Soviet M-72 motorcycle column with DP-27 machine guns, led by an FAI-M armored car, preparing for deployment from Moscow, November 1941.
Soviet Motorcycle Column in Moscow
This photograph shows a column of Soviet M-72 motorcycles assembled on Devichye Pole Drive in Moscow during November 1941, shortly before deployment to the front. The image was taken during one of the most critical phases of the Battle of Moscow, when Soviet forces were preparing to resist the German advance toward the Soviet capital.
Motorized Infantry Equipment
Each motorcycle carries Red Army personnel equipped with DP-27 light machine guns and Mosin–Nagant rifles. Motorcycle units provided highly mobile infantry capable of rapid reconnaissance, escort, communications, and support missions. Their mobility allowed them to operate where larger vehicles encountered difficulties.
Vehicles in the Column
Leading the formation is an FAI-M armored car, a light reconnaissance vehicle used for patrol and security duties. At the rear of the column are GAZ-AAA trucks, which were commonly employed to transport ammunition, supplies, and additional personnel in support of frontline operations.
Historical Context
The photograph was taken during the defense of Moscow, when German forces had reached the approaches to the city. In early December 1941, the Red Army launched its major counteroffensive, forcing the Wehrmacht away from the Soviet capital and marking Germany's first large-scale strategic setback on the Eastern Front.
The image was published in Pravda, Issue No. 308 (8716), on November 6, 1941, documenting the mobilization of Soviet motorized units during one of the most decisive periods of the campaign.
Photo Details
- Location: Devichye Pole Drive, Moscow, USSR
- Date: November 1941
- Photographer: Alexander Ustinov
- Source: Pravda, Issue No. 308 (8716), November 6, 1941
Recommended Reading
- Battle of Moscow (1941–1942)
- Soviet M-72 military motorcycle
- FAI-M armored car
- DP-27 light machine gun