Captured tanks in the service of the Red Army

Despite the fact that the Red Army suffered huge losses in the first days of the Second World War and was mostly retreating, there is, albeit scant, information about the use of captured German equipment, in particular tanks, by some units of the Soviet troops. For example, various articles and publications often use the memoirs of G. Penezhko and M. Popel, which describe in great detail and even more colorfully the night attack of the 34th Tank Division, 8th Corps of the Southwestern Front, using captured vehicles.

But the memoirs are practically a work of art, but if you read the documents, you will notice that everything was not quite like that. For example, in the “Journal of Combat Operations of the 34th Tank Division” it is said: “During June 28-29, when units organized a defense division with tanks, twelve enemy tanks were destroyed. The destroyed 12 German tanks, most of them medium, are used by us to fire from the spot at enemy artillery in Verbakh and Ptichye.” This was the first successful experience of using German tanks against their masters, and even in the early days of the war. And yet, it should be noted that there is quite a bit of verified information about the use of captured German tanks by units of the Red Army in the first year of the war, 1941.

Nevertheless, according to the combat reports of 1941, the following facts are available: On July 7, 1941, during a counterattack of the 7th Mechanized Corps of the Western Front in the Kotsa area, a T-26 light tank, under the command of 2nd rank military technician Ryazanov (18th Tank Division) broke into behind enemy lines, where he fought for 24 hours. Then he broke out of the encirclement to his own, bringing out two T-26s and one captured PzKpfw III with a damaged gun. August 5, 1941 In the battles on the outskirts of Leningrad, the combined tank regiment LBTKUKS captured two tanks made by mines that were blown up by mines. On August 13, 1941, during the defense of Odessa, units of the Primorsky Army knocked out 12 tanks, three of which were subsequently repaired. In September 1941, during the Battle of Smolensk, the tank crew under the command of junior lieutenant S. Klimov, having lost their tank, moved into the captured StuG III and knocked out two tanks, an armored personnel carrier and two trucks. On October 8, the same Klimov, commanding a platoon of three StuG IIIs (the document refers to “German tanks without a turret”), “made a daring foray behind enemy lines.” At the end of 1941, in order to more organized the collection and repair of captured equipment, the Armored Directorate of the Red Army created a department for the evacuation and collection of captured equipment and issued an order “On accelerating work on the evacuation of captured and domestic armored vehicles from the battlefield.” Subsequently, due to the increase in offensive operations, the department was improved and enlarged. In 1943, a Trophy Committee was created under the State Defense Committee, headed by Marshal of the Soviet Union K. Voroshilov.

And already in the spring of 1942, German captured equipment was widely used in units of the Red Army; by that time, hundreds of fascist vehicles, tanks and self-propelled guns had been captured. Vehicles to be repaired were sent to the rear to Moscow factories. For example, only the 5th Army of the Western Front from December 1941 to April 1942 captured and sent to the rear: 411 units of equipment (medium tanks - 13, light tanks - 12, armored cars - 3, tractors - 24, armored personnel carriers - 2, self-propelled guns - 2, trucks - 196, cars - 116, motorcycles - 43. In addition, during the same period of time, units of the Red Army collected 741 units of equipment (medium tanks - 33, light tanks - 26, armored vehicles - 3, tractors - 17, armored personnel carriers - 2, self-propelled guns - 6, trucks - 462, passenger cars - 140, motorcycles - 52), and another 38 tanks (PzKpfw I - 2, PzKpfw II - 8, PzKpfw III - 19, PzKpfw IV - 1, Pz.Kpfw.38(t) - 1, StuG III artillery tanks - 7).During April-May 1942, most of this captured German equipment was taken to the rear for repairs and to study combat characteristics.

The repaired captured equipment entered the battle again, but on our side. All captured self-propelled guns and tanks had their own names: “Alexander Suvorov”, “Dmitry Donskoy”, “Alexander Nevsky”, etc. A large red star was painted on the sides, turrets and even on the roof to protect against friendly fire and air raids, but this didn't help much. For example, during the liberation of left-bank Ukraine in 1943, two Soviet StuG III batteries were used to support the 3rd Guards Tank Army. In the area of the city of Priluki, T-70 tankers noticed a StuG III self-propelled gun driving past and, despite the large red stars painted on the armor, opened fire on it from a distance of 300 meters. But they were unable to penetrate the armor of the captured self-propelled gun and were beaten by self-propelled gunners and infantrymen who were on the armor of the self-propelled gun. Self-propelled captured StuG III guns were used most actively in the Red Army; they were considered tank destroyers and in fact confirmed their combat qualities.

Also, medium German T-3 tanks were valued by Soviet tankers for their comfort, excellent optics and radio. And the T-5 Panther tanks were manned by experienced crews and were used mainly to fight tanks. It is also reliably known that German captured equipment was used to create hybrid combat vehicles. For example, SU-76I, the index “and” denotes a foreign base used for self-propelled guns based on captured captured Pz Kpfw III tanks. The SU-76I was mass-produced at machine-building plant No. 37 in Mytishchi. A total of two hundred and one self-propelled artillery units were produced, which, due to small numbers and difficulties with spare parts, very quickly disappeared from the Red Army; serial production was stopped in the fall of 1943. Currently, two copies of the SU-76I have been preserved - one in Ukraine in the city of Sarny, the second - on the open exhibition of the Museum on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow.

According to the Academy of Military Sciences, during the Second World War, the captured committee removed from the front: 24,612 tanks and self-propelled guns, which would have been enough to staff one hundred and twenty German tank divisions.

Heavy trophy

German heavy tank
Pz . Kpfw . Tiger Ausf . E left a very noticeable mark on world tank building. Although it owes its fame partly to propaganda and numerous memoirs, until the spring of 1944, the Tiger really had practically no worthy competitors on the battlefield among the tanks of the Allies in the Anti-Hitler Coalition. It is not surprising that this machine, after the capture of the first copies, was subjected to careful study in the USSR, USA and Great Britain. This article talks about how the Tigers were studied in the USSR and what conclusions were drawn from this study. The material also raises the topic of the use of these heavy tanks in the Red Army.

