When Two Tigers Faced Swarms of T-34s: Hans Bölter's Epic Fight for Survival near Leningrad

By January 1943, Soviet forces were already in motion plotting and executing daring offensives across the vast expanse of the German-Soviet Front.
Operation Iskra marked the beginning of a series of bold offensives by the Soviets aimed squarely at delivering a decisive blow to Germany's Army Group North.
On January 12, 1943, The Soviets launched a massive assault, known as the Second Battle of Lake Ladoga, targeting the narrow German-held corridor south of Schlüsselburg.
As the battle raged on, the situation grew dire for the Germans. Recognizing the gravity of the Soviet penetration, Commander-in-Chief of the 18th Army, ordered in the Watzmänner-the 96th Infantry Division under Brigadier General Noeldechen-to launch a counterattack. Despite being understrength, the division received orders to engage the enemy and push them back across the Newa River.
The Watzmänner had only five grenadier battalions at their disposal. Supporting them were 88 millimeter guns from the 36th Flak Regiment, along with four Tiger tanks of the 1st Company of the 502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion, under First Lieutenant von Gerdtell. One of the Tiger tanks was commanded by a 27-year-old Sergeant-First-Class, Hans Bölter, who served as a platoon leader in the 1st company.
With the stage set for a clash of titanic proportions, the outcome of the Second Battle of Lake Ladoga hung in the balance. The Watzmänner's counterattack would determine whether the Germans could stem the tide of the Soviet advance or face the risk of losing control over vital strategic positions.
#tigertank #panzer #ww2germany

[@jpmtlhead39]

What the 502 and 503 German Heavy Tank Battalions were able to achive against Overwhelming numbers of Russian Armour from 1943 until the end , was truly Remarkable to say the least. The superior training and superior guns, did allow to the German Armoured units achived Astonishing results.

[@robertschumann7737]

Agreed. Although it is a lot easier to take your time and aim true against an enemy tank knowing that as long as they were in front of you their weapons were pretty much useless against your armor. The Russians in those T34s couldn't say that. At Kursk when they learned to swarm, bum rush, ram and get behind the Tigers and Panthers they were able to defeat them but with high losses themselves. The Soviets lost over 1300 (destroyed) tanks and assault guns at Kursk and still got the W. The Germans lost less than 250. With only 70 being tanks. Their elite SS Panzer divisions couldn't run to Italy fast enough.

[@garykeith1048]

@@robertschumann7737 Hitler ordered them there. It wasn't a case of running. It was the result of the stupidity of fighting a two front war without the logistics, oil, and manpower to back it up. Also, at Kursk the Russians established air superiority for the first time in the Russo-German war. The German industrial base couldn't replace the losses of tanks and tank destroyers like the Stug 3.

[@jpmtlhead39]

@@robertschumann7737 right. Just one "remark", the Germans didin't lose the Battle of Kursk. In Strategic terms yes,but in reality only Manstein and other few high ranking german Officers knew how close they were from a clear victory over the red army. But as always the Madman himself was the one who decided the outcome of this battle.( Like in hundred more occasions).

[@keithallver2450]

The Tiger, when it wasn't having mechanical issues, was a formidable beast.

[@ruppollock4392]

To few to make any difference, only 1500 built against 30000 this. The stug was actually more effective and nearly 20000 built with a kill ratio of 3 to 1

[@khaldrago911]

Bruh, tell me more! It sounds like you were right there..

[@elijahmontgomery4146]

I believe the term your looking for is, “obscene monstrosity” At the time of its introduction, by far most dangerous tank in service.

[@JaHail-oy6vq]

@@ruppollock4392 Sherman had 1 to 3 lol and T34 had 1 to 10

[@JaHail-oy6vq]

To be fair every tanks during ww2 breaks down even light tanks or armored car

[@rodrigoquiroga8590]

Excellent heavy machines, but above all, what formidable commanders and soldiers !

[@stargazer1744]

Crews were so well trained and relentless.

[@zillsburyy1]

those tigers were great at long range hits

[@stargazer1744]

Even firing from 2 Km. away they achieved accurate hits.

[@bohan9957]

German armor was defeated by Allied air power and lack of fuel. It never lost a battle against Allied ground forces.

