This black and white Cold War era indoctrination war film titled “The Soviet Army / Armor” was produced in 1955 by the United States War Office as part of two larger series, “Armies of the World” and a subseries “The Soviet Army”, both of which provided Army and reserve units a more holistic picture of the Soviet Union’s capabilities and tactics. The film provides an overview of the Soviet Union’s armored vehicle divisions, and starts with a brief history of Soviet armor production from the 1930’s to 1945. Using both Soviet and German training footage, the film mainly focuses on the Soviet flagship tank, the T-34, outlining its strengths, weaknesses, and its role in Soviet tactics. The film concludes with a brief description of the Soviet armored vehicles showcased in the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945, featuring the new Soviet JS-3/IS-3 tanks.

Card with scrolling text describing the role of tanks and armor in the Soviet Army (:25). Demonstration of the capabilities of Soviet tanks, including their ability to traverse difficult terrain and obstacles, withstand explosives, and operate in coordinated war efforts (:53). Early Soviet experimentation with light armored “tankettes” (2:35). Footage of Soviet T-60 tanks traversing various terrain (3:13). Footage of Soviet KV or Kliment Voroshilov series tanks, including the KV-2 and KV-76 (3:37). A Soviet Marshall, most likely Marshall Semyon Budyonny, speaking at the Soviet Armor School (4:24). Soviet tank factories producing and testing tanks (4:53). Soviet T-34 tanks traveling through varied terrain (5:25). Footage of Soviet T-34 tank, including an interior shot and demonstration of its mounted weapons (6:06). Soviet BA-64 armored scout car (6:23). Soviet T-34 tanks rolling into combat and firing weapons alongside infantry (6:31). Demonstration of buried Soviet tank tactics (7:06). Combat footage of Soviet T-34 tanks (7:21). Soviet tanks traversing heavy snow alongside infantry (8:04). Soviet T-34 leaving pit for assault (8:38). Possible footage of Soviet tank scouting tactics (8:55). Footage of Soviet tanks and infantry in snow (9:10). Footage of Soviet self-propelled 122mm Howitzer (9:58). German World War 2 training films demonstrating the anatomical weaknesses of the Soviet T-34 tanks (10:14). German World War 2 training footage of anti-tank maneuvers, German tank hunters, Panzerfaust effectiveness, and other German anti tank guns (12:49). German World War 2 footage of German infantry inspecting a destroyed Soviet JS-1 tank (17:27). Soviet armored train transporting Soviet tanks (18:05). Footage of the 1945 Victory Parade in Moscow’s Red Square, featuring Soviet tanks and ‘tankists’ (18:18). Continued footage of the Victory Parade featuring motorcycles mounted with 7.62 light machine guns (18:34). Continued footage of the Victory Parade featuring 6×6 ‘armored transporters’ (18:57). Continued footage of the Victory Parade featuring SU-76 armored self-propelled 76mm guns (19:21). Continued footage of the Victory Parade featuring T-34 tanks mounted with 85mm guns (19:39). Continued footage of the Victory Parade featuring SU-100 armored self-propelled 100mm guns (20:41). Continued footage of the Victory Parade featuring JSU-152 armored self-propelled 152mm gun howitzers (20:58). Continued footage of the Victory Parade featuring Soviet JS-3 tanks mounted with 122mm guns (21:51). Continued footage of the Victory Parade with shots of various tanks and armored vehicles (22:48). Card with text advertising “Department of the Army Handbooks” (23:31).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com