Present from near Leningrad

For the first time, German tanks went into battle on August 29, 1942 during the Sinyavinsk operation. These were vehicles of the 502nd heavy tank battalion. The combat debut of heavy tanks was far from the most successful. The marshy area near Mga, where the battalion operated, was by no means an ideal place for these vehicles. It is curious that not far from the debut site of the 502nd heavy tank battalion there was another heavy tank battalion with the same number. We are talking about the Soviet 502nd heavy flamethrower battalion, which was equipped with KV-8 flamethrower tanks. A few kilometers were not enough for these battalions to come together against each other.

Red Army soldiers study a captured German heavy tank. January 18, 1943

The combat debut of the newest German tanks went unnoticed by the leadership of the Red Army. For the first time, the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army (GABTU KA) learned about the German Pz.Kpfw.VI tanks in the fall of 1942, and they received this information through the British. On November 9, 1942, the British military mission to the USSR transmitted information about new models of German tanks and self-propelled guns. Among the information received was a German list of new models of armored vehicles captured by the British in North Africa. The document, dated October 7, 1942, mentioned such vehicles as VK 9.01 (Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf.G), Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.C, and also VK 16.01 (Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf.J) .

Finally, the list also included the Pz.Kpfw.VI index. The British did not know what kind of tank it was, so they asked the GABTU KA to share any available information. The only thing the British knew was that a tank with this index would be clearly heavier than the Pz.Kpfw.III and Pz.Kpfw.IV. However, the Allies did not have to search for information in Africa for long: already at the end of November 1942, the 501st heavy tank battalion arrived in Tunisia. The Americans were the first to come under fire from German heavy tanks.

Judging by the bandage lying next to him, he had problems not only with the power plant

After a far from successful debut near Mga, the activity of the 502nd Tank Battalion came to naught for some time. The battalion was brought back into battle on January 13, 1943. The day before, Operation Iskra began, the goal of which was to break the blockade of Leningrad. The battalion suffered its first combat losses on January 17: unlucky vehicles with serial numbers 250003 and 250006, one of which got stuck, and the second was hit in the turret. The transmission of the second car also failed. Both tanks were blown up.

It is worth noting that the 502nd heavy tank battalion did not consist of Tigers alone: a third of the equipment consisted of Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.L, and about the same number were Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N. In the area of Workers' Village No. 5, 4 Pz.Kpfw.IIIs from the 1st company of the battalion dug in. Their opponents were, among other things, T-60s from the 61st Tank Brigade. This brigade was fully equipped with T-60s produced by Plant No. 37. During the battles, T-70 tanks were also transferred to the brigade, but they did not take part directly in the events described. The brigade also included an armored battalion with BA-10 armored vehicles, which stormed Shlisselburg.

The camouflage is clearly visible, as well as the battalion insignia applied to the turret box - an elephant

Realizing that the situation around Workers' Village No. 5 was heating up, the battalion command on January 17 sent one Pz.Kpfw.III and two Pz.Kpfw.Tiger Ausf.E to help (the latter, however, arrived later). Having received reinforcements, the Germans decided to conduct reconnaissance in force. Early in the morning of January 18, three PzIIIs, along with the infantry, withdrew from their positions. As fate would have it, the command of the Soviet 61st Tank Brigade at the same time also had the idea of conducting reconnaissance in force. A detachment of skiers was supported by a T-60 tank under the command of Lieutenant L.I. Osatyuk. At approximately 7:30 am an unexpected meeting occurred. Of course, the light T-60 could not do anything with the German Pz.Kpfw.III, so Osatyuk ordered the driver, Sergeant Major I.M. Makarenkov:

“Vanya, dance!”

Masterfully driving the tank, Makarenkov evaded pursuit. Together with Osatyuk, they lured German tanks to the positions of an anti-tank battery. As a result, two Pz.Kpfw.IIIs were destroyed, and the third, although it escaped, was not far away. This episode was the first in a series of failures that haunted the Germans in Workers' Village No. 5. Having gotten rid of his pursuers, Osatyuk opened fire on the enemy infantry, and then a Soviet attack followed. During its course, five T-60s were shot down and one burned out. But neighboring brigades supported the offensive, and the Germans were forced to expose their defense line and were defeated. Workers' village No. 5 was taken by 12:00 on January 18.

Apparently, they tried to tow the tank, but the rapid advance of the Red Army did not allow evacuation

The abandoned Pz.Kpfw ended up in the hands of the Red Army. Tiger Ausf.E with turret number 121 and serial number 250004. According to German data, its engine broke down and its radiator failed. Judging by the Soviet description, the German information is close to the truth. At the time of the capture, the tank was under repair.

And this was not the end in a series of troubles for the 502nd Tank Battalion. Not knowing that Workers' Village No. 5 had been captured, a command tank with turret number 100 and serial number 250009 advanced towards it. A little before reaching the village, the tank turned off the road and ended up in a peat mine. The crew left the car and walked towards the village. Realizing that those ahead were not Germans at all, the tank crew retreated. So the Red Army acquired two Tigers, one of which the Germans broke, and the second they lost completely unharmed. Along with the tanks, the Red Army soldiers also received documents, including brief instructions and a waybill.

Terrible opponent

The result of Operation Iskra was a breakthrough of the German defense. The success was relatively modest, but it made it possible to supply the besieged city not only along the Road of Life, but also by land. Already on February 7, the first echelon arrived in Leningrad. The successes of the Red Army most directly affected the fate of captured German tanks. Thanks to a corridor broken through the German defenses, they were able to be transported to the “Mainland”. The study of tanks, however, began almost immediately after the capture. By the end of January, a brief technical description had been prepared. At the same time, documents captured along with the tanks were translated. Due to the rush and lack of accurate data, the description was far from ideal. For example, the combat weight of the tank was indicated in the region of 75–80 tons, which is significantly more than the real one. The estimate of the thickness of the armor also turned out to be incorrect.

"Tiger"

with tower number 121 at the NIBT Test Site, April 1943

Initially, in the correspondence, the captured tanks appeared as “captured tanks of the HENSCHEL type,” later they began to be called T-VI. It is worth noting that at least two more such tanks ended up in the hands of units of the Leningrad Front. In addition to the car with tower number 100, two more are indicated in the correspondence. One of them was captured completely burned, and the second was damaged and partially burned. This tank served as a “donor” for the repair of tank No. 100, and pieces of armor were also cut out of it for testing. The vehicle with turret number 100 was sent to the NIBT Test Site in Kubinka, but this happened later. The tank with turret number 121 was the first to be sent to Kubinka.