[@jefferyroy2566]

"German armor" is not a discrete battle force consisting of nothing but tanks. An ideal Panzer division was composed of motorized infantry battalions, artillery, reconnaissance, and engineers, with service units providing logistical support. As the war went on, the numbers in these various elements fluctuated, decreasing to levels of less than a quarter of their initial composition at the start of the war. Armored battalions are nearly useless without the manpower necessary hold the ground taken by a properly combined unit. The outcome of Operation Citadel, the largest tank confrontation of the war (aka the Battle of Kursk), shows the Soviets losing the tank end of the conflict by a ratio of 1.61 to 1 (2,471 Soviet tanks to 1,536 Nazi ones). In this case, it was neither airpower nor materiel that were deciding factors. The Soviet execution of defense in depth made the difference. Lacking the ability to outflank their opponents, the Wehrmacht and SS units spent all their strength against an adversary which was better prepared and better equipped. In the movie "Patton," the General talks about facing Rommel in a one-on-one tank contest to decide the upcoming Battle of El Guettar. At that point, the best tank Rommel would have had at his disposal was the Panzer IV Ausf.G with the 7.5 cm L/43 long KwK 40 gun. Patton would have been relegated to the Sherman M4A1, the best tank in North Africa outside of the Ausf.G version. Up until the surrender of Germany in May, 1945, the Panzer IV Ausf.G was still the most reliable tank on the Axis roster, with its gun capable of penetrating nearly every surface of any Sherman or Churchill. The inferior P-IV H through J versions were a reflection of the wartime decline in German manufacturing quality. No one is sure if Stalin actually said, "Quantity has a quality all its own." Whoever first made that claim might look at the results of WWII and say, "See, told you so!"

[@alwinmitter2161]

@@jefferyroy2566 The main reason for Russia‘s „success“ at Kursk (and all later successes) was the decoding of „Enigma“. Since then the Allies knew all German operation plans and could prepare accordingly

[@TheSecretOfNem]

A defeat is still a loss.

[@jefferyroy2566]

@@alwinmitter2161 Breaking Enigma coded message fragments at the rate of hundreds per day occurred largely in Bletchley Park (BP). The Lorenz SZ40, SZ42a and SZ42b were the predecessors of the Colossus devices, the first truly programmable computers. There was something else involved called the "Heath Robinson," a less sophisticated cryptographic device. Multiple Lorenz devices were set up as Enigma emulators, each capable of executing the operations of individual Enigma wheels. The overall awareness of Nazi plans for Operation Citadel had been acquired through human intel from the Eastern Front, then run through BP to check against other intelligence traffic for further clues. The most direct intel for pre-operation plans was provided by the Lucy spy ring run out of Switzerland and Tunny intercepts from British MI-6. The value of all that helped Soviet forces keep from being caught in a double envelopment along the northern and southern flanks of the Kursk salient. Hitler panicked when things did not go as planned, sending Citadel survivors off to the Balkans and Italy to die. This was after losing just a quarter of personnel and materiel as the Red Army at Kursk. When you're willing to put that much meat and metal into grinder, and the opposition does not possess as much to sacrifice, the only hope for Hitler was a sudden collapse of the entire Soviet empire in 1941. It might have worked if the Wehrmacht, Schutzstaffel and Gestapo didn't enjoy bathing in the blood of Russian, Polish and other non-Aryan civilians, many of whom greeted German forces as liberators in the early days of Operation Barbarossa.

[@duke6389]

@@alwinmitter2161 This is nonsense, because the Enigma was used exclusively for submarine operations and for encrypting messages to the so-called "wolf packs". The land forces have used other methods of transmission.

[@user-it5zt5vw8f]

General Patton said we fought wrong people in ww2, looking at how america is falling apart today..I ask the same question

[@JDDC-tq7qm]

General Patton would have got his ass kicked if he tried to fight USSR Zhukov would've teached him a good lesson about Urban warfare and pincer movements

[@MrLukedanger]

@@JDDC-tq7qm😂😂😂😂😂 the Russians were tough but let’s not forget they had no navy and a very weak air force they had no nukes. And we’re completely funded by the western allies. The Germans had killed 1/4 of all men.

[@DG-pk3fh]

Russian and Germans had the best battle harden infantry in WW2

[@jankroehl]

You all should do so. And all of you should read the Talmud to understand, who the real enemy of Edom, Amalek and the whites, are and why they call us Gójim.

[@josefkopacz1144]

General Patton was a real General I wonder what he would have thought of General Millie. 😅😮.

[@FindanDandy]

my great uncle was Pak 43 operator on Kuban front. Lasted Ostfront and withdrawal and 5 years denazification under hated Adenauer. Died 2004.

[@garykeith1048]

Denazification was a bad thing? Just curious about your comment regarding Adenauer. Would appreciate a fuller explanation about why he was hated.

[@FindanDandy]

@@garykeith1048 No comment to DH's like you with no knowledge of the average Germans and sociopolitical history.

