German Soldiers Inspect Abandoned Soviet KV-2 Tank, July 1941

September 10, 2025 - Reading time: 5 minutes

German soldiers inspect an abandoned Soviet KV-2 heavy tank at Alakurtti, Karelo-Finnish SSR, July 1941.

German soldiers inspecting an abandoned Soviet KV-2 heavy tank at Alakurtti, Karelo-Finnish SSR, July 1941.

This rare photograph shows German soldiers inspecting an abandoned Soviet KV-2 heavy tank during the early stages of the German invasion of the Soviet Union in July 1941. The tank, belonging to the 1st Tank Division of the Red Army, had been disabled during the fighting against the German 36th Army Corps, part of Army Norway (Armee Norwegen).

The location of the scene is Alakurtti, Karelo-Finnish SSR, a strategically important area near the Arctic front. The KV-2, with its massive 152 mm howitzer mounted in a towering turret, was one of the most formidable tanks of the early war period. Its thick armor was nearly impervious to most German anti-tank weapons in 1941. However, the vehicle’s excessive weight and mechanical unreliability often led to breakdowns, while its height made it an easy target for enemy gunners.

In the harsh northern terrain of Karelia, the KV-2s faced additional challenges: poor roads, swampy ground, and extreme weather conditions. Many were abandoned due to mechanical failures, lack of fuel, or battlefield damage rather than direct destruction. Once captured, German troops frequently examined these tanks carefully, as they were both feared and respected by Wehrmacht soldiers who had to face them in battle.

This image from Alakurtti highlights the early encounters between the Wehrmacht and the Red Army’s heaviest armor, a clash that set the stage for the brutal armored warfare to come on the Eastern Front.

Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Alakurtti, Karelo-Finnish SSR, USSR
📅 Date: July 1941
📝 Unit: 1st Tank Division, Red Army / 36th Army Corps, Army Norway
📷 Photographer: Unknown (Wehrmacht archive)