During the four years of war in Russia, a great deal of Russian Army equipment fell into German hands. During the early period, most armoured vehicles were inferior obsolete designs which were discarded by the advancing German forces. In the defensive battles of the following years, the Russian armoured vehicles were generally put to good use by the units which captured them until, inevitably, they broke down and could not be repaired. Photographs clearly show the use to which Russian armour was put when captured by individual units. The official OKH lists show how insignificant they were in the overall picture.
Waffen-SS units also did not hesitate to use captured T-34/76 tanks and 2nd SS Panzer Division “Das Reich” and 3rd SS Panzer Division “Totenkopf” pressed significant number into service. T-34/76 tanks used by “Das Reich” are of particular interest. When in March of 1943, SS Panzer Corps recaptured Kharkov, some 50 various models of T-34/76 tank were captured. All of those were being repaired in a local tractor (tank) factory that was overrun and designated as SS Panzerwerk (SS Tank Workshop). Shortly after they were repaired along with being modified to German standards, repainted and marked with German markings. Modifications included installation of commander’s cupola (from damaged Panzerkampfwagen III and IV tanks), Schuerzen (armor skirts) and other equipment such as Notek light, storage boxes, tools, radio equipment and antenna. 25 of them entered service with newly created 3rd SS Panzer Battalion of 2nd SS Panzer Regiment of 2nd SS Panzer Division “Das Reich”.
The following is a partial list of Russian vehicles used by the Germans:
Original Designation: FAI / BA (Bronieford) 20/64
Original Role: light armored car
German Designation: Panzerspahwagen BA 202(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training/propaganda
Original Designation: BA (Bronieford) 3/6/10
Original Role: heavy armored car
German Designation: Panzerspahwagen BA(F) 203(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training/propaganda
Original Designation: STZ-3 “Komsomolec”
Original Role: artillery tractor
German Designation: Gepanzerter Artillerie Schlepper 630(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: light artillery/ammunition/supply tractor
Note: 3.7cm PaK auf gep Artillerie Schlepper 630(r) – 37mm PaK gun carrier (field modification).
Original Designation: STZ-5
Original Role: heavy artillery tractor
German Designation: Gepanzerter Artillerie Schlepper 630(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: heavy artillery/ammunition/supply tractor
Original Designation: T-37
Original Role: light swimming tank
German Designation: Schwimm-Panzerkampfwagen T-37 731(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: T-38
Original Role: light swimming tank
German Designation: Schwimm-Panzerkampfwagen T-38 732(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Some were used for air base perimeter defence, while other were used as command/artillery post.
Original Designation: T-40
Original Role: light swimming tank
German Designation: Schwimm-Panzerkampfwagen T-40 733(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Some were used for air base perimeter defence, while other were used as command/artillery post.
Original Designation: T-27A
Original Role: tankette
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-27A 734(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: T-26A (model 1931)
Original Role: light tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-26A 737(r)
Conversions/Role/Use:combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Small number (12?) was converted to French 75mm (Schneider Model 1897) PaK 97/(98)38 gun carriers. (Experimental)
Original Designation: T-26B (model 1933)
Original Role: light tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-26B 738(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Small number (12?) was converted to French 75mm (Schneider Model 1897) PaK 97/(98)38 gun carriers. (Experimental)
Original Designation: OT-130 (T-26B)
Original Role: light flame-thrower tank
German Designation: Flammwerfer Panzerkampfwagen T-26B 739(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: T-26C (model 1937)
Original Role: light tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-26C 740(r)
Conversions/Role/Use:combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Small number (12?) was converted to French 75mm (Schneider Model 1897) PaK 97/(98)38 gun carriers. (Experimental)
Original Designation: OT-133 (T-26S)
Original Role: light flame-thrower tank
German Designation: Flammwerfer Panzerkampfwagen T-26S 739(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: T-26
Original Role: bridge layer tank
German Designation: Brucke Panzerkampfwagen T-26 741(r)
Conversions/Role/Use:combat/training/bridge layer vehicle
Original Designation: BT (Bystrochodni Tank) 5/7/7M/7A
Original Role: fast tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen BT 742(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: T-60 / T-70
Original Role: light tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-60/70 743(r)
Conversions/Role/Use:combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Some were used as ammunition/supply/artillery tractors – Munitions Schlepper T-70(r). Single one was mounted with 20mm Flak 38 gun – Flakpanzer T-60(r).
Original Designation: T-28 (model 1933)
Original Role: medium tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-28 746(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: T-34/76, T-34/85
Original Role: medium tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagon T-34 747(r)
Conversions/Role/Use:combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Various conversions were made such as Flakpanzer T-34 747(r) and small number built under German supervision.
Original Designation: T-28B (model 1937)
Original Role: medium tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-28V 748(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: T-35A (model 1933)
Original Role: heavy tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-35A 751(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: none
Original Designation: T-35C (model 1937)
Original Role: heavy tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen T-35C 752(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: none
Original Designation: KV-IA (Klimenti Voroschilov)
Original Role: heavy tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen KV-IA 753(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Some were rearmed with 75mm KwK 40 L/43 guns and mounted with commander’s cupola – Panzerkampfwagen KV-IA 753(r) mit 7.5cm KwK.
Original Designation: KV-II (Klimemti Voroschilov)
Original Role: heavy tank
German Designation: (Sturm)Panzerkampfwagen KV-II 754(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: KV-IB (Klimenti Voroschilov)
Original Role: heavy tank
German Designation: Panzerkampfwagen KV-IB 755(r)
Conversions/Role/Use:combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Note: Some were rearmed with 75mm KwK 40 L/43 guns and mounted with commander’s cupola – Panzerkampfwagen KV-IB 755(r) mit 7.5cm KwK.
Original Designation: SU-76 (Samokhodnaja Ustanovka)
Original Role: light mechanised gun
German Designation: Jagdpanzer SU-76 —(r)
Conversions/Role/Use:combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: SU-85 (Samokhodnaja Ustanovka)
Original Role: Medium Mechanised Gun
German Designation: Jagdpanzer SU-85 —(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: SU-100 (Samokhodnaja Ustanovka)
Original Role: Medium Mechanised Gun
German Designation: Jagdpanzer SU-100 —(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: SU-122 (Samokhodnaja Ustanovka)
Original Role: Medium Mechanised Gun
German Designation: Sturmgeschutz SU-122 —(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Original Designation: SU-152 (Samokhodnaja Ustanovka)
Original Role: Heavy Mechanised Gun
German Designation: (Sturm) Panzerkampfwagen SU-152 —(r)
Conversions/Role/Use: combat/reconnaissance/policing/training
Captured Armored Cars and Other Vehicles in Wehrmacht Service by Werner Regenberg
Captured Tanks under the German Flag Russian Battle Tanks by Dr. Werner Regenberg and Horst Scheibert
Captured Tanks in German Service Small Tanks and Armored Tractors 1939-1945 by Werner Muller
Panzer Units in the Operations Zone Adriatisches Kustenland (OZAK) 1943-1945.
Armored Vehicles and Units of the German Order Police by Werner Regenberg.
