Did the Soviets Have Kamikaze Pilots?!

As Germany invaded the USSR in June 1941, Soviets found themselves in a difficult situation. Flying often outdated fighters with limited firepower, sometimes when they were not able to shoot down Luftwaffe aircraft, they would resort to ramming them with their own. This tactics was called 'Taran' in Russian and while it was occasionally performed by pilot of almost all of the nations involved in WWII, Soviet pilots would use it a lot more frequently. While we might think of these pilots as Soviet equivalents of the Japanese Kamikaze, this video examines in details the motivations and circumstances for these attacks and how they might be similar or different compared to their more famous Japanese counterparts.
Sources:
- Dmitry Degtev and Dmitry Zubov - Air Battle for Moscow 1941-1942
amzn.to/3SPfOnx
- Dmitry Khazanov - MiG-3 Aces of World War 2
amzn.to/3U4kjMo
- Dmitry Khazanov and Alexander Medved - Bf 109E/F vs Yak-1/7: Eastern Front 1941-42
amzn.to/3sI7N9F
- J.T Quinlivan - The Taran : Ramming in the Soviet Air Force
www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P719...
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#militaryaviationhistory #wwii

[@pyorre2441]

Reading the 1st volume of the Black Cross Red Star books there was an interview of a VVS pilot who fought in the first days of the Barbarossa. He told that in one occasion his formation attacked a single german bomber which came down near their airfield and when they inspected the bomber they counted several marks that their bullets had hit the plane but had not penetrated. Their I-16s had rifle calibre machine guns with mostly ball ammo which was fine for ground combat but in aerial combat you would need something like armor piercing or incendiary bullets to do damage to the vital parts of the german bombers. I assume this is one reason why the Taran was considered a viable option to bring down a german aircraft down faster.

[@showtime112]

Yes, in most cases it was inadequate firepower.

[@MrNord44]

Wrong. In the SHKAS aviation machine gun, it is impossible to use conventional cartridges with a caliber of 7.62 mm. The sleeve was torn off. Cartridges with a reinforced sleeve were used. Most likely, the plane was shot at from the maximum distance.

[@jeannezehner9450]

I didn't know that it had existed on the russian front. A large part of their planes were destroyed on the soil by the Luftwaffe during the first hours of Barabarossa operation, so it's curious that they have employed this bloody method. I think it's was for giving the terror to the german aviators, too. In fact at the end of the war, the german on 1945, used this tragic method with Bf-109 against B-17 or B-24 on the Europe front when the allies entered in the territoy of the Reich, their planes was filled with the half of fuel and only machine gun for their defense. But, it's was the end for them.

[@showtime112]

I read some books about air warfare on the Eastern front and this thing called 'Taran' kept appearing every now and then. It is a desperate tactics but things were pretty desperate for the Soviets early in the war.

[@jeannezehner9450]

@@showtime112 From june to november 1941, the Eastern front its a russia tragedy, on the field and in the air. That's sure, but the russians have two words for defining the COUNTRY, the country (the soil of your birth that you have to protect) and the mother country the ENTITY THAT GAVE YOU THE LIFE, and that you have seen growing up. And this is the difference, so it could give you the motivations for doing this sort of thing. This sort of motivation is a little bit similar to the Bushido code, and that we taught to the hitler jungen during the third reich. So it's not a coincidence if we regain these actions in these countries.

[@alejandrocasalegno1657]

The name of the unit was "Sonderkommando Elbe"....

[@jeannezehner9450]

@@alejandrocasalegno1657 Thank you.

[@MrCarcass1978]

@@jeannezehner9450 Beautiful response Jeanne😊. Absolutely correct, emotional connection and love to the land of their birth obviously going to play a massive part in their actions... 🇷🇺❤️💪.

[@vanoy13]

Great to learn about this little known part of history. Great video 👍

[@showtime112]

I particularly like those parts. Thanks for the comment!

[@vanoy13]

@@showtime112 I saw a documentary on Free French pilots who went to fight alongside Soviets on the Eastern front. Saw that the soviet mechanics were sometimes within the plane but had no way to get out before landing. Can you please check if there's anything about that? Thanks

[@showtime112]

@@vanoy13 There was a way to fit a person behind the cockpit. It was sometimes used for emergency purposes such as airfield evacuation. I remember reading about a Soviet pilot who transported another person in his fighter plane that way but forgot about him after landing. The poor guy spent some time in there not being able to get out 😁

[@mattseller148]

This was not just a Soviet thing the Germans had a special unit called Sonderkommando Elbe that where specifically meant to ram Allied bombers and they did destroy several American aircraft but ultimately the Germans decided they the unit was not effective enough for how much each attack would cost, being the loss of a fighter. Love your content kee it up.

[@showtime112]

Glad you liked it and thanks for commenting!

[@gamer_f1043]

I love those poorly known stories!

[@showtime112]

Me too!

[@pablopeter3564]

EXCELLENT video, as usual. Thanks for bringing part of history back and paying tribute to those airmen who were involved, regardless of their nationalities and political believes.

