Soviet soldiers rescue a wounded crew member from a damaged Lend-Lease "General Lee" tank during fierce fighting near Gzhatsk in 1942.
On the war-torn fields near Gzhatsk in August 1942, a poignant moment of frontline heroism was captured by war photographer Vasily Arkashev. The photo shows Soviet tank crew members rescuing their severely wounded comrade from the turret of a disabled American M3 "General Lee" medium tank, supplied to the USSR under the Lend-Lease program.
The tank, with its towering silhouette and side-mounted 75 mm gun, had become both a symbol of Allied cooperation and a technical oddity on the Eastern Front. Despite its shortcomings — particularly its high profile and vulnerable track design — the M3 was welcomed by Soviet crews, especially during the desperate defensive actions of 1942.
This image encapsulates the raw human element of mechanized warfare: amid fire, steel, and ruin, the instinct to save a fellow soldier overcomes all else. Acts like these were not uncommon, yet rarely documented in such direct and emotional detail.
The Battle of Gzhatsk, part of the wider Rzhev-Vyazma operations, was marked by fierce resistance, brutal counterattacks, and extensive tank engagements. The presence of American tanks in Soviet hands during this phase highlights the growing importance of Lend-Lease matériel in the fight against the Wehrmacht.
Technical photo data:
Photographer: Vasily Arkashev
Source: www.photoscope.by
Date: August 1942
Location: Gzhatsk, USSR