She is in the view on the right, the winter camouflage has been washed away

The arriving tanks aroused great interest. By that time, the Tigers were very actively used by the Germans both on the Soviet-German front and in North Africa. For the first time, these vehicles were used on a truly massive scale during the battle for Kharkov, making a significant contribution to the defeat of the Red Army on this section of the front. Around the same time, the Tigers fought in Tunisia against American and British troops, inflicting serious losses on them. It is worth noting that the British quickly supplied the Soviet side with information about the new German tank. In particular, on April 5, 1943, the Soviet side received a report about the shelling of a “German MK VI tank” by a 6-pound anti-tank gun. The shelling took place at the end of March. At a distance of 300 yards (274.3 meters), out of 10 shells fired at the frontal plate of the hull, 5 pierced it through.

The tower number became clearly legible only after washing off the camouflage

By April 1943, tanks with turret numbers 100 and 121 were already at the NIBT Test Site. It was decided to test one vehicle by shelling, and the second - to use it to test the armor of Soviet tanks by shelling. The tank with turret number 100 was lucky to be preserved in good condition. As for the tank with turret number 121, it was dismantled and prepared for shelling tests by April 25th.

The badge of the 502nd heavy tank battalion is visible on the front plate of the hull.

Tests were carried out from April 25 to April 30, 1943. In total, 13 artillery systems, 5 anti-tank rifles, a KB-30 anti-tank grenade, 2 types of anti-tank mines, as well as a 37-mm aircraft gun mounted on the LAGG-3 took part in the shelling. It is worth immediately noting that of all these guns, three (107 mm M-60 cannon, 122 mm M-30 howitzer and 152 mm ML-20 howitzer gun) did not hit the target, despite the fact that the weather was clear .

Results from shelling from a 45 mm cannon. A sub-caliber projectile managed to penetrate the side at a distance of 200 meters

The T-70 tank was the first to open fire on the Tiger. It was obvious that it was useless to shoot at the 80 mm thick side armor with its usual armor-piercing projectile, so the fire was carried out with sub-caliber projectiles. Of the two hits from a distance of 200 meters, one resulted in penetration. Also, from a distance of 350 meters, the lower side sheet 60 mm thick was pierced. The 45-mm anti-tank gun model 1942 showed similar results. Its armor-piercing projectile did not penetrate the side of the German tank even from a distance of 100 meters, but it was possible to penetrate the upper side plate with a sub-caliber projectile from 350 meters.

For the ZIS-2 and the 6-pounder anti-tank gun, the sides of the German heavy tank were not too serious an obstacle

Next, 57 mm guns opened fire on the German tank. Both the Soviet ZIS-2 anti-tank gun and the British 6-pounder anti-tank gun showed similar results. The Tiger board made its way at a distance of 800–1000 meters. As for firing at the front of the tank, the ZIS-2 was unable to penetrate it at a distance of 500 meters. At closer distances, shelling was not carried out, but in general, at distances of about 300 meters, the German heavy tank was probably already hit by it, as evidenced by the data received from the British. It is worth noting that the British anti-tank gun had a shorter barrel length. Penetration characteristics similar to those of the Soviet cannon were ensured thanks to higher quality projectiles.

Results of firing from the American 75-mm M3 tank gun

The American 75-mm M3 tank gun installed in the M4A2 medium tank performed quite well. When firing from it, two types of anti-tank shells were tested - M61 and M72. In the case of the M61, penetration of the hull side occurred at a distance of 400 meters, and in the case of the M72 - at a distance of 650 meters. As with the 6-pounder anti-tank gun, the high quality of the shells was noted. There was no fire on the front plate of the hull: most likely, the testers guessed that this would not end well.

The armor of the German heavy tank was too tough for the F-34, the main Soviet tank gun.

The test of firing at a German heavy tank from a 76-mm F-34 tank gun turned out to be a real fiasco. Not a single hit ended in penetration, even when fired from a distance of 200 meters. This applied to armor-piercing, experienced sub-caliber, and experienced cumulative shells. In the case of the armor-piercing projectile, the poor quality of its manufacture was noted. But during the period described, it was the main Soviet tank gun!

Another 76 mm caliber gun, the 3-K anti-aircraft gun, proved to be more successful. The difference, however, turned out to be not so great: the 3-K projectile was unable to penetrate the side of the tower at a distance of 500 meters. In other words, the 3-K turned out to have a penetration level approximately equal to the American 75-mm M3 tank gun with the M61 shell.

The 85-mm 52-K anti-aircraft gun showed the best penetration data among medium-caliber guns. It is not surprising that it was chosen as a priority for arming heavy tanks and medium self-propelled guns.

The 3-K, however, was far from the most powerful weapon in the Red Army's arsenal. In addition, it was discontinued in 1940. The replacement was the 85-mm 52-K anti-aircraft gun. Since 1940, it was considered as the basis for a promising tank gun, but for a number of reasons the matter did not progress beyond the production of prototypes. At the same time, these anti-aircraft guns were very actively used as an anti-tank weapon. Tests showed that the leadership of the Main Artillery Directorate (GAU) and the Main Armored Directorate (GBTU) did the right thing in considering the 52-K as a promising tank gun. Its shell penetrated the frontal armor of the Tiger at a distance of a kilometer, and the sides penetrated at distances of about one and a half kilometers.

"Tiger" after shelling by an A-19 gun

The 122-mm A-19 hull gun showed even more effective results. Unlike the 52-K, it had not previously been considered as a tank weapon. A gun with the ballistics of the 107-mm M-60 hull gun claimed a similar role, but, as mentioned above, it didn’t even make it into the Tiger. As for the A-19, it hit, and how it hit! The first shell passed through a hole in the front hull plate and pierced through the rear plate. The second shell hit the front plate of the turret, tearing off a piece measuring 58x23 cm. At the same time, the turret was torn off its shoulder strap and moved half a meter. After the shelling from the A-19, the Tiger, which was already not looking its best based on the results of previous shelling, turned into a pile of scrap metal.

Same thing in front

The tests did not end with shelling. The new German tank not only had thick armor, but also a powerful 88 mm gun. In parallel with the testing of the Tiger with tail number 121, its brother with tail number 100 fired at Soviet tanks. T-34 and KV-1 were used as targets.

