"They Said Moscow in 3 Days... We Got Stuck in Hell" | Battle of Tula 1941 | Tank Warfare

Описание: THE BATTLE OF TULA 1941 - German Tank Crew's Perspective

Experience the Battle of Tula through the eyes of Hans Keller, a Panzer III gunner in Kampfgruppe Eberbach during Operation Barbarossa. This historical account depicts the October 1941 German assault on Tula, a critical defensive battle that helped save Moscow from capture.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

In late October 1941, German forces under General Heinz Guderian's 2nd Panzer Army launched an offensive to capture Tula, an industrial city 184 kilometers south of Moscow. The attack was part of Operation Typhoon, Germany's final push to capture the Soviet capital before winter. Kampfgruppe Eberbach, led by Colonel Heinrich Eberbach, spearheaded the assault with the concentrated armor of the 4th Panzer Division.

The battle began on October 24, 1941, with the main assault occurring on October 30. German forces faced fierce resistance from Soviet defenders including the Tula Workers Regiment, the 156th NKVD Regiment, and anti-aircraft units firing in direct-fire mode. Despite initial penetration into the city, German forces were unable to capture Tula. This defensive victory was crucial in preventing the encirclement of Moscow from the south.

The battle occurred during the Rasputitsa, the muddy season that turned Russian roads into impassable quagmires. German tanks struggled through the mud while facing the superior Soviet T-34 tanks, which had shocked German forces at Mtsensk earlier in October with their sloped armor and powerful guns.

KEY HISTORICAL FACTS:

Distance from Tula to Moscow: 184 kilometers
German forces: Kampfgruppe Eberbach, 4th Panzer Division, XXIV Panzer Corps
Soviet defenders: 50th Army, Tula Workers Regiment, 156th NKVD Regiment
Main assault date: October 30, 1941
German tanks: Panzer III Ausf. J with 50mm gun, Panzer IV with short 75mm gun
Soviet tanks: T-34 with diesel engine and sloped armor
Weather conditions: Rasputitsa (muddy season) severely hampered German mobility
Outcome: Soviet defensive victory, Tula never captured by German forces

EQUIPMENT DETAILS:

Panzer III Ausf. J specifications:
Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM gasoline engine, 300 horsepower
Armament: 5cm KwK 38 L/42 gun
Armor: 50mm frontal armor
Top speed: 40 km/h on roads, approximately 25 km/h in mud
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator)

T-34 Model 1941 specifications:
Engine: V-2-34 diesel engine
Armament: 76.2mm F-34 gun
Revolutionary sloped armor design
Superior cross-country mobility

HISTORICAL SOURCES:

This account is based on historical records from the Battle of Tula, October 1941, including:

German operational records from 2nd Panzer Army and Kampfgruppe Eberbach
Soviet defensive records from the 50th Army and Tula garrison
Battle of Moscow military archives
Technical specifications from German and Soviet armor manuals
Diary accounts from participants, including Soviet Senior Lieutenant V.A. Benzel
Historical analysis from World War II Eastern Front studies

The battle demonstrated the limitations of German mechanized warfare in adverse conditions and the effectiveness of Soviet defensive preparations. Tula was awarded the title of Hero City in 1976 for its defenders' courage during this critical battle.

EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE:

This content is presented for historical education and remembrance. It depicts the reality of combat experienced by soldiers on both sides of World War II. The account aims to provide historically accurate insight into one of the decisive battles that prevented the capture of Moscow and changed the course of the Eastern Front.

DISCLAIMER: This video contains historical war content for educational purposes. Viewer discretion advised.

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