Historic 1945 photograph by Emmanuil Evzerikhin depicting a long column of defeated German prisoners of war marching past the train station in Landsberg, East Prussia.
German POWs Captured by the 3rd Belorussian Front in Landsberg, East Prussia (1945)
This striking archival photograph taken by famed Soviet war correspondent Emmanuil Evzerikhin captures a long column of defeated captured German prisoners of war marching through the town of Landsberg, East Prussia (now Górowo Iławeckie, Poland) during the early months of 1945.
Captured during the relentless offensive of the Red Army's 3rd Belorussian Front, these troops were taken prisoner during the heavy combat that encircled and destroyed major German forces in the East Prussian pocket.
Equipment, Uniforms, and Visual Features
The photograph provides extensive visual evidence regarding the state, equipment, and clothing of German armed forces during the final stages of the war:
- Mixed Late-War Winter Attire: The prisoners wear a miscellaneous assortment of late-war German field uniforms, including heavy M36 and M42 wool overcoats, padded reversible winter jackets, M43 field caps (Einheitsfeldmütze), and improvised headscarves against the damp Baltic winter climate.
- Architectural Background: The column marches past the solid red-brick building of the Landsberg railway station. The German directional signs above the doors and shattered window panes reflect the recent heavy street fighting in the town.
- Demoralized Troop Condition: The facial expressions and stooped postures of the German soldiers clearly illustrate the complete collapse of morale among frontline Wehrmacht units facing total defeat on home territory.
- Documentary Composition: Evzerikhin's low-angle perspective highlights the dense, seemingly endless procession of captured personnel stretching along the muddy cobblestone street.
The Battle for East Prussia in Early 1945
In January and February 1945, the 3rd Belorussian Front launched a massive strategic offensive into East Prussia, breaching heavily fortified German defense belts. Towns like Landsberg became fierce focal points of resistance as German command attempted to hold transport hubs to evacuate troops and civilians toward the Baltic coast before being cut off and captured.
📍 Location: Landsberg, East Prussia, Germany (now Górowo Iławeckie, Poland)
📅 Date: February 1945
📷 Photographer: Emmanuil Evzerikhin
📰 Primary Source: Soviet State War Photographic Archive
Recommended reading:
- East Prussian Strategic Offensive: Combat operations of the 3rd Belorussian Front in early 1945
- Wehrmacht late-war uniforms: Field gear and winter clothing shortages in 1944–1945
- Masters of Soviet photography: The frontline photojournalism of Emmanuil Evzerikhin
- Urban warfare in East Prussia: The capture and clearance of Landsberg and surrounding strongpoints