[@showtime112]

Thanks, Pablo! This side of WWII is a bit neglected. Viewers didn't show much interest but it might still change.

[@blackfalco33]

Keep it up Showtime!

[@showtime112]

I intend to, thanks!

[@new-wave2941]

The pilots still hoped to survive the collision 💥, without ejection seats 😅🤷 did they have parachutes at least ?

[@showtime112]

Sure.

[@ratagris21]

Great presentation of this important charter of history for all you see. Love this channel it's the forgotten aviation history brought to the light of day. 🎩♠️🎯🎱🇺🇲🏁🇺🇦🔱🌻💮🏵️🌸🏴‍☠️🏹

[@showtime112]

So nice to see your comments every time!

[@ratagris21]

@@showtime112 Yw. Keeping history alive!!!

[@offshorequest]

Another great video about a lesser known topic !

[@showtime112]

Those are my favorite ones :)

[@mattseller148]

@@showtime112 You knowlage of lesser known wars such as the Ogaden War and their air combat is turly amazing! Do you have any sources you recommend to learn about them?

[@showtime112]

@@mattseller148 Helion & Company released many books covering these post-WWII lesser known conflicts. You can start there: www.helion.co.uk/

[@mattseller148]

@@showtime112 Thank you.

[@alejandrocasalegno1657]

About the Luftwaffe in the Eastern Front are endless books, videos etc........the VVS is almost forgoten, make a video of Ivan Kozhedub.....the Allied "Ace of the Aces"!!!!😀😀

[@showtime112]

I probably will. I think he mostly flew La-7 which we don't have, unfortunately.

[@alejandrocasalegno1657]

@@showtime112 Was the first soviet pilot to shot down a Me-262......only this worth the video!!

[@showtime112]

@@alejandrocasalegno1657 I agree, it would definitely be a great story to cover.

[@rafaelaldana1503]

Such a nice video! great job!

[@showtime112]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@nekilik7165]

Zanimljivo je da su samo-žrtvovanja postojala i kod jugoslovenskih pilota i aprilskom ratu. Inače super video

[@showtime112]

Nisam znao za taj detalj. U dugoročnom planu mi je napraviti neki video s tom temom.

[@nrudnjanin]

Piloti 111. I 112. eskadrile naoružani sa Hoker Fjuri ( Hawker Fury Mk. II) tokom napada na njihov aerodrom Režanovačka Kosa kod Kumanova 6.4. 1941. oborili su udarom jedan Bf 110 i jedan Bf 109. Takođe, mislim da je i jedan pilot iz lovačke škole bazirane u Mostaru leteći na zastarelom lovcu Avia BH-33 udarom srušio Bf 109 ili Ju-87. Ovo pišem po sećanju jer sam daleko od svoje kućne biblioteke da bih naveo tačne podatke i izvore. U svakom slučaju, o ovome se može pročitati u specijalnom broju Aero magazina o Aprilskom ratu (br. 2/1991).

[@nrudnjanin]

P. S. Odličan video! Samo tako nastavi.

[@tonyaughney8945]

The Falklands War should have plenty of ideas for videos.

[@showtime112]

It does. The map was supposed to come with naval assets involved in the war. Only some of it has been released. More should come but I don't know what ir when. I need those ships to reenact those scenarios.

[@bigboy379]

Great video! As always!

[@showtime112]

Thanks! I'm glad someone appreciates this overlooked video.

[@cartersmith8560]

we would LOVE a Rammkommando Elbe video

[@showtime112]

There might be one someday

[@EastGames-uy6mc]

👌

[@showtime112]

Thanks!

[@alexprokhorov407]

Several Soviet aces wrote detaled instructions on how to perform it successfuly, and trained others. Even with good sights and good guns, with the high rate of fire, the chance of bringing down a plane before running out of ammo aren't that great. As it also largely depended on the skills and response of the opponent. There was another factor. A wounded pilot with partially disabled plane would try to make as much damage to the first target of opportunity, that in a sense was an unintended kamikaze mission. And ground targets in this case were more prevalent, such as vehicle convoys and ships.

[@showtime112]

Thanks for contributing information!

[@travelingmerchant6434]

Phenomenal video

[@showtime112]

Thanks a lot! It's one of the videos that under-performed and I'm quite sorry more people didn't see it.

[@farhankoozechi943]

10:00 reminds me of an episode of the pink panther series The x 13 one Ejects, counts to ten, slams to the ground then pulls the parachute😂😂😂😂😂

[@farhankoozechi943]

This is the episode: the jet pink: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6moiX1sfJJjoJY

[@showtime112]

Yes, not all the physics in flight simulations are correct and it can lead to some funny scenes such as this one :)

[@bjornsmith9431]

Kamikaze tactics is using in depression, the sacrifice once self doesn't help the situation in air combat the U.S.S.R, Germans, Italian and Japanese learn this the hard way.

[@showtime112]

It's a pretty desperate act, no doubt.