[@garykeith1048]

@@FindanDandy You lot WWI and WWII. Get over it. Americans kicked your sorry ass in both wars. As an American, I'm very proud of that.

[@raptorhacker599]

@@FindanDandy whats a dh?

[@russbrown6453]

Woow love that footage. That research. The sound of those T34 diesels, clanking of those tracks, must have been horrifying. Pure savagery...

[@notsorare]

The track pins on the t34s were kept from coming out by hitting the body of the tank creating the distinctive noise

[@colder5465]

As for swarms of T-34s. When the Red Army got its first Tiger tank as a trophy, Soviet military and engineers made extensive tests on it trying to understand how effective is Soviet artillery against it. The conclusion was very short and disheartening: we have absolutely no means capable of fighting them. No Soviet gun - be it a tank gun, or anti-tank gun could make an effective hit on a Tiger tank frontally. Once again: absolutely no means. This situation lasted the whole 1943 and even first half of 1944. You may be surprised but the loss of Ukraine by the Germans under old Soviet T-34-76 which couldn't fight the Tigers head-on. Why the Germans lost? In the Zitadelle because of vast Soviet mine fields and in the aftermath battle for Ukraine due to Soviet tank armies outmaneuvering them. Tiger was a very good tank but it was in very small numbers and in highly maneuvering battle they simply couldn't be everywhere. Germans usually boast that they superb in maneuvering but essentially this wasn't so. Only after August 1944 the Red Army got the T-34-85 modification of its medium tank capable of fighting Tigers with a new 85 mm gun. Though not equally but at least satisfactorily. And the infantry got a new 57 mm anti-tank gun which wasn't suicidal in fighting with Tigers. So if the Tiger was fighting with T-34-76s head-on the result was very predictable

[@jeffharrison7003]

Same with Sherman. Hitler wanted to depopulate the area and bring in Anglo Saxons. Not idea why we hindered him

[@wolfdogs6013]

It doesn't matter what side if it you are on. The men that fought in that war. Should be lifted above those of us who also served! I was a Combat Medic in the Infantry for 8yrs. The world will NEVER know men like this again! American/German/Russian/British/Japanese....others...It doesn't matter! These men were the BEST any man could ever hope to achieve!

[@jabersawaya7131]

Germans fought brutal weather and herds of enemies with extreem courage

[@markwagstaff7209]

Without a doubt the greatest generation

[@wolfdogs6013]

@jabersawaya7131 The Soldiers of Germany have been stomped on by history! Soldiers do NOT get to choose our enemies. The German Soldiers are the ones I really respect! They knew the war was over by 43...Yet they fought harder. Their stories should be told. In my humble opinion.

[@darrinrentruc6614]

@@markwagstaff7209 That is a myth of American government propaganda, The greatest American Generation was the Men and Woman who fought against the British during the American Revolution.

[@moshedayan2810]

The only pity that they expended their remarkable talents and energy in fighting one another

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

By early '43 the majority of German veteran's were gone. A huge factor.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

German tankers in early 1943 became veterans in 1944 though. They learned at Kharkov, Kursk etc and were veterans in Normandy.

[@Jakez408]

The veterans who served in France were all gone by the time the Germans' reached Moscow. At Smolensk the Russians held up the Germans for 3-4 weeks and it was only repeated Stuka dive bomber attacks which won Smolensk but the Germans lost a lot of soldiers there. 500,000 Germans killed in first 6 months of Barbarossa. But the Russian dead was enormous due to the surprise attack and the Russians were unprepared with no battle plan as Stalin had expected a war with Germany not before 1942.

[@darklysm8345]

​@@Jakez408"all lost" source?

[@Harry-mp8vi]

@@lyndoncmp5751 Only a few of them.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@Harry-mp8vi No that was the Ardennes. Still a fair number of veterans in Normandy.

[@user-nx1oz6pc5k]

Meat grinder tactic is still on vogue in russian army . The same with their tanks ,because they've got enough . And our tanks are still shooting from far away,with high velocity ammo ?! Thank your for the video .

[@Harry-mp8vi]

This is the myth straight out of general Halder's fair tales. German generals had to justify their existence by stretching the facts after the war. Halder blamed anything but himself for the defeats in the East. Weather, Hitler, huge hordes of enemy troops. Anything but himself.

