For those interested in Soviet military hardware, it's well worth going a few minutes out of your way to catch this T-34 tank monument, unveiled in 1980 in honour of the 528 tank crews who played such an integral role in the taking of Königsberg in 1945.
The impressive weaponry, versatility and cutting-edge sloping armour of the T-34, caused it to be widely regarded as the superior tank for much of WW2 and it became the backbone of the Red Army. By the end of the war, it comprised well over half of the Soviet tank arsenal and the 57,000 units churned out in that time helped to make it the second most produced tank ever.
With the tank raised into a climbing position in front of a row of fluttering flags, the plinth texts read as follow:
Front: “Your exploits – immortal. Your memory – eternal.”
Back: “In the assault and capture of Fortress Königsberg, 6-9 April 1945, Soviet tank soldiers demonstrated unprecedented heroism. This T-34 tank was a direct participant in the fight for the city. It has been placed on a pedestal in honour of Kaliningrad's tank heroes."
The impressive weaponry, versatility and cutting-edge sloping armour of the T-34, caused it to be widely regarded as the superior tank for much of WW2 and it became the backbone of the Red Army. By the end of the war, it comprised well over half of the Soviet tank arsenal and the 57,000 units churned out in that time helped to make it the second most produced tank ever.
With the tank raised into a climbing position in front of a row of fluttering flags, the plinth texts read as follow:
Front: “Your exploits – immortal. Your memory – eternal.”
Back: “In the assault and capture of Fortress Königsberg, 6-9 April 1945, Soviet tank soldiers demonstrated unprecedented heroism. This T-34 tank was a direct participant in the fight for the city. It has been placed on a pedestal in honour of Kaliningrad's tank heroes."