KV-1 after firing from an 88-mm KwK 36 L/56 cannon

The test results turned out to be quite predictable. Even additional armor on the frontal part of the hull did not help the KV-1. At a distance of one and a half kilometers, the first shell partially tore off the screen, and the second pierced both the screen and the main sheet. Thus, the idea of making the KV-1 lighter turned out to be correct: at least the vehicle, which was vulnerable to a German heavy tank, received better mobility. For 8.8 cm KwK 36, both KV-1 and KV-1s were approximately equivalent targets.

The T-34 looked even more heartbreaking after being fired by a “tiger” cannon

The results of the shelling of the T-34, which was also conducted at a distance of one and a half kilometers, looked even more sad. The first shell that hit the turret tore it off its shoulder strap; further hits partially destroyed the frontal plate of the hull. For comparison, the same tanks were fired upon by a 52-K 85-mm anti-aircraft gun. When fired at a distance of 1.5 kilometers, penetration was comparable to that of a German gun. This should not be surprising, since German and Soviet guns were “relatives”. The 76-mm 3-K gun, on the basis of which the 52-K was developed, was created on the basis of an anti-aircraft gun, which also served as the basis for the German Flak 18.

After the tests were completed, both German tanks took a place at the exhibition of captured equipment in the Park of Culture and Leisure named after. Gorky in Moscow. There they were exhibited until 1948, when they were scrapped. As for the conclusions drawn from the tests, they followed immediately. It became clear that the 76 mm tank guns were no longer suitable for the conditions of the war, and an urgent replacement was required. On May 5, 1943, GKO Resolution No. 3289 “On strengthening the artillery armament of tanks and self-propelled guns” was signed. It became the starting point for the development of tank and self-propelled guns of 85 mm caliber.

It should be noted, however, that the GAU KA initiated work on this topic even earlier: as of April 28, 1943, the design bureau (KB) of plant No. 9 had already received the technical specifications. Work on this topic was also launched at the Central Artillery Design Bureau (TsAKB). In addition, at that time work was already in full swing to develop a self-propelled gun based on the SU-152 using the swinging part of the 122-mm A-19 gun. This idea was first voiced back in March 1943 after studying the captured German self-propelled gun Pz.Sfl.V. Finally, in May 1943, the design bureau of plant No. 9 received the task of developing a tank version of the A-19 gun.

And the appearance of the Tiger only accelerated all this work.

A diagram of the fight against the “Tiger” drawn up based on the results of the shelling. The tank is easily recognizable as a “Tiger” with turret number 121

Another result of the tests was the acceleration of work on the ZIS-2 anti-tank gun. Contrary to the widespread version, that gun was not completely abandoned, it was decided only to remake it. Another thing is that these works proceeded at a leisurely pace. The situation that arose after meeting the “Tigers” forced us to sharply speed up the work, and at the same time change plans. Instead of the IS-1 gun with a slightly shortened barrel and altered frames, it was necessary to make another gun, essentially placing the ZIS-2 barrel on the carriage and swinging part of the 76-mm ZIS-3 divisional gun. In addition, the project for the 57-mm ZIS-4 tank gun was revived. In addition to it, the TsAKB began work on the 76-mm S-54 tank gun, which also existed in a self-propelled version.

In a word, GBTU and State Agrarian University did not sit idle. Already in August 1943, the SU-85 self-propelled guns went into production, and at the same time production of the KV-85 began. Even earlier, in July 1943, serial production of the 57-mm anti-tank gun ZIS-2 model 1943 began.

"Tigers" in the Red Army

Despite the fact that the first Tigers were captured back in January 1943, their use in the Red Army was sporadic. There were several reasons for this. Firstly, the Germans rarely abandoned these tanks in a condition more or less suitable for further use, trying to blow up vehicles that were impossible to evacuate or repair on site. Secondly, do not forget that there were not so many “Tigers”. In addition, Soviet tank crews sought not to damage, but rather to destroy, a German heavy tank, which practically guaranteed a high reward. Taking all this into account, it should not be surprising that the first reliable case of using a captured Tiger in battle was recorded only at the very end of 1943.

Accounting for captured tanks, late 1944 – early 1945

The first to reliably use the Tiger in battle was the crew under the command of Guard Lieutenant N.I. Revyakin from the 28th Guards Tank Brigade. On December 27, 1943, one of the Tigers of the 501st Tank Battalion got stuck in a crater, its crew escaped, and the tank itself became a trophy. The next day the tank was assigned to the 28th Brigade. Revyakin was appointed commander of a captured heavy tank for the reason that he already had extensive combat experience and military awards - two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st degree and the Order of the Red Star. On January 5, a captured tank with red stars painted on the sides of the turret and the proper name “Tiger” went into battle. The operation of this vehicle looked quite typical for German heavy tanks: this vehicle almost always required repairs. The matter was greatly complicated by the lack of spare parts. Later, another Tiger was included in the 28th Guards Tank Brigade.

One can also recall the episode of the use of the Tiger on January 17, 1944. The T-34 crew under the command of Lieutenant A.S. Mnatsakanov from the 220th Tank Brigade managed to capture a serviceable Tiger during the battle. Using a captured tank, Mnatsakanov’s crew defeated the enemy column. For this battle, Mnatsakanov became a Hero of the Soviet Union.

A tractor based on the KV-1 is towing a captured Tiger.

The situation changed by the spring of 1944. During this period, several operations took place, as a result of which the Tigers were captured by the Red Army, as they say, in commercial quantities. For example, on March 6, 1944, the 61st Guards Tank Brigade captured 2 Tigers at the Volochisk station, and on March 23, as many as 13 Tigers and Panthers captured in Gusyatin ended up in their hands. On the 25th, another 1 Tiger was captured. The most interesting thing is that the brigade took advantage of these trophies: as of April 7, 1944, it included 3 Tigers. True, they fought on them for only a couple of days. Most likely, the trophies of the 61st brigade were the Tigers of the 503rd heavy tank battalion, which is known for the fact that during the battles of late 1943 - early 1944 it irretrievably lost only one Tiger.

State of the equipment of 51 OMTS on July 5, 1944. The Tigers were most widely used in this part

The story continued: the Tigers went for repairs. Where exactly is unknown, but in the correspondence of the GBTU KA for the spring of 1944 there is a complaint that there are not enough sights and other optics to repair captured German heavy tanks. One way or another, it follows that these tanks were sent for repairs. It is also known that some of them went to the troops.