[@MrDanger34]

Amazing documentary and very very acurate most importantly! Amazing quality video 👍

[@FactBytes]

Thank you so much 😀

[@litestuffllc7249]

What one must realize about this Winter offensive is it wouldn't have been possible except for the moronic attack by the Japanese on the USA. When Stalin got the confirmation of Japanese intensions it freed him to move 19 divisions pinned down in the east - in fear of an attack from China the west - it is these 19 Siberian divisions that were the bulk of the Soviet Winter offensive; if not for the stupid move by Japan; Moscow and Leningrad would probably have fallen; Stalin was literally packing to move out of Moscow when he got the great news of the attack on Pearl Harbor and he decided he could stay.

[@Jakez408]

You are saying they had the Siberian elite divisions stationed there in Siberia which in 1939 under Zhukov had defeated the Japanese Army and Stalin would not use them to defend Moscow? That sounds very implausible especially since after the Japanese Army defeat the Russian spies had found out the Japanese had no intention of ever again invading the USSR again. Zhukov was pulled out of Leningrad and was tasked with the defence of Moscow and his common sense told him Moscow was far more important than empty vast stretches of Siberia. Zhukov was Germany's nemesis as at every turn thereafter he outwitted the German generals in the large battles to come.

[@litestuffllc7249]

@@Jakez408 I am saying Japan had 1 million men in Manchuria; had they been capable of strategic thought; the Japanese could use those troops to start an eastern front; pinning down those Siberian troops in the east; where they could not be sent to Moscow without giving up the east. Japan was however morons. The Soviets had left these troops there for just that exact worry. But when the idiot Japanese instead attack the USA, Stalin knew he could move those troops to defend Moscow; Stalin had actually begun to move out from Moscow but on hearing of Pearl Harbor; he decided not to move because he knew he now had 19 Siberian divisions. Japan didn't even have to do well in the east; they just needed to pin down those divisions.

[@litestuffllc7249]

@@Jakez408 What it comes down to is Japan was stupid. They needed reasources; yet had they assisted the Nazi's they'd have the entire Soviet Union's resources. The Japanese had no problem taking the Phippines thanks to Mc Aurthur, and no problem taking indonesia. With the Soviet Union down; China falls also; they were largely getting arms from Russia. With Russia defeated; Britain would be forced to make peace or risk their oil in the middle east; and Suez ; then India. Then Australia; they'd have a good grasp on the entire eastern Hemisphere. Probably the Nazi's wouldn't honor a peace with GB long. They'd take the Middle east and suez; the only hope for the west would be the Abomb. Japan was so absolutely stupid they allowed Russia to import US Goods into Vladivostock during the war; under Russian flags - morons beyond morons.

[@barbarossa1983]

Rzev ?

[@cedricliggins7528]

19 divisions is only roughly 200,000 troops. The Germans invaded USSR with over 3 millions troops!

[@user-pf6ib3ue5s]

T34 also had issues

[@billt6116]

All of them had advantages, and shortfalls. That's unavoidable.

[@fenris6051]

Biggest issue was they were operated by Russians LOL

[@sebastienbeaule6443]

Great documentary as always❤. Very good job😊. I love your channel. Greets from Canada🇨🇦!!!

[@FactBytes]

Thank you very much!

[@carlosbourguignon9539]

Tigre 🐅 era fenomenal

[@robertschumann7737]

I have to disagree when you state Stalingrad was when the German flanks began to faulter. The war was essentially over when Hitler decided to try to take Moscow instead of switching his armies over to the defense. Had he done that when he should have his troops would have been ready for the Soviet counter-attack and Soviet winter. They would not have suffered anywhere close to the over one million casualties they had in the winter of 41/42 and would have been setup perfectly for taking Moscow in the spring. When you attack an 1800 mile front with 3 million troops, then lose a million of them, extending your front by over half its size before all of your armies are properly reinforced is insanity. The Germans had no chance of winning after the winter of 41. It only looked like they did because Stalin was convinced the Germans would attack Moscow again in the summer of 42 instead of heading south like they did. Once he finally accepted the Germans were no longer interested in Moscow he allowed the troops to transfer south and the rest is history. If Stalin had listened to his intelligence or generals the Germans wouldn't have even made it to Stalingrad. I have always found it fascinating how the 2 biggest warlords of WWII virtually switched places as the war went on. Hitler relied heavily on his generals early in the war and lost faith in them eventually micromanaging every aspect of the war and Stalin started out micromanaging but as the losses piled up he increasingly relied on his generals more and more. I have always wondered how the war would have turned out if Hitler and Stalin had stayed out of it. One thing we do know for sure is the Germans would not have attacked the Soviet Union when they did had the German generals gotten their way. They tried to convince Hitler the Wehrmacht had not recovered from invading Poland yet. Not even mentioning Greece, Crete and North Africa. Hitler was certain all they had to do was "kick the door in and the whole rotten structure will collapse". Shows you how great he was with bluffing and posturing like with the Sudatenland, Austria and Czechoslovakia. Then how wrong his judgement was when it came to Poland, the US and the Soviet Union. France was an equal collaboration between Hitler and his generals. He could try to claim the strategy for sending his tanks through the Ardennes but history knows the credit belongs to Guderian.

