How most quiet T-34 tank crew tricked Germans!
Can you imagine yourself sitting in a dead-frozen T-34 tank in the middle of the river, for several days? And that’s not all…
Captain Gavriil Polovchenya and his tank crew got stuck in a river near the town of Andreapol, in the winter of 1942, which was one of the coldest winters ever. While they were waiting for support to get them out of the mud and frost, an unexpected “help” came – the Germans arrived and surrounded the tank.
Captain Polovchenya ordered absolute silence so that the German outnumbered ears don’t hear their moves or voices. In absolutely frozen T-34 were only living dead so to speak.
Although the Germans couldn’t open the hatch, they believed that the tank had been abandoned and decided, as Germans often did, to capture the tank. So, they drag out heavy T-34 out of the water. On January 15, the Germans sent T-34, with tank crew that was stuck inside, to Andreapol, while the Polovchenya and others inside maintained dead silence.
Next morning Soviets started the motor and attempted a breakthrough, not knowing what their odds were. Somehow, they stumbled on the town streets, firing, smashing and crushing Germans, their equipment and everything else on their way to liberty. Dozens of German soldiers, over 30 military cars and trucks, and 10 artillery guns were destroyed, as the T-34 flee to Soviet positions, victoriously.
That same day Andreapol was liberated from Germans, who were so confused by the tank`s daring escape that they couldn`t properly resist the advancing Soviets.
Inspiration text: https://www.rbth.com/history/329862-3-greatest-victories-t-34
Image: http://www.invisiblethemepark.com/2013/02/soviet-t-34-tank-cutaway-1950/
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