Captured Russian tanks used by Germans in Normandy, 1944?

[Ostpanzer]

So, could anyone tell me about this? There, in Russia, I'm really got no true info about this theme and looking for any kind of information: text, photos and so on.

Reading my own forum I've found two pics (both — T-34 pics) and folks supposed that they were made in Normandy. And that's all grafic info
These two pics (below three FlaK-T-34 pics):
http://ostpanzer.com/forum/index.php?sh ... 51&st=20&#

BTW, "Germans" means any "Slavic troops" too.[/url]

[PanzerMonkey]

Hi,
http://www.dasreich.ca/normandy_oob.html
This page, though I do not know its accuracy, lists 2.SS-Pz.Div. "Das Reich" as utilizing some of its captured T-34s in June 1944 in Normandy. As I understand it, "Das Reich" was one of the few divisions to actually use quite a few captured T-34s, so many that they formed entire battalions of them. Apparently the 3./SS.Pz.Jäg.Abt. 2 was comprised of captured T-34/76c, which saw action in Normandy.
Thanks,
Manga

[Ostpanzer]

Hi,
http://www.dasreich.ca/normandy_oob.html
This page, though I do not know its accuracy, lists 2.SS-Pz.Div. "Das Reich" as utilizing some of its captured T-34s in June 1944 in Normandy. As I understand it, "Das Reich" was one of the few divisions to actually use quite a few captured T-34s, so many that they formed entire battalions of them. Apparently the 3./SS.Pz.Jäg.Abt. 2 was comprised of captured T-34/76c, which saw action in Normandy.
Thanks,
Manga

Oh! Great! Tnx a lot! Now I'm know the way of research.

[Richard Hedlund]

Interesting, I have never heard of that before. Are there any reports saying how the Shermans, Cromwells, Churchills conducted against these Russian tanks? Or were they all destroyed by airattacks?

/Richard

[PanzerMonkey]

Hi,
Well, with 25 of them rumbling around, I'm sure that at least one was knocked out by another AFV, as they were serving in an anti-tank battalion. A brief Google search has brought up no other evidence or information on this.
Thanks,
Manga

[PanzerMonkey]

Hi,
Oh, and I sincerely doubt that those pictures were taken in Normandy, at least not if they were the T-34s serving with "Das Reich:"

Waffen-SS units also did not hesitate to use captured T-34/76 tanks and 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" and 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" pressed significant number into service. T-34/76 tanks used by "Das Reich" are of particular interest. When in March of 1943, SS Panzer Corps recaptured Kharkov, some 50 various models of T-34/76 tank were captured. All of those were being repaired in a local tractor (tank) factory that was overrun and designated as SS Panzerwerk (SS Tank Workshop). Shortly after they were repaired along with being modified to German standards, repainted and marked with German markings. Modifications included installation of commander's cupola (from damaged Panzerkampfwagen III and IV tanks), Schuerzen (armor skirts) and other equipment such as Notek light, storage boxes, tools, radio equipment and antenna. 25 of them entered service with newly created 3rd SS Panzer Battalion of 2nd SS Panzer Regiment of 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich".

Thanks,
Manga

[MadderCat]

I don't think that there were more than 3-5 tanks in France, mainly deployed to training areas
to train troops to fight against the russian tanks

it makes no sense to transport russian tanks from russia to france
and use them there with no proper spare part supply and no proper ammo supply
(please, don't tell me that they used german guns instead of russian guns..)
troops in france were stationed there to resupply with tanks, men and other things
and normally don't bring their equipment to france

my 2 cents

MadderCat

[Ostpanzer]

I don't think that there were more than 3-5 tanks in France, mainly deployed to training areas
to train troops to fight against the russian tanks
MadderCat

So, my friends took a little research and found that there are the same pages:
http://www.dasreich.ca/kursk_oob.html
and
http://www.dasreich.ca/normandy_oob.html

Unfortunaly all recently founded info about Normandy is wrong (IMHO).
There weren't 25 T-34s

[MadderCat]

here's a page about captured russian equipment in german use
http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/su/su.htm

T-34 in france
http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/su/t- ... e_t-34.htm


my 2 cents

MadderCat

[Ostpanzer]

here's a page about captured russian equipment in german use
http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/su/su.htm

T-34 in france
http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/su/t- ... e_t-34.htm


my 2 cents

MadderCat

Yes, I know this page
These are the same pics I told in 1st message.

[dik]

I think, it is not France, because there are star on the one of T-34.

[Bayerlein spirit]

Hello,

Only T34's Das Reich division used in Normandie were tanks without turret, a sort of " bergeT34", first saw in Normandie in july 1944... ( maybe three used by repair unit )
We can see one view of this vehicle in Didier Lodieu's book " La Massue", in the Trun - Mont-Ormel area, captured by Poles orBritish troops.

The two vehicles well know said taken in west front wasn't in Normandie, however, it is probably certain as two russian tanks used by German in Mailly le Camp for training panzer troops... Maybe this T34 with red star on turret was one of them, but certainely not a abteilung vehicle..



Fred

[bearn]

Hello!

I find on the disks of my collegue interesting picture - US serviceman near BT-7 m. 1939 soviet tank.

Where be made this picture? I think that somewhere in Germany or Italy and may be in France. And almost impossibly - in the N.Africa, how written in the file name.

Somebody have information about russian light tanks and armored cars in the France and Italy?

With best regards, Vasily.

[mikerock]

When I was at Aberdeen last summer, I thought they stated that the two t-34/76s they had came from Russia as evaluation models supplied directly to the US army.

[TadPortly]

American's did have access to areas where Soviet forces had been fighting - Berlin for example. So it is possible that the photo was taken immediately after the war in such a place.

I may be wrong, but I think a very small number of T34s were in Normandy and used for training purposes by the Germans. I think one of those was captured and is now at Aberdeen.