[@user-kw5hx7ji8h]

Hell on earth! Poor guys on both sides.

[@user-wk2yg8gk6k]

You have VDO Air war battle of kursk Ju-87 G 37mm hs-129 75mm

[@uuzoo]

What a good video. Thank you.

[@FactBytes]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nicktozie6685]

Awesome video

[@FactBytes]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@clausbohm9807]

I think what helped with the high German tank kill ratio is that even though they got hit and disabled in the field, they were recovered, repaired and sent back out again, much like the German soldier himself.

[@RobertCraft-re5sf]

Great video BTW 👍🏻

[@FactBytes]

Thanks

[@SaturnReturns]

Phenomenal footage. Where did you find it?

[@allgood6760]

Brave souls!

[@dr.kroenen2425]

When things get precarious they send Otto Carious😮

[@arnoldwillis7685]

Who writes this descriptive narration? Hemingway?

[@scottb4579]

Artificial intelligence

[@joemerican5781]

Na! Sounds more like Joseph G and Berlin Central Scriptwriters.

[@blitzy3244]

lol ikr... it's just blah blah blah verbal masturbation

[@ingostawitz1140]

Today Germany doesn´t have many men of such calibre.

[@FindanDandy]

absolutely truth. Albrecht my great uncle had no regrets fighting Russian, American and British said Hannah Reische was right- we were ashamed we lost, then we won the Peace- Germany reconstituted as Great Germanic realm of Austria-West Germany-Switzerland far ahead of USA, UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Dutch in technology and manufacture with every ex colonial country battling to do business with us. Germany may have lost the battle, but won the more important game the socio-economic peace until Gottverdammt damned Red Merkel the piglet.

[@g.p.1676]

Sadly I have to agree.

[@Jdsofar]

Of coarse most died during the war

[@herbertkramer3532]

Yes, look at our politicians in first line. It's disgusting.

[@erwinsell184]

😂😂😂​@@Jdsofar Over 12 million geeman soldiers survived the war,learn some before talk shit

[@johannjohann6523]

One thing not talked about during the war in Russia, was lack of food and how some Russians went so far as cannibalism eating the dead in both Leningrad and Stalingrad especially. However, if caught, was a crime punishable by death. Even though the Russian army would force soldiers into combat at gunpoint, saving their best weapons like machine guns to turn on their own troops if they retreated instead of using them against the Germans. Since there was a shortage of weapons 1 Russian soldier would be given a rifle, no ammo. And the soldier next to him would be given a single clip of ammo. Whichever died first the other soldier would end up with a rifle and 5 rounds to face the Germans. Brilliant.

[@blitzy3244]

Russians would have starved by 1943 if not for lend lease from us Americans. The Germans held the Ukraine which most of the food supply was from.

[@user-wg8pi9ji6c]

Друг, тебе надо к психиатру, настолько ты болен!

[@davidmccann9811]

I remember reading about Russian/German soldiers on the Eastern Front eating boiled paper and even stewed tree bark.

[@Kingmick58]

Just asking. Why didn't the Germans use diesel engines?

[@davidmccann9811]

A few reasons, but (from what I understand) one of the main reasons is that you can make petrol from coal (the Germans had lots of coal) but for diesel you need oil (which they had a chronic shortage of). Other reasons include the fact that U Boats needed diesel and things like power to weight ratio is generally better in petrol engines.

[@Kingmick58]

Thanks mate.@@davidmccann9811

[@dentonstales2778]

Had Germany possessed the Tiger and the ME262 at the start of the war, things might have gone differently.

[@geofftls]

The German soldier's photo is that of Major Willy Jahde (502 battalion CO) not Hans Bolter.

[@pierredecine1936]

The snow is barely shoe-height ...

[@John14-6...]

Wonder what it was that took out Bolters Tiger. I guess it could have been a T34 if it hit in the right spot. Does anyone know if the T34 85s available in 1943?

[@FactBytes]

T-34/85s were only available from early 1944 onwards. It's likely that Bolter's Tiger was disabled by hits from Soviet anti-tank guns.

[@Jakez408]

At Prokhorovka Russians found out a Tiger could be taken out at 1000 meters if struck at the side armour by standard T 34 76 mm cannon.

