The Great Patriotic War 1941 – 1945 – Pictures from the Russian Archives

A selection of pictures from the Russian Archives Ria Novosti about what, the Russians call, the Great Patriotic War. Known in the west as the Eastern Front. Men, materiel, vehicles, courage, victory, it’s all in these photo’s!

All images & captions: Wikipedia / Ria Novosti

Soviet army troops advance in the area of Boguchar. South-Western Front

Private V. Safonov admitted as a member of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League.

Soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. Fire at the enemy. 1941. Russia

A battery of Katyusha rocket launchers firing at the enemy, German forces, during the Battle of Stalingrad in 6 October 1942

Sappers detonate mines found in Bulgarian waters

“Moscow Avenue in Leningrad led to the front during the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War”. A military unit marches to the front along Moscow Avenue in Leningrad. December 1941.

All images & captions: Wikipedia / Ria Novosti

Red Army tanks and skirmish line on the offensive near Bryansk

“Red Army men attacking”. The Great Patriotic War: Red Army men attacking. 1941 photo.

“Armored breakthrough at the Visla beachhead”. Armored breakthrough at the Visla beachhead. 1st Belorussian Front.

“Stream crossing”. Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. 1st Ukrainian Front. Stream crossing.

“Soviet scouts enter Yukhnov”. Soviet scouts enter Yukhnov. The Western Front.

“Before Attack”. Soldiers reading a combat leaflet before attack.

All images & captions: Wikipedia / Ria Novosti

“Radio operator receives communique”. Radio operator receives Soviet Information Bureau communique during the Great Patriotic War.

“Armored train”. The depot’s railwaymen near an armored train during the Great Patriotic War.

“Soviet sappers”. Soviet sappers defuse explosive devices

“The defense of Moscow”. Heavy gun crew firing at enemy positions during the Great Patriotic War.

“Gunners of the 19th Guards Rifle Regiment”. Gunners of the 19th Guards Rifle Regiment. 8th Guards Panfilov Division. North-Western front. 1943.

“Joining of Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts”. The Great Patriotic War. Troops of Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts united near workers settlement #5.

All images & captions: Wikipedia / Ria Novosti

“Fighting in the vicinities of Moscow”. The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Fighting in the vicinities of Moscow was fierce.

“Barricades on city streets”. Barricades on city streets.

“Defense of Moscow”. Anti-aircraft giunners on the roof of Moscow’s central Hotel “Moskva”.

“A Soviet scouting unit”. The 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany. A Red Army scouting unit comprising motorcyclists and armored cars enroute to the front.

“Tank assault force in Korsun-Shevchenkovski region”. The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Tank assault force on T-26 in Korsun-Shevchenkovski region. 1944.

World War II. Soldiers of the Byelorussian Front during a short respite after fighting.

German soldiers surrendering near Vitovka village on the Bryansk Front

Column of BA-10M armoured cars. Leningrad Front breakthrough. Photo was taken in winter of 1942.

All images & captions: Wikipedia / Ria Novosti