So far, it has been possible to reliably identify only one military unit that received captured Tigers that underwent repairs. It turned out to be the 51st separate motorcycle regiment. Typically, a Soviet motorcycle regiment included 10 T-34s, but the 51st OMTS turned out to be special. It included a company of captured heavy tanks, which included 5 Tigers and 2 Panthers. All of them were refurbished, received from factories. By the beginning of the Lvov-Sandomierz operation, the number of “Tigers” was reduced to 4. Periodically, in the documents of the regiment, 1-2 vehicles of this type were indicated as requiring repairs.

Vadim Antonov

Former command "Tiger"

German heavy tank Pz. Kpfw. VI Ausf. E "Tiger I" from the exhibition of the Patriot Park

WWII
tanks
Germany
museums

On July 21, 1944, a battle took place, during which the OMCP lost 6 T-34–85. Return fire destroyed 2 enemy Tigers, 3 self-propelled guns and 2 armored personnel carriers. It is possible that the enemy tanks were knocked out by the fire of the captured Tigers. In total, during the period from July 20 to July 22, 1944, the regiment destroyed 7 Tigers with the loss of 7 T-34–85. Next, the 51st OMTS received reinforcements: as of July 28, it included 9 T-34–85 and 4 Tigers. Of the latter, 3 required moderate repairs, but remained on the move. By August 19, 3 Tigers were still in the regiment in the same condition. Next, the regiment was transferred to the NKVD for actions against OUN detachments, while the tanks were removed from its composition.

In total, we can talk about no less than 10 captured “Tigers” that operated at different times in various Soviet units.

Sources:

Materials from TsAMO RF
Archive of Gennady Malyshev
Materials of RGAKFD
Electronic catalog “Feat of the People”
Electronic catalog “Memory of the People”

Tanks

During the war, captured Wehrmacht armored vehicles were used to a limited extent for combat purposes by the armies of its opponents, especially the Red Army. Back in December 1941, a Department for the evacuation and collection of trophies was created as part of the Armored Directorate of the Red Army. And in February 1943, special captured brigades began to be created to collect and remove any captured property. They were subordinate to the Trophy Committee of the GKO, formed in April 1943, headed by Marshal Voroshilov. In total, during the war and after it, captured brigades collected more than 24 thousand German tanks and assault guns.

Some German tanks and armored vehicles were delivered to the Soviet troops in good condition or could be used after minor repairs. However, their combat use was limited. This was due to the lack of our own repair base for enemy equipment and the lack of ammunition of the required caliber.

Towards the end of the war, most of the captured equipment were new modifications. They were very difficult to operate for Soviet crews unprepared for them. The combat use of captured Tiger and Panther tanks was sporadic and, as a rule, very short in time after their capture. Nevertheless, such cases did occur.

At the end of the war, Germany produced only Tiger, Royal Tiger and Panther tanks. Their production was limited. Thus, less than five hundred “Royal Tigers” were produced, and a little more than one and a half thousand “Tigers”. Almost all of them were knocked out in the winter of 1944/45 in the Ardennes and in March 1945 during the German offensive at Lake Balaton. A lot of German equipment was destroyed during street fighting in Berlin and Königsberg.

However, at the end of the war, the Red Army had at its disposal a number of captured German tanks, especially Panthers, of which the Germans produced more than 5,000. In June 1945, the Soviet troops had 307 Panthers, but only 111 of them were serviceable. A month later, after sorting and rejecting some of the vehicles, 63 Panthers remained on the move, and another 83 required repairs.

After the war, German trophies were not in service with the Soviet Army. They were used mainly as targets in firing training and testing, and less often as tractors and training vehicles. As they wore out, they were not repaired, but were written off and melted down. By the end of 1946, there were no captured German armored vehicles left in the Soviet Army.

In countries allies of the USSR in the Eastern Bloc, the life of German tanks turned out to be longer. Thus, 167 German tanks (including 65 Panthers) entered service with the Czechoslovak army. Since tank factories of the former Reich were located in Czechoslovakia, these tanks were in service there until 1955. 15 Panthers until the early 50s. was available in the Bulgarian army. The turrets were removed from the tanks that were decommissioned after this and installed as pillboxes along the border with Turkey. In Romania until the end of the 40s. 13 Panthers were used.

More than fifty captured Panthers were in service with France until 1950. Single copies of most models of German armored vehicles are available in many museums around the world, including in Kubinka near Moscow.

The first trophy "Tiger"

Alexander Protasov, Ph.D.

The history of the appearance of the German heavy tank T-VI H "Tiger" in the Red Army as a trophy is little known and interesting. This tank was hit by Soviet artillerymen in a battle near Leningrad, between workers' settlements No. 5 and 6, in January 1943 and remained in no man's land. The command was informed about the unusual-looking vehicle and the persistent desire of the Germans to evacuate it to their rear. Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov, who at that time was coordinating the military operations of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts to break the blockade of Leningrad, became interested in this message. He ordered the immediate creation of a special group to seize the damaged tank and deliver it to the location of our troops for a thorough examination.

The group led by senior lieutenant A.I. Kosyrev, tank repairmen, sappers and machine gunners entered. On the night of January 17, despite the continuous artillery shelling of the destroyed tank by the enemy and the inevitable losses, she examined the tank. Inside the case, on the transmission, they found a landmine with a detonator, which was disarmed in a timely manner. It was he who was the reason for the continuous shelling of the tank by the enemy, who sought to cause the detonation of a landmine and destroy the secret vehicle. The nature of the damage that led to the loss of mobility was also revealed: an armor-piercing projectile (blank) hit the fourth roller on the left side, got stuck in it and jammed the propeller. Towing the damaged vehicle was only possible by dragging it with the help of several heavy tanks - four KV-1s were required.

At the location of the Soviet troops, repairmen freed the track roller from the projectile stuck in it, and the tank was able to move independently: its engine and transmission were in good working order. From the vehicle's registration form it was clear that this was the T-VI N "Tiger" heavy tank, number one. Thus, rather unsuccessfully, his military trials ended... After familiarizing himself with the technical features of the Tiger, G.K. Zhukov ordered it to be sent to a testing ground near Moscow so that Soviet tank crews, artillerymen and tank builders could study the German new product in detail and take appropriate measures.

T-VI N "Tiger" was developed and manufactured by the German engineering company in Kassel under the leadership of chief designer E. Aders in the summer of 1942 on a competitive basis. The competing project was developed by the mechanical engineering department under the leadership of prof. F. Porsche lost because of the electric transmission, which required a lot of scarce copper for manufacturing.