[@bertplank9892]

Still available at Walmarts....the Israeli Merkava has turned out to be useless junk.....

[@ulfnorman9025]

Squad Leader had a scenario about this, called Paw of the Tiger

[@MikeyRumi180]

That pop-up image was NOT Hans Bolter folks. It was the commander of the 502...lol

[@cedricliggins7528]

Bolter passed away many years ago!

[@mmingfeilam]

I thought his name was Bolter

[@warpedbeyondhelp]

Such poetic, flowery and verbose descriptions.

[@bkohiba1]

Nice overview of the action. This narrative is actually taken from the book Panzer Aces by Frank Kurowski. credit him.

[@j___mmdcclxxvi2125]

I wonder if those Tigers had antipersonnel canister rounds?

[@erichaheidrich4593]

In war thunder; 2 T34s against a swarm of Tigers.

[@williamshine1346]

At 2:45 that’s not Hans Bolter

[@oldguy8177able]

the german tiger had range,optics and communication,the russians had much reduced range bad optics no communication,and a lot of russia is flat

[@danpetrescu4915]

i don't understand how they lose the war . only victory but in the end they lose .

[@TheToolnut]

Sheer weight of numbers defeated them.

[@bertplank9892]

Treachery from within in.Who ever heard of a top Nazi (Goebbels) who had a club foot and had to wear braces....unlike "aryan" soldiers who died in their droves on the battlefields. Like the war in Ukraine today BOTH SIDES WERE RUN BY THE SAME PEOPLE......basically bankers.

[@stargazer1744]

Too many enemy tanks and troops everywhere, too many enemy planes everywhere...fighting on several fronts at the same time...Impossible.

[@davidmccann9811]

German tanks had far superior optics, among other things.

[@user-kx8ii1gr7k]

But Tiger against Russia one thousand, T34 against Hitler sixty thousand ( 60 000).

[@facubeitches1144]

As made slightly famous by Squad Leader's "Paw of the Tiger" scenario from the Cross of Iron expansion.

[@teamgonzo9289]

It's, "Groeschel" (Grow-shell) Just saying........,....

[@TheRumbles13]

The AI narration bothers me, not sure why

[@johndavis8626]

There troops ( Russia ) if you were with them and was wounded they would leave you to die if you were not able craw off front you died

[@jeffharrison7003]

Yep, we fought wrong side

[@pekkasiren]

Swastika on Finland?

[@KwemKlem]

They were in the same alliance so of course.

[@user-gg9hg8go6j]

Да. А вы не, знали, что Финляндия была союзником Гитлера? Она учавствовала в блокаде Ленинграда.

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

Wolter?.

[@palanka842]

Tiger tanks never got to Moskow, but T-34s really entered Berlin...

[@user-qr4pu1tt7y]

My point as well .

[@shanewildwest1390]

T-34 was a great tank,for its era!

[@markusteschke1407]

Zeige nie ein Sturmgewehr 44, wenn Du über 1943 sprichst! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@Harry-mp8vi]

Du wusstest es nicht? Alle deutschen Landser waren 1943 mit AK-12 bewaffnet.

[@charlesharkin2165]

BS SIR

[@eliasloozen7948]

Just for the record, are we glorifying NAZI's? Patton was a brilliant war tactic, undeniable. But his view on society is somewhat special, probably influenced war experiences.

[@RT-far-T]

A ridiculously tall tale.

[@elijahmontgomery4146]

T34’s were held together with shitty welds and hope. Their optics were dog shit when compared to the Germans. The F34 76mm cannon can’t penetrate a tigers frontal armor at any angle and will have trouble getting through the side at most. The soviets were not known for decisive tactics or being good at communicating. The germans were far more skilled in communication from a crew to platoon level. The 88mm could destroy T34’s from very far away, and between the best gun sights of the war and very skilled gunners, they might as well have been snipers. As someone with real world experience in a combat vehicles crew, communication is everything, and the soviets were shit at it.

[@opshunter1228]

The tiger roars

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

​@@elijahmontgomery4146Russian tank's didn't have radio's, used flag's like the navy

[@ahmadkhalil1708]

Russian got nothing but snow and numbers

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Not far fetched at all. Tigers racked up huge scores on the Eastern Front in long range tank rich country and without having to worry about enemy air power.

[@Theearthtraveler]

These were the same German's that had starved thousands of "Russian civilians to death during the siege of Leningrad..

[@KwemKlem]

Like almost all Stalinist projects, the defense of Leningrad involved the mass use (100,000s) of civilians, at essentially gunpoint, in the making and repair of defenses such as miles and miles of trenches. A large number died from that labor. Once supplies are insufficient to feed the existing besieged population, an ethical leader will surrender in most circumstances, in order to save human life. Soviet/Leningrad officials refused to do that. That's not Germany fault.

