Abandoned Soviet Heavy Tank T-35 “Land Battleship of Stalin”, Summer 1941
October 9, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes
Abandoned Soviet heavy tank T-35 “Land Battleship of Stalin” in a roadside ditch, summer 1941.
This World War II photograph shows a Soviet T-35 heavy multi-turret tank, nicknamed the “Land Battleship of Stalin”, abandoned by its crew in a roadside ditch during the chaotic retreat of the Red Army in the opening weeks of Operation Barbarossa, summer 1941.
The T-35, an impressive five-turret behemoth, symbolized Soviet prewar armored might but proved ill-suited for the realities of fast-moving modern warfare. Most T-35s were lost not in combat, but due to mechanical failures, lack of fuel, or crew abandonment during the early days of the German invasion.
Despite its intimidating appearance and heavy armament, the T-35’s size, poor mobility, and unreliable transmission made it an easy target for Luftwaffe aircraft and German anti-tank units once immobilized. Out of more than 60 produced, almost all were destroyed or captured by the end of 1941.
The photo stands as a stark reminder of the technological overconfidence of the 1930s and the harsh lessons learned by Soviet tank forces during the first months of the Great Patriotic War.
Technical photo data:
📍 Location: USSR (western regions)
📅 Date: Summer 1941
🎯 Context: Red Army retreat during Operation Barbarossa
📷 Author: Unknown German soldier
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