Soviet - TheHistoryFiles.com

MiG-19

From 1951 to 1956, the MiG-15 was supplanted in production with a modernized version, the MiG-17. Neither the MiG-15 nor the MiG-17 was capable of supersonic flight, which was finally achieved by the MiG-19 series (in production from 1954 to 1961). Only 3,700 MiG-19s were produced; it was sold widely, but it had the misfortune […]

Aircraft, Soviet

Kamov Ka-29

Country of origin: Russia Type: Assault transport & radar picket helicopter Powerplants: Ka-29 – Two 1635kW (2190shp) Klimov (Isotov) TV3-117V turboshafts, driving two three bladed counter rotating coaxial main rotors. Performance: Ka-29 – Max level speed at sea level 280km/h (151 kt), cruising speed 235km/h (127kt). Max initial rate of climb 3050ft/min. Service ceiling 14,100ft. […]

Battle, Germany, Soviet

German Assault on Moscow – The Final Push

The German offensive was resumed on 15 November 1941 in clear and frosty weather. Reinhardt’s 3 Panzer Group and a part of Strauss’s 9 Army drove in Khomenko’s 30 Army on the left wing of Konev’s Kalinin Front in an attack towards Klin. Stalin’s reaction was immediate. Lelyushenko, who was recovering from a wound he […]

Biography, Soviet

Boris Mikhailovich Shaposhnikov

(1882-1945) Marshal of the Soviet Union. Born in Zlatoust in the southern Urals on 2 October 1882, Boris Shaposhnikov began his military career in the Russian Imperial Army as a private in 1901. He became an officer two years later on graduation from the Moscow Military College. In 1910, after graduation from the General Staff […]

Soviet, Germany, Operations

BATTLE OF DNIEPER, (AUGUST 13-SEPTEMBER 22, 1943)

One of several massive, rolling offensives that together retook western Ukraine from the Germans by April 1944. An initial thrust was launched toward the lower Dnieper on August 13, 1943. This was intended to take advantage of RUMIANTSEV and the Donbass offensive operation elsewhere on the Eastern Front, while preceding the awkwardly named Offensive in […]

Aircraft, Soviet

Antonov An 22 Antei

The mighty Antei was once the world’s largest airplane and established several weight and altitude records that still stand. Despite its sheer bulk, it handles well and operates easily from unprepared airstrips. Russia is characterized geographically by huge distances and varied topographical features that can make surface travel difficult, if not impossible. Air transportation is […]

Biography, Soviet

Ivan D. Chernyakovsky

Ivan D. Chernyakovsky was born 29 June 1906, in Uman, in Ukraine. He was the son of a railroad worker. Highest rank achieved: Army General, 1944 Twice awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union (1943,1944) Chernyakovsky was ten years younger than almost all of the senior officers that rose along with him to front command […]

Germany, History, Soviet

Col. David Glantz – Red Army before Warsaw 1944

SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck (Panther’s cupola), commander of 8./SS-Panzerregiment 5 of the Wiking Division, and a Sd.Kfz. 251/3 Ausf. D, during the battles east of Warsaw, August 1944. Between August 18-22, IV.SS-Panzer-Korps, comprising the Totenkopf and the Wiking Division, destroyed 98 Soviet tanks destroyed in the battles around Warsaw. Soviet (1st Belorussian Front’s) Actions East of […]

Biography, Soviet

Kirill A. Yevstigneyev

Guards’ Captain (later Major-General) Kirill Alekseyevich Yevstigneyev (17 February 1917 – 29 August 1996) was a Soviet fighter pilot and one of the top Soviet aces of World War II. During is career he claimed 56 aerial victories. World War II Combat Service Evstigneyev gained his first pair of victories not two weeks after his […]

Germany, History, Soviet

Berlin Breakout I

A map of the Weidendammer Brücke area. Behind the Panzersperre a tank is drawn. Hitler’s driver Erich Kemka said that he saw Bormann getting blown away when this tank got hit by enemy fire. He thought Bormann was dead, but Kemka was wrong. At 9.30 p.m., Hamburg radio station warned the German people that a […]