[@fatihorkunss]

I would like to remind you Stalin s colloctivization movement against villagers farmers. Death by hunger counts only in Ukraine was 5 million death!!

[@user-gg9hg8go6j]

Ещё и фины помогли в этом.

[@user-gg9hg8go6j]

Не надо перекладывать убийство мирных жителей Ленинграда на Советское руководство. В планах Гитлера было уничтожить этот город стереть с лица земли. И его жителей. Ленинградцы не сдались. Вы тут, что фашистов обеляете?

[@user-gg9hg8go6j]

Вы, что методички Геббельса цитируете? Такую, чушь вам в головы заливпют? Или вы от неновисти к СССР этот бред несёте?

[@arabulbulian2315]

Although an extremely powerful unit, the use of independent Tiger battalions in northern Russia was not ideal. The terrain in northern Russia, especially around Leningrad, was not ideal for the Tiger tank. They were better off deployed in south Russia where there is much more open steppe. But no matter where tigers and panthers were deployed, getting them across rivers was almost always problematic. Even the best tanks in WW2, if not used properly, can be ineffective overall. Also, you have to maintain these tanks with fuel and spare parts. A real problem for the Germans throughout the war. Keep in mind the Tiger was not using diesel fuel, which would later be a big mistake.

[@Jakez408]

Tigers needed a lot of maintenance. For every week on the field they needed to be pulled back for maintenance at least 2 weeks, Also spare parts were in short supply and they were very expensive to produce and used large amounts of fuel which after Kursk the Germans were short on. Tanks were given one tankful and that was it and no way to conduct a war. Also Tankograd was manufacturing 4000 T 34,s a month due to Stalin's insane demands they were not welded properly or even painted but there were lots of Russian tanks on the battlefield which the Russians could cannibalise for spare parts. German Tigers were maybe 200 a month at best and Panthers were also built in small numbers. The Germans found out for every Russian tank destroyed there was 10 ready to take its place and that applies to infantry. the German losses could not be replaced. The Russian Army was coined "the steamroller" sometime in history and well named.

[@FindanDandy]

it was 80 Octane petroleum not markedly different to Diesel without added headache of massive compression & complicated cylinder head\valve system head ratio all Diesel require.There was a massive demand for superchargers or turbos for the bombed 24/7 zero engine industry.

[@Harry-mp8vi]

@@Jakez408 T-34s were welded well enough. As to the shiny metallic paint job, that was deemed unnecessary.

[@DavidPhillips-gc8lm]

You have no idea what you are doing. This was supposed to be about 2 tigers but you show footage of panthers. What a joke and you’re comments about the speed and agility of tigers is completely wrong. Tigers were heavy, had problems negotiating mud and snow, and underpowered

[@davidhimmelsbach557]

The computer 'voice' sure butchers language.

[@Wolfen443]

If the Ukraine had the manpower of the German army and upgraded German weapons from that war, maybe they could be making a run for Moscow too. If Putin had the WWII Soviet Army upgraded the war could have been over in 3 months too.

[@alanklajnsek4400]

Who won the war? Aha Russians and Titos partisans. The majority of Reichs forces were in the E and S although W front did offer a relief and quickened the downfall.

[@TheToolnut]

The tribe won the war.

[@mikemyers8064]

Terrible commentary.

[@Jakez408]

At the battle of Prokhorovka T 34 tanks overwhelmed the measly 200 Tiger tanks which Hitler had sent by getting close and a melee took place when Russians found out they could destroy the Tiger at 1000 meters by hitting its side armor. The Panthers were ineffective as they had narrow tracks which could not handle the deep Russian soil and had major mechanical problems. The Ferdinands were easily taken out as they had no machine gun and Russians climbed aboard and set charges. The Russian tank crews were poorly trained so success depended on the talent and ability of individuals. The Red Army inflicted losses on the Germans which they could not endure as it was composed of T 34,s and KV 1 and 2,s whilst the Germans had mostly all Type 4,s and 5,s which were way inferior to the Russian tanks. Russians had a lot of anti tank rifles which destroyed the Tigers at Kursk. There were some instances where Tigers were very effective but so were the KV 2,s and other Russian Heavy tanks which came out in 1944.

[@lazybear236]

There were never 200 Tigers over the entire Kursk region let alone at Prokhorovka. You should read the new books by both Russian and Western historians that appeared in the last 10 to 15 years. All agree that the Germans lost far fewer tanks at P than previously claimed by Russia.

