Soviet 45 mm Anti-Tank Gun Crew in Direct-Fire Combat Against German Armor, 1943

November 14, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Soviet 45 mm anti-tank gun crew firing at German tanks on the Eastern Front, 1943.

Soviet 45 mm anti-tank gun crew firing at German tanks during direct-fire combat on the Eastern Front, 1943.

This dramatic photograph captures a Soviet 45 mm anti-tank gun crew engaged in direct-fire combat against advancing German armor on the Eastern Front in 1943. The crew, commanded by Senior Sergeant A. Golovalov, is firing their M1937 (53-K) anti-tank gun at close range — a situation where precision, speed, and nerves were everything.

According to the wartime report, Golovalov’s crew had recently destroyed two German tanks and eliminated six enemy firing positions while serving in the battery of Senior Lieutenant A. Medvedev. The gun’s relatively small caliber meant that it was most effective at short distances, forcing its operators to hold their ground even as enemy armor closed in.

To the right of the frame, an explosion marks the return fire from a German tank, illustrating the deadly conditions under which Soviet anti-tank crews fought. Engagements like this one often came down to seconds: whether the crew could load, aim, and fire faster than the enemy vehicle could locate and neutralize their position.

By 1943, the 45 mm gun was becoming outdated against heavier German tanks such as the Panzer IV Ausf. G and Panther, but it remained widely used due to its availability and the skill of crews who knew how to exploit weak spots in enemy armor. These men formed the backbone of the Red Army’s anti-tank defenses during some of the most intense phases of the war.

This photograph not only documents a moment of raw frontline combat but also highlights the courage and discipline required of Soviet anti-tank gunners — soldiers who faced armored steel with determination and a weapon often considered too light for the task.

Technical Photo Data:
📍 Location: USSR
📅 Date: 1943
📝 Subject: Soviet anti-tank gun crew under Senior Sergeant A. Golovalov in direct-fire combat
📷 Photographer: Mikhail Savin