Russian WW2 interesting stats and facts

The truth on Tigers and Panthers:

"It is suggested to the Red Army to use such German tanks as StuG III and Pz IV due to their relability and availability of spare parts. The new German Panther and Tiger can be used until they broken down without trying to repair them. They have bad engines, transmission and suspension." - Department of Weaponry of the Red Army, late 1944.

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/tiger.htm

 

There's some great pictures out there on the internet of Russians operating Panthers, read in a couple of places that they were given as a 'prize' in certain units and often German maintenance crews were kept for them. Nice pic here.
The Russian Battlefield website also has some entertainingly cynical soviet views of German tanks.
Cheers,
Adam.

 

The first leaflet is in the form of a picture postcard. The Russians printed one million copies of the card 29 August 1941. The card depicts the German leader as an ape behind bars.

His hands and mouth are bloody and he wears a Nazi armband and an iron cross. At his left is a small sign, "Gorilla ADOLF - Caution! Rabid!" Text below the cage says "This is where he belongs - This is where he will go!" Although the card is in black and white, the blood has been painted a bright red. The caricature was drawn by three Russian artists, Michail Kuprijanow, Porfirij Krylow, and Nikolaj Sokolow who published under the name "Kukryniksy."

http://www.psywarrior.com/AxisLeadersMonsters.html

 

The most notable Nashorn ace was platoon commander of 1st company of sPzJagAbt 519, Junior Lieutenant Albert Ernst. He later commanded the 1st company of sPzJagAbt 512 (equipped with Jagdtigers). On December 23rd of 1943, he destroyed some 14 Soviet tanks in a single day using only 21 round of ammunition. The engagement took place near Vitebsk and Albert Ernst received a nickname "Tiger of Vitebsk". In December of 1943, Ernst destroyed total of 19 enemy tanks and on January 22nd of 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross.

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz2.htm

 

From Merridale Ivan´s war:

More Soviet tanks were lost in 1941 through breakdown than through German fire, and overall the Soviets lost six tanks to every German one.

( no wonder really as most were obsolete by then )

 

Obsolete and lacking spare parts. One of the quirks of the Stalinist 5-year plans (Stalinist and others) was that the targets were in terms of absolute production figures of capital items - so many tanks, planes, tractos, trucks, etc. If a plant decided to build up a stock of spare parts, then they would not be producing items for the target figures.

Therefore, a number of tanks etc became immobilised because of even minor breakdowns for which simply there wouldn't be spare parts in stock.

This is one of the beauties of a planned economy, Communist style.

I remember a joke about this, that went something like: "Suppose a Soviet nail factory. If the target were in number of nails they would make only very small nails as you could get the most of these from each ton of iron. If the target were in production weight, they would make only very large nails. If the target was in production value they would make nails in gold".

 

Some pics from the Finnish side 1942-1943:

 

continue here:







Dead Red Army soldier



Captured Soviet plane

 

And a couple more:






Notice a variety of helmets in use

 

Those I-16 fighters look to be more dangerous for the pilots than the enemy. Everything on them is too short.

Great pictures though. The poor Russian already had his boots stolen.

 

Read a book by a Finn Kalle Korpi on why the Northern attack on Murmansk failed, the "reasons":

1. The attack was postponed due to Finnish attack starting after 29th June after the Soviet bombings of Finland--> no surprise attack.

2. Not enough air cover, the Soviet aeroplanes bombed the attacking troops frequently

3. the Red navy quite freely from the sea shot at the attacking troops and destroyed the supply columns

4. The roads actually " were not there " as they were in the maps.

5. The enemy defensive lines were unknown

6. The Red Army could easily move their troops with the Murmansk train line to cover the main attacks.

7. the Germans had not heavy artillery and anyway they could not have been moved ahead due to bad roads

8. Also there was a belief that success elsewhere meant that attacking in the murmansk sector was "rather unnecessary"

 

From Merridale´s "Ivan´s war"

Women veterans with medals were treated with suspicion for years after the war. When it was worn by a woman, the coveted medal " For military service " ( za boevye zaslugi ) was jokingly held to be " for sexual service " ( za polevye zaslugi ).

 

Ah, yes, under the pretty banners of Communism and all that waffle about Women's Liberation associated there remained a deep substratum of chauvinism.

 

" Send a messenger to pick up the fur gloves".

the Stavka code for the beginning of operation Uranus

 

Old propaganda posters by Finns to the Soviets. Maybe someone who speaks Russian can translate.



In this one I think it is the politruk eating all the food instead of the soldier.



Simply " Death"...



Just look at those smiling POW´s smoking...I suppose there´s also a list of "prices" what you can get when you take military equipment with you...

 

The prisoner on the left is wearing the weirdest hat I've ever seen. Looks like a Budenovka but without its normal shape. Weird!

Thanks for the posters though Kai, reminded me of something I found a while ago and will post in a sec...

 

Thanx Stefan!

And actually here´s some more:

http://www.englishrussia.com/?p=385



Mannerheim as seen by the Soviet propaganda. Rather bloody, I´d say....

 

I love the pay rates, is it any surprise soviet soldiers could be shot for carrying these leaflets?

 

Some nice pics ( postcards actually ) from a parade by Finns autumn 1941 from the Karelia area "taken back" from the USSR

 

Very nice pictures KP. On the back of the tanks, do you know what significance the short legged swastika has over the long legged ones ?

I know they are Finn emblems but I am not sure if they are called swastika's. If not correct tell me.