[@FindanDandy]

rubbish. There was never concentration of such concentrated number Tigers. Furthermore Elefant etc were surrounded by infantry and anti tank PAK. The Kill ratio of all 'Big Cat' Panzer of at least ten to one Soviet tanks was considered acceptable and adequate. The Germans were paunfully aware they could NEVER out produce USSR but could out quality the Reds especially with best optics of any nation in WW2 from Leica and Carl Zeiss. The Germans knew since 1941 without capture of Baku oil, WW2 was lost (Hitler conversation with Prof Dr Todt (Division Todt Construction who built Westerwalle and all major Wehrmacht structures such as French UBoot structures in Lorient, Brest, St Nazaire, etc) and Dr Albert Speer (later minister of armaments, manufacture essentially the entirety from start to finish German arms logistics)). Goering constantly quarreling with resistant aircraft manufacturers for a decent heavy bomber to take out Russian electric power stations (as Mr Putin does now,). Hitler was at odds with Rommel and Guderian because they both stupidly fought battles of glory not the important inglorious no fame battles for much needed oil (aim of entire Tobruq campaign). Ardennes/ Battle of the Bulge everyone brought a Jerry can to syphon from Allied vehicles.

[@Harry-mp8vi]

@@FindanDandy Tigers falling into Russian hands were rarely used as their maintenance was very difficult. Replacing the transmission required removal of the turret. Many tanks had to be shipped to the factory for repair. Meanwhile, T-34s were often back in service after a field repair.

[@FindanDandy]

@@Harry-mp8vi the genius of Russian production instead of non-interchangeability and hand final finishing as was a lot of early German gear. Probably the best German engineering with practicality was the very roughly made Junkers Stuka- able to be field repaired and easily train/halftrack moved.

[@Harry-mp8vi]

@@FindanDandy No doubt the Stuka was the most respected dive bomber of WW2. Lack of paint finish and tinsel trim notwithstanding.

[@mysticdavestarotmachinesho5093]

This is a badly written novella.

[@robertcasey3528]

USSR was overrated. Only because of the numbers of people did they stand a chance

[@Harry-mp8vi]

No. The Axis had numerical superiority throughout 1941 - 1942. Despite this, the Soviets managed to stop Germans at Moscow and then inflict a crushing defeat on them at Stalingrad.

[@gdurant]

Keep in mind guys that logistics played a huge role in Russia's ability to move west after 1942 but especially after Kursk in 43. This logistics support was provided by US Army weapons shipped to murmansk any amounted to more than half of the total arms ammunition fuel aircraft trucks and tanks not to mention food for the Soviet forces. The long and the short of it is that the Soviet forces would have been utterly easily defeated save for American support.

[@billballbuster7186]

The Red Army lifting of the Siege of Leningrad would have been the more apt description. Another heroic tale no doubt taken from the pages of NAZI fan-boy authors with NAZI propaganda film footage. I would like to point out Post-WW2 analysis puts much doubt on these war stories as by 1943 the Germans were loosing almost as many men as the Russians. The Germans hid their true battle losses in both men and equipment, which was why Hitler was constantly giving orders to units that no longer existed. Nobody dare tell Hitler the extent of his losses.

[@---nb7ll]

nassssi propaganda...apple tv estrenando EN 2024 "masteres of the air" del afamado propagandista Steven y Bill Bolas hablando de malvadosss nassisss...🤣🤣... dale a los subtítulos, campeón.🤣..kzbin.info/www/bejne/op7NZmZpeJ1rfZY

[@---nb7ll]

Y si la teoría del empate es cierta, ¿para qué fabricar 50000 T-34 para 1300 tigers de mierda4?🤣

[@powerhouse1981]

yea sure.

[@billballbuster7186]

@@---nb7ll Are you implying 1,347 Tiger 1 tanks destroyed 50,000 T-34s? There is stupid for you, only a totally stupid fan-boy would think that😅🤣😅🤣

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

​@---nb7llloss of mobility is certain death

[@ghoustdog100]

This sound like Nazi propaganda film from 1943. Continue with good work - Josef Goebbels

[@shanewildwest1390]

Tiger was enormous ,pride of German advanced military industry,also was extremely heavy,but T-34 ,was a great tank! The tank definitely helped Soviets to turn the war in their favor! Russian T-34 was and it’s still used in many armies,do to the extremely precise 85mm cannon! I drove that tank in early 90’s ,and was used in war in Yugoslavia ,due to the fact that Yugoslav Army at a time,had pretty good numbers of this old tanks at their disposal! We called them Krmača which translates pigs