[@paulallen8109]

To OP. You meant "desperation". It's not the same as depression. "the sacrifice once self doesn't help the situation in air combat" Actually it's better than nothing and if used frequently enough it might scare the enemy into thinking they're dealing with somebody insane/crazy. That in itself is a victory on its own for it spreads fear. Fear has been used a psychological warfare since the dawn of recorded history. Other than the fear-factor which scares the enemy these selfless acts of sacrifice can *inspire* a whole people to fight. The famous 300 at Thermopylae were always going to lose the battle. But they didn't care. Hearing about their last stand spread through all Greek city states and made people stand up to fight the Persian invaders. Here's what, the *British* were prepared to use it during the Battle of Britain in 1940 if they had ran out of enough modern aircraft or pilots. Had the air battles gone worse the RAF even had plans to send out bomber command in an attacking or defending role against any invasion in the planned Operation Sea Lion. Heck, they even had plans of using Tiger Moth biplane trainers fitted with bombs and makeshift machine guns and had every intention of using whatever they could to stop an invasion. Now it didn't come to that for the British in 1940... but suppose they *would* have found themselves in a very difficult situation? You'd be amazed what people are willing to do to defend their country and their loved ones. *You're missing this whole part* . It never came to any British "mid-air ramming" because it never got so bad for them. I have little doubt the Americans would have done the same in a scenario where they were in a really bad spot. And you also missed the part of this video in which they said that the taran-tactic was *nothing like* the Japanese Kamikaze - who had every intention of flying a suicide mission. "the sacrifice once self doesn't help the situation" It certainly *alleviates* it. Look this word up. And what are your sources of the *Italians* sacrificing themselves? The Italians were famous for one thing: Giving up and surrendering if they felt they were fighting in vain. The reason they did this is because few Italians felt any allegiance or loyalty to their regime and even less to the elite classes who risked next to nothing in the war. Many Italians considered those who led them were worse enemies than the allies they fought. What Italian pilots committed mid-air ramming attacks? Sounds to me like you're living in some black-and-white reality where context, circumstances and human nature are oblivious factors. For a noble cause, for their loved ones and for their freedom people are willing to sacrifice themselves.

[@EATPANT420]

Ahhh yes, the "war thunder" tactic..

[@showtime112]

Didn't know that. I might try it when I start playing WT :)

[@kangaroohybrid5633]

Enemy at the Gates is a good movie about the top Russian sniper in WW2....gives you a good look into the Mindset of the Russian Military fighting the Germans in Stalingrad.

[@showtime112]

Oh yeah, saw it in a movie theater back then. What a weird mindset it was.

[@ZAFODBIBLBROKS1]

This film is extremely stupid anti-Russian propaganda. The Germans could really defeat SUCH Russians in two weeks, as stipulated by the Barbarossa plan. However, we know that the Germans did not defeat the Russians. Conclusion: this film is a test for stupidity. If you have taken seriously what is shown in this film, then you are a fool.

[@new-wave2941]

Ok, jesu imali padobrane 🪂

[@showtime112]

Imali su. U 1. svjetskom ratu još ne ali u drugom su ih skoro svi nosili.

[@new-wave2941]

@@showtime112 jasno, to sam znao, nego nisam znao, koliko je to bila ucestala praksa da se nose padobrani.... Hvala na odgovoru

[@dragonstormdipro1013]

Was this state sanctioned or typical Eastern European suicidal shenanigans?

[@showtime112]

Initially no. But then they began to encourage it until about 1944.

[@MrNord44]

@@showtime112 В СССР поощряли применение тарана до 1944 года? Бред. Он никогда не поощрялся.

[@enzoflyer7522]

@@MrNord44 What about the propaganda posters?

[@MrNord44]

@@enzoflyer7522 Yes

[@MrNord44]

@@enzoflyer7522 Because it's just propaganda. The war on the eastern front was different. The Germans bombed sanitary trains, trains with civilians who were evacuated. The Germans were killing everyone. Therefore, at the beginning of the war, for the reasons listed above, German planes were shot down with a battering ram if they ran out of ammunition. Yes, it was necessary to have great courage to go to the ram, they were proud of it (posters). But a clear order - fly and ram the enemy's plane was never given.

[@il-2forsale57]

Камикадзе осознанно совершали вылет в один конец, а советские летчики принимали решение на совершение тарана уже во время боя Так что называть советских летчиков "камикадзе" - это бред

[@showtime112]

You don't understand the meaning of inverted commas, it seems.

[@nitinkataria4108]

No, they did not

[@cory4576]

Mam I appreciate you teaching history man school don't teach about ww2 no more

[@showtime112]

So that must be why nobody under 25 watches these videos 😁

[@dimakolisikas7039]

There are heroic things that western European can t understand because just need soul and courage. These actions these heroes aren t mainly from nations of Eastern Greek orthodox civilization. It s not kamikaze. Just read war history of Greeks, Serbs Bulgarians, Russians, vlachs, and you II understand