E. Aders's tank had a layout typical of German tank building of that time, which included a front control compartment combined with a transmission compartment, a fighting compartment in the middle of the vehicle, and a rear engine compartment. At the same time, a good overview of the road and terrain in front of the vehicle was provided, the overall length of the hull and the extension of the gun barrel beyond its frontal part were smaller compared to other schemes, but the overall height of the vehicle was greater, and the drive wheels located at the front were more vulnerable to shelling from the frontal part.

The tank's hull had a box-shaped cross-section with vertical sides, the upper part of which was located above the tracks. On the roof of the hull, on a ball support, a cylindrical turret with a fixed commander's turret was installed, providing all-round visibility. The embrasure located in the front part was covered with an armored mask. The tower rotated using hydraulic and mechanical drives.

In position

The crew boarded the tank through hatches located in the front part of the hull roof and on the turret roof. There was an emergency hatch at the bottom. Special visors protected the viewing devices from dirt and snow when the tank was moving. To tow it, there were towing loops in the front and rear parts of the hull.

The armor protected the crew, internal components of the tank and ammunition from damage by armor-piercing medium-caliber artillery shells at a distance of 500 m or more. It was made from rolled sheets of homogeneous chromium-nickel-molybdenum steel of medium hardness, which were joined by electric welding into a tenon. The thickness of the front plates of the hull and turret was 100 mm, the side plates were 62 and 82 mm, the rear plates were 82 mm, and the roof and bottom were 28 mm. It should be noted that the front and rear hull sheets were located at angles of 9–22° to the vertical plane, which further increased their protective properties.

The armament consisted of an 88-mm KwK-36L/56 tank gun mounted in the turret mantlet and two 7.92-mm MG 34 machine guns. One of them was coaxial with the gun, and the other was mounted in a ball joint in the upper frontal plate of the hull. The semi-automatic gun had a barrel length of 56 calibers, a muzzle brake, a system for purging the barrel with compressed air after firing, a hydromechanical lifting mechanism and an electric trigger. Its armor-piercing tracer projectile had a mass of 10.2 kg and an initial speed of 820 m/s. From a distance of 1,000 m, it penetrated tank armor 115 mm thick. Pointing the gun at the target, aiming, monitoring the results of shooting and adjustments were carried out using a telescopic sight. The tank's ammunition load was large: 92 unitary artillery rounds and 5,700 machine gun rounds.

Visibility in a combat situation was provided by three viewing slits with protective glass in the upper frontal plate of the hull and on the sides of the turret, as well as ten periscope observation devices installed in the hatches of the hull roof, turret and commander's cupola. The non-visible space was: the driver's viewing slot - 6 m, the turret's viewing slots - 11 m, the periscopic instruments of the hull roof hatches - 9 m and the commander's cupola - 16 m. The tank receiving and transmitting telephone and telegraph VHF radio station 10WSc/4kWEc provided communication on the go in telephone mode over a distance of 2 - 3 km. For internal communications there was an intercom for five subscribers.

A 12-cylinder V-shaped carburetor liquid-cooled Maybach HL210P45 engine with a rated power of 478 kW (650 hp) at 3,200 rpm was installed in the engine compartment, allowing the tank to move at a good maximum speed of 44 km/h . This engine was developed already during wartime, in 1942. It was an overhead valve engine, with a displacement of 21.4 liters, a compression ratio of 7.5 and a camber angle between the cylinders of 60°. It was located longitudinally, with the flywheel towards the frontal part.

The engine had a tunnel crankcase, a crankshaft with disk cheeks, which were also main journals, cylindrical roller bearings of the crankshaft, and I-section fork connecting rods. The power system included four Solex drop-flow carburetors. Starting was carried out with an electric starter with a power of 4.0 kW (5.4 hp) or manually with an inertia starter. To make starting easier, a blowtorch was used as a preheater and a hand pump to pump the coolant.

The engine had a relatively small weight and dimensions - 1,000 kg (dry weight) and 1,205x892x900 mm. 250 of these engines were installed on these tanks. Later, more powerful but less forced (with a displacement of 23.04 liters and a compression ratio of 6.8) Maybach HL 230P30 engines were used, developing 515 kW (700 hp) at 3,200 min-1, requiring OZ-74 gasoline. They were also installed on the heavy tanks TV “Panther” and T-VIB “Royal Tiger”.

The mechanical transmission consisted of a cardan drive, a 9-disc main clutch operating in oil, an 8-speed shaftless gearbox with a synchronizing device, planetary turning mechanisms with double power supply and planetary single-stage final drives.

A cardan transmission connected the engine to the main clutch. It passed under the fighting compartment of the hull and consisted of two driveshafts and an intermediate support. The main clutch control drive had a pneumatic servo booster, which ensured its smooth activation. The gearbox was mounted in the same crankcase with the main clutch and had a semi-automatic hydraulic control drive. The turning mechanism provided two fixed turning radii in each gear and turning in place with a calculated minimum radius equal to half the vehicle's track width (1.47 m).

The tank's propulsion system consisted of a small-link caterpillar chain with an open hinge, eight large-diameter road wheels arranged in a staggered pattern, a guide wheel with a tension mechanism, and a front drive wheel with two removable ring gears. The track chain consisted of 97 tracks with developed lugs and had a significant width of 725 mm. The track rollers are double, rubber-coated. Their staggered arrangement reduced the load on the ground, but at the same time the design of the propulsion unit, its operation and repair in the field became more complicated.

The roller suspension is independent torsion bar, with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers installed on the front and rear units, and rubber travel limiters of the balancers. It allowed the tank to move at a fairly high average speed on highways and terrain, which was 35 and 15 - 20 km/h, respectively.

The electrical equipment is made according to a single-wire circuit, with a voltage of 12 V (in the starter power supply network 24 V) and with a minus at ground. The sources of electricity were a DC generator with a power of 1,300 W and two starter 12-volt batteries with a capacity of 150 Ah, connected in parallel and in series. There was heating of the batteries with two electric coils with a power of 100 and 300 W. The latter was used to quickly heat batteries from an external power source.

