German Soldiers Inspect an Abandoned Soviet KV-2 Heavy Tank Near Lviv, 1941

December 4, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

German soldiers inspect an abandoned Soviet KV-2 heavy tank and an HT-26 near Lviv in 1941.

This photograph shows a group of German soldiers cautiously examining an abandoned Soviet KV-2 heavy tank, a machine that left a deep impression on Wehrmacht troops during the early stages of Operation Barbarossa. Many German units encountered the KV series for the first time in 1941, and the size and armor of the KV-2 — especially compared to the light German tanks of the period — often caused genuine shock.

The vehicle pictured here is a KV-2 produced in November–December 1940, belonging to the 8th Tank Division of the 4th Mechanized Corps, Southwestern Front of the Red Army. The tank appears to have been abandoned by its crew, likely due to mechanical failure or lack of fuel — both common issues during the chaotic battles of June–July 1941.

To the left stands another abandoned Soviet armored vehicle: a HT-26 light flamethrower tank (also known as the chemical T-26). These machines, too, were frequently lost during rapid retreats and logistical collapses in the opening phase of the German invasion.

Both tanks were reportedly left on the grounds of Repair Base No. 82 in the city of Lviv, where Red Army units had no opportunity to evacuate or repair them before the German advance reached the area.

The photo captures not only the curiosity of the German soldiers but also the bewilderment many Wehrmacht troops felt when first facing Soviet heavy armor — vehicles that could withstand firepower far beyond what early German tank guns could reliably handle.

Technical Photo Data:

📍 Location: Lviv, Ukraine, USSR
📅 Date: June–July 1941
📝 Subject: German soldiers studying an abandoned KV-2 heavy tank and HT-26
📷 Author: Unknown

• Operation Barbarossa armor
• Soviet heavy tank KV-2
• HT-26 flamethrower tank
• Eastern Front abandoned vehicles