Soviet 45mm Anti-Tank Gun Crew — Propaganda Scene at the Southern Flank of Kursk, 1943

December 4, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Staged WWII photograph of a Soviet 45mm anti-tank gun crew near Kursk in 1943.

This photograph depicts a Soviet 45mm anti-tank gun crew during the Battle of Kursk, specifically on the southern sector of the front in July 1943. Although the scene is often associated with the intense fighting of the largest tank battle of the war, several visual details indicate that this image was taken far from the line of fire and intended for propaganda use.

The gun position is not fortified — no trenches, camouflage, or protective earthworks can be seen. Instead, the crew stands around the 45mm M1937 (53-K) gun in a relaxed posture, as though preparing for a staged shot rather than an imminent engagement. All members of the crew are armed with PPSh-41 submachine guns, an unusually uniform distribution of personal weapons that was common in propaganda imagery but rare in real frontline situations, where crews typically carried a mix of rifles and pistols.

The background further reinforces the staged nature of the photo: the village houses look clean, intact, and untouched by shelling or fire. Such peaceful surroundings would have been highly unlikely near the actual southern salient of Kursk, which saw some of the heaviest armored clashes of the war.

The image was taken by Natalya Bode, one of the most recognized Soviet front-line photographers, whose work often blended documentary reporting with patriotic visual messaging. Her photographs contributed heavily to the wartime press, shaping the public image of the Red Army’s resilience and preparedness.

Technical Photo Data:

📍 Location: Kursk region, USSR
📅 Date: July 1943
📝 Subject: Soviet 45mm AT gun crew in a propaganda-style setup
📷 Author: Natalya Bode

• Eastern Front artillery crew
• Red Army anti-tank weapons
• PPSh-41 armed crew
• Kursk staged wartime photos