Liberation of Vyazma: Red Army Troops Welcomed by Civilians, March 1943

August 10, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Red Army troops in BA-10 armored cars are greeted by local civilians upon entering Vyazma during its liberation on March 12, 1943, symbolizing freedom after long German occupation.

This evocative photograph captures a triumphant moment in early March 1943, when Red Army soldiers in BA-10 armored cars rolled into the newly liberated city of Vyazma, greeted by elated civilian residents. Vyazma had been under German occupation since October 7, 1941, and its liberation on March 12, 1943, during the Rzhev–Vyazma strategic offensive, marked a critical turning point on the Eastern Front.

The BA-10 armored car, introduced in 1938, was widely used by the Red Army for reconnaissance and infantry support thanks to its formidable 45 mm gun and twin machine guns. In this image, the armored vehicles bear silent witness to the city’s return to Soviet control and the relief and hope of its citizens after nearly a year and a half under enemy rule.

Vyazma’s liberation was part of the broader Rzhev–Vyazma Offensive, a grueling operation aimed at breaking the German defensive salients near Moscow and relieving pressure on the capital. The ensuing reoccupation was not just a strategic victory—it was a deeply human one, as civilians finally stood face to face with their liberators.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Archival records (Nikolai Popov)
📍 Location: Vyazma, Smolensk Oblast, USSR
📅 Date of photo: March 1943
📷 Photographer: Nikolai Popov

Vyazma liberation 1943
BA-10 armored car WWII
Red Army entry Vyazma
Rzhev-Vyazma Offensive
Soviet liberation of occupied cities
Vyazma civilian welcome 1943
Soviet armored vehicles WWII
Eastern Front counteroffensive
Operation Büffel aftermath
Vyazma strategic junction