went for a second attack, this time making it to the tank itself. The driver’s hatch and turret hatches were blown off with explosives or pried ope, before hand grenades were tossed in. Severely impressed by the bravery and perseverance of the crew, the Germans recovered their remains and buried them.
Raus wrote in his memoirs, “I was deeply shocked by this heroism, we buried them with full military
honors. They fought to the last breath…”
HT-26, the flamethrowing variant of the T-26 disabled in Smolensk, 1941. In the background are two WWI-era Mark V British tanks.
HT-26, the flamethrowing variant of the T-26 disabled in Smolensk, 1941. In the background are two WWI-era Mark V British tanks.
Knocked out T-34/76 Mod 1941s
Isn’t the natural environment for T-34/76 to be knocked out in groups in a field?