Russian Tanks in German service

German Army Use of the T-34.

Captured T-34/76's were designated by the Germans as Panzerkampfwagen T-34 747(r).

Large number of T-34/76 tanks were captured and pressed into service. Many fewer T-34/85 tanks were tanks were captured.  The main difference for this is related to time period and operational use. The T-34/76 was often on the defensive, which resulted in the Germans holding the ground they were either knocked out or broken down on after the battle was over. The same was usually not true during the time frame the T-34/85 was in use.

The T-34/76 was more often captured from mid-1941 until mid-1943, Germans were still firmly established on the Eastern Front, while T-34/85 appeared on the battlefield in the winter of 1943, when Germans were already retreating westwards after successful Soviet offensives. The Germans were always more than happy to employ as many captured vehicles as they could and many served with various units. T-34/76 employment by German formations was not always temporary but sometimes permanent until the end of the war.

The first examples of T-34/76 in German service are with 1st, 8th and 11th Panzer Division during the summer of 1941. Although it was considered dangerous to utilize captured T-34/76 tanks, because many gunners fired on silhouette instead of markings. In order to prevent such mistakes crews painted large-dimension crosses or even swastikas on the captured tanks. It was very common to paint a cross or swastika on top of the turret in order to prevent the Luftwaffe from attacking. Another way to overcome this problem was to use captured T-34/76 in an infantry support role where recognition problems were not that common.

Since late 1941, captured T-34/76 tanks were transported to a workshop in Riga for repairs and modifications, while in 1943, Mercedes-Benz in Marienfelde and Wumag in Goerlitz (now Zgorzelec) were also repairing and modifying T-34's. Captured T-34/76 tanks were modified to German standards by the installation of a commander’s cupola, radio equipment, along with other non-standard field modifications, made during service by the their new owners. Spare parts were never much of a problem and some 300 captured vehicles were maintained on a long term basis. T-34/76s tanks were also used as artillery tractors and ammunition carriers.

Badly damaged tanks were either dug in as pillboxes or were used for testing and training purposes. A number of T-34/76’s upper hulls with turrets were also mounted on railway wagons designated as Panzerjaegerwagen (tank destroyer wagon). These were used as part of Panzerzug (armored train), Streckenschutzug (railway protection train) and Panzertriebwagen (armored locomotive), including Panzerzug "Michael".

Known users of captured T-34/76 tanks were numerous; along with many unrecorded ones. For example, on October 15th of 1941, 1st Panzer Division’s 1st Panzer Regiment had some 6 T-34/76 Model 1940 and 1941 tanks. T-34/76 tanks were also in service with 2nd Panzer Division, 9th Panzer Division (33rd Panzer Regiment), 10th Panzer Division (7th Panzer Regiment), 11th Panzer Division, 20th Panzer Division (21st Panzer Regiment) and 23rd Panzer Division.

A number of T-34/76 tanks were still in service in 1945. For example; with 23rd Panzer Division in Slovakia and East Prussia. Along with Panzer Divisions, a considerable number were used by 18th Panzergrenadier Division and 98th Infantry Division. In the summer of 1943, T-34/76 tanks were  operated by Italian crews as well. According to original German captured tank inventories as of July of 1943 there were 28 T-34(r) as part of Army Group South and 22 as part of Army Group Center. From July 10th to July 14th of 1943, 6th Panzer Division operated 2 captured T-34 tanks. In September of 1943, "RONA" (Russian Army of Liberation) commanded by Mieczyslaw Kaminski operated some 24 captured T-34/76 tanks against Soviet partisans in Byelorussia. T-34/76's were held in high regard and also elite units such as Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" (Panzer Regiment "Grossdeutschland") used examples as late as 1945.

Primary Sources:
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-t-34r-soviet-t-34-in-german-service.htm


Good Hunting.

MR

'Other'  Uses of the T-34.

On December 30th of 1944, 29 Panzerkampfwagen T-34 747(r) were in service with Geb.Jäg.Rgt.100.

In 1942, single T-34/76 and KV-2 were used to form 66th Panzer Company for the planned Invasion of Malta.

Two T-34/76 tanks were captured by schwere Panzer Abteilung 502 on the Leningrad Front in November of 1943 and were pressed into service.

In the summer of 1944, the Germans sold three captured T-34/76 tanks to Finland.


One of the more interesting conversions based on T-34/76 (model 1943) chassis was the 2cm Flakvierling auf Fahrgestell T-34(r), an anti-aircraft tank - Flakpanzer. Also known as Flakpanzer T-34(r), it was armed with the 20mm Flakvierling 38, which was a four barreled 20mm anti-aircraft L/115 gun. The armament was mounted in a turret made by field workshop (Werkstattkompanie 653) using armor plates from damaged half-tracks. Ammunition was stored in metal cases on a rack at the rear of the vehicle. It served with headquarters of schwere Heeres Panzerjaeger Abteilung 653, on the Eastern Front in early and mid 1944. Flakpanzer T-34(r) can be compared to post-war Chinese Type 63 anti-aircraft tank based on T-34, which remained in service until late 1980s. In mid 1944, this same unit also used other T-34/76 tanks converted to ammunition carriers designated as Munitionspanzer T-34(r).Also, this unit fielded captured recovery version of T-34 tank mounted with 20mm Flakdrilling, which was twin barreled 20mm anti-aircraft gun.

Another interesting conversion was done by Kampfgruppe Kienast in Saxony in 1945 - 88mm Flak 36 gun mounted on a modified T-34/76 chassis.

In 1943, improved model operated by five men crew and armed with 85mm gun and machine gun was introduced. It was designated as T-34/85 and by the end of the war some 29,430 tanks were produced. Only a few were captured and even fewer were pressed into service, since the German Army Office wanted to examine and test this new Soviet tank. In mid 1944, 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking", during heavy fighting on the Vistula front near Warsaw, captured and pressed T-34/85's into service. The 252nd Infantry Division during their combat in East Prussia also pressed captured T-34/85 into service. It is reported that 7th Panzer Division also captured at least one T-34/85. It is unconfirmed, but reported that one T-34/85 was fitted with 88mm gun removed from a damaged Tiger and used during fighting in East Prussia.

As of 1996, T-34, mainly in it its 85mm variant, was still in service with many nations including: Afghanistan, Albania (approx. 70), Angola (approx. 58), Guinea Bissau (approx. 10), Cuba (approx. 400), Mali (approx. 18), Romania (approx. 1000), Slovenia, Hungary (approx. 5), Vietnam, Bosnia and other nations.

Primary Sources:
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-t-34r-soviet-t-34-in-german-service.htm


Good Hunting.

MR