Abandoned Soviet KV-1 Heavy Tank of the 101st Tank Division near Yartsevo, July 1941

August 23, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Abandoned Soviet KV-1 heavy tank of the 101st Tank Division near Yartsevo, July 1941.

This photo shows a German soldier examining a Soviet KV-1 heavy tank abandoned on the road near Yartsevo, in the Smolensk region, during the battles of July 1941.

The KV-1 belonged to the 101st Tank Division of the Red Army and was produced in June 1941. This particular tank features additional armor protection on the turret and hull sides, as well as reinforced road wheels of the solid type without perforations. Despite its formidable armor and armament, the KV-1 often suffered mechanical breakdowns or fuel shortages, which led to many vehicles being abandoned during the chaotic retreats of the early weeks of Operation Barbarossa.

The KV-1 was one of the most feared tanks of its time, capable of withstanding hits from most German anti-tank weapons in 1941. However, logistical problems, lack of coordination, and air superiority of the Wehrmacht contributed to heavy Soviet losses in the Smolensk sector. This wrecked tank near Yartsevo symbolizes both the technical strength and the tragic vulnerability of Soviet armored forces in the opening months of the war.

Technical Photo Data

📝 Source of information: archival data
📍 Location: Yartsevo, Smolensk region, USSR
📅 Date of photo: July 1941
📷 Photographer: Unknown

• Soviet KV-1 abandoned 1941
• 101st Tank Division losses
• KV-1 tank Smolensk battle
• Yartsevo July 1941 Eastern Front
• Red Army heavy tank destroyed
• KV-1 armor upgrades 1941
• Operation Barbarossa Soviet tanks
• German troops inspecting KV-1
• KV-1 tank road Yartsevo
• Heavy tank losses USSR 1941