The tank had good cross-country ability: it could overcome a slope of up to 35° on dry hard ground, a ditch 2.7 m wide, a scarp with a wall height of 0.8 m and a ford with hard ground up to 4.0 m deep (with underwater driving equipment) . The average specific pressure on the ground was high - 0.103 MPa (1.03 kgf/cm2), which did not always allow movement on snow, sand, mud, etc. The ground clearance was 525 mm. The fuel range on the highway is small - 160 km.

The "Tiger" had impressive weight and dimensions - 56 tons of combat weight and 8,420x3,600x2,940 mm. It should be noted that the overall width of the vehicles created inconvenience when transporting them by rail. The external road wheels were removed, and the tracks were replaced with narrower, “transport” ones.

Late release tiger

The tank's crew consisted of five people: commander, gunner, loader, radio operator and driver. The radio operator performed the duties of a machine gunner. The commander, gunner and loader were in the fighting compartment (in the turret), and the radio operator and driver were in the control compartment.

For its time, the tank had strong armor protection and powerful weapons. Based on the Tiger, a command tank, a repair and recovery vehicle, and a heavy self-propelled artillery unit (SPG) with a 380-mm mortar were created.

The Tiger was in mass production from 1942 to 1944. During this time, 1,350 vehicles were produced, of which 80 in 1942, 650 in 1943, and 620 in 1944.

Knowledge of the design features of the "Tiger" made it possible to develop the tactical basis for combating it, to create new armor-piercing shells (sub-caliber and cumulative), to promptly begin production of heavy self-propelled guns SU-152, which turned out to be an unpleasant surprise for German tankers, and pushed the development of new, more powerful guns for medium and heavy tanks.

Booking scheme

In the summer of 1943, near Kursk, the German command for the first time used these tanks in large numbers for a large-scale offensive (133 on the southern front and 45 on the northern front of the Soviet defense bulge). But hopes for the massive use of heavy tanks and self-propelled guns (472 out of a total of 2,700 units) did not materialize. As a result of fierce fighting, the advancing troops were ground down and bled dry. They had to go on the defensive. The basis for the successful actions of the Red Army on the Kursk Bulge was, to a large extent, the knowledge of the vulnerabilities of heavy German tanks, which the captured Tiger “told about.”

Heavy tank “Tiger”: 1 – mortars for firing smoke grenades; 2 – box with the butt and bipod of a coaxial machine gun; 3 – binocular sight; 4 – side hatch; 5 – fan; 6 – fuse block; 7 – antenna; 8 – commander’s seat; 9 – hatch for firing from personal weapons; 10 – commander’s turret rotation flywheel; 11 – gun guard; 12 – turret rotation mechanism; 13 – laying machine gun belts; 14 – fuel tank; 15 – gunner’s seat; 16 – hydraulic motor for turning the tower; 17 – turret rotation control mechanism; 18 – shock absorber; 19 – clutch pedal; 20 – brake pedal; 21 – driver’s seat; 22 – rotation mechanism; 23 – disc brake; 24 – radio station

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The use of captured German tanks by units of the Red Army began in the first days of the Great Patriotic War. Many publications often mention the episode of the use of captured tanks by units of the 34th Panzer Division of the 8th Mechanized Corps of the Southwestern Front for a night attack on German units. Usually, the authors refer to the memoirs of N. Popel (“In Hard Times”) and G. Penezhko (“Notes of a Soviet Officer”), which very colorfully describe the night attack of captured tanks. However, judging by the documents, everything was a little different.

The “Journal of Combat Operations of the 34th Tank Division” states: “During June 28-29, units of the division organized a defense with the presence of tanks, destroying 12 enemy tanks. The destroyed 12 enemy tanks, most of them medium, are used by us to fire from the spot at enemy artillery in Verbakh and Ptichye.”

Generally speaking, information about the use of captured tanks by units of the Red Army during 1941 is quite scarce, because the battlefield remained with the enemy. Nevertheless, it is not without interest to provide some facts about the use of captured equipment.

Tanks Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1 and Pz.Kpfw.38(t) from the 22nd tank division of the Wehrmacht at the repair base of the Red Army. One of the tanks has already received Soviet identification marks in the form of a star and the tactical number “66”, obtained by painting over one digit of the three-digit German tactical designation. Crimean Front, 79th training separate tank battalion, April 1942.

One of the captured tanks of the 22nd Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht at the repair base of the Red Army

During the counterattack of the 7th Mechanized Corps of the Western Front on July 7, 1941, military technician 2nd rank Ryazanov (18th Tank Division) in the Kotsa area broke through with his T-26 tank behind enemy lines, where he fought for 24 hours. Then he returned to his own forces, removing two T-26s and one captured PzKpfw III with a damaged gun from the encirclement.

In the battle on August 5, 1941, on the outskirts of Leningrad, the combined tank regiment LBTKUKS (Leningrad Armored Command Improvement Courses) captured 2 tanks that were blown up by mines. After repairs, they were used in battle for a short time by units of the Red Army.

Captured German tank PzKpfw III commander N.I. Barysheva. The vehicle is painted in protective color (4 BP) and has additional identification marks in the form of a “Hammer and Sickle” on the frontal armor in the tank’s turret. A separate battalion of captured tanks. Leningrad Front, summer 1942

During the defense of Odessa, units of the Primorsky Army also captured several tanks. So, on August 13, 1941, “during the battle, 12 enemy tanks were knocked out, three of them were withdrawn to the rear for repairs.” A few days later, on August 15, units of the 25th Infantry Division captured “three serviceable tankettes (we are apparently talking about light Romanian R-1 tanks) and one armored car.” True, there is no documentary information about the use of this equipment in the defense of Odessa.

Along with tanks, captured German self-propelled guns were also used in the first months of the war. Thus, during the defense of Kyiv in August 1941, the Red Army captured two serviceable StuG IIIs. One of them was sent for testing to Moscow, and the second, after being shown to the residents of the city, was equipped with a Soviet crew and sent to the front line.

Captured StuG III. On the frontal armor there is an inscription: “Death to the German occupiers”

The fairly widespread use of captured equipment in the Red Army began in the spring of 1942, when, after the end of the Battle of Moscow, hundreds of German vehicles, tanks and self-propelled guns were captured. An interesting testimony about the collection of trophies was left by the American journalist Larry Leather, who in mid-December 1941 visited the troops of the 20th Army of General A. Vlasov advancing near Moscow: “A few more miles through the winter forest - and we are in a small village with the unusual name Pogoreloe Gorodishche. It is surprising that despite its name, it managed to be one of the few to survive under the Germans. We arrived in the midst of collecting trophies. The Red Army soldiers ransacked courtyards, barns and attics; the rifles and machine guns they found were taken to the village square and stacked in stacks. The Germans left the village just a few hours ago. Some Red Army soldier, beaming with happiness, rode through the snow on a captured motorcycle. When I asked why his motorcycle was roaring so wildly, he joyfully responded: “The Germans have all their equipment like that. They think they will intimidate us with this.”

Off to the side, three Red Army soldiers were dismantling the engine of a huge German transporter. They worked with amazing dexterity, despite the cold. As I watched them, I could hear them swearing as the wrench came off the frozen bolt. I expected to see good-natured and patient peasants mechanically carrying out the assigned task. However, these people reminded me of the repairmen in American auto repair shops - they were just as impetuous and unrestrained in their tongues, they vilified their thankless job with all their might. It was clear that they were suffering from the cold no less than the Germans, who were hastily retreating just a few miles away. I thought: these are the people who make up the backbone of the Red Army - strong, muscular guys, they love their commander, are ready to rush into battle at his first word and respect specialists who know a lot about technology. German technology aroused their boundless curiosity. They dug into the insides of German tanks and transporters like treasure hunters.”

Some of the captured vehicles that needed to be repaired were evacuated to Moscow factories. For example, only the 5th Army of the Western Front from December 1941 to April 10, 1942 sent 411 units of captured equipment to the rear for repair (medium tanks - 13, light tanks - 12, armored cars - 3, tractors - 24, armored personnel carriers - 2, Self-propelled guns - 2, trucks - 196, cars - 116, motorcycles - 43. In addition, during the same period, army units collected 741 units of captured equipment (medium tanks - 33, light tanks - 26) at SPAMs (assembly points for emergency vehicles) , armored vehicles - 3, tractors - 17, armored personnel carriers - 2, self-propelled guns - 6, trucks - 462, passenger cars - 140, motorcycles - 52), and another 38 tanks (PzKpfw I - 2, PzKpfw II - 8, PzKpfw III - 19, PzKpfw IV - 1, Pz.Kpfw.38(t) - 1, artillery tanks (as StuG III assault guns were often called in Soviet documents of the first year of the war) - 7) were registered at the sites of past battles. In April-May 1942, most of this equipment was taken to the rear.

For a more organized collection of trophies, at the end of 1941, a department for the evacuation and collection of trophies was created in the Armored Directorate of the Red Army, and on March 23, 1942, an order was issued “On accelerating work on the evacuation of captured and domestic armored vehicles from the battlefield.”

Soldiers of the Red Army go into battle on a captured PzKpfw III tank, which previously belonged to the 18th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht. Bryansk Front, September 1941

Soldiers of the Red Army go into battle on captured PzKpfw III tanks. Western Front, September 1941

The picture clearly shows the emblem of the 18th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht and the regimental insignia of the 18th Tank Regiment painted on the turret of the PzKpfw IV tank. Western Front, September 1941

Soviet tank repairmen inspect a PzKpfw III tank captured in full service, Western Front, September 1941.

Captured German armored car SdKfz 261 in service with the Red Army, Western Front, August 1941. The vehicle was repainted in the standard Soviet camouflage color 4 BO.

StuG III, captured near Kyiv, August 1941.

Red Army soldiers near a captured Romanian R-1 tank. Odessa area, September 1941.

Red Army soldiers inspect a captured self-propelled gun sIG33(Sf) auf PzKpfw I Ausf B, Western Front, December 1941.

Trophies in the Red Army

Captured SdKfz 10/5 self-propelled gun based on a 3-ton half-track tractor. North Caucasus Front, August 1942.

French-made armored transporter Renault UE (number WH 4223536), abandoned by the Wehrmacht in Pyatigorsk. Northern Caucasus, December 1942.

Pzkpfw IV, III tanks captured by Soviet troops. Northern Caucasus, Mozdok region, November 1942.

Armored personnel carrier SdKfz 250/1, abandoned by the Wehrmacht in the Nalchik area. Northern Caucasus, November 1942.

German PzKpfw III tank of the 13th Panzer Division abandoned southeast of Nalchik, North Caucasus, January 1943.

Light tank of Czechoslavak production PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf G. Most likely, it belonged to the reconnaissance unit of the 16th Wehrmacht division. South-Eastern Front, September 1942.

11.5-ton German half-track tractor SdKfz, captured in the Nalchik area. November 1942.

Article prepared by: Dmitry Kolosov

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Aircraft

Airplanes quite rarely fall into enemy hands in good condition. And by the end of the war, almost all German aircraft were knocked out in battle. The exception was the latest jet aircraft, which were literally hunted by representatives of the Allied powers. It was important for them to start producing such weapons as soon as possible for the Third World War.

The German twin-engine fighter Me-262 was of great importance. By May 1945, the Germans had more than a thousand of these vehicles. After the war, they were widely used in several countries around the world. So, until the mid-50s. they were in service with Czechoslovakia and Franco's Spain (which bought them from Great Britain and the USA). In Czechoslovakia, where the main production facilities of the Reich for these aircraft were located, after the war they continued to be produced for their own armed forces.

In the USSR, on the basis of the Me-262, immediately after the war, the Su-9 fighter was developed, which, however, did not go into production due to the presence of other, more promising Yak-15 and MiG-9 aircraft, created, however, using some captured German design developments.

Another aircraft, the Me-163 rocket-powered interceptor fighter, also went to the Allies in fairly large quantities. It was tested in the USSR, USA, England, and France. As a result, the military and aircraft designers of these countries abandoned the use of rocket engines on aircraft.

The last German army

Not immediately after the surrender, all German military equipment passed into the hands of the winners. In northern Germany, in Schleswig-Holstein, until May 23, the last government of the Third Reich, headed by Grand Admiral Dönitz, functioned in the British zone. There, the British kept several Wehrmacht divisions in internment, with full armament, including tanks.

According to the “Unthinkable” plan for the war with the Soviet Union, approved by British Prime Minister Churchill on May 22, 1945, it was envisaged that these German divisions (10-12 in number) would be used in the Third World War against the USSR. After the arrest, at the insistence of the USSR and the USA, of the Dönitz government, in June 1945, the British were forced to disarm these divisions and turn their equipment into trophies.