Soviet soldiers of the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Division moving through Wehlau (now Znamensk) in East Prussia, February 1945.
This World War II photograph shows soldiers of the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Rifle Division advancing through the East Prussian town of Wehlau on 23 February 1945. The troops are traveling in horse-drawn wagons, a reminder that despite the enormous number of tanks, trucks, and self-propelled guns used by the Red Army during the final offensives, horse transport remained an indispensable part of Soviet military logistics until the end of the war.
Wehlau, today known as Znamensk in Russia's Kaliningrad Region, occupied an important position on the approaches to Königsberg. The town stood near key road and railway junctions crossing the Pregel River, making it valuable for both German defensive planning and Soviet offensive operations during the East Prussian Offensive.
The capture of Wehlau followed weeks of heavy fighting across East Prussia. By February 1945, German resistance remained determined despite the deteriorating strategic situation. Defensive strongpoints, fortified villages, artillery positions, and repeated local counterattacks slowed the Soviet advance, forcing Red Army units to fight for nearly every settlement as they closed in on Königsberg.
The soldiers seen in the photograph belonged to the famous 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Rifle Division, one of the Red Army's most distinguished formations. The division earned its Guards title for outstanding combat performance and carried the honorary name "Tamanskaya" in recognition of its role during earlier campaigns. By 1945 it had accumulated extensive combat experience from battles fought across the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Visible in the background are damaged buildings, including the former district finance office. Like much of East Prussia, Wehlau suffered considerable destruction during the fighting. After the war, the town became part of the Soviet Union, was renamed Znamensk in 1946, and many surviving German buildings were adapted for new civilian purposes rather than demolished.
Photographs such as this document not only the military advance into Germany but also the immense logistical effort behind it. Even during the final victorious campaign, horse-drawn wagons continued carrying ammunition, food, engineering equipment, and medical supplies wherever roads or fuel shortages limited motorized transport.
The image also illustrates the closing stage of the war in Europe, when Soviet troops were no longer defending their own territory but conducting offensive operations deep inside Germany. Within less than three months of this photograph, Berlin would fall, bringing the war in Europe to its conclusion.
Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Wehlau, East Prussia, Germany (now Znamensk, Kaliningrad Region, Russia)
📅 Date: 23 February 1945
📝 Event: Red Army troops entering Wehlau during the East Prussian Offensive
📷 Author: Unknown
Recommended literature:
- David M. Glantz — When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler
- Richard Overy — Russia's War
- Antony Beevor — Berlin: The Downfall 1945
- Earl F. Ziemke — The Battle for Berlin: End of the Third Reich
- Soviet soldiers East Prussia 1945
- 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Division photo
- Wehlau captured by Red Army
- WWII urban combat East Prussia
- Red Army in German towns