Since the end of World War II, many discoveries have come to light. Throughout Europe and the Pacific, traces of the war have been uncovered, such as sunken ships, downed aircraft, and discarded munitions. Among the most exciting finds is a Soviet T-34 tank, which was captured by the Germans and left behind shortly after the Battle of Narva.
A brief history of the Soviet T-34
Before one can understand the magnitude of such a discovery, they must first be given a proper history on the T-34. Introduced into service with the Red Army in 1940, this medium tank became the most-produced of the Second World War, as well as the second most-produced of all time, after the T-54/T-55. A total of 84,070 were built: 35,120 of the original model and 48,950 of the T-34-85 variant.
The T-34 initially featured the 76 mm tank gun M1940 F-34 as its main armament, with two 7.62 mm Degtyaryov (DP) machine guns providing additional firepower. While not as heavily armored as other tanks during the war, it had a unique sloped design, which effectively protected the vehicle and its crew of four from anti-tank weaponry. Pair all this with wide tracks and a V12 diesel engine, and the Soviets had a leg up on their German opponents.
Germany Didn’t know about the T-34 until Operation Barbarossa
Prior the the German invasion of the Soviet Union, better known as Operation Barbarossa, the Wehrmacht wasn’t aware of the T-34’s existence, nor that of the powerful Kliment Voroshilov (KV) heavy tank. They, therefore, believed they would encounter little resistance as they made their way across the Eastern Front. The Germans were surprised by the strength of the Red Army’s tank divisions and subsequently increased the development of their own tank technologies.
The T-34, however, wasn’t without its faults, and by the final years of the war found itself being outmatched by newer tanks. That being said, it continued to see service with the Soviet Union and its allies, including during the Korean War and the Angolan Civil War. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) even equipped troops with the T-34-85 during Operation Lam Son 719 and the 1975 Spring Offensive, among other Vietnam-era engagements.
Battle of Narva
Having established the importance of the T-34 tank, let’s set the scene under which this particular vehicle was captured. Between February and August 1944, several battles occurred between the Germans and the Red Army along the 50 km-wide Narva Front, in northeastern Estonia. This offensive was particularly deadly, with over 100,000 killed and more than 400,000 wounded.
During this period, the German Army’s Detachment “Narwa,” bolstered by volunteers and Estonian conscripts, fought against the Soviet Leningrad Front for control of the strategically important Narva Isthmus. The offensive featured two major engagements: the Battle for Narva Bridgehead and the Battle of Tannenberg Line.
A continuation of the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive, the Red Army established bridgeheads along the western bank of the Narva, while the Germans maintained several on the eastern side. Soviet attempts to advance were consistently thwarted by the German forces. Ultimately, the Soviet goal of recovering Estonia to use as a base for seaborne and airborne attacks against Finland was not realized.
Capture and abandonment of a Soviet T-34
During the Battle of Tannenberg Line, German forces captured a T-34 tank from the Red Army. They repaired it, emblazoned it with their insignia, and then deployed it against Soviet troops. However, when German forces executed a tactical withdrawal along the Narva Front on September 19, 1944, they opted to leave the T-34 behind. To ensure the Soviets couldn’t recover it, they intentionally submerged the tank in Lake Mätasjärv.
Throughout this time, a local boy noticed tank tracks in the lake’s muddy vicinity and observed air bubbles surfacing. This persisted for two months, convincing him that an armored vehicle or tank lay submerged beneath the water.
Discovery of the Soviet T-34
Luckily, the club was organized into two groups: one with skilled scuba divers who were experienced in underwater exploration and recovery, and another known for its abilities in above-ground searches. Mihail Zenov headed the underwater team as they carefully scoured Lake Mätasjärv.
Even though there were no visible traces of oil or lubricant on the surface to hint at the tank’s location, the divers ultimately located it about seven feet underwater, buried beneath a three-meter thick layer of peat and silt.
A coordinated effort to retrieve and repair
After the T-34 was discovered, efforts were set in motion to recover it from the depths of Lake Mätasjärv. On September 12, 2000, a Komatsu D375A-2 was used to pull it from its submerged location. Upon reaching the surface, the war history club identified it as a T-34/76A and found an unexpected 116 shells inside. Although it had been underwater for around 56 years, the tank was in remarkably good shape, showing no signs of rust. All its systems, except for the engine, remained operational.
In the aftermath of the tank’s recovery, news of the T-34’s finding spread, attracting the attention of then-Estonian President Lennart Meri, who came to view it.
According to Estonian law, the club was unable to claim ownership of the tank for a period of five years. Once the waiting period was over, the club members embarked on a comprehensive restoration project to bring the T-34 back to its former glory, including a full overhaul of its many components.
Where is the Soviet T-34 today?
The current whereabouts of the T-34 are unknown. Some sources claim it was last seen on display at the Estonian War Museum in the village of Gorodenko, while others have said it was awaiting reassembly at the war history club’s workshop near Sirgala, in the northeast.
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Wherever it may be, military and history enthusiasts alike hope the T-34 is being well cared for. This tank is an important piece of history and one of the few surviving examples of the fighting that occurred on the Narva Front during World War II. It would be a shame for it to be lost (again).