Abandoned Soviet KV-2 Heavy Tank Captured by Germans, 1941

June 25, 2025 - Reading time: 3 minutes

Abandoned Soviet KV-2 heavy tank with towing cables, likely left behind after a breakdown during the early stages of the German invasion. A 152mm shell is visible atop the turret.

Somewhere along a muddy Soviet road in 1941, one of the Red Army’s most feared armored giants came to a dead halt.
The photo shows a KV-2 heavy tank, abandoned by its crew — its sheer bulk and firepower useless against mechanical breakdown.

Armed with a 152mm howitzer, the KV-2 was a mobile bunker — capable of tearing through enemy fortifications and infantry with terrifying ease. But this very strength was also its downfall. Weighing nearly 52 tons, with an oversized turret and underpowered engine, the KV-2 was prone to breakdowns and notoriously sluggish in combat conditions — especially when off-road.

In this particular image, a 152mm shell has been oddly placed on top of the turret — perhaps as a signal to would-be salvagers or looters. Towing cables drape over the vehicle, suggesting that attempts were made to recover it before the crew ultimately gave up.

Captured by advancing Wehrmacht units, this metal monster was a rare and valuable prize. Though it struck fear into German tank crews early in the war, the KV-2’s logistical weaknesses and slow maneuverability meant it was soon phased out in favor of more balanced Soviet designs like the T-34 and IS series.

This image reflects the chaotic first months of Operation Barbarossa — where Soviet armor was either crushed in battle, immobilized by breakdowns, or abandoned due to fuel shortages and encirclement. But even in failure, the KV-2 stood as a symbol of Soviet industrial power and raw firepower, unmatched in its day.

📷 Technical photo data:
📸 Photographer: Unknown (German war correspondent)
📅 Date: 1941
📍 Location: USSR