Number of T-34s and KV-1s used by the Wehrmacht?

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Valhallas Call

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So I've entered the wonderful world of 1/35 scale model tanks, and something that's struck me is the number of Soviet kits that have the option of painting the tank as a captured example used by the Wehrmacht, especially for T-34s and KV-1s. Is there a statistic for how many of these tanks were actually used by the Germans? Was it really that common to see captured T-34s rolling into battle alongside Panzer IIIs and IVs?

/edit/ Just for reference, he's a photo of what appears to be an entire platoon made up of captured T-34s. The sign looks like it says "Captured Tank Detachment 21(?)". It's difficult to tell if this is an actual combat formation, or just a group of captured T-34s lined up for a photo-op.

Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-277-0836-04,_Russland,_erbeutete_russische_T-34_Panzer.jpg
 
Last edited:

Kovax

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There was supposedly a company of captured T-34s used on one occasion as a deception move. I don't believe that they were normally used in any significant numbers, at least compared to the total number of tanks utilized. More likely one or two here and there on an ad hoc basis, until they broke down and were cut up for scrap metal. At the very least, I can see spare parts being a major issue. Ammunition might be available to some degree, since the Germans produced their own shells for the Marder III with its captured Soviet 76.2mm AT gun, although that shell might not work with the main gun in the T-34.