Captured Soviet KV-2 Tank by Nazis — Battle for Ostrov, July 5, 1941

July 30, 2025 - Reading time: 7 minutes

Captured Soviet KV-2 tank in Ostrov, July 5, 1941, showing battle damage as a German soldier inspects the wreckage.

This compelling photograph shows a captured Soviet KV-2 heavy tank near the city of Ostrov, located in the USSR, on July 5, 1941, during the early days of Operation Barbarossa. The tank, belonging to the 6th Tank Regiment of the 3rd Tank Division, was knocked out in combat with German forces, marking an important moment in the German-Soviet tank battles of the war.

The KV-2, known for its thick armor and massive 152mm gun, was one of the most formidable tanks used by the Red Army at the time. However, despite its impressive firepower and armor (up to 75mm on the front and sides), the KV-2 was not invulnerable. This particular tank was immobilized due to a shell hit to its left side, resulting in a damaged track and separated track plate, but it was still a hard target for the German anti-tank guns.

Unlike many KV-2 tanks that were abandoned due to mechanical breakdowns or fuel shortages, this tank met its end on the battlefield, and you can see the telltale signs of battle damage near its gun. It is interesting to note that while the KV-2's thick armor could withstand many of the early German anti-tank weapons, it still succumbed to the overwhelming German offensive during Operation Barbarossa.

The photograph also shows a curious German soldier, standing next to the wreckage, perhaps in disbelief at the power of this Soviet war machine. The sight of a captured Soviet KV-2 is a rare and remarkable visual from the early phase of the war on the Eastern Front.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Unknown
📍 Location: Ostrov, USSR
📅 Date of photo: July 5, 1941
📷 Photographer: Unknown

• Captured Soviet tanks

• KV-2 tank battle damage

• German capture of Soviet tanks

• Operation Barbarossa tanks

• Soviet tank destruction WWII

• German soldiers inspect Soviet tanks

• Heavy tank battles WWII

• Soviet heavy tanks

• Red Army tanks in 1941

• German-Soviet tank encounters