How the Soviet reconnaissance group actually "hijacked" a German tank from the front line: about the event of 1943

Raids of Soviet intelligence officers behind enemy lines are not only about collecting important data on the number, exact location, equipment and armament of the Nazis. Often these are attempts to take possession of the enemy's assets - be it important documents, encryption devices, or even heavy weapons.

There were also episodes when even armored vehicles were obtained as trophies.

Military historian Stanislav Sopov tells about one of these episodes of the Great Patriotic War on the TacticMedia channel.

We are talking about the task of the reconnaissance group, which was commanded by Captain Dmitry Zakrevsky. On July 12, 1943, the scouts received orders to take the "tongue" behind enemy lines. But the group of Captain Zakrevsky did something that no one expected from her, including, of course, the enemy. The trophy for Zakrevsky and other members of the reconnaissance group was a German headquarters tank. The event was extraordinary and clearly discouraged the Germans.

They soon spotted a German tank. He stood at the edge of the forest and was barely visible against the backdrop of greenery. The captain tapped softly on the armor ...

- from the story.

On the details of the event tank in fact, in the central part of the front, as well as what kind of tank fell into the hands of the Red Army - in a video on the mentioned YouTube channel:

Comments

[210ox]

The scouts are great. Well, military correspondents ... Like any journalists, they like to exaggerate. We probably saw an unusual tank with screens on the sides ... Well, here it is, "Tiger" However, this does not implore the feat of our soldiers

[Alexey RA]

Quote: 210ox

Well, military correspondents ... Like any journalists, they like to exaggerate. We probably saw an unusual tank with screens on the sides ... Well, here it is - "Tiger"

So this is the Pz.III Ausf. N, and at first they were in Schwerepantserabtaylungs together with the Tigers. So - "almost" Tiger ".

[Avior]

According to the award list, the tank was listed as a Panther

[Alexey RA]

Quote: Avior

According to the award list, the tank was listed as a Panther

And in the articles in the newspaper - "Tiger" and "Four". In short, he is a repeat offender.

[Avior]

The tank was dragged in tow

[Alexey RA]

Quote: Avior

The tank was dragged in tow

Familiar photos.
In LJ uv. hranitel_slov in 2016 there was a post about how this "three-ruble note" (Pz.III Ausf. N) was photographed from all sides and from all angles, and then a collage of four photos of one tank appeared in "KZ" dated July 13, 1943 ...

1943
July 15
Cameraman Kazakov, who was the first to meet me, saw a familiar face with a "watering can" and decided to give me a pleasant surprise. He took me aside (for privacy) and confidentially said:
- The Tiger was brought to the village of N-sky. You can shoot as you like and do whatever you want with it. Do not miss!
This is especially funny when you consider that for all the days of the fighting, not a single Tiger was shot, although many dozens were shot down. And the editors demanded. But all the tanks were either on enemy territory or on nobody’s land. And about three days ago, one team evacuated the Tiger. The tiger reporters immediately attacked him. They snapped it from all sides, smoked everything around with sabers and fuses. But all outdid Knorin from the Red Star. He filmed, like everyone else, and flew to Moscow. The next day (July 13) in the newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, a panorama of four Tigers appeared on the front page, and on the second a combat episode with the Tiger. And it was all the same unfortunate tortured one single standard tank.

© Brontman L.K. Diaries 1932-1947.
https://hranitel-slov.livejournal.com/78020.html

[Avior]

The veracity of the articles and photos are the last thing that interested the correspondents during the war.

Then there were tasks.
Now we must filter out what is really a real photo and event, and what propaganda is undoubtedly important during the war, but not after it.
In the photo with 4 "tigers" - this is somehow too much, the front-line soldiers also read and saw these "tigers".
Photoshop, as you can see, is not needed

[EvilLion]

Shown is some early Pz-III with 6 road wheels per side. Moreover, the car, clearly accidentally survived (43rd year), and, most likely, extremely worn out, and therefore thrown to the headquarters away from the front line.

[Alexey RA]

Quote: EvilLion

Shown is some early Pz-III with 6 road wheels per side.

Which version of the three-ruble note had more? Ausf.M also has six of them.

Quote: EvilLion

Moreover, the car, clearly accidentally survived (43rd year), and, most likely, extremely worn out, and therefore thrown to the headquarters away from the front line.

This is the Pz.III Ausf. N. For the summer of 1943 - quite a fresh car, they began to be produced only from July 1942 and were made until August 1943.

[Deniso]

Tank Pz3, all the soldiers are wearing helmets, which is not typical for scouts.

[Avior]

They're from the tank corps

... The group commander, Captain Dmitry A. Zakrevsky, was the deputy commander of the 24th separate reconnaissance battalion of the 3rd tank corps.

Possibility, such a front-line fashion was - tankmen - scouts - in tank helmets.

[sabakina]

Chial somewhere that ours overtook the tank from the front lane by removing the candles. But my question may be off topic ... What kind of unit did the Germans have?

[Avior]

German MG-34 on the machine

[Dude]

Looks futuristic! Can you tell me what are these two rectangular elements on the front leg of the machine? What is their purpose?

[Avior]

For convenience, when carrying this MG-carriage on your back 34

Folded into a compact form for transporting Lafette 34. Length 77 cm, width 40 cm. Soldier carry straps are attached to the left and right rear support, and there are also two rectangular pillows to protect the soldier's back during transport.

https://kopateli.cc/topic/11273-mg-lafette-34-ustroystvo-stanka/

[Snail N9]

Well, yes, this is the Pz.III Ausf. N .... A fairly rare tank. And by and large, it doesn't matter what they hijacked, which tank is a "Tiger", "Panther" or T-III, the main thing is DRY! I can imagine the faces of the Fritsev crew, I wonder - what was it for, what about .... whether your tank?

[Avior]

For this they were sent to the Eastern Front

[Dude]

Thank you!
So I assumed, but you gave an exhaustive answer!

[Andrei Nikolaevich]

Yes ... There were people. and PEOPLE - with a CAPE.