Bulgarian 1st Army Crew Poses on German PzKpfw IV Tank, Drava River, Hungary, March 1945

October 13, 2025 - Reading time: 3 minutes

Bulgarian 1st Army tank crew poses on a German PzKpfw IV medium tank near the Drava River, Hungary, March 1945.

WWII photo showing the Bulgarian 1st Army tank crew posing on a German PzKpfw IV medium tank near the Drava River, Hungary, March 1945.

This photograph shows tank crew members of the Bulgarian 1st Army posing on a German PzKpfw IV medium tank near the Drava River in Hungary on March 14, 1945. The 1st Bulgarian Army operated closely with the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front, receiving supply support and rearmament from the USSR.

Bulgaria, initially allied with the Third Reich, had received 46 PzKpfw IV Ausf. H tanks in mid-1943, which were allocated to the 1st Tank Brigade. These vehicles remained in service until the 1950s, when they were replaced by Soviet T-34-85 tanks. By late 1944, the 1st Bulgarian Army was positioned on the left flank of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, participating in the Balaton Defensive Operation in March 1945. During this fierce engagement, Bulgarian forces, with Soviet support, successfully repelled a larger German offensive, maintaining their positions and preventing the enemy from advancing into the rear of the 3rd Ukrainian Front.

The photo illustrates both the use of captured or foreign-supplied German tanks and the multinational cooperation on the Eastern Front in 1945. It also highlights the Bulgarian Army’s role in late-war operations alongside the Red Army, showing pride and morale of armored units during the final months of the European conflict.

Technical photo data:

📍 Location: Drava River region, Hungary
📅 Date: 14 March 1945
📝 Event: Bulgarian 1st Army crew with German PzKpfw IV tank during 3rd Ukrainian Front operations
